SQ3R: A Reading Technique

1
SQ3R A Reading Technique

• SQ3R stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recite,
  Review. It is a proven technique to sharpen
  textbook reading skills.
• In college, you'll frequently be assigned
  multiple chapters for several different courses
  in books that can be quite complicated. SQ3R
  helps make reading purposeful and meaningful, so
  that you use your time most effectively.
• Here's how this strategy works

2
SQ3R Survey

• Get an idea of what the chapter is about by
  reviewing the highlights
• Read the title, headings, and subheadings.
• Take note of words that are italicized or bold.
• Look at charts, graphs, pictures, maps, and other
  visual material.
• Read captions.
• Read the very beginning and end of the chapter.

3
SQ3R Question

• As you survey the text, ask a question for each
  section. Ask what, why, how, when, who and where
  questions as they relate to the content. Here's
  how you can create questions
• Turn the title, headings, or subheadings into
  questions.
• Rewrite the questions at the end of the chapter
  or after each subheading in your own words.
• Write down your questions. Questions help you pay
  attention, understand the text better, and recall
  the information more easily later on.

4
SQ3R Read

• Read one section of a chapter at a time, actively
  looking for an answer to your question for that
  section.
• Pay attention to bold and italicized text that
  authors use to make important points.
• Be sure to review everything in the section,
  including tables, graphs, and illustrations, as
  these features can communicate an idea more
  powerfully than written text.

5
SQ3R Recite

• At the end of each section, look up from the text
  and in your own words recite an answer to your
  question for that section. Then write down your
  answer. Be sure to provide examples that support
  it.
• Now repeat the Question, Read, and Recite steps
  for each section of the chapter or assigned
  reading. First ask a question for the next
  section. Then read to find the answer. Finally,
  recite the answer in your own words and jot it
  down. The written questions and answers will help
  you study in the future.

6
SQ3R Review

• After completing each chapter or reading
  assignment, review your notes. Identify the main
  points of the reading by looking for the most
  important idea in each section. Recite, or write,
  a brief summary of the chapter or assignment.
• Review your study notes every week to help you
  remember the information.
• Thats the SQ3R Reading Technique!

7
Reading Primary and Secondary Sources

• Primary Source material written in some original
  form more difficult reading level.
• Autobiographies
• Speeches
• Research Reports
• Government Documents
• Scholarly Articles

• Secondary Source - summarizes or interprets
  primary sources
• Magazine Articles
• Textbooks

8
Developing Your Vocabulary

• Jot down unfamiliar terms and find the meaning
  using a dictionary.
• Consider the context around new and challenging
  words.
• Analyze terms to discover the most meaningful
  part of the word.
• Take the opportunity to use new terms in your
  writing and speaking.
• Use Vocabulary software on the computers in the
  Learning Center or Computer Labs.
• Read scholarly journals in areas of your interest
  and read the newspaper more often. Ask the
  librarian how to find these.

9
A Readers Glossary
Cause-effect How one thing causes another to happen
Compare-contrast How things are similar and how they are different
Draw a conclusion To make up your mind about an idea
Context clue Getting the meaning of a word from the words around it
Implied Suggested without being directly stated
Inference To guess or speculate to draw a conclusion
Main idea The primary subject of a passage or paragraph
Objectivity Not influenced by personal feelings or prejudice
Prior knowledge What you already know
Supporting details Specific items that elaborate on the main idea
10
Reviewing

• Review to remember the main points of the
  material.
• Test yourself on your comprehension.
• Some ways to review
• notes
• study questions
• flash cards
• visual maps
• outlines
• Make reviewing every week a study goal.

11
Tips for Improving Reading Ability

• Find a quiet study location.
• Read in 25-minute blocks with 5 minute breaks in
  between.
• Take notes, recite key ideas or jot down
  questions in the margins.
• Focus on key issues in the text.
• Experiment with your reading rate. Can you speed
  up?

12
Highlighting Text

• Highlight
• Topic sentences, Key words, Conclusions
• But, watch out!
• Highlighting too much can cause you to re-read
  everything because you dont know whats
  important.
• Highlighting doesnt show you why you highlighted
  something
• You need to have the entire text with you to
  review.

13
Important Points About College Reading

• You are expected to read the material and
  understand it on your own.
• Successful students complete assigned readings
  before class to help them understand the lecture.
• Connections and overlaps between lecture and
  reading reinforce learning.
• Instructors do NOT always cover the reading
  material in lecture.

14
One Minute Paper

• What reading techniques can you use to enhance
  your studying success?
• What resources can you use at Oakton for Reading
  help?
• What questions do you still have?