Strategies for Critical Reading

      This workshop discusses SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review), a reading technique designed to help students effectively read textbooks. Students often see immediate improvement in comprehension and memory of reading assignments.

• Critical Reading Suggestions:
  • Surveying a chapter (To find out what the material contains)
    • Read introductory paragraph and headings.
    • Look at all pictures, graphs, diagrams, and read the captions.
    • Note any new vocabulary words.
    • Note highlighted in italics or bold face print.
    • Read the summary and any questions at the end of the chapter.
  • Question
    • Formulating questions is easy, simply ask Who, What, When, Where, How, or Why about each heading and subheading.
    • What aspect is your weakest point? What needs to be memorized?
  • Read
    • Read to answer those questions. This is not a passive plodding along each line, but an active search for answers.
  • Recite
    • Having read the first section, look away from the book and try briefly to recite the answers to your questions.
    • Use your own words and include examples.
  • Review
    • Review is a survey of what has already been studied. Cover up your notes and try recalling sub-points.