Reading for literal meaning
Reading for literal meaning is reading for comprehension. Your goal is to
discover the main ideas, the supporting details, or, in a work of fiction, the
central details of plot and character.
Reading for literal meaning is not as easy as it might sound. When you
come across a new concept, think it through. Rushing through material to
“cover” it rather than to understand it takes more time in the end. If the
author’s writing style is complex, “unpack” the sentences: Break them into
smaller units or reword them in a simpler style. Also, see Box 5-3 for specif-ic suggestions about ways to improve your reading comprehension.