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The SQ3R Strategy For Reading Textbooks

The document outlines the SQ3R strategy for effectively reading and comprehending textbooks. It involves 5 steps: 1) Survey the text to get an overview before reading, 2) Question by turning headings into questions to focus reading, 3) Read with the questions in mind, taking notes, 4) Recall by summarizing each section read without notes, and 5) Review the questions and ensure you can answer them without referring back to the text or notes. Following this process is intended to improve understanding, recall, and retention of textbook material.

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179 views

The SQ3R Strategy For Reading Textbooks

The document outlines the SQ3R strategy for effectively reading and comprehending textbooks. It involves 5 steps: 1) Survey the text to get an overview before reading, 2) Question by turning headings into questions to focus reading, 3) Read with the questions in mind, taking notes, 4) Recall by summarizing each section read without notes, and 5) Review the questions and ensure you can answer them without referring back to the text or notes. Following this process is intended to improve understanding, recall, and retention of textbook material.

Uploaded by

EMILL ASUNCION
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The 

SQ3R Strategy for Reading


Textbooks
The following is the SQ3R formula, adapted from FP Robinson's Effective Study, that will help improve
your understanding, recall and retention of textbook material.

 S = Survey the pages you plan to read.


 Q = Question what you intend to take from your study session.
 R3 = Read, Recall, and Review.

Step 1. Survey
Before reading your text, get a general idea of the main themes, topics and concepts by skimming
through the text or chapters. Identify and read the chapter headings, subheadings or introductions.
Notice any graphics, such as charts, maps or other diagrams. Read the chapter summaries and
conclusions. Try to develop an idea of what the author is going to say and communicate.

 Surveying the text provides your reading with focus and direction.
 Helps you develop an idea of what you'll be reading.
 Allows you to anticipate the text.

Step 2. Questions
As you survey the text, turn chapter headings and subheadings into questions. For example, the
heading "Causes of World War II" changes to "What are the primary factors that led World War II?"
Turning chapter headings and subheadings into questions provides direction for your reading and
keeps you engaged. When your mind is actively search for answers as you read, you stay engaged.

 Write out the questions you develop from chapter headings.


 Examine the questions to find the direction of the text.
 Try to develop plausible answers to these question before reading.
 Attempt to answer these questions as you read.

Step 3. Read
Now that you've surveyed the text and developed a set of questions, read the text paying close
attention to the direction of the text keeping in mind the information you already know and that you
want to discover. As you read you may find the need to develop additional questions.

 Read for meaning and understanding.


 Seek to answer the set up questions you developed in the previous step.
 Take notes in the margins or on a separate piece of paper.
 Take breaks if necessary.

Step 4. Recall
Recall is one of the most important steps for comprehending, mastering and retaining information
from textbooks. More time should be spent on recall than reading itself. Without referring to your
notes or your textbook, immediately after completing each section of reading, develop in your own
words a summary of what you read, highlighting the most important topics, concepts and themes.
Recite your summary to yourself or someone else.
Recall enables you to:

 Make sure you understood what you read


 Transforms information you retained from reading into a usable form.
 Find out what you didn't understand.
 Forces you to think about what you read.

Step 5. Review
Now go back over the question you developed using chapter headings and subheadings. Can you
develop a compelling answer to each without relying on the text or your notes? If not, look back over
your notes, the answer you wrote down and the annotation you put in your textbook.

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