How Do We Unserstand What We Read

Reading for Understanding: The SQW3R Method

Reading is ane of the cadre activities of study. Yous need to be able to sympathise what you read and to be able to retrieve the main ideas when you need them. You tin can apply the SQW3R method to improve your comprehension, to remember a reading for tutorials, seminars or to review for exams.

Southward = Survey

Earlier you first to read, survey the fabric to proceeds an overview of the contents.

Expect through the whole reading/ chapter to preview it. Approach it by scanning:

• title(s) and subheadings
• summaries or abstracts
• the introduction and conclusion
• visual materials (pictures, charts, graphs or tables) and their captions
• the first and last sentences in paragraphs
• the determination
• whatsoever focus questions

Note how the reading has been structured and look for the writer's plan. This will give you an idea of the main thesis.

Q = Question

Your reading volition be more memorable if y'all question the material.

As y'all are surveying, annotation down your questions. Writing down questions keeps you alarm and focused on your work.

ane. Ask yourself:

• What is this chapter/ commodity most?
• What did my lecturer/ tutor say almost this chapter or subject?
• What do I already know virtually this subject?
• How does this reading relate to what I already know/ have read?

ii. Devise questions that will guide your reading:

• Think about specific questions for which you demand to, or would like to, detect answers.
• Read any focus questions at the end of the reading.
• Turn the championship, headings and subheadings into questions. For example, if the heading is Qualitative and Quantitative Research, your question might be: 'What is the difference betwixt these two types of research?'

3. Make a listing of your questions for consideration. You volition use them during review to help you remember what y'all have read.

R1 = Read

Be prepared to READ material twice.

Kickoff, read without making notes:

1. Decrease your pace and read actively. Active reading requires concentration, and then have your time and find a quiet place where you can read and focus.

ii. Every bit you lot read, look for answers to the questions you noted downward earlier.

three. Question the writer's reasoning. Is each point justified? Is there enough bear witness? What is the evidence?

four. Compare diagrams and illustrations with the written text. Frequently y'all will understand more from them.

5. Brand sure you understand what yous are reading. Reduce your reading speed for difficult passages. Stop and reread parts which are not articulate.

6. If you have difficulty understanding a text, wait up difficult words in the dictionary or glossary of terms and reread. If the meaning of a word or passage still evades you, get out it and read on. Perhaps afterwards more reading you lot volition observe information technology more accessible and the pregnant volition become clear. Speak to your tutor if your difficulty continues.

7. Apply reflection to increase your agreement of what you read. When the author makes a merits, reflect on your prior knowledge to support or disprove it. If this raises more questions, note them down. This will assist you lot recall and understand. But keep in mind that you are using personal reflection but equally a learning tool—it is not enough to prove or refute a enquiry finding.

W • (Read) + Write

On your 2nd reading, begin to take notes:

1. Accept notes from the text, but write information in your own words.

2. Read one department at a time (a section might exist divided up by headings or subheadings).

3. Afterward you read a section, try to sum up the main point in one sentence.

4. Note downward the principal thought(s) of each paragraph in a department. They are often found in the start or last sentence.

5. Examples and illustrations can further your understanding and exist good cues for memory. Await for important details (supporting bear witness, written illustrations of points, provisions or alternatives).

6. In your notes, underline or highlight the of import points. This will be useful for later on review.

7. Refer to the list of questions you made earlier and try to answer them.

R2 = Think

RECALL direct subsequently you lot finish taking notes.

You lot should take an outline of the reading in note form. You should now try to recall and write your thinking about what you have read.

1. Close the book and cover your notes.

2. Brand notes of what you retrieve well-nigh the main thesis and points of the reading.

3. Check their accurateness against the notes y'all made during your reading.

4. Return to the reading. Read one department at a time and endeavor to remember what you lot have read. If you were unable to recollect i of the major points, then reread that section of the reading to clarify it further.

5. It can also exist helpful to RECITE ideas aloud to help you lot remember. Sum up the main points verbally—reciting can help you put ideas into your own words.

R3 = Review

Now REVIEW what yous have read.

At the end of your report menstruation:

Check the accurateness of your notes against the original material (if yous take underlined the principal points, this should exist unproblematic). This is an of import part of the process because it can actually assistance you clarify and think what you have read.

The next day:

1. Read through your notes to reacquaint yourself with the main thesis and primal points.

2. Now read through the questions yous noted down and try to answer them from memory.

3. Attempt doing the aforementioned affair after a few days.

If you lot are reading for a course, periodically reviewing notes volition assist you at exam time. The more than you review throughout semester, the less you will demand to cram during test written report periods.

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Source: https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/reading-understanding

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