LEARN · PRACTISE · DISCOVER
Reading to Learn
Reading a textbook is different from reading a story. Textbooks are packed with information, new vocabulary, diagrams and headings. If you read them like a novel, from start to finish without stopping, you may reach the end and remember very little. In this lesson you will learn an active reading method that helps you understand and remember what you read.
Before reading: preview
Spend two or three minutes looking over the section before you read it. Skim:
- the title and headings
- bold and highlighted words
- pictures, diagrams, graphs and their captions
- the introduction and summary or review questions at the end
Previewing builds a mental map of the topic, so new information has somewhere to go.
Turn headings into questions
Turn each heading into a question. The heading Causes of Earthquakes becomes What causes earthquakes? As you read, look for the answer. This gives your reading a purpose.
During reading: read in chunks
Read one section at a time, not the whole chapter at once. After each section:
- Pause and look away from the page.
- Say or write the main idea in your own words.
- Answer the question you made from the heading.
- Note anything confusing to ask about later.
Highlighting wisely
Highlighting everything does not help much, because it does not make you think. If you highlight, mark only key terms and the main idea of each paragraph, and do it after reading a section, not during. Even better, write a short note in the margin or on a sticky note.
Use the diagrams
Diagrams, maps and graphs often explain ideas more clearly than the text. Read their titles, labels and captions, and ask: What is this showing me?
Tackle new vocabulary
When you meet a new word, use context clues and word parts, check the glossary, and add the word to your notes with a short definition.
After reading: review
- Summarise the whole section in three or four sentences without looking.
- Answer the review questions at the end of the chapter.
- Connect the new ideas to what you already know.
A method you can remember: SQ3R
These steps are similar to a classic method called SQ3R:
| Letter | Step | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| S | Survey | preview the section |
| Q | Question | turn headings into questions |
| R | Read | read one chunk at a time |
| R | Recite | say the main ideas in your own words |
| R | Review | summarise and test yourself |
Example
Maya had to read a chapter on volcanoes. She previewed the headings, turned Types of Volcanoes into “What types of volcanoes are there?”, and read one section at a time. After each section, she explained the main idea to herself aloud. At the end, she wrote a summary from memory and answered the review questions. The next day in class, she could explain the main types clearly.
Online articles
The same method works for websites and online articles. Preview the headings, check who wrote it and when, and avoid opening new tabs until you finish each section. Reading on paper or on screen both work if you stay active.
Key takeaways
- Preview headings, bold words and diagrams before reading.
- Turn headings into questions to give your reading a purpose.
- Read in chunks and summarise each section in your own words.
- Review by summarising from memory and answering questions.
Practice
Use SQ3R on one section of a textbook you are using. Write down: your preview notes, two heading questions, a one-sentence summary for each chunk, and a final three-sentence summary.
Answer: answers will vary. A strong response shows questions made from headings, summaries in your own words rather than copied sentences, and a final summary written without looking at the text.