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Building Your Own Reading Catalogue as an English Literature Students: How to Curate a Collection of Books You'll Love?

As an English Literature student, reading is an essential skill that you need to develop to excel in your academic and personal life. However, with so many books available, it can be overwhelming to decide what to read. Reading literary texts encompasses a vast range of activities. Through reading, one can gain access to the collective wisdom of humanity. Experienced readers can bring their knowledge, skills, and interests to the text, which, in turn, can broaden their experiences and capabilities and pique their curiosity. An individual's reading ability evolves over time, progressing from readiness to adult reading skills. Simply, the ultimate aim of reading literary texts is to comprehend the written material, assess it, and utilize it according to one's needs. To avoid this dilemma, you can create your own reading catalogue. Here's how:

Readiness, Beginning and Development of Skills:

The earliest stage of reading is readiness, which involves acquiring language and letter knowledge, understanding that spoken words are made up of separate sounds, and recognizing that letters can represent these sounds. Then the students learn the printed equivalents for the spoken words they know. Schools and reading textbooks usually combine both techniques of recognizing words and learning phonics. In the mid-elementary and junior high school years, emphasis shifts from reading stories with known content to reading more difficult materials that teach the child new ideas and opinions. This shift from learning to read to reading to learn is especially important as the student begins to use reading skills to learn facts and concepts in other subjects.

Start with your interests: Now as you are at this stage, the first step in building your reading catalogue is to identify your interests. Do you enjoy fiction, non-fiction, self-help, biographies, or a combination of genres? Once you know what you enjoy reading, it will be easier to find books that interest you.

Research: Once you have identified your interests, start researching the best books in those genres. You can consult online book reviews, ask friends for recommendations, or visit your local library to discover new books.


Curate your list: After researching, it's time to curate your reading list. Choose books that pique your interest, align with your values, or challenge your perspective. Remember, your reading catalogue should reflect your personality and interests.



Set goals: Set realistic goals for your reading catalogue. How many books do you want to read in a month, a year, or a semester? Having goals can motivate you to read more and explore different genres.


Keep track: It's essential to keep track of the books you've read, the ones you're currently reading, and the ones you plan to read. You can use a notebook, a spreadsheet, or a mobile app to keep track of your progress.


Share and discuss: Share your reading catalogue with friends, family, or book clubs. Discuss the books you've read and exchange recommendations. Engaging in conversations about books can help you broaden your perspective and gain new insights.


Conclusion:

Reading literary text exposes people to the accumulated wisdom of human civilization. It expands experiences, abilities, and interests, helping individuals to reach maturity in reading. The stages of reading range from readiness to adult reading ability, and mastering reading skills is essential in learning other subjects. And building your own reading catalogue is a great way to explore different genres, expand your knowledge, and foster a love for reading. By following these steps, you can curate a collection of books that will enrich your life and help you achieve your academic and personal goals.


Ardhendu De


References:

1. Understanding and Teaching Primary English. (n.d.). Google Books. https://books.google.com/books/about/Understanding_and_Teaching_Primary_Engli.html?id=kf4LEAAAQBAJ

2. Nichols, E. (2016, January 14). How To Catalog Your Books (And 8 Reasons You Should Definitely Do It). BOOK RIOT. https://bookriot.com/8-reasons-catalog-books/

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