1. Focus on the overall meaning:
* Skim first: Get a general idea of the topic and the author's main points.
* Look for context clues: The words around the unknown word often provide hints about its meaning.
* Pay attention to the flow of ideas: The overall structure of the text can help you understand the relationship between ideas, even if some individual words are unfamiliar.
2. Strategies for unknown words:
* Guess the meaning: Use your existing knowledge and the context clues to infer the meaning. Sometimes a close guess is enough.
* Mark it and move on: If the word is truly confusing and doesn't significantly hinder your understanding, highlight it and continue reading. You can always come back to it later.
* Look it up: Use a dictionary or online resource to find the exact definition. However, avoid getting bogged down by looking up every single unfamiliar word.
3. When to look up a word:
* It's essential to understanding the text: If the unknown word plays a key role in the argument or the meaning is unclear even after considering context.
* It's a recurring word: If the word appears repeatedly, understanding it will likely improve your comprehension of the overall piece.
* It's a specialized term: If the word is related to a specific field (e.g., science, history) and understanding it will deepen your knowledge.
4. Remember, it's a process:
* You won't understand every single word in every single text.
* The more you read, the more familiar you'll become with common vocabulary and how to use context clues.
* It's okay to have some unknowns. Don't let them stop you from enjoying the process of reading and learning.
In summary:
Focus on understanding the overall meaning of the text. Use context clues to infer the meaning of unknown words. If necessary, look up specific words that are crucial to your comprehension. Remember, reading is an active process, and it's okay to have some unknowns along the way.