A Strategy for Reading Textbooks

Adelita G. Cantu, PhD(c), RN

Juntos Podemos

The Strategy

P=Preview what you are going to read.

Q=Question what you are going to learn after the preview

3R=Read, Recite, and Review

P=Preview

Uses less time than the Q and 3R steps. Can be very helpful. Look over carefully what you are going to

read. Look for main ideas and subjects. Notice any new vocabulary. Form an impression about what you are

going to read. Practice on this page-quickly look over the

words that are in bold type.

Q=Question

Form a question in your mind about what you are about to read and learn.

Learn to identify main points and not get bogged down in detail. Instructors often give cues by repeating information, changing their voices or rate of delivery, and listing items in order of importance.

Practice on this page—form a question like “Am I going to learn a better way to read?’

R=Read, Recite, and Review

Read-read the assignment. Try to prepare for each lecture by prereading the material. You will find that you will understand the lecture better if you have some basic background. This preparation is one that very few students take seriously.

Recite-stop every once in a while, look up from the book, and put in you own works what you have just read.

Review-after you have finished, review the main points.

After you are finished, go back and reread sections that you are not sure of.

Lastly,

Always take notes from your reading. If you highlight something, write it in your notes. Simply highlighting something doesn’t help you remember the information!