Reading Methods

Read Subject material carefully

- Look at the content.

- Skim the material:

(a)  Get an overview of the material: read the title, author's name and notes, if any; table of contents; headings, and introduction.

(b)  Select and underline or colour highlight main ideas, key sentences and important and unfamiliar words. Be particular and avoid highlighting almost every sentence.

(c)    Read the Conclusion and Summary.

 

Reading To Learn – THE S R METHOD.

1. S    Survey - a fast (very) reading.

 

i)  title

ii) author - is there a bias in the work?

iii) skim - a) read ALL the first paragraph, should have main ideas

b) read the topic sentence in each subsequent paragraph to give ideas therein.

c) read ALL the last paragraph, should contain conclusions.

2.      Questions to give direction to your reading.

e.g.       What is important?

What does this mean?

is this significant?

What is the implication of that?

3. R - Read,carefully, vary your speed with the difficulty of the material.

4. R - Review - write down the main ideas.

5. R - Revise - summary of the main points.

Repeat steps 3, 4, 5 until you can carry out step 4 from memory.

THEN  a)  revise every night for 5 nights

b)  then every week for 3 weeks

c)  then once per month

d)     resume the procedure 1 month before the exam.

 

NOTES.

i)  You forget at least 50% of material learned within 24 hours.

ii)  Revision as indicated reduces this loss to an economic minimum.

iii)  The method works for at least 95% of people.

iv)  it works only if you use it conscientiously and systematically.

V) You need a study timetable.

vi)  With practical work and with maths or science calculations as other subjects involving calculation, you learn by doing.

vii)  Read the hints on studying.