1. A Study Skills Series Presented by Student Success Programs
READING YOUR TEXTBOOK
A Study Skills Series Presented by Student Success Programs

2. Reading Leads to Success
Successful students learn how to read effectively and REMEMBER what they have read.
Part of becoming a good reader is finding a strategy that works for YOU.
Remember don’t give up, keep
looking until you find a strategy
that best suits YOU.

3. Reading Textbooks Is not like reading for pleasure
Unless notes are taken, most information will be forgotten
Make sure you are understanding the information, rather than just looking at it

4. Why are College Textbooks more Difficult to Read ?
Many new technical terms
More abstract concepts
More idea dense
More words per page
Longer chapters
Higher reading level
Lower interest level
Lack of background about the topics

5. General Strategies for Reading College Textbooks
Buy your textbooks early
Preview your textbooks
Read the chapter before the lecture (or, if you find that listening to the lecture first helps, at least skim the chapter)
Read ten pages at a time
Monitor your comprehension

6. 3- Phase Technique Before You Read: Preview, Outline, Question
While You Read:
Reflect, Underline, Answer
After You Read:
Recite, Review, Review Again

7. Before you Read: Preview
PREVIEW – the entire assignment
Look over:
Summaries
Introduction
Objectives
Headings and Subheadings
Charts and Graphs
Think of possible test questions
Identify Main Points
This will familiarize you with the chapter

8. Before you Read: Outline
OUTLINE material to organize your thoughts
Use the text headings in your outline
Rewrite headings if you need to
As you read, fill in your outline with key points
Using an outline helps keep information organized

9. Before you Read: Question
QUESTION- what you hope to learn
Turn heading and subheadings into questions
Ask who, what, when, where, why, and how questions
Make list of questions based on the purpose for that reading

10. While you Read: Reflect
REFLECT on what you already know about the subject
Turn content into mental pictures
Be conscious of what you are doing
Reflecting helps your brain get prepared to accept information that follows

11. While you Read: Underline
UNDERLINE- important concepts
Highlighting can be substituted for underlining
Avoid underlining too soon
Underline after you have read each paragraph

12. While you Read: Answer ANSWER- the questions you came up with
Fill in your outline
Jot down new questions & answers
Note when you don’t find answers

13. After you Read: Recite RECITE when you are done reading
Read each question and answer it out loud
Talking about what you read, helps you summarize

14. After you Read: Review & Review again
Review within one day
Helps move information from short-term to long-term memory
Go over your notes
Read the highlighted parts of your text

15. 4 Different Reading Levels
Previewing
Skimming
Active Reading
Analytical Reading

16. Skimming Covers the content at a general level
Involves reading at about twice your normal rate
Gives a chance to see what the chapter/assignment contains

17. Active Reading Use to avoid empty reading
Absorb yourself in what the author is trying to say
Focus on identifying the main points and how the supporting points reinforce them

18. Analytic Reading Reading at a more intense level
Involves breaking ideas open and digging beneath the surface
Promotes a comparison of the work to other works
Should involve questioning the author and yourself

19. Reviewing
Makes the main points stand out so they are easier to remember
Is an opportunity to test yourself on comprehension
Consolidates learning

20. Elements of Your Reading Plan
Preview
Intensity of Effort
Skim
Active Reading
Analytic Reading
Review

21. Reading Strategies P2R SQ3R S-RUN-R preview, read actively, review
survey, question, read, recite, review
S-RUN-R
survey, read, underline, note take, review

22. A Summary of Strategies to Improve Reading
Practice a positive attitude
Pace yourself according to difficulty level
Take breaks to restore concentration
Shift gears when you don’t make progress
Build your vocabulary
Work on reading faster
Read other sources if reading is confusing

23. Reading Tough Material
When you don’t understand, slow down and reread
Break long assignments into segments: read 10 pages, do something else, and so on
Translate difficult materials into your own words

24. Tips to Remember Read in a quiet environment Stay focused
Take short breaks
Turn the content into mental pictures (visualize it)
Avoid reading in bed