SQ3R stands for Survey, Question, Read, Review, Recite--the steps necessary to really understand any school text. In trying these techniques, you may use any school text, on any subject, and apply each of the following steps, one at a time.

SQ3R: Real Reading Comprehension

S SURVEY
First, look over the chapter or the section assigned. Read the first paragraph. Quickly turn each page from beginning to end. Read the section titles. If there are pictures, charts, or maps, look at them and read the words under them. Read the last paragraph of a chapter or the chapter summary very carefully.

Q QUESTION
While you are surveying, try turning the section titles around to make questions. For example, "Minerals are important to a country" might become "How are minerals important to a country?" You will think of many such questions as you leaf through the pages.

R READ
Now you are ready to read. Look for answers to your questions. Probably you already know something about the subject you are studying. Compare what you know with what you are reading. Ask yourself: "What is the writer's purpose?" "What is he or she trying to get me to think or do?" "Is he or she giving facts or opinions?" If the latter, whose opinions?

If a word meaning is not clear to you through its use in the section, reread. If it is still unclear, look it up, or jot it down to look up when you finish reading.

R REVIEW
Briefly review each section right after reading it. Close your book and see how much you can recall. Go back over important details you cannot remember. When you have finished reading the whole assignment, leaf through the chapter recalling main ideas under each section heading. Think through how these ideas fit together to build up the main idea of the chapter.

R RECITE
Reciting gives you an opportunity to demonstrate to yourself and to others what you have learned. There are many ways to recite--answering questions in class, writing a composition about the lesson, outlining it, reporting on it, or perhaps, taking a test on it. In any event, you may want to write brief notes after reading each section or upon completing the entire assignment. Notes can greatly help you retain what you have read.