Some time ago, I read a chapter of a book on scientific methodology within social sciences. In the first chapter, they discuss the reading and organization of text – whether in notes, summaries, or other ways of dissecting the text –, regarding the reading of the text, they talk about the reader's behavior; one of these aspects that most hinders me during reading is attention. Other issues, such as identifying a main point in the author's text – for composing summaries –, which is demonstrated, according to them, through a trail of argumentation left by the author, as the author argues to support the logical sentence that follows from such arguments or the reverse, is something I can already visualize in texts. Now, about attention, this is basic to have in textual reading. How could I ascertain the author's main point without reading with attention; that reading that is mixed with diverse daydreaming away from the book's pressing issues? I'd like to know if there's any practice you have to stay focused on reading.
by Mobylet