How to Read for Meaning

Reading for meaning means you are hunting for the main idea, not just letting your eyes slide across words. Active readers ask questions while they read: What is this about? What does the author want me to feel or believe? What is the most important sentence on this page?

Find the main idea

The main idea is the single most important point a paragraph or passage is making. In nonfiction it is often stated in a topic sentence near the top. In stories it is usually shown, not stated, so you build it from what the characters do and what changes.

Annotate as you go

• ●Underline the sentence that carries the main point.
• ●Circle words you do not know, then guess the meaning from context before you look them up.
• ●Write a two or three word summary in the margin next to each paragraph.
• ●Mark turning points with a star, where a character or argument shifts.
• ●Jot a question mark wherever you are confused, then come back to it.