Syntopical Reading-A Tool To Increase Reading Knowledge

Syntopical Reading

Syntopical Reading - Don't Just Take My Word For It
Syntopical reading is a great tool to use to increase reading knowledge and comprehension for the serious high school or adult student. Another term for it would be comparative reading, but the process involves reading and comparing multiple texts on the same topic.

When doing this, there are some fundamental questions that readers can ask to set up syntopical comparisons. Doing this will allow readers to take cross-sections from each source, summarize them, analyze them, compare them to the others, and form independent perspectives on the truth or validity of the reading material, thereby digging much deeper into the learning process.

Syntopical Reading-A Tool For Increase Reading Knowledge
Syntopical reading allows authors to evaluate a variety of sources based on asking critical questions. One example of such a problem might be, "How are these similar?" It is helpful to actually set up a chart or table in a computer document and to outline significant tenets of each source and then note the various authors' perspectives on each primary principle or concept.

Syntopical Reading-A Tool For Increase Reading Knowledge

Once the similarities are known, then the earnest student should go on to address the question, "How are these the same?" Notice the variance in the two issues. Similarities will point out places where the authors take a different approach but arrive at nearly the same result. "Sameness," however, indicates perfect agreement of the two points of view. If the rigorous reader is examining three or more sources, then this logical step may take some participation, but it is well-deserving of the effort. Each point or foundational "truth" that the reader identifies in the works should is a comparison across the spectrum of authors.

Syntopical Reading-A Tool For Increase Reading Knowledge

Next, readers using this in-depth approach to learning should do the same thing with the following question - "How are these different?" By adding into the charted notation system, a new column that looks at differences, serious students will be able to stretch out deeper meanings and implications in the various works. That will lead to the fourth column - "How are these distinctive?" That final question will lead the reader into a dissection of the content at its most unique level. Only after reviewing the finer points, however, will the distinctiveness of anyone work begin to stand out.

Syntopical Reading-A Tool For Increase Reading Knowledge

The final step in syntopical reading is to review, compare, "dissect," and critique the various points that each author makes to give his or her agreement or disagreement to the opinions. Dissect and Critique are the points where the deepest level of learning will occur as students will begin to make informed decisions as to the spectrum of the views.

Syntopical Reading-A Tool For Increase Reading Knowledge

There may be additional sources that the reader will need to consult at this point. Perhaps one of the authors introduced a concept that none of the others did. A serious student may want to include new authors at this point. Ultimately, however, the student reader will have an in-depth study on the topic at hand and will be far more prepared to form their conclusions and opinions on that study than if they had only read and considered one source.