I could explain it, but its already explained here:

http://members.fortunecity.com/kwhazit/ranma/g_verb.html#volhor
http://www.guidetojapanese.org/try.html#part3

Now I feel so mentally relieved (and dumb because it was just right there on Tae Kim)

「いつも日本語をなるべく読もうとしている。だから、こうやってipodとかパソコンとか本でもすべて日本語に変わったってこと。なのに、まだ初心者だけどね」

おかげで、日本語がだんだんよくなっている。

And for how long are you going to keep calling yourself ‘just a beginner’? :p Your grammar and understanding is certainly beyond the beginner level and I doubt you’d have any problems getting through intermediate level textbooks.

@Elenkis: He began long ago, so he’s either an idiot or he just likes making people feel bad about themselves (“Well if HE’S a beginner, wtf am I then?! :( ). Best just to leave him in his own little, AK47-filled world ;)

So what are the differences between「volitional + とする」、「～てみる」and「ようにする」? Are they all just ways to say the same thing?
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Making an effort (-ou to suru)

Add とする (to suru) to a volitional form verb and conjugate する (suru) as appropriate.

This is trying in the sense of making an effort to do something. For trying in the sense of experimentation to see what happens, see ～てみる (-te miru). There’s also a clause-ending ようにする (you ni suru) that has essentially the same meaning as [volitional]とする.

「毎朝７時までに起きようとしている。」 (Maiasa shichiji made ni okiyou to shite iru.) = “I try to get up by 7 every morning.”

http://members.fortunecity.com/kwhazit/ranma/g_verb.html#volhor

http://tinyurl.com/5r5nx3c

It’s like the difference between “I’m going to try drinking sake (and see what what it’s like)” and “I’m going to try to finish my homework tonight”.

Also past tense 「volitional + とした」 says that you tried to do something but implies that the attempt was a failure.

I’ve read that 「ようにする」 can have a more sustained nuance. It’s something you’re going to try to do, and then keep on doing over time/more than once. But I’m not entirely sure.