Contemplative Study

Previewing
Table of Contents
Vocabulary
Text Overview
Front / End Matter
Reading and Worksheet

Pre-Reading

Study the Table of Contents

Give yourself some time after finishing first activity before moving on to this one. In this case you are creating a mind structure that parallels the text. It prepares your mind to integrate the authors design and intentions.

You need several pieces of paper. Or play with a giant piece paper and put all parts on one page.

It is also possible to just use standard outline forms for this exercise, however, the "maps" suggested here create visual images to help you grasp layout and structure through integration and use of another modality. You can play with this - using colored pens or papers for different segments. Colors will later help trigger visual memories of structure.

To create a visual map of the book:

Put a circle in the middle of a piece of paper.

Write the title and subtitle of the book in the middle.

Change each to a question. Creating questions is an important part of the process, priming the mind or brain to seek resolution.

Read the Table of Contents.

This completes level one.

You can do another level using the same page or by creating a new "map" for each of the major headings that are on the outside circles of your first map.

Change the themes in each circle into questions.

This completes level two.

You can take it another level and make each part or subsection of the book into a page with chapters surrounding. (Don't convert the titles to questions in these sections, at this time. It will be more helpful to do so closer to the time you are going to actually read the segment. But feel free to do so if you are on a roll with this.

Don't forget the Appendices or Afterword.

Having done these two activities, you already have a pretty good idea of what the book is about. You probably have interest in it. You have questions. You have some idea that you might know some things already about the topic. Most importantly, you have intentionally and consciously begun to create a space for the content in your own data banks and integrative systems. You are letting your mind be shaped some by the text.