Summarizing Textbook Material

The SQ3R Reading Method

Before you read, Survey the chapter:



  • the title, headings, and subheadings
  • captions under pictures, charts, graphs or maps
  • review questions or teacher-made study guides
  • introductory and concluding paragraphs
  • summary
Question while you are surveying:
  • 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?"
  • Note: If it is helpful to you, write out these questions for consideration. This variation is called SQW3R
When you begin to 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
Recite after you've read a section:
  • Orally ask yourself questions about what you have just read or summarize, in your own words, what you read
  • Take notes from the text but write the information in your own words
  • Underline or 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 - i.e.,TRIPLE STRENGTH LEARNING: Seeing, saying, hearing- QUADRUPLE STRENGTH LEARNING: Seeing , saying , hearing, writing!!!
Review: an ongoing process.
Day One
  • After you have read and recited the entire chapter, write questions in the margins for those points you have highlighted or underlined.
  • If you took notes while reciting, write questions for the notes you have taken in the left hand margins of your notebook.

Day Two

  • Page through the text and/or your notebook to re-acquaint yourself with the important points.
  • Cover the right hand column of your text/note-book and orally ask yourself the questions in the left hand margins.
  • 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.

Days Three, Four and Five

  • Alternate between your flash cards and notes and test yourself (orally or in writing) on the questions you formulated.
  • Make additional flash cards if necessary.

Weekend

  • Using the text and notebook, make a Table of Contents - list all the topics and sub-topics you need to know from the chapter.
  • From the Table of Contents, make a Study Sheet/ Spatial Map.
  • Recite the information orally and in your own words as you put the Study Sheet/Map together.

Now that you have consolidated all the information you need for that chapter, periodically review the Sheet/Map so that at test time you will not have to cram.

Robinson, F. P. (1970). Effective study (4th ed.), Harper & Row, New York, NY.