Active Reading Strategies

Reading might be boring. But of course, the strategies below are ways for you to read
effectively and actively.
PREDICT
Make educated guesses about what will happen next by combining clues in the story with what
you already know. Predicting helps you anticipate events and stay alert to the less obvious parts
of a story. (Guiyab, 2011)
Say to yourself
I think the title might mean
I think this character is going to
Now I think he or she will
My first prediction doesnt match what I read. Now I
think







Philippine Literature
Lesson No. 01
Date

Lesson Title
Active Reading Strategies
Lesson Target
To apply strategies in reading literary pieces
References

Title
Philippine Literature, AMA Publications, 2011
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Literature/Short%20Stories/How%20
My%20Brother%20Leon%20Brought%20Home%20A%20Wife.htm
(Retrieved, June 3, 2013)

Author
Riviera Guiyab Page
Number(s)
13-15
CONNECT
Draw parallels between people, places, and events in the story and the people, events, and
places in your own life.








QUESTION
Ask yourself questions to help you clarify the story as you go along.





VISUALIZE
In your mind, form pictures of what is happening in the story. Pay attention to the details the
water gives you, and make them a part of your reading experience.
Ask yourself
How does this scene, character, or object took?
Who is in this scene?
Where are the characters in relation to one
another and
to their surroundings?




Ask yourself
Do I understand what Ive read so
far?
Why did he or she say that?
Whats going on here?
What does this mean?
Ask yourself
Do I understand what Ive read so far?
Why did he or she say that?
Whats going on here?
What does this mean?
EVALUATE
Form opinions and make judgments about the story while you are reading-not just after youve
finished.





RESPOND
Respond while you are reading. React to different parts of the story.





Applying the Strategies
Read the story:
How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife by Manuel Arguilla
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Literature/Short%20Stories/How%20My%20Brother%20L
eon%20Brought%20Home%20A%20Wife.htm
Manuel Arguilla
Manuel E. Arguilla wrote fine Filipino short stories in English. His portrayal of the life of Ilocano
peasants is unsurpassed. His stories show his effective diction and his eye for descriptive detail.


Ask yourself
Does this turn of events make sense?
Is this character believable?
What is particularly effective about this writers style?
Do I agree with this idea?
Say to yourself
I like this character because
Id like to ask the writer why
I wish I could see this place because
Take a look at these examples (From the story, How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife by
Manuel Arguilla) applying the strategies we have discussed above.














































Questions:
1. Visualize the setting of the story that you have read. (How My brother Leon Brought
Home a Wife) How does the hometown of Leon look like?
a. City
b. Province
c. Squatters
d. High end villages
2. How the narrator predicts the possible reaction of his father towards Maria?
a. He might not like it
b. He might love the name
c. He might not care at all
d. He might ask what is her real name
3. How would you describe Leon as Marias fianc?
a. Gentleman
b. Harsh
c. Weird
d. Cool
4. How would you describe Maria?
a. Has strong personality
b. Demure yet loving
c. Fight for what she thinks she deserves
d. Mean towards Leons parents
5. What is Maria afraid of before meeting Leons father?
a. He might ask Maria not to leave Leon
b. He might not like Maria
c. He might get angry
d. He might be judgmental