2. Preview the chapter in order to determine
what it is about and how it is organized
Read:
Title
Introduction or opening paragraph(s)
Headings and subheadings
Pictures, graphs, or charts
Closing paragraph or chapter summary
Keep the review brief…just 2-5 minutes.
3. Get actively involved with the text material
as you read it.
Focus on identifying the main ideas that the
author is presenting
Answer questions that you formulate as you
read. This will help you feel as though you
are “talking to the author” as you read.
Highlight or make notes
Remember the extent of your reading
involvement will affect how well you
understand and remember the text.
4. As you read, you should examine the
material for important information.
One way to do this is by formulating and
answering questions about the material as
you read.
Formulate questions from the headings and then
read the material that follows to find the answer
Ask yourself why or how the author reached a
certain conclusion.
Ask about the author’s point of view or biases.
Ask questions about how well you understand the
information
5. After you have finished reading the chapter, you
need to prompt you memory in order to prevent
forgetting.
Techniques for prompting:
Recitation – after you read, go back and recite
important information
Overlearning – continuing to work on material even
after it is learned…review, review, and review some
more.
Organizing - place the material into logical groups
(maybe based on headings and/or subheadings)
Mnemonics – memory techniques to aid in
retrieval…they include rhymes, associations,
acronyms, catchwords or catchphrases.
6. VanBlerkom, Dianna L. College Study Skills:
Becoming a Strategic Learner. 2nd ed.
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1997. Print.
