There are basically SQ3R methods known as the most proven way to sharpen study skills. These are the SURVEY, QUESTION, READ, RECITE AND REVIEW. I trust it will do you lots of good if you take time out to commit them to memory.
SURVEY-Get the best overall picture of what you’re going to study BEFORE you study any detail. It’s like looking at a road map before going on a trip. If you don’t know the territory, studying a map is the best way to begin.
QUESTION-Ask questions for learning. The important things to learn are usually answers to questions. Questions should lead to emphasis on the what, why, how, when, who and where of study content. Ask yourself questions as you read or study. As you answer them , you will help to make sense of the material and remember it more easily because the process will make an impression on you. Those things that make impressions are more meaningful, and therefore more easily remembered. Don’t be afraid to write your questions in the margins of textbooks, on lecture notes, or wherever it makes sense.
READ–Reading is not running your eyes over a textbook. When you read , read actively. Read to answer questions you have asked yourself or question the instructor or author has asked. Always be alert to bold or italicized print. The authors intend that this material receive special emphasis. Also, when you read, be sure to read everything including tables, graphs and illustrations. Often times tables, graphs and illustrations can convey an idea more powerfully than written text.
RECITE-When you recite, you stop reading periodically to recall what you have read. Try to recall main headings, important ideas of concepts presented in bold or italicized type, and what graphs charts or illustrations indicate. Try to develop an overall concept of what you have read in your own words and thoughts. Try to connect things you have just read to things you already know. When you do this periodically, the chances are you will remember much more and be able to recall material for papers, essays and objective tests.
REVIEW-A review is a survey of what you have covered. It is a review of what you are supposed to accomplish, not what you are going to do. Rereading is an important part of the review process. Reread with the idea that you are measuring what you have gained from the process. During review, it’s a good time to over notes you have taken to help clarify points you may have missed or don’t understand. The best time to review is when you have just finished studying something. Don’t wait until just before an examination to begin the review process. Before an examination, do a final review. If you manage your time, the final review can be thought of as a “fine-tuning” of your knowledge of the material. Thousands of high school and college students have followed the SQ3R steps to achieve higher grades with less stress.
READING– A primary means by which you acquire information is through reading. In college or university, you’re expected to do more than reading in high school. Don’t assume just because you’ve “read” the assignments that is the end of it. In studying, you may read the same assignment three or four times, each time with a different purpose. You must know before you begin reading what your purpose is, and read accordingly.
High Flyers 