WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE A GOOD READER?

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We have already talked about why and for what to read in writing WHY READ AND WHAT FOR? THE GREAT BENEFITS we will now dedicate a few pages to what we believe is required to be a good reader. For those who have not dabbled in the reading activity, it is recommended to go to a library or a bookstore, visiting the section that arouses their interest. Within that chosen section, randomly review the titles and authors, and then examine the Contents of the pre-selected works. Make the decision and choose the document or literary work that will accompany you on your walks. To become a good reader we must take into account 2 fundamental aspects, in this field.

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The qualification of “good” is oriented, on the one hand, to enjoyment, recreation and entertainment with reading, and on the other, it is related to education and learning. Both perspectives allow the achievement of being a good reader, and must be addressed in the same way. However, it will depend on the person himself who performs the reading activity, to lean more towards one or another stimulating aspect, at a stage of his life. There is a large collection of books that tell us how to read to learn and be instructed, few that tell us what to enjoy reading. I consider that there are several topics that must be taken into account, in both perspectives: the “what”, the “how”, the “when”, the “why”, the “how much”, the “with whom” and the “ where, ”and again, each individual may have greater inclination over any of them, and devote more attention to motivate themselves and achieve their reading mission.

In addition to these 2 essential aspects, let’s keep in mind, as we pointed out in writing READING-WRITING-DRAWING: VIRTUOUS CIRCLE that every good reader can become a writer. We must take into account the level of inclination that each of us has about this activity, whether you have the desire to acquire the habit, or to develop it more, or expand your knowledge, to those in which reading activity has been relegated, and for which it would mean a real venture into it. The good reader will advance according to how he becomes passionate. The purposes and particularities that must be considered in both perspectives, to proceed in the reading activity, are:

• Understanding

• Pleasure and taste

• Selection and options

• Volume

• Periodicity

• Irregularity

• Learning

• Study

• Knowledge

• Specialization

• Conceptualization

• Ignorance

• Satisfaction and joy

• Writing styles

• Writing genres

• Preferences

• Discrimination

• Abstracts

• Anthologies

• Indifference

• Extension

• Authors

• Place and space

• Language

Of course, some people recommend that you can rely on different actions to carry out the reading, that some others do not accustom them to: underline the phrases that the reader considers most relevant, write certain important notes on the margin of the pages of the book, relate texts with some other authors, documents or books, reflect on whether or not we agree with what we read, relate some outstanding data with previous readings, etc. Keep in mind that the notes written by you during the reading, either on the pages of the book or document that you read, or in a separate block of notes (this is more recommended), will be the first steps of the good reader who will project it to a future writer, if he wishes to do so; do not exclude or relegate.

Also keep in mind that while writing you are also reading your own writings, Qui scribit, bis legit: Who writes, reads twice.

Regarding the second aspect about the perspective in reading, preparation and education, we have as absolute representatives environments to the school (in its different school levels), the research, the academy (in its different grades), the self-taught (self-educated, self-taught ) and work in any type of company (public or private).

In this “obligation” scenario, we require more effort since it requires us to respond according to the demands and guidelines that are requested to make the reading of a “required” document. There are many methods that have been developed for the large number of fields of learning and teaching, and they can be used to improve our personal goals. I will mention some of the characteristics and aspects, which should be addressed in this perspective of reading, according to the literary genre:

• Purpose of the document

• Content

• Structure

• Purpose of the author

• Questions and answers (from the author and the reader)

• Understanding

• Notes

• Document highlights

• Summary or synthesis of the document

• Memorization

• Important phrases of the text / author

• Ideas generated by the reader

• Outstanding ideas of the author

• Re-read some outstanding parts of the document

Of course, depending on the literary genre, this list can be modified, reduced or increased, however, its complexity conveys that more effort is required than what is needed for the first stage, where we only look for fun and entertainment. In this, with this extraordinary effort (work) we seek constant questioning about what is being read, since for learning, instruction and education, more time is required, more analysis and introspection of the different topics that each Document brings with it. However, the WALK-RWD system allows us to make these efforts with greater encouragement and efficiency.

Now, in the perspective of reading for fun and entertainment, you should only choose for “taste”, according to personal enjoyment – that nothing is forced; select gender; the author; the place (to read walking); the reading period: you should never feel obligated – or forced – to finish a book until the end, if it “falls out of your hands”, leave it and choose another, because later when you already have the habit and taste for reading, you can return to them to finish them, if they are interested in reaching the end.

About self-education, which can appear in both perspectives, is one of the safest processes of reading to become a good reader, depending on the most particular interests that an individual has in his personal development.

Let’s select our books, spaces and schedules for reading and get ready to walk accompanied by those books, to enjoy learning.

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