SQ3R is a reading/study system preIerred by many educators.

It can add 10 to 15 more time to a study session. However, it can produce a 70 improvement
in retention according to some researchers.
The SQ3R acronym stands Ior:
O S Survey
O Q Question
O R Read
O R Recite
O R Review

SURVEY:
Take Iive minutes to get an overview oI the material paying special attention to organization and
content.
Look out Ior diagrams, maps, pictures, charts. Take note oI headings, boldIace type, italicized
words.
QUESTION:
Create interest in the material by asking the leading questions - What, Who, Where, When, How.
Keeping the mind Iocused on these questions as we read maintains interest in the material.
Ask yourselI, "What is likely to be the most challenging part oI this material Ior me to
understand or remember?"
READ:
Look Ior answers to your questions Irom the previous stage. This means active reading.
Summarize the main points in your own words, perhaps putting notes in the margin.
Read the whole paragraph Iirst, then go back and underline key words or phrases.
Caution on underlining: Don't overdo it or nothing will stand out.
RECITE:
Without looking at your material recite the main points. Answer the questions you raised in step
2 (Question) in your own words.
II you can't explain it in your own words, you don't understand it - even iI you think you do!
'eriIy your answer by checking the text.
REVIEW:
AIter applying the previous Iour stages to your material section by section, review the whole
lesson at the end.
Note the parts that did not come to mind so easily and check the material again.
Re-read your margin notes and underlined words and phrases. 'erbalize the sequence oI main
points.
Do this Irequently within a two day period.
That's SQ3R in a nutshell. Sounds like hard work? Yes. But apply yourselI and see your
retention ability skyrocket!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/326102

How to Read Textbooks

Use the SQR3 method of reading to be an active and effective reader
The passive reader learns little. The aggressive reader organizes inIormation and answers
questions.
SQR3
survey
question
read
recite
review
The SQR3 Method of Reading
O Survey the chapter.
O Read the introduction to the chapter.
O Look over the major section headings. Glance at the Iigures.
O Skim questions, key words and summaries at the end oI the
chapter.
O Create a context Ior remembering inIormation.
O Generate interest and a sense oI what is important.
O !lan your study session. Set a time limit Ior working.
include breaks and rewards
Question. Create and answer questions.
For each section in the chapter, ask these 4 basic questions:
1. What is the main point?
2. What evidence supports the main point?
3. What are the applications or examples?
4. How is this related to the rest oI the chapter, the book, the
world, to me?
Read the section.
O Skim or read the section actively. Search Ior the answers to
your questions.
O ake notes in the margins to create your own organization
(see below).
Recite the main points.
O Look up Irom the book and verbalize the answers to your
questions.
O Talk out loud and listen to the answers. Recite to remember.
Review.
O Now go back and highlight or underline the main points in
the section.
O Add more notes in the text and margin.
Repeat SQR3 Ior each section; mini-survey, question, read, recite
and review. When Iinished, create a one page hierarchical summary
oI the entire chapter. Now do any homework assignments. Use
your summary Iirst, then the text.
Review often Review oIten and reward yourselI Ior a job well done.
How to mark the book
Do not highlight or underline main points while you read. ost students make too many marks.
Wait until you've Iinished a paragraph or section, then mark.
ark the text and the margin to outline the structure oI the book. For each main point, indicate
evidence, examples, steps, prooIs, connections to other points, deIinitions and your own
thoughts. The book holds the inIormation. Your marks create organization. ark to simpliIy
review.
How to Read Textbooks
Use the SQR3 method oI reading to be an active and eIIective
reader. The passive reader learns little. The aggressive reader
organizes inIormation and answers questions. SQR3: survey,
question, read, recite, review.
The SQR3 Method of Reading
Survey the chapter.
Read the introduction to the chapter.
Look over the major section headings. Glance at the Iigures.
Skim questions, key words and summaries at the end oI the
chapter.
Create a context Ior remembering inIormation.
Generate interest and a sense oI what is important.
!lan your study session. Set a time limit Ior working. Include
breaks and rewards.

Question. Create and answer
questions.
For each section in the chapter, ask these 4 basic questions:
1. What is the main point?
2. What evidence supports the main point?
3. What are the applications or examples?
4. How is this related to the rest oI the chapter, the book, the
world, to me?

Read the section.
Skim or read the section actively. Search Ior the answers to your
questions.
ake notes in the margins to create your own organization (see
below).

Recite the main points.
Look up Irom the book and verbalize the answers to your
questions.
Talk out loud and listen to the answers. Recite to remember.

Review.
Now go back and highlight or underline the main points in the
section.
Add more notes in the text and margin.
Repeat SQR3 Ior each section; mini-survey, question, read,
recite and review. When Iinished, create a one page hierarchical
summary oI the entire chapter.
Now do any homework assignments. Use your summary Iirst,
then the text.
Review oIten and reward yourselI Ior a job well done.

How to mark the book. (Only
do this to YOUR personal
property! AO1 1HE
SCHOOL'S 1EX1BOOKS!!)
Do not highlight or underline main points while you read. ost
students make too many marks. Wait until you've Iinished a
paragraph or section, then mark.
ark the text and the margin to outline the structure oI the book.
For each main point, indicate evidence, examples, steps, prooIs,
connections to other points, deIinitions and your own thoughts.
The book holds the inIormation. Your marks create
organization. ark to simpliIy review.
ore on SQR3...

SQR3: ethod Ior Quick Study
SURVEY
A survey is a quick preview or overview oI an entire textbook
or a single chapter.
Read the title. This helps your mind prepare Ior the subject at
hand, and it also lets you know what the chapter/text will be
about.
Read the introduction and/or summary. This helps you Iocus
on the main points that will be discussed in the chapter. You can
also determine what the author wants you to understand or be
able to do aIter you read the chapter.
Always pay attention to headings and subheadings. These
will indicate the details to come and will also reveal the author's
method oI organization and development oI topics.
!ay attention to charts, graphs, maps and diagrams. These
provide lots oI inIormation in an easy to read/understand Iormat.
Note whether key words or terms are italic, boldIace, deIined
within the text, or listed at the beginning or end oI the chapter.
The author is trying to call your attention to these bits oI Iacts,
so pay due notice. In other words, know what these terms or key
words are and how they are used.
Look Ior any problems or questions Ior discussion at the end
oI chapters or sections. These will help you determine which
concepts the author wants you to apply.

QUESTIUN
Questioning helps your mind engage and concentrate on what
you are reading.
Turn boldIace headings and subheadings into as many
questions as you think will be answered in the section you are
reading.
Turning headings into questions directs your reading so that
you can Iind the details and examples that support major points.
As you read each section careIully, try to Iind the answers to
questions you Iormed Irom the headings.
The better the questions, the better your comprehension will
be.

EAD
Read slowly and careIully, concentrating on one section at a
time. Don't worry about how long you take because you are
trying to absorb ideas, not become a speed-reader.
Read each section with your questions in mind.
Do not skip unIamiliar words or technical terms. II you
cannot inIer their meanings Irom context, look them up. Be sure
to reread the sentence in which each new word appears to ensure
you understand it.
Try to determine the main point oI the section. Summarizing
the main point in your notes or in the margin oI your text will
aid your recall when you review.
Always read through the section again, especially iI it seems
particularly technical or complex. Be sure to underline main
ideas and/or key thoughts.
Writing down the author's ideas in your own words also aids
your recall.
Creating notes, underlining or highlighting, and constructing
study guides are essential to active reading.

ECITE
Recitation is an essential aid to memory and comprehension.
At the end oI each section that you read, try to state, aloud or
silently, the important points covered.
II you have trouble doing this, then you probably have not
understood the section and you need to reread it. Don't move on
to the next section until you can recite.
II the central idea comes easily to mind, then you can be
conIident that you understand what you have read.

EVIEW
Review a chapter immediately aIter you Iinish reading it.
Review by skimming back over the chapter looking over any
notes you made in the margin. Do they still make sense?
Reread any passages that you underlined or highlighted.
Go back over all the questions Irom all the headings, and see
iI you can still answer them. II not, reIresh your memory and
continue.

!reparation
It is important to read any appendix or illustrations Iirst. II you are speed reading and have to
stop to look up words on every page it will really bog down your reading. II you start with the
appendix or word lists, you will not be interrupted while looking up words or by looking Ior
illustrations.
Study Habits
Study in advance. You will always be at a disadvantage iI you are cramming the night beIore.
Complete your studying a day in advance. II your test is on Friday, Iinish your studying
Wednesday. You can easily skim the material Thursday night without pressure. This will really
build your conIidence and you will be relaxed during the test. OI course, you should make sure
you receive plenty oI sleep the night beIore a test and drugs or alcohol will always interIere with
our ability to learn or take a test.
Taking Notes
You will need to take notes on what you read whether it is Ior work, school, or personal research.
There are many books on note taking that can help you Iurther. With your new speed reading
skills you can easily go through them to improve your study skills Iurther. Here are some
suggestions to help improve your note taking. AIter taking notes review them immediately. You
should review, then close your notes and see what you can recall. Re-review and repeat the
process. This simple review/recall process takes only a Iew minutes and will make studying or
remembering the material later much easier later. !racticing repetition when the material is Iresh
in your memory will imprint it on your brain so you can recall it when you need to.
You can draw pictures which are easier to remember on your notes. For example, iI you want to
remember 1492 and Columbus`s three ships, you might make a note and by that note draw a little
picture oI 3 ships sailing over the numbers 1492. You could also add the initials oI the
ships(N,!,S). Your mind can recall images more easily than raw Iacts. Take notes in short
paragraphs each with an associated image. When your brain makes the association between the
silly image and the inIormation it will be easier to recall later.
Do not underline or highlight sections. Underlining is a passive way oI studying. It slows you
down and when you are highlighting sections, you are actually selecting what not to study. You
may think you are selecting items you will eventually return to study but why not study them
now. Do not highlight. II you see an important point while speed reading, make a quick
checkmark in the margin and keep moving. Keeping busy is a type oI laziness. Your mind tells
you iI you keep busy you are doing something, but you are really putting oII what you need to do
which is STUDY! II you keep busy by highlighting everything important you are actually
delaying the study process. Study, don`t put it oII by keeping busy through underlining or other
unproductive study rituals.
!ropaganda
Beware oI blindly accepting the conclusions oI any author. any authors write books to
reinIorce their own belieIs or to prove their own pet theories. Facts and Theories are written in
the same ink. Always review material Irom diIIerent sources on any subject. Today we are
subjected to a barrage oI inIormation and as a result we tend to drink it all in without asking
where it comes Irom or iI it is even accurate. Frequently it is not accurate and can be
intentionally misleading. Intelligent people oIten think that they can diIIerentiate between
accurate and inaccurate inIormation because they are intelligent. This is seldom the case. any
news stories and books are written to mislead the reader. News publications Irequently promote
one side oI a story while withholding Iacts that would take away Irom the sensational nature oI
their headline. While you are absorbing inIormation, don`t accept everything as an absolute truth
just because it is in black and white. Remember that someone wrote it because they wanted you
to read it and they wanted you to be entertained, or to believe what they believe, or they wanted
you to buy their book or Ior whatever reason they were driven to write it.
Concentration
Concentration is important to speed reading. II you are uncomIortable, tense, angry or otherwise
distressed, you cannot speed read and understand what you are reading. ake a conscious eIIort
to relax and make yourselI comIortable beIore beginning. You should not have loud music
playing and deIinitely not have a T' on. The room should be as quiet as possible. SoIt music can
help drown out street sounds and background noise.
You Are The Master Of Multiple Skills
When you are speed reading, you are not practicing one skill, you are practicing many. You must
visually recognize inIormation, monitor your speed, comprehend what you are reading, and
understand the meaning oI the overall text. These take practice but with practice you will
improve all oI these skills.
Road Map
Always know where you are going beIore beginning a book. This applies mainly non Iiction or
textbooks. Look through the index, appendix, preIace and build a roadmap in your mind oI what
is in the book. This will make the reading process more IruitIul. II you start reading a book on
dogs with the general idea 'I want to know about dogs you will not have a Iirm objective. II you
set more speciIic objectives 'I want to know what dog is the most intelligent, or how long dogs
live, or 'Who is the main character, 'Where does this story take place in the world or any
speciIic question you will Iind you learn more. Even iI your question is not answered, you have
paid extra attention to the text while searching Ior that speciIic answer. When you Iind your
answer, come up with a new question. A speciIic question. You want to read Ior speciIic details
and avoid reading to Iind whatever you can learn`.
Three-Read
The best way to Iind your questions is to use the Three-Read technique. Three-Read is a process
used in speed reading that helps you gain the most Irom non Iiction or textbooks. The technique
is Ior books that contain many Iacts you need to remember. When using Three-Read, very
rapidly skim through your book or a chapter at your maximum reading speed. This is a quick
skim oI the inIormation and Ior a Iull book should take less than a Iew minutes. You will now
have a good idea what is in the book and you should have some questions about things you
missed when reading. Go back and re-read using your maximum comprehension speed. When
you are Iinished you should have the answers to your speciIic questions. You should now re-read
the book or chapter again at your Iastest speed. This will reIresh the inIormation in your
memory. Repetition always helps memory. By using the Three-Read process, you can recall the
inIormation much more easily. You can read the book additional times iI needed. You should
wait 30 minutes. Then see how much inIormation you can recall. Repeat the Three-Read
procedure and see how well you do.
You may be thinking it would be easier and to slow read the book or chapter. Slow reading
would still be much slower than Three-Read`ing once and you would not have the beneIits oI
repetition. The skimming only takes a Iew minutes per book. Reading at your maximum
comprehension speed is much Iaster than slow reading. !lus, by using Three-Read, you have the
experience oI repetition which increases your ability to recall the material later. You would have
to read the book several times using slow reading to gain the same beneIit.
Three-Read a chapter then skim the previous chapter beIore beginning the next when you are
reading a textbook. This will give you an immediate review oI material and reIresh your
memory.
!leasure reading does not require the 3-read technique since you are not trying to store Iacts in
your memory.
Take any notes on the 3rd read through, that is skim, then read Ior comprehension, then on the
next skim take your notes. At this point you are very Iamiliar with the material and will gain the
most beneIits.

eign Interest
!retend to be interested. That`s right. II you need to read something you are not interested in, tell
yourselI it is the most Iascinating subject you have ever heard oI. II you can do this Ior ten
minutes you will Iind that you really do become interested in the material. By the time ten
minutes is up, you will know enough about the material to have built an interest in it. This trick
also works in conversation. II someone is talking about something uninteresting, tell yourselI
you are Iascinated and soon you will truly be interested. The more you know about a subject, the
more interesting it becomes. Give yourselI the chance to learn enough to become truly interested.

Start With The amiliar
While learning speed reading you should pick a book that you are already Iamiliar with. !ick
something you have already read Ior your very Iirst choice. You should pick books that do not
have unIamiliar words or ideas.
Customizing The Texts
You can replace the quiz.txt Iile in the text Iolder oI the program with any text Iile to practice
your reading skills. You can Iind many text Iormat books online at places like
http://www.gutenberg.org/
This will allow you to continue testing your reading speed with your own choice oI literature.

low reely
The beneIits oI speed reading are not in Iorcing your brain to do something unnatural but to let
your mind absorb inIormation Ireely without the limitations oI that little voice in your head.

!ractice
There is a story that says Winston Churchill once Ilew to the US to give a speech to a group oI
college graduates. The college paid his speaking Iee, he Ilew in and he was introduced. When he
stepped up to the podium he called out in an every increasing volume 'Never give up. Never
give up. Never give up. And then he sat down.
Don`t give up. Speed Reading involves unlearning reading habits you were taught Irom Iive
years old. It takes practice and eIIort to reach truly high speed levels. Keep practicing.
Thank you Ior using this course. We hope it beneIits your liIe and encourages you to tackle new
challenges. There are many books on improving study skills, memory, and personal
improvement. We encourage you to seek out anything that interests you and learn as much as
you can.
'isit our website at http://www.speedreaderx.com