SQRW strategy for reading text books.
Cats: Training|The SQRW strategy for reading text books is helpful because it helps you to focus, and get the information that you need- not all the confusing lingo and extra bits you don’t need!
Survey:- Similar to a brain storm, surveying is putting together everything you already know about the topic. This will help you focus on the subject, so that you’re mind is ready to learn about it. Have a look through the chapter you’re about to read and take note of the titles of sections, and spend time viewing the pictures. This will allow your mind to start processing the information before you get to it!
Question:- You need to know what you’re looking for! When I was in high school, for Ancient History, we had to have a main focus question, and then several questions underneath that were more detailed and specific to what we wanted to know. When you’re working on your focus questions, make sure you cover the who, what, when, why and how. You can form these questions based on the topics in the text book, which is easier.
Read:- Read through the chapter or section and answer the questions you’ve made. Remember to BE FLEXIBLE. If you can’t find the answer, then maybe you need to look for it at alternate sources, or you might find that you need to change the question, or make it into several questions.
Write:- This is obvisously writing down the answers to the questions you’ve made. A recommendation would be write down all the information, not just the main words. What makes sense to us while we’re reading a text book doesn’t always make so much sense when we’re re-reading it later! Also make sure that your handwriting is legible, and that you have answered the questions properly.
Another free tip is to go through the SQRW steps chapter at a time. Don’t brainstorm and write questions for every chapter you need to cover right at the beginning, or you will end up forgetting it, or becoming confused.
November 29th, 2008 at 2:30 am
Leadership
An interesting quote by David Loyd George on the importance of leaders taking risks: Don\’t be afraid to take a big step when one is indicated. You can\’t cross a chasm in two small steps.