LibGuides: Reading Lists Online: A Student Guide: Improving your academic reading skills

Develop your academic reading skills

Reading at university is different to reading for fun. You will need to develop knowledge and understanding of different topics and concepts. This will require building up reading stamina and making sure that you are getting what you need from the information.

The Library can support you with developing essential skills around academic reading, taking effective notes and identifying links between sources to use in your assignments.

Effective reading skills online guide

The Effective Reading guide is an excellent place to start improving your reading skills. Use it to learn how to skim, scan and take effective notes from the different types of literature you'll encounter on your modules.

Effective reading skills page

Talk to an adviser

If you have specific questions you can book a one to one appointment with a skills advisors. There are a range of appointment types to choose from – choose the format that suits you. You can also attend the Wednesday drop-ins online or use Library Chat to ask a question.

Book onto a webinar

The Library runs weekly webinars on all aspects on academic study including how to develop effective approaches to your reading. You can book onto a webinar or watch the recording of a previous session to learn more:

Recommended reading for academic skills

How to Use Your Reading in Your Essays by Jeanne Godfrey
ISBN: 9781352002973
Reading is part and parcel of academic writing, and knowing which sources to include in assignments and how to go about this process can be challenging. That's where this handy guide comes in. With over 20 years' experience in the field, Jeanne Godfrey is no stranger to essay writing. Taking students step-by-step through the process, from choosing their sources to checking their work, she helps students to develop the skills and confidence they need to use their reading effectively in their essays and get the best marks possible for their work. Concise and practical, it breaks down the 'why' and 'how' of using reading in academic writing and contains valuable guidance on paraphrasing, comparing the views of different authors and commenting on sources.
Reading and Making Notes by Jeanne Godfrey
ISBN: 9781137402585
This practical, pocket-sized guide takes students through the dos and don'ts of making notes and helps them to develop effective reading and note-making strategies. It breaks down the process into clear stages, from understanding assignment titles and fine-tuning sources to using different note-making formats and software. Packed with tips and examples, it will help students to gain confidence in reading for academic purposes and achieve the best marks they can for their work. Its succinct and accessible style makes it an ideal resource for undergraduates and postgraduates of all disciplines. It would also be a valuable text for mature students who are returning to academic study and looking to brush up on their reading and note-making skills.

Find more suggested reading on the essential academic skills reading list