Reading and research series (adapted from Study Guides & Strategies
website)
SQ3R reading method
SQ3R is a reading strategy formed from its letters:
Survey! Question! Read! Recite! Review!
SQ3R will help you build a framework to understand your reading assignment.
Ø Before you read, Survey the chapter:
· the title, headings, and subheadings
· captions under pictures, charts, graphs or maps
· review questions or teacher-made study guides
· introductory and concluding paragraphs
· summary
Ø Question while you are surveying:
· Turn the title, headings, and/or subheadings into questions
· Read questions at the end of the chapters or after each subheading
· Ask yourself,
"What did my instructor say about this chapter or subject when it was assigned?"
· Ask yourself,
"What do I already know about this subject?"
Note: If it is helpful to you, write out these questions for consideration.
This variation is called SQW3R
Ø When you begin to Read:
· Look for answers to the questions you first raised
· Answer questions at the beginning or end of chapters or study guides
· Reread captions under pictures, graphs, etc.
· Note all the underlined, italicized, bold printed words or phrases
· Study graphic aids
· Reduce your speed for difficult passages
· Stop and reread parts which are not clear
· Read only a section at a time and recite after each section
Ø Recite after you've read a section:
· Orally ask yourself questions about what you have just read, or summarize, in your
own words, what you read
· Take notes from the text but write the information in your own words
· Underline or highlight important points you've just read
· Reciting:
The more senses you use the more likely you are to remember what you read Triple
strength learning: Seeing, saying, hearing
Quadruple strength learning: Seeing , saying , hearing, writing!!!
Ø Review: an ongoing process
Day One
· After you have read and recited the entire chapter, write questions in the margins for
those points you have highlighted or underlined.
· If you took notes while reciting, write questions for the notes you have taken in the left
hand margins of your notebook.
· Complete the form for a critical reading review
Day Two
· Page through the text and/or your notebook to re-acquaint yourself with the important
points.
· Cover the right hand column of your text/note-book and orally ask yourself the
questions in the left hand margins.
· Orally recite or write the answers from memory.
· Develop mnemonic devices for material which need to be memorized.
Make flash cards for those questions which give you difficulty.
Days Three, Four and Five
· Alternate between your flash cards and notes and test yourself (orally or in writing) on
the questions you formulated.
· Make additional flash cards if necessary.
Weekend
· Using the text and notebook, make a Table of Contents - list all the topics and subtopics
you need to know from the chapter.
· From the Table of Contents, make a Study Sheet/ Spatial Map.
· Recite the information orally and in your own words as you put the Study Sheet/Map
together.
· As you have consolidated all the information you need for this chapter, periodically
review the Sheet/Map so that at test time you will not have to cram.