Which reading comprehension strategy is commonly used?

Summarizing the main idea of a passage is a widely recognized reading comprehension strategy because it encourages readers to distill complex information into its essence. By focusing on the main idea, readers can grasp the core message or argument being presented, which enhances overall understanding and retention of the material. This strategy aids in recognizing key themes and concepts, making it easier to recall and apply the information later.

Moreover, summarizing fosters critical thinking, as it requires the reader to analyze the text and discern what is most important. This skill is particularly valuable in academic settings and standardized tests, where understanding the gist of a passage can lead to more effective answers to questions related to the text.

In contrast, other strategies like memorizing vocabulary can be beneficial for understanding specific words but do not necessarily improve comprehension as a whole. Highlighting every detail can overwhelm the reader and cause them to lose sight of the primary argument. Writing detailed summaries may lead to spending excessive time on note-taking rather than engaging with the text's key ideas, making summarization of the main idea a more efficient and effective approach.