Effective Textbook Strategy

SQ3R - A strategy to understand and retain textbook material by using a series of steps.

Survey - an overview of the chapter gained by looking over the chapter first

• read the titles, headings, introduction, subtitles, illustrations, and summary
• skim for unfamiliar vocabulary
• read margin notes if the textbook offers those notes
• read the review questions in the back of the chapter

Question - establishes a purpose for reading

• helps to focus on what you'll be reading
• turn all titles and subtitles into questions
• who, what, where, when, why, how?

Read - an active search for information

• search for answers to the questions you made from your headings
• read ONE section at a time within a chapter
• read ONE paragraph at a time within each section
• as you read, underline phrases that may answer your questions
• make notes in the margin indicating main ideas or points
• don`t move onto the next section until you understand what you`ve read

Recite - tests immediate recall

• close the book and try to answer the question you created from the subtitle
• try to use your own words
• recite by sections

Review - helps retain the information

• after completing the chapter, re-examine your notes/highlighting
• make sure you have answered each question from your subtitles
• continue to review all chapters ONCE a week until you've taken an exam

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