SQ3R

SQ3R is a method of textbook reading. It was developed in 1940 by a researcher named Francis Robinson. Over the years, it has proven to be very effective in teaching students how to read a textbook. There are five important steps in this method

S- Survey. To survey is to look over the chapter briefly before you read it. This step takes about a half hour. Look at the title, read the summary, look at the chapter outline and the pictures/graphics. Look at the length of the whole chapter and decide how long it is going to take you to read it. For more information about surveying, click on this link About Surveying.

Q - Question. To question is to use the headings and subheadings to form questions that you will answer as you read. Start by looking up the meanings of any words that you do not understand in the headings/subheadings. Then write questions. For example, a subheading that says American Influences on the Enlightenment might make you question --What were the important American influences on the Enlightenment?; or How did Americans influence the Enlightenment? Write the questions in pencil next to the subheadings and headings. For more information about questioning, click on this link About Questioning.

R - Read. To read is to read carefully. It requires marking of main and important ideas. Read a section at a time. Read the section once, straight through, without using your dictionary. After each paragraph, pause and try to decide the topic of the paragraph and what the main idea is. For more information on locating the topic and the main idea, click on this link About Main Ideas. Also try to determine the organizational pattern of the paragraph. For more information on determining the organizational pattern, click on this link About Organizational Patterns. When you have finished reading all the paragraphs in a section, reread the section with your dictionary and mark it. Try not to mark more than one sentence (or an equivalent number of phrases) per paragraph. Try to answer the question you wrote next to the heading/subheading of the section. For more information on marking a textbook as you read, click on this link About Marking
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R - Recite. To recite is to give an oral recital of the most important information that is highlighted. This is the only step that is optional. Some students find it helpful to quietly recite (in a whisper) the information that is highlighted. Not all students find this step helpful. However, if you find it helpful, you should use it.

R - Review. To review is to look over your marked chapter to review the information before a test.