5 Techniques for Improving Your Reading and Studying Skills
"SQ3R" A Reading and Study System
Reading a chapter correctly takes a lot more time than you probably spend now, but try this SQ3R method for
just one class. Slowly add this system into your other classes too. Be
patient and give this method 2 weeks to make a difference. At first,
you'll spend a lot of time on this. Remember: You can study a lot of hours
over the course of the semester or you can study all of those hours the
week before your final.
Study time rule: 1 hour of class = 2 hours of study time!
This reading method will seem slow at first, but the benefits will soon be clear: You will remember more of what you read, and you won't waste time repeating work you've already done!
SQ3R Means:
Survey
Question
Read
Recite
Review
SURVEY THE CHAPTER
Do not read the chapter yet! Do these steps first:
-
Read the title - prepare your mind to study the subject.
-
Read the introduction and/or summary - think
about how this chapter fits the author's purposes, and focus on the author's
statement of most important points.
-
Quickly look over each boldface heading
and subheading - organize your mind before you begin to read - build a
structure for the thoughts and details to come.
-
Look over any graphics, charts, maps, diagrams,
etc. They are there to make a point - don't miss them.
-
Notice the reading aids - italics, and
boldface
print show that something is important
-
Also, the chapter objective and the end-of-chapter
questions are all included to help you sort, understand and remember the
information.
QUESTION
Do not read the chapter
yet! Do these steps first:
Create questions from your reading to help
your mind think about the material.
Look at each section at a time and turn the
boldface headings into as many questions as you think will be answered
in that section. The better the questions, the better your understanding
will be. You may always add more questions as you continue. When your mind
is actively searching for answers to questions, it is learning! This
is also the best way to predict test questions - where do you think your
teachers think up questions?!
Here's an example: if a heading says "Parts
of the Flower," you can make a question like: "What are the parts of a
flower?" "Historic People" can be a question like "Name some historic people."
Make up as many questions as you possibly
can.
READ
Ok, now it is time
to read the chapter, but follow these steps:
As you read, look for the answers to the
questions you wrote, and write the answers in your notes!
Read each section of the chapter with your
questions in mind. Look for the answers, and take note of questions you
didn't
think of that were answered in that section.
RECITE
As you read the chapter,
you should recite your notes.
Reciting means practicing out loud
what you’ve written down. Yes, that's right - talk to yourself!
After each section of reading, stop, think
about your questions, and see if you can answer them from memory. If not,
look back again (as often as necessary) but don't
go on to the next section until you can say what you have learned!
REVIEW
Spend 15 minutes every
day reviewing your notes.
Once you've finished the entire chapter using
the steps above, go back over all the questions that you made. See if you
can still answer them. If you cannot, read the chapter
again, being careful to answer your own questions.
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