Pre-reading is a fundamental cognitive process that occurs before reading itself. It is a series of mental activities and strategies that allow the reader to prepare for understanding a text. Pre-reading is a crucial stage in the reading process, as it lays the foundation for a deeper and more effective understanding. In this article, we will explore in depth what pre-reading is, what its main characteristics are and what functions it performs in the reading process.
What is pre-reading ?
Pre-reading is the set of mental activities and strategies that a reader carries out before starting to read a text. During this stage, the reader prepares for the reading itself, activating prior knowledge, establishing reading objectives and creating expectations about the content of the text. Pre-reading allows the reader to contextualize the information, anticipate what they will find in the text and activate their comprehension schemes.
It is important to highlight that pre-reading is not limited to a single activity, but rather covers a variety of strategies that may vary depending on the type of text, the reading purpose and the individual preferences of the reader. Some of the common activities included in pre-reading are:
Activation of prior knowledge
Before starting to read a text, it is useful to activate prior knowledge related to the topic. This allows the reader to establish connections with new information, facilitating its understanding and retention. Activating prior knowledge may involve remembering relevant information, identifying key concepts, or relating new information to previous experiences.
Establishing reading goals
Define clear objectives before starting to read A text is an effective strategy to guide reading and maintain focus on relevant information. Reading objectives may include identifying the main idea, understanding specific concepts, searching for concrete information, or critically analyzing the text. Setting reading goals helps the reader focus on relevant information and process it more effectively.
Creating expectations
Before diving into reading a text, it is common to readers generate expectations about your content. These expectations may be based on the title of the text, its structure, the source of information or previous information available on the topic. Creating expectations about the content of the text helps the reader anticipate what they are going to find, activating their interest and facilitating global understanding of the text.
Characteristics of pre-reading
Pre-reading presents a series of distinctive characteristics that differentiate it from other stages of the reading process. Some of the most relevant characteristics of pre-reading are:
Cognitive activation
One of the key aspects of pre-reading is the cognitive activation that the reader performs before starting to read. During this stage, the reader mobilizes his or her cognitive abilities to prepare for understanding the text, activating prior knowledge, establishing reading objectives, and generating expectations about the content. This cognitive activation facilitates the reading process and contributes to a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the text.
Contextualization of information
Pre-reading also focuses on the contextualization of information, that is, placing the text within a frame of reference that facilitates its understanding. By activating prior knowledge, setting reading goals, and creating expectations, the reader contextualizes the information, identifies connections with his or her own knowledge base, and prepares to approach the text more effectively.
Initial exploration of the text text
During pre-reading, the reader carries out an initial exploration of the text that allows him or her to become familiar with its structure, content and general characteristics. This exploration may include quickly reading titles, subtitles, introductions, conclusions, or graphic elements such as graphs or images. The initial exploration of the text is essential to obtain a global vision of the content and establish a frame of reference for detailed reading.
Functions of pre-reading
Pre-reading fulfills various functions in the reading process, all of them aimed at facilitating the understanding and assimilation of the information. Some of the most important functions of pre-reading are:
Facilitate understanding
One of the main functions of pre-reading is to facilitate understanding of the text. By activating prior knowledge, setting reading goals, and creating expectations about the content, the reader mentally prepares to approach the information more effectively. This prior preparation makes it easier to interpret the text, identify key ideas, and integrate new information with existing knowledge.
Improve information retention
Pre-reading also contributes to improve information retention, as it helps the reader mentally organize the content of the text before delving into detailed reading. By setting reading goals, creating expectations, and activating comprehension schemas, the reader structures the information in a coherent way, which makes it easier to remember later. Pre-reading provides a conceptual framework that guides the acquisition and storage of information.
Increasing the effectiveness of reading
Another important function of pre-reading is to increase the effectiveness of reading. By mentally preparing before starting to read, the reader optimizes their time and effort, focusing on relevant information and avoiding distractions. Pre-reading allows the reader to quickly identify the structure and content of the text, which helps them select appropriate reading strategies and improve their reading performance.
Conclusions
In summary, the Pre-reading is a fundamental stage in the reading process that allows the reader to prepare for understanding a text. Through activating prior knowledge, setting reading goals, and creating expectations about content, prereading facilitates comprehension, improves information retention, and increases reading effectiveness. Knowing the characteristics and functions of prereading can help readers improve their reading skills and approach texts more efficiently and effectively.