A Strategy for Reading Textbooks

Here is a method that may work for you. If it does, good! If it does not, come back to this in a few weeks for a second (or third) look.

P = Preview what you are going to read.

Q = Question what you are going to learn after the preview.

3R = Read, Recite, and Review.

P = Preview what you are going to read

• Uses less time than the Q and 3R steps
• Can be very helpful
• Look over carefully what you are going to read
• Look for main ideas and subjects
• Notice any new vocabulary
• Form an impression about what you are going to read
• Practice on this page - quickly look over the words that are in bold type

Q = Question

• Form a question in your mind about what you are about to read and learn
• Practice on this page -- form a question like "Am I going to learn a better way to read?"

R = Read, Recite, and Review

• Read - Read the assignment
• Recite - Stop every once in a while, look up from the book, and put in your own words what you have just read
  • Practice on this page - "R" stands for read, recite, and review
• Review - After you have finished, review the main points
  • Practice on this page - "I did learn a system to improve my reading comprehension. The main parts are …"

After you complete the review step, don't forget to go back and reread any section that you are not sure of. If you practice this method, your study time is going to be much more productive!