Transcript The SQ3R Method - Bloomfield College

How to Read a Textbook
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SQ3R refers to a recommended method for
effective textbook reading.
The letters and number stand for:
Survey
Question
Read
Recite
Review
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When you first purchase a textbook for a course,
survey the book immediately.
Read the Table of Contents.
Glance through the back matter, e.g., glossaries
and index.
Look at the chapter titles and subtitles.
This is the first step in becoming familiar with
what your are about to learn.
If some of the material is already familiar, you will
be activating your prior knowledge on this subject,
which will make subsequent learning easier.
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When you are assigned a chapter to read in your
textbook, first survey that chapter.
Read the title and introductory paragraph.
Read all subtitles.
Look at all graphs, illustrations, photos, and charts.
Pay attention to all words in bold or italics.
Read the summary at the end if one is included.
Read over the questions at the end of the chapter if
they are provided.
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The next step is to create questions to guide
your reading.
Turn all headings and subheadings into
questions.
Record the questions in your notebook.
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As you read, answer the questions you have
created and record the answers in your
notebook.
This will guide you in finding and making note
of the main ideas presented in the textbook
chapter.
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Once you have completed the chapter and
recording all questions and answers, it is now
time to memorize the answers to your
questions.
Recite the answer to each question either out
loud or silently until each answer is committed
to memory
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The final step in this process is to review what
you have learned.
Look at each question and cover up the answer
with a sheet of paper.
Try to answer the question. If you have done so
successfully, move on to the next question.
If you find that you have not yet memorized a
particular answer, recite the answer again until
you do so.
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In addition to reciting material you need to
memorize, you may use other techniques to
commit material to memory.
Make associations of unfamiliar information to
familiar information.
Create mnemonics to memorize facts. For
example, HOMES is a mnemonic for the names
of the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan,
Erie, Superior.