Study Skills Center
Reading/Study Technique
Survey - Overview of chapter
1. Read learning objectives.
2. Read introductory paragraph.
3. Read chapter title, headings, and
subheadings.
Question - Purpose for reading
1. Turn a heading or a subheading into a
question by asking “who, what, when,
where, why, or how.”
Read - For Comprehension
1 1. Read one section actively to answer the
question asked.
2. Compare or contrast with earlier materials
studied.
3. Answer to the question should be the main
idea of paragraph or section–highlight it.
Recite - For Understanding
2 1. Read aloud highlighted answer to
question asked.
2. State answer aloud from memory.
Rephrase - Brief notes of chapter
3 1. Write brief chapter outline; or
Review - For Retention
4 1. Answer text questions.
2. Study highlighted and annotated
information in text.
3. Use helpful memory cues.
4. Look at charts, pictures, graphs.
5. Read chapter summary, “words to
remember,” other help at end of chapter.
6. Read chapter questions.
2. If no headings, turn a topic sentence into
a question.
4. Locate details and underline in pencil.
5. Study tables, graphs, and charts for that
section, relating them to text reading.
6. Make 3x5 note cards for vocabulary.
7. Make annotations in text margins.
3. To understand—talk aloud to yourself
about what is highlighted and underlined.
4. Do all of SQ4R process on one section at
a time.
2. Write a brief summary on one
notebook page.
4. Review vocabulary notecards.
5. Compare text notes to lecture notes.
6. Repeat this review weekly.