1. Developed by the Academic Learning Center St. Cloud State University www.stcloudstate.edu/alc

2. Select stopping places throughout your reading assignment before you start to read. Mark them with check marks (Control Checks) using a pencil or pen. Stop at each check as you read and paraphrase or summarize in your mind what you just read.

3. Put them at the end of paragraphs, sections, or natural divisions within chapters. The more checks, the closer you need to monitor your comprehension. If you are familiar with the material, place fewer control checks.

4. Develop a consistent system of highlighting. Use the 15-25 percent rule of thumb: Highlight no more than 15-25% of any given page.

5. Highlight main ideas and only key supporting details. Avoid highlighting complete sentences. Move quickly through the document as you highlight. To review, put the highlighted phrases into sentences and speak aloud.

6. Forces reader to pay attention. Metacognition. Select what is most important. Alternate/Addition to note taking.

8. First read the passage and reflect on the content. Then, grab a pen. Circle concepts or key terms Underline main ideas. Enumerate (1, 2, 3, etc) major supporting details. Use alphabet (a, b, c) for minor supporting details. Make abbreviated outline on margins or new sheet of paper.

9. Print a clean copy, and mark by hand. Paste into Microsoft Word and use review features. Convert to PDF and annotate electronically. Use EverNote or OneNote.