Creating a Strategy For Textbook Studies

Brian — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:06:37 +0000

The reading of textbooks is an integral part of your college education. Although in the classroom a teacher may cover much of the content of the subject matter, many of the details of the topic will be fleshed out from your textbook. Unfortunately much of the material can be dry and staying focused is essential to your success in the class.

In order to glean the essential information needed from your textbook it is important to follow a systematic process. This will help you retain more of what you read and make it easier to study for the next test.

Begin by reviewing the title and headers of the chapter you are reading. This is called Surveying. Surveying gives you an overview of what you are about to delve into. Surveying allows you to prepare an outline or flow of the materials you are about to cover in your reading. It allows your mind to organize and prepare for the subject matter.

In the next step of the process you will convert the chapter headings into questions. Ask yourself who, what, when, where, why or how. Write these questions down. This allows you to focus in on what you are reading and gives you purpose. When you find the answers during you reading, write them next to the questions on your paper and highlight them in the textbook.

As you are reading, make sure to note any additional subheadings on your paper along with the question these subheadings present. After you’ve finished reading the chapter, go back to your paper and make sure all of your written questions have been answered in a complete manner. Make sure there are no other questions that come to mind that need answering.

Finally, review the summary of the chapter and complete the questions at the end of the chapter. Use your notes to complete the answers and write down any questions you didn’t find in your own notes. Then you back through the chapter under the proper heading to locate these unanswered questions and write them on your paper along with the question.

Keeping a written question and answer format of your textbook reading will help you when you are involved in classroom discussion. It will allow you to probe your teacher for any answers that weren’t clear to you during you reading and will make studying for your test much easier.

Don’t forget to pay attention to any tables, charts, and photographs that are mentioned in the textbook. There is often additional information set aside in boxes on the pages that add to what is written in the body of the text. Take care to note or highlight this information as well.

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Creating a Strategy For Textbook Studies

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