THIEVES Pre-Reading Strategy
A structured skimming technique using an acronym to preview texts before deep reading, improving comprehension and retention.
Also known as: THIEVES Strategy, THIEVES Method, Pre-Reading Strategy
Category: Techniques
Tags: reading, learning, study-skills, comprehension, active-reading, note-taking, knowledge-management
Explanation
THIEVES is a pre-reading strategy that helps readers preview and prepare for reading non-fiction texts. By systematically scanning specific elements of a text before reading in detail, you build a mental framework that improves comprehension and retention.
The acronym stands for:
**T - Title**: Examine the title. What does it tell you about the content? What do you already know about this topic? What questions does it raise?
**H - Headings**: Scan all headings and subheadings. These form the skeleton of the content and reveal its structure. Turn headings into questions to guide your reading.
**I - Introduction**: Read the introduction or first paragraph carefully. This typically states the main purpose, thesis, or central idea of the text.
**E - Every first sentence**: Read the first sentence of each paragraph or section. Topic sentences often contain the main idea of that section, giving you a high-level overview.
**V - Visuals and Vocabulary**: Examine charts, graphs, diagrams, photos, and their captions. Note bold or italicized vocabulary terms—these often signal key concepts.
**E - End-of-chapter questions**: If present, review these questions before reading. They tell you what the author considers most important and what you should focus on.
**S - Summary**: If available, read the summary or conclusion first. This reveals where the text is heading and helps you understand how the pieces fit together.
**Benefits of THIEVES**:
- Activates prior knowledge before reading
- Creates a mental roadmap of the content
- Helps identify main ideas and structure
- Improves reading comprehension and retention
- Reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed by long texts
- Makes subsequent detailed reading more efficient
This technique is particularly valuable for academic reading, textbooks, research papers, and any dense non-fiction material.
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