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Study Skills : Reading With Purpose
Reading With Purpose: sub-module 1 of 2 of reading and note-taking
This module will explain reading strategies to help you understand the information needed to be successful in your classes. College textbooks can cover a lot of complicated or highly technical information. Simply reading through your texts will not be enough for you to retain the information.
Tips
- Highlight.As you read, highlight important information, so that you can find it again later. Don’t highlight too much, you want the important points to stand out.
- Write in the margins.Annotate your text with comments, questions, examples, and more.
- Read out loud.Rather than reading silently in your head, read your material out loud, either to someone else, or to an invisible audience.
- Explain what you’ve read to someone else.Relaying information to other people helps you understand it better. It can also help you notice information that you haven’t quite grasped.
- Test yourself.After you’ve read a chapter, try to write down the key points without checking the text.
Active Reading Techniques
How to Use Active Reading Techniques
Active reading is a powerful way to engage with your textbooks and course materials more deeply. Instead of just passively reading, active reading involves strategies like highlighting key points, asking questions, and summarizing information to improve understanding and retention. Using these techniques can make studying more efficient and help you remember what you read for exams and assignments.
Watch this video to learn about active reading techniques that can help you learn material.
SQ4R Reading Technique
The SQ4R reading technique is a structured approach designed to help you understand and remember what you read more effectively. It stands for Survey, Question, Read, Reflect, Recite, and Review. A series of steps that guide you through previewing the material, actively engaging with the content, and reinforcing your learning. Using SQ4R can boost comprehension and make studying less overwhelming.
Watch this video to learn about the SQ4R technique.
SQ4R Six Steps
- Survey Start by quickly scanning the chapter or section to get an overview. Look at headings, subheadings, bolded terms, summaries, and any visuals like charts or graphs. This gives you a sense of the main topics and structure before you dive into the details.
- Question Turn headings and subheadings into questions to guide your reading. You can keep track of your questions by using the Cornell Method of note-taking. For example, if a section is titled “Causes of Climate Change,” ask yourself, “What are the causes of climate change?” This step sets a purpose for reading and keeps you actively engaged.
- Read Read the section carefully to find the answers to your questions. Focus on understanding the key ideas rather than trying to memorize everything on the first go.
- Reflect Pause to think about what you’ve just read. Consider how the information fits with what you already know, why it matters, and how it relates to other concepts in the course.
- Recite Without looking at the text, put the material into your own words by summarizing or explaining it aloud or in writing. This helps reinforce your understanding and makes it easier to remember.
- Review At the end of each section, go over your notes, questions, and summaries regularly to reinforce your learning and prepare for tests. Reviewing multiple times helps move information into your long-term memory.