Oxford Study Skills: How to Read

Summary

In this video, Dr. Matt Williams, a tutor at the University of Oxford, shares valuable study skills focused on reading effectively for academic success. He emphasizes the importance of reading with a strategic mindset, likening it to detective work where students need to identify specific information relevant to their essays. Dr. Williams discusses how to prioritize reading, manage time efficiently, and make decisions about what content to focus on. He also highlights that reading at university is challenging, even for experienced students, and encourages openness about struggling with this fundamental skill.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reading at university is a skill that needs continuous development and is not as easy as people might assume.
• 😀 Fast reading is all about making decisions and being strategic, rather than passively reading from start to finish.
• 😀 Approach reading like a detective—identify what information you need before starting to read, based on your essay or research question.
• 😀 Prioritize reading based on what’s essential, helpful, and optional for your academic work, ensuring you don’t waste time on irrelevant sections.
• 😀 Before reading, think about the essay question and tailor your reading to support your specific arguments, not just for general knowledge.
• 😀 Break down academic activities into six core elements: concepts, meta-theory, theory, methods, data, and results. Focus on what’s most relevant for your essay.
• 😀 Use tools like the contents page, index, or online search functions (e.g., Control + F) to quickly find relevant sections in books or papers.
• 😀 Don’t read academic texts like novels—be ruthless and only engage deeply with sections that will advance your argument.
• 😀 Deep dives are valuable when reading seminal authors or primary documents that are critical to your work, but even then, reading selectively is key.
• 😀 Reading efficiently means spending focused time (20–40 minutes per paper or book) extracting the critical information you need for your essay.
• 😀 Acknowledge that reading is challenging, especially when done at scale and pace. Struggling with it is normal, and it's okay to admit it.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of this video?

The main purpose of the video is to share study skills for university students, particularly focusing on reading strategies to improve efficiency and effectiveness in academic work.

Why does Dr. Matt refer to reading as a 'lifelong mission'?

Dr. Matt refers to reading as a 'lifelong mission' because, while it is expected that students should have mastered reading skills by the end of primary school, reading effectively, especially for academic purposes, is a continuous challenge that evolves throughout one's education.

What issue does Dr. Matt address regarding reading in universities?

Dr. Matt addresses the 'conspiracy of silence' around study skills like reading, where students often struggle but are hesitant to ask for help, fearing that it may seem too basic or that they are underperforming.

What personal struggle does Dr. Matt reveal in relation to reading?

Dr. Matt reveals that, due to being partially sighted, reading has always been difficult for him. Even with assistive technologies, he finds reading tiring and sometimes boring, making it challenging to read at pace.

What is the first tip Dr. Matt gives for improving reading efficiency?

The first tip Dr. Matt gives is that reading must be targeted and strategic. Instead of reading books or papers from start to finish, students should approach reading like detectives, looking for specific information needed for their essays or research.

How does Dr. Matt suggest students should approach academic texts?

Dr. Matt suggests that students should not read academic texts passively from cover to cover. Instead, they should first think about their essay or research question and then read strategically to extract the most relevant information.

What are the six elements Dr. Matt identifies in any academic work?

The six elements Dr. Matt identifies are: 1) Concepts, 2) Meta-theory, 3) Theory, 4) Methods, 5) Data, and 6) Results. These elements help structure the analysis of any academic work, whether it's political science or literature.

Why is compartmentalizing time important for reading effectively?

Compartmentalizing time is important because students often have limited time to complete their readings. By prioritizing readings based on their relevance to the essay and focusing on specific sections, students can be more efficient and not feel overwhelmed by large reading lists.

What advice does Dr. Matt offer for handling extensive reading lists?

Dr. Matt advises being ruthless with time management when facing extensive reading lists. Students should not read everything; instead, they should focus on the most relevant sections, spend 20-40 minutes per source, and move on, unless deeper engagement is necessary.

When should students consider doing a 'deep dive' into a particular source?

Students should consider doing a deep dive when a particular source is especially critical to their argument or essay. This could include seminal authors, primary documents, or works that are directly central to their topic.