The SQ3R Reading Method

SQ3R is a reading strategy formed from its letters:

Survey! Question! Read! Recite! Review!

SQ3R will help you build a framework to understand your reading assignment.

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
• Reciting: 
  The more senses you use the more likely you are to remember what you read 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.
• Complete the form for a critical reading review

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.
• Develop mnemonic devices for material which need to be memorized.
  Make flash cards for those questions which give you difficulty.

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

Reading and research series

Reading critically | Pre-reading strategies | SQ3R reading method | 
KWL reading method | Marking & underlining |Reading difficult material | Interpretive reading| Reading essays | Reading fiction |Narrator/character types |
Speed and comprehension | Researching on the Internet | Evaluating websites | 
Organizing research: computers | Organizing research: note cards

Based upon Robinson, Francis Pleasant. (1970) Effective study. New York: Harper & Row.