How to Read a Textbook

SQ3R refers to a recommended method for effective textbook reading.

The letters and number stand for: Survey Question Read Recite Review

When you first purchase a textbook for a course, survey the book immediately.

Read the Table of Contents. Glance through the back matter, e.g.,

glossaries and index. Look at the chapter titles and subtitles. This is the first step in becoming familiar

with what your are about to learn. If some of the material is already familiar,

you will be activating your prior knowledge on this subject, which will make subsequent learning easier.

When you are assigned a chapter to read in your textbook, first survey that chapter.

Read the title and introductory paragraph. Read all subtitles. Look at all graphs, illustrations, photos, and

charts. Pay attention to all words in bold or italics. Read the summary at the end if one is

included. Read over the questions at the end of the

chapter if they are provided.

The next step is to create questions to guide your reading.

Turn all headings and subheadings into questions.

Record the questions in your notebook.

As you read, answer the questions you have created and record the answers in your notebook.

This will guide you in finding and making note of the main ideas presented in the textbook chapter.

Once you have completed the chapter and recording all questions and answers, it is now time to memorize the answers to your questions.

Recite the answer to each question either out loud or silently until each answer is committed to memory

The final step in this process is to review what you have learned.

Look at each question and cover up the answer with a sheet of paper.

Try to answer the question. If you have done so successfully, move on to the next question.

If you find that you have not yet memorized a particular answer, recite the answer again until you do so.

In addition to reciting material you need to memorize, you may use other techniques to commit material to memory.

Make associations of unfamiliar information to familiar information.

Create mnemonics to memorize facts. For example, HOMES is a mnemonic for the names of the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior.