Reading Skills
SQRRR Method
Survey
- Read all section titles, subheadings, and terms in boldface or italic type.
- Examine all illustrations, maps, and charts.
- Read any summaries of the selection.
Question
- Ask yourself questions that will be answered as you read the selection.
Write the questions down if this will help you focus.
- Remember your question words: what, when, where, why, and how.
Read
- Read the selection.
- Look for the information that you asked yourself.
- If the information that you are reading is overwhelming, jot down some
notes that will help you remember what you are reading about.
Recite
- Ask and answer the questions you thought of before you started reading.
Review
- Ask and answer the questions again.
Skimming
*** Skimming a passage is only good when you just want to get a general idea
of the selection.
Strategies for skimming
- Read the title of the selection.
- Read the first two or three paragraphs.
- Read the first and last sentences of all the other paragraphs.
- Read the subheadings, and notice all of the boldface or italic type words.
Scanning
*** Scanning a passage is only good when you are looking for specific
information.
Strategies for skimming
- Know exactly what you are looking for before you start scanning.
- Glance down the pages or columns to find key words.
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Note-Taking Skills
Use the following strategies while taking notes from a reading passage.
- Write the notes in your own words.
- Use words and phrases, not complete sentences.
- Use abbreviations and symbols when possible.
- Pay close attention to words in boldface and italic type, in quotation
marks, and in another color.
- Watch for words and phrases that signal main points such as first, then
finally, most important, and the reason for.
- Separate your notes for different classes. Be sure that your English
notes are not with your history notes.
- Write your notes in pen.
Use the following strategies when taking notes from the overhead, a
PowerPoint presentation, or a lecture.
- Write the notes in your own words.
- Use words and phrases, not complete sentences.
- Use abbreviations and symbols when possible.
- Use the "Two Column" form of notes.
1. Draw a line down the middle of your paper.
2. Put the topic on one side and the details on the other side.
**This will be an easy way to quiz yourself when you study.
- Listen to your teacher. Do not pretend to listen by just staring at
the teacher!
- Ask your teacher for clarification.
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Test -Taking Skills
Strategies to use while preparing for a test
- Study in the same place at the same time so studying will become a habit,
not a chore!
- Study with someone. Ask each other questions.
- Study for about 25 minutes and then take a break.
- Be sure to look over the information that your teacher emphasizes.
- Read over your notes for at least 10 minutes every day.
- Cramming the night before will make you nervous and you are more likely to
forget the information that you studied.
Strategies to use while taking a test
True-False Statements
- Read each question carefully. If any part of the question is not true,
then the statement is false.
- Look for words that mean there are no exceptions to the statement such as
all, none, always, never, no, and only.
- Look for words that mean there are exceptions to the statement such as
most, generally, some, few, sometimes, and may.
Multiple-Choice Questions
- Read the question carefully and try to answer it before looking at the
answer choices.
- Read all of the choices.
- Eliminate the wrong choices.
Matching Questions
- Read the directions carefully to see if you can use an answer more than
once or if there are choices that will not be use at all.
- Match the ones you know for certain.
- Cross out answers as you use them.
Short-Answer Questions
- Read the question carefully.
- If you do not know the answer, write down what you know about the topic.
- Use complete sentences.
- Use part of the question to help you with your answer.
Essay Questions
- Read the directions carefully.
- Start with the question you are most familiar with.
- Do not spend too much time on one question.
- Quickly write down facts that you want to use in your answer.
- Be specific.
- Check for spelling and grammar errors.