1.
| Limited perceptual span (word-by-word reading)
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2.
| Slow perceptual reaction time (slow recognition and response to the material)
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3.
| Vocalization and subvocalization, (reading aloud)
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4.
| Faulty eye movements (including inaccuracy in placement of the page, in return sweep, in rhythm and regularity of movement, etc.)
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5.
| Regression (needless or unconscious re-reading)
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6.
| Faulty habits of attention and concentration (including simple inattention during the reading act and faulty processes of retention)
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7.
| Lack of practice in reading—use it or lose it!
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8.
| Fear of losing comprehension, causing the person to suppress his rate deliberately in the firm belief that comprehension is improved if he spends more time on individual words.
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9.
| Habitual slow reading, in which the person cannot read faster because he or she has always read slowly
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10.
| Poor evaluation of which aspects are important and which are unimportant
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11.
| The effort to remember everything rather than to remember selectively
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1.
| Have your eyes checked. Often, very slow reading is related to uncorrected eye defects. Before embarking on a speed reading program, make sure that any correctable eye defects you may have are taken care of.
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2.
| Eliminate the habit of pronouncing words as you read. If you sound out words in your throat or whisper them, your reading rate is slowed considerably. You should be able to read most materials at least two or three times faster silently than orally, because you can get meaning from phrases without reading each word individually. If you are aware of sounding or "hearing" words as you read, try to concentrate on key words and meaningful ideas as you force yourself to read faster.
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3.
| Avoid regressing (rereading). The average student reading at 250 words per minute regresses or rereads about 20 times per page. Rereading words and phrases is a habit which will slow your reading speed down to a snail's pace. Usually, it is unnecessary to reread words, for the ideas you want are explained and elaborated more fully later. Furthermore, the slowest reader usually regresses most frequently. Because he reads slowly, his mind has time to wander and his rereading reflects both his inability to concentrate and his lack of confidence in his comprehension skills.
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4.
| Develop a wider eye-span. This will help you read more than one word at a glance. Since written material is less meaningful if read word by word, this will help you learn to read by phrases or thought units.
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In general, decrease speed when you find the following:
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1.
| Unfamiliar terminology. Try to understand it in context at that point; otherwise, read on and return to it later.
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2.
| Difficult sentence and paragraph structure. Slow down enough to enable you to untangle them and get accurate context for the passage.
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3.
| Unfamiliar or abstract concepts. Look for applications or examples of your own as well as studying those of the writer. Take enough time to get them clearly in mind.
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4.
| Detailed, technical material. This includes complicated directions, statements of difficult principles, and materials on which you have scant background.
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5.
| Material on which you want detailed retention.
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In general, increase speed when you meet the following:
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1.
| Simple material with few ideas which are new to you. Move rapidly over the familiar ones; spend most of your time on the unfamiliar ideas.
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2.
| Unnecessary examples and illustrations. Since these are included to clarify ideas, move over them rapidly when they are not needed.
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3.
| Detailed explanation and idea elaboration which you do not need.
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4.
| Broad, generalized ideas and ideas which are restatements of previous ones. These can be readily grasped, even with scan techniques.
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