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Textbook Reading Workshop

First-year college students report almost unanimously that they are overwhelmed with both the volume and difficulty of their textbook reading assignments.

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College Textbook Reading

Why should students read?1. Supplement class lecture and notes.2. Prepare for class note-taking and

listening.3. Build on previous knowledge.4. Read to learn, write to learn, talk to

learn.

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SQ3R Helps You to

1. Identify the most important points quickly

2. Distinguish between main ideas and details

3. Comprehend information quickly

4. Situate information into memory

5. Review for exams efficiently

SQ3R = Skim – Question – Read – Recite - Review

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S=Skim the Reading Assignment

Sample a paragraph from your reading assignment to determine how much time you will need to reserve for the entire reading assignment. Consider the following:

1. Your purpose for reading the material.

2. Your level of interest in the material.

3. Your concentration span.

4. The reading level and rate at which facts are presented.

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Skim the Assigned Chapter

1. title

2. introduction

3. sub-headings

4. topic sentences

5. illustrations, charts, graphs, etc.

6. chapter summary, discussion questions

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Q = Question, Part 1

1. What information do you hope to gain from reading the material?

2. What do you already know about this topic?

3. What do you think the author might say?

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Q=Question, Part 2

1. Turn each of the main points found in the introduction, headings, topic sentences, or summary into a question.

2. Use these questions to guide your reading.

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1st R=Read

1. Read the section you’ve surveyed, using your questions as a guide.

2. Annotate the text1. Mark the text to indicate main points, definitions,

characteristics, examples, and conclusions. 2. Use numbers to indicate important series of

information.3. Take notes in the margins.

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2nd Recall

1. Restate the main points and supporting details in you own words bya) Answering each of your questionsb) Making an outlinec) Taking notesd) Creating a mind mape) Talking about you learned

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3rd R=Review

At the end of your study period, to see how much you learned,

•Review the material you have read using your notes, outline, or marked portions of the text

•Question yourself without the notes

Several periods of study spaced over time will help you retain information more effectively than one long period of study just before an exam.

Your Turn

Use the SQ3R worksheet to study chapter 1

Presentation from State University of New York at BrockportAdapted for CMU/WCCC by Susan J. Konantz 31 Aug. 2014

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