SQ3R
Rowntree (1988) described a systematized reflective reading strategy, which is known as SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recall and Review). It is an effective way of approaching a text actively and reflectively:
Survey: read to get the main idea
Begin by surveying the text to get a general idea of what it is about. It should help you to decide how helpful it might be for your purposes.
Question: know why you are reading.
Before you start reading for detail, you need to decide what questions you want your reading to answer. This is essential if you are going to get the most out of the text.
Read: in order to find the answers to your questions
This stage is more productive. Read the text in whatever ways are most helpful.
Making connection: try to make connections with your purposes, experiences and what you have known
Being critical: try to form opinions or make judgment what you read.
Recall: Having worked out what you want to find out and attempted to locate it in the text, now it is the time to stop and think about what you have learned. This is probably the ideal time to take notes about what you have learnt.
Review: Look over the text again, to make sure that you have not missed anything important. Look up the words that you need in a dictionary.
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Stages in active reading |
Activities |
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1. Survey |
Consider your purpose
What is this composition about? Is it sufficiently up-to-date? Does it contain the information you need? |
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2. Question |
Ask yourself
Should I read it? If so, which parts should I read? How should I read it? |
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3. Read critically |
Scan read selected parts Read again. Select, Organise to suit your purpose. Make notes.
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4. Recall |
Consider what you have read. Check your notes. Have you extracted the information you need and arranged it to suit your purpose. |
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5. Review |
Remember.
List main points from memory. |
Barrass (2002: 95)
Next
Please click on SQ3R Exercise to go to the next section.