Taming Your Textbook
Academic Advising and Learning
Resource Center
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Workshop Objectives
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To improve skills in identifying key
information from textbooks
To improve ability to retain information
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Agenda
Study Tips
Selecting a Study Environment
Tips for Reading More Effectively
The SQ3R Study Technique
Mnemonics
Integrating Class Notes with Text
Material
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Study Tips
Don’t spend more than an hour at a time on
one subject
Keep alert by taking rest breaks
Study similar subjects at separate times
Avoid studying during your sleepy times
Study at the most productive time for your
course
Memorize actively, not passively
Use SQ3R Reading Method
Clue your lecture notes
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Controlling Your Study
Environment
Pick a “Study Spot”
Before beginning, jot down the time you
expect to finish
When your mind wanders, stand up and turn
away from your books
Set aside a certain time each day to study
Don’t start unfinished business before
studying
Set small, short-range goals for yourself
Keep a reminder pad – and stay relaxed
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Tips for Reading More
Effectively
Forget “reading myths”
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I have to read every word
Reading once is enough
You should never skip a passage
If you read rapidly, your comprehension will drop
Skim for the Main Ideas
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Read title – does it give you clues?
Look carefully at headings and other “special
items”
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When Reading Difficult
Material…
Choose a moderate amount of material or a chapter
to start with
Get a grasp of how the material is organized:
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Scan the section titles, headings, sub-headings, and topic sentences to get
its general idea; pay attention to graphs, charts, and diagrams
If there is a summary at the end of a chapter, read it.
Check the beginning and the end for leading questions and exercises
Read first for what you do understand, and to determine difficulty.
Mark what you do not understand to review later
As you read, practice the "look-away method:"
Periodically look away from the text and ask yourself a stimulus
question relating to the text.
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use this exercise to memorize--but rather understand
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When Reading Difficult
Material…
Look up words whose meanings are important to your
understanding of the material, but you cannot discern from the
context.
Read to the end
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Do not get discouraged and stop reading
Ideas can become clearer the more you read.
When you finish reading, review to see what you have learned, and
reread those ideas that are not clear.
Organize your notes by connecting ideas
Pay attention to relationships between ideas.
Do not confine yourself to words!
Use representations, graphics, pictures, colors, even movement
to visualize and connect ideas. Use whatever techniques work
to help you understand
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If you’re still struggling…
At this point, if you do not understand your
reading, do not panic!
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Set it aside, and read it again the next day
If necessary, repeat.
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This allows your brain to process the material, even while you
sleep. This is referred to as distributed reading.
Re-read the section you have chosen with the
framework (outline or concept map) you have
constructed in mind
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Separate out what you do understand from what you do not.
If the reading is still a challenge:
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consult with either your teacher, academic counselors, or
reading specialists.
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The SQ3R Reading Method
Survey
Question
Read
Recall
Review
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SURVEY
Skim title, headings, and subheadings
Captions under pictures, charts, graphs
or maps
Review questions or teacher-made
study guides
Introductory and concluding paragraphs
Summary
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QUESTION
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?"
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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
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RECITE, RECITE, RECITE
Orally ask yourself questions about what you have
just read and/or summarize, in your own words, what
you read
Take notes from the text but write the information in
your own words
Underline/highlight important points you've just read
Use the method of recitation which best suits your
particular learning style but remember, the more
senses you use the more likely you are to remember
what you read
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TRIPLE STRENGTH LEARNING: Seeing, saying, hearing
QUADRUPLE STRENGTH LEARNING: Seeing , saying ,
hearing, writing!!!
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REVIEW
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II.
After you have read and recited the entire chapter,
write questions for those points you have
highlighted/underlined in the margins.
Page through the text and/or your notebook to reacquaint yourself with the important points.
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III.
Orally recite or write the answers from memory. Make "flash
cards" for those questions which give you difficulty.
Develop mnemonic devices for material which need to be
memorized.
Alternate between your flash cards and notes and
test yourself (orally or in writing) on the questions
you formulated.
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Guidelines for Underlining
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Read a section before underlining it
Do not underline too much
Underline information that will help in
making notes
Make major details STAND OUT
Use subheadings as a guide
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Mnemonics
ACRONYMS
Nonsense Sentences
Pegs
Rhymes
 Loci technique
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Integrating Class & Text
Material
Make “Master Notes”
Use information from class notes,
handouts, textbook
 Identify key topics and combine information
using major points
 Make flashcards, they are a constant form
of on hand, ready made study guides
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Make “Mind Maps” or webs
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Conclusion
Topics Covered
Study Environment
 Reading Tips
 SQ3R Technique
 Mnemonics
 Integrating class and text material
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