How to Read a Textbook

It would be nice to read a textbook as a novel, but that does not usually work. Your brain needs some place to attach the Information you are learning. The way to read which is recommended in this class is SQ3R. It is like building a model of a fish skeleton, you start with the backbone and add information to it. For example, the main idea might look like:

_______________

Once you have the backbone (main concept), you are now able to add concepts (or ideas) to this main concept. For example, if you add four important concepts (or ideas) to this backbone (main concept), it might look like:

You may continue this as low as is needed to help you understand the entire concept. The eventual diagram might look like:

each fish bone can be divided into as small of concepts as is needed to understand the main concept or idea.

Achieving this ideal (SQ3R):

To read a textbook, you need to build your fish skeleton. You get your main idea through scanning the text. The additional bones can be added through more careful reading and study. The concept is as follows:

• SQ3R or SQRRR
• Scan – Scan through the section of text you need to read. Look at the pictures and picture subtitles. Look for the key terms (usually in bold), but do not try to find their definitions yet. Look at chapter and subsection headings, but do not read the underlying text at this time.
• Question – Review the Questions at the end of the chapter. For example, for chapter 28 section 1in the Earth Science book the questions are on page 616. Also look at “Focus Question(s)” presented at the front of the chapter or section. For section 28.1, this is on page 611. In some books this might be listed as objectives. For statements, turn the statement into a question to see what you probably will need to answer.
• 3R
• Read - Read the material, remember the questions you just reviewed. Take notes if you need to do so. Writing out concepts will improve your memory. I sometimes find making a fish chart will also increase my overall understanding of the subject. Reread if you are not sure you can answer any of the questions.
• Recite – Look at the questions again. Recite your answers, preferably out loud, but if your in a classroom setting this may need to be to yourself. Get to the point where you can recite the answer just by seeing the question and not having to go back to the text.
• Review – Go back to the text one more time, then copy the questions onto a piece of paper. Close the book and try to answer all of the questions. Open the textbook and review the section. Correct any mistakes you made on your written test and review and retake the test if need be.

You have just used SQ3R to review a chapter. The proof is in using this technique and read section 28.1. When you are done, then a quiz based on the questions from this section will be given. Good luck!