Reading Tips

Textbooks are not written to be read like beach reading, yet many students approach them that way. Many times they must read the same assignments two or three times before they understand the information or begin to retain the details. This is wasted time because you're only focusing on one processing modality, reading. Remember, reading is one of the most passive forms of learning, so you may want to enhance your reading with the following strategy. The strategy for tackling texts is built around this principle of multimodality processing and is called the SQ3R.

Survey (S)
Most textbooks have a hierarchical structure. There are levels of headings, sub-headings, sub-sub-headings, down to italicized or emboldened terms. The survey has the student create an outline or map of these different levels by writing them down. Even if the chapter already has an outline, you should create one yourself. In this step you must read the important concepts, from big picture (headings) to supporting ideas (sub-headings) to supporting details (terminology), then write them down with important visual distinctions and relationships. By doing so, you have structured the important information and involved your visual processing and visual-motor area. You may also want to try talking aloud to involve your oral processing area. The survey step also helps short-term memory by structuring the language and preparing the brain almost like you would a computer, by creating files for storage and retrieval.

Question (Q)
This step involves placing a piece of paper next to the outline and creating a question for each heading. This does several things. First, it pushes you to begin to think critically by reframing information as questions. Second, it prepares you for test taking by simulating questions the professor might give. Third, it passes the information through your brain in a different way. Lastly, textbooks can be dry, if not down right boring, so the questions give you a goal in reading the text and direct feedback as to whether you understood the material.

3R- Read, Recite, Review (3R)
You then read the material and either take two-column notes (see note taking) or make notes in the margins. The goal of the SQ3R steps and note taking is to assist you in consolidating the information so you only need to go through the chapter once. The recite step cannot be underestimated for it is the cooperative learning stage. Here you meet with a study partner or a study group and discuss the readings: asking questions, helping to clarify, teaching, speaking, preparing for class. Lastly, the review step emphasizes the fact that within a week you will retain less than 40% of the material if it is not reviewed. Reviewing with a study group would be the most beneficial way of passing information through your brain.

Other readings, such as novels and research-oriented papers, do not usually have this hierarchical structure. A different framework must be found. For novels and biographies, a focus on important aspects can help you process the information: plot, characters, setting, theme. By asking these questions after every chapter, you can make the novel concrete. This concreteness will help with higher-level thinking about theme, concepts, and generalizations.

For historical readings, a timeline or map of the material can be used. When reading heavy research-oriented material, there is usually a scientific structure of background, methodology, results, and discussion. These can be used to assist you in comprehension and retention. Remember to stay active, summarize paragraphs in the margins, take notes, write questions down, and talk it over with a study partner.