SQ3R: A Study Reading

Strategy

English 213
Prof. Shirley Santiago de Jiménez
copyright. January, 2006
Review:
What does a person have to develop
to be an effective reader?
HABITS
According to STCR, what 3 habits are
essential in order to become an
effective reader?
Commit to reading
Concentrate on your reading
Read actively
To read actively or skillfully you
must:
Understand the reading process
Utilize strategies that can help you
read more efficiently
Maximize reading comprehension
Minimize reading time
Retain information
Improve concentration
 What is SQ3R?
A study reading method or technique
based on a series of steps
It divides the reading process into 3
stages:
Before : Preparation
During : Concentration
After: Retention
Why use SQ3R?

Organized information is
easier to remember than
information taken in without
a plan
The Steps in SQ3R

Survey
Question
Read
Recite
Review
SURVEY
Get an overview or general idea
about the reading by previewing
This helps to activate any
previous knowledge we may have
Find out about the author, type of
work, and subject
Look at the title, subtitles, or
headings
Look at any visuals (captions,
pictures, charts or drawings)
SURVEY (cont.)
Read the first paragraph and the
first sentence of each other
paragraph
Read the last paragraph
Look for key words in different print
Circle or underline any difficult
words as a vocabulary preview
Make a PREDICTION about the
main idea or central theme
The author’s idea or message about
the topic of discussion
 Remember-don’t read all the
material!
All you want is an idea, so only
take a few minutes to conduct
your survey!
Practice: Food for Luck
QUESTION
Formulate information (Wh) questions
on what you have surveyed
These will help you to concentrate or
focus while reading!
For example: the title, visuals, the first
lines of the different paragraphs etc.
Follow the organization of the article!

Practice: Food for Luck

READ
Read thoroughly and actively,
focusing on your questions
This gives your reading a purpose
As you read, you can annotate
(underline and take notes in the
margin)
Writing reinforces what you read
RECITE
Try to answer the questions you
formulated based on what you
remember
If you have problems, then these are
the areas you will pay closer attention
to when you review
Recite after a long section; repeat
information and reread if necessary
REVIEW
Look over the material again but
without rereading; go over the
questions again
Verify your prediction and revise it if
necessary
Now that you’ve read you can determine
what the main idea or central theme is
Respond and reflect by connecting
the reading to your previous
experiences
SQ3R- Food for Luck: New Year’s Rituals 213-02

Prediction: Many people think eating food at New Year’s

brings or symbolizes good luck.

Questions:
What kind of food is lucky at New Year’s?
How does food control good luck?
Why do societies think that certain foods have magical
powers?
What are lentils?
What ties these New Year’s talismans together?
What is the root of these traditions?
Why are the symbols self-centered?
Why do people connect food and color?

Revised Prediction:
 SQ3R

PREPARE
Identify author and work
Survey Make Predictions Before Reading
Question Establish Purpose
Preread
Activate previous knowledge
Raise Questions

Read READ During Reading

Recite Annotate
Monitor
comprehension

Review RESPOND After Reading

Review
Reflect
References

Seyler, Dorothy U. Steps to College

Reading, 3rd ed. New York: Pearson
Longman, 2004
Weiner, Harvey and Charles
Bazerman. Basic Reading Skills
Handbook, 5th ed. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin Co. 2000