Read & Study

Strategies you use for reading academic material are different from the ones used for more general reading tasks.  Using a reading-study system can make your reading more effective and efficient. SQ3R, an acronym for Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review, is an example of a method which can be used with and adapted to various class materials.

The use of a study system can—
·	Increase comprehension—working with material more than once and with multi-sensory methods
·	Provide immediate steps for self-testing and review
·	Incorporate active learning strategies

The Steps in the SQ3R System

S - Survey:  Try to become familiar with the organization and general content of the material you are to read.  To do this:

1.  Read the title.
2.  Read the lead-in or introduction.  (If it is extremely long, read just the first paragraph.)
3.  Read each boldface heading and the first sentence following each heading.
4.  Read titles of any maps, charts, or graphs; read the last paragraph or summary.
5.  Read through the end-of-chapter questions.
6.  After you have surveyed the material, you should know generally what it is about and how it is organized.

Q - Question:  Try to form questions that you can answer as you read.  The easiest way to do this is to turn each boldface heading into a question.

R - Read:  Read the materials, section by section.  As you read, look for the answer to the question you formed from the heading of that section.

R - Recite:  After you finish each section —stop.  Check to see if you can answer your question for the section.  If you cannot, look back and find the answer.  Then check your recall again.  Be sure to complete this step after you read each section.

R - Review:  When you have finished the whole reading assignment, go back to each heading; recall your question and try to answer it.  If you can't recall the answer, be sure to look back and find the answer.  Then test yourself again.

When you decide to incorporate a study reading method, you might begin with one course, or one set of course materials, or begin initially with adding the survey and questions steps to any of your assigned reading.  When changing or modifying habits, it is sometimes easier to do so on a gradual basis.  The idea is to adopt, revise, and continue to use active study strategies.

This handout provided as a service of Academic Assistance. Library 124 Ext 7518.

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