Guidelines

• Find a quiet, distraction-free setting where you will not be interrupted.

• Begin the process with a general scan of the reading material.

• Go back after the first reading and begin to underline or highlight key words or concepts; if there are side-bars, pay particular attention to matching the information from the side-bars to the content.

• If you are unsure of the vocabulary, use a phonetic dictionary (to decode unfamiliar words) and a thesaurus (to aid in word comprehension).

• To assist in your understanding of the content, use your own prior knowledge as well as the context and visual cues.

• Ask yourself what the passage is about and put it into your own words.

• To become a faster, more efficient reader, practice on a regular basis, beginning with easier passages.  Gradually increase the complexity of your reading (e.g. short novels to technical subject material).

The SQ3R Method

The SQ3R system can be used to enhance reading skills.  These are the steps: 
         

S       Survey – Skim through the material, noting title and main headings, first and last paragraphs, words marked in boldface or italics and pictures and charts
      

Q       Question – Formulate questions using “w” words such as: what, when, where or why, as you are reading.
       

R       Read – Use active reading skills; pick out important information, highlighting key points.  Try to find out the answers to the questions that you have formulated.
        

R       Recite – After reading the passage, periodically stop and try to recite to yourself what you can recall from the material read.  You may wish to make some notes containing pertinent information that can become part of your study notes.
         

R       Review – This part of the process involves     going back over the material, paying particular attention to important sections,

headings and sub-headings.  Use some of your supplementary written notes as part of this process along with what has been highlighted in the textbook.