Reading Strategy Advisor: How to Approach Any Text
Get customized reading strategies before you start — whether to skim, what to focus on, what to skip, and how to take notes.
Why Strategy Selection Matters
Most readers approach every text the same way: start at the beginning, read to the end. This works — barely — but it’s wildly inefficient. A news article doesn’t deserve the same approach as a legal contract. A textbook chapter isn’t a novel. A research paper isn’t a blog post.
Skilled readers automatically adjust their approach based on what they’re reading and why. The reading strategy advisor prompt makes this skill explicit. Before you dive in, you get customized guidance: whether to skim first, what sections matter most, what you can skip, and whether notes are worth the overhead.
Think of it as pre-flight planning. Pilots don’t just take off — they check the route, weather, fuel, and dozens of other factors. The strategy advisor does the same for reading: given your destination (goal) and your vehicle (the text), what’s the optimal flight path?
How the Prompt Works
Step 1: Describe the text. Type, length, source, difficulty. The more specific, the better. “A 15-page research paper from Nature on CRISPR” gives much better advice than “a science article.” Include anything unusual: “dense with equations,” “assumes economics background,” “written in 1954.”
Step 2: State your goal. Why are you reading this? Exam preparation, general knowledge, research for a project, decision-making, curiosity, or sharing with others? Your goal shapes everything.
Step 3: Get your strategy. The prompt returns four things: approach (skim, linear, strategic jumping), attention priorities (what matters most), skip permissions (what you can safely ignore), and note-taking guidance (whether to bother, and if so, what format).
Strategy selection is a meta-skill — a skill that makes other skills more effective. Once you internalize common patterns, you’ll start selecting strategies automatically without the prompt. Until then, the explicit practice builds your intuition.
Strategy Examples by Text Type
News article, goal: stay informed. Skim the headline and first paragraph for the main point. Skim subheadings if present. Read the conclusion. Only read middle sections if the topic warrants depth. No notes unless tracking a developing story.
Research paper, goal: understand methodology. Read abstract and conclusion first. Skim introduction for context. Deep read the methods section. Skim results for key findings. Skip literature review unless you need background.
Textbook chapter, goal: exam preparation. Survey headings and learning objectives first. Read linearly but adjust pace. Take structured notes (consider Cornell Notes). Re-read summary sections.
Business report, goal: make a decision. Jump straight to executive summary and recommendations. Then read methodology to assess reliability. Skim data sections for red flags. Skip background sections entirely.
No strategy survives contact with reality perfectly. If the text turns out harder than expected, slow down and add note-taking. If it’s easier, speed up. If your goal shifts mid-read, adjust accordingly. The strategy is a starting point, not a contract.
When to Use This Prompt
Use the reading strategy advisor prompt before anything substantial: content that takes more than 5 minutes, requires actual comprehension, or has consequences if you misunderstand.
Don’t bother for casual reading, content you’ll only skim anyway, or familiar formats where you already have a proven approach. The prompt adds overhead — make sure the time investment pays off.
For the full framework, explore the Reading Coach pillar. For prompts across all reading skills, see the AI for Reading hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Practice Strategy Selection
365 articles across genres — train your ability to match approach to content type.
Start Learning →Try It on Your Next Text
Before your next substantial reading session, run PR037. Compare the recommended strategy to your default approach.
Reading Coach Pillar
