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Reading Nonfiction

Nonfiction tells us about our world. Nonfiction might be a sign that simply says, “Stop,” or another that uses a picture to indicate a cross-walk. On the other hand, it might be a 1,000-page history of the Western World.

Obviously, you can’t read such a history the same way that you read a stop sign. Even individual pages require a more careful approach. By scanning, evaluating, skimming, study-reading, and interacting, you’ll not just read but understand the nonfiction you encounter.

Different nonfiction uses different organizational patterns. Recognizing them helps you keep the ideas sorted as you read, take notes, and review what you’ve learned.