Reading for Information

Core Idea

When you read nonfiction, you are reading to learn something new. Instead of following a character through a story, you are gathering facts, discovering how things work, or learning about real events. Reading for information is different from reading a story -- you might skip around, reread sections, or look things up as you go. It is a skill you will use for the rest of your life.

How It's Best Learned

Choose a nonfiction book about something you are curious about. Before reading, write down what you already know and what you want to learn. As you read, note new facts. After reading, share three things you learned. Compare reading a nonfiction book to reading a fiction book and describe how the experience felt different.

Common Misconceptions

• Thinking you should read nonfiction from beginning to end like a story; it is perfectly fine to jump to the section you are most interested in.
• Believing that if you do not understand everything, you have failed; nonfiction often introduces new ideas that take time to absorb.
• Assuming reading for information is not as fun as reading stories; curiosity-driven nonfiction reading can be deeply enjoyable.

Explainer

Reading for information is different from reading a story for pleasure. When you read to learn, you are looking for facts, answers, and new knowledge. Maybe you want to know about dinosaurs, how to bake a cake, what life is like in Japan, or how your body works. You find books, websites, or articles that teach you about these topics, and you read carefully to learn and understand.

Reading for information uses different skills than reading stories. You do not have to read every word at the same pace. You can skim to find the section you need. You can read the title, headings, and pictures to understand what is coming. You read slowly and carefully the parts that are most important or interesting. You might look up words you do not know to truly understand the information. You take notes or remember the key facts.

Good sources for information include nonfiction books, websites, encyclopedias, articles, videos, and interviews with people who know about a topic. A librarian can help you find the best sources for what you want to learn. When you read multiple sources, you often learn more because different authors explain things in different ways. One might have great pictures, another clear explanations, another fun examples.

Reading for information is a skill that helps you your whole life. In school, you read to study. As an adult, you read to learn new skills, make decisions, and understand the world. People who read for information stay curious, keep learning, and can find answers to their questions independently. When you discover a topic that fascinates you and can find books and sources to learn about it deeply, you become a lifelong learner. That is one of the greatest gifts reading can give you.