EPTSo I googled some tips on reading textbooks and this is what I got: SQ3R.
Does this actually work?
I'd really appreciate your input. I'm in dire need of help, especially with finals approaching.
Reading textbooks efficiently?
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billy5000
United States865 Posts
So I googled some tips on reading textbooks and this is what I got: SQ3R. Does this actually work? I'd really appreciate your input. I'm in dire need of help, especially with finals approaching. | ||
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KurtistheTurtle
United States1966 Posts
when I have to go through a book i make an outline of it, forces you to determine main point and sub-points and as it gets assembled you realize the major ideas and progressions behind everything. use microsoft onenote if you can, then you have all your readings forever in a way really easy to reference | ||
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GoTuNk!
Chile4591 Posts
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KurtistheTurtle
United States1966 Posts
On April 15 2011 08:54 GoTuNk! wrote: That seems legit, however I'd say the most important stuff I've "learned" about reading is to catch more words per glance. 3 glances for tl posts and 2 for most texts/books (good "speed readers" do 1 glance per line) now that you point this out i do it naturally from trying to read lots of stuff real fast so this too | ||
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eXigent.
Canada2419 Posts
If you are reading something without thinking about it, then you most likely will forget a large portion of what you just read. If you read something, and stop for a minute and think about it, then write it down, and go back and look at it again a little later, it will be refreshed again in your mind. Writing things in point form allows you to go back and refresh your mind very quickly. | ||
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RoTaNiMoD
United States558 Posts
This SQ3R method certainly looks like it could work but it's not magic and is just one specific method of doing the above. I would recommend you try a couple strategies until you get a feel for what is right for you instead of subscribing to a method someone else discovered that worked for them. Given that you have less problems with more concrete sciences, perhaps you can implement a way of active reading that mimics those? A method as simple as mentally asking yourself a couple questions regarding each section's key points (and making sure you can mentally answer them!) might work well for you. | ||
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Marksman
Malaysia523 Posts
WHAT is it that your studying about? WHO has it / is involved? WHERE does this happen? WHEN does it happen? HOW does it work? WHY is it needed? Note: Not all are applicable at one time (Depends on the type etc) but at least it's something. Just my 2 cents. | ||
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seiferoth10
3362 Posts
When I was in your situation (I'll assume you're a college student), just read the assigned chapters before class, even if you don't understand it all, then in class the professor will hammer it in. This method was way more effective for me than the usual "save all the reading until a few days before the test" method. | ||
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Bytz
United States33 Posts
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RedJustice
United States1004 Posts
Things in bold and italics go in your notes. They are almost always key points or vocab. Things that are numbered or bulleted are important, because the idea is important enough to break it down into several more detailed parts. If it's in the margins or a colorful little box, read it, because most likely it will give some extra more interesting details. These are really useful for essay questions on tests, and usually more memorable. Anything with a picture, diagram, or map is important. To help me study for a test, I usually start by going through and writing down all the bold and italics vocab (this helps a surprising amount, just to understand the terms being used). Depending on how you learn, maybe you need to use flashcards, or some other method. If it's history, I then make a timeline of the main events, and I like to draw arrows or make little notes, because events don't happen independently, they effect each other and cause each other. The years are usually not important unless you prof says so-- just understand the order of events in relation to each other. For something like bio, draw little diagrams of the key concepts, like osmosis, or whatnot, and color it, label it-- whatever you need to do the help you remember and understand it. Check slides/lecture notes for anything that was either not covered in the chapter, or your prof made a big deal over, and make sure you understand it. Lastly, I say to myself-- what's the big idea of the chapter(s)?-- can I sufficiently explain it in my own words without having to go back to reference the text? Do I have any specific examples or details to go with it (for essays?) If I have done all these things, it's generally a B to A range grade I get, depending on the difficulty of the class. The trick is to not get swamped in detail. Identify the things that help you know if something is important, and ignore the rest. You will pick up everything you need to know about all of that by sitting in class and just listening. | ||
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Chimpalimp
United States1135 Posts
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Dragar
United Kingdom971 Posts
I like to go through the book with a pen and paper and make notes as I read along, carry out derivations or logical steps myself. | ||
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turdburgler
England6749 Posts
 memories are much easier to form if you have an emotional attachment to something. 90% of people on this site can tell you the exact stats of every unit in starcraft but they probably cant remember your state capitols. because at the end of the day they dont care.if this is how you feel about biology just go through practice tests and then from that just consult the page or 2 from the book that deals with problems you cant do at the moment. if you dont care about the subject then just aim to pass the test rather than actually "learn" about it. | ||
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Count9
China10928 Posts
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AcrossFiveJulys
United States3612 Posts
) so it should be doable. There's nothing worse than not understanding some concept that a later concept depends on. | ||
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n.DieJokes
United States3443 Posts
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Cambium
United States16368 Posts
highlighting doesn't work for me, after a while, i just mindlessly highlight phrases without really understanding the contents. | ||
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Vlare
748 Posts
That is why I chose to major in chemistry ^ Studying for those other courses is mind numbingly unenjoyable and difficult. | ||
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