TEXTBOOK STUDY STRATEGY

TEXTBOOK STUDY STRATEGY

Preview or skim the assigned chapter by:

§	Reading the main title
§	Reading the chapter objectives
§	Reading all headings/subheadings
§	Reading the first sentence of each paragraph
§	Reading the introductory paragraph
§	Reading the concluding paragraph
§	Reading boldface and italic words and phrases
§	Studying charts, illustrations and photographs
§	Reviewing end-of-chapter summaries and questions.

Read the entire chapter. Write down unfamiliar vocabulary. Look up these words in the glossary or a dictionary.

Be active. Think.

§	Restate ideas in your own words. At the end of a paragraph, rephrase the idea in your own words.
§	Form mental pictures. Stop and build a mental picture of what the author is saying.
§	Compare what you are reading to what you know. How does new information fit with what I know? Does it reinforce, contradict, or add new information?
§	Answer questions. Connect what you are reading to questions you need to answer.

Fix up strategies to use if you don’t understand what you are reading.

§	Define unfamiliar words. Check the context, glossary, lecture notes, dictionary, or ask someone.
§	Use chapter objectives and headings/subheadings. Reread objectives and headings/subheadings for the unclear passage for ideas or concepts that help you to understand.
§	Review related graphics. Reread any graphic and its explanation to see if it clarifies the text information.
§	Reread a portion. Try reading the sentence or paragraph again with the specific goal of clarifying your question.
§	Keep the problem on hold and hope it will clarify itself. If the problem is just one sentence or paragraph you can mark it and continue reading. It’s possible the next sentence or paragraph will help you.
§	Compare information with notes or another source. Find and read about the topic or idea in another book to see if a different approach helps your understanding.
§	Ask someone. When you’ve clarified the vocabulary; reread the objectives, headings/subheadings, graphics, and unclear passages; review other information you have and if you still don’t understand what you need to, ask someone for help.