The SQ4R reading strategy
Here are the steps in the SQ4R reading strategy:
| Survey | Question | Read | Recite | Relate | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repeat for each section | |||||
Survey
| HOW | Take 2-3 minutes to scan the chapter headings, bold/italicized words, and illustrations. Read the chapter introduction and the chapter summary. |
| WHY | Knowing the core ideas in advance helps you organize them as you read them later. |
Question
| HOW | Turn the first relevant heading into a question(s). |
| WHY | Having a question in mind gives you a purpose to read for in each section. |
Read
| HOW | Read the section for the purpose of answering the question(s) you created. Take notes and include page numbers. Ask yourself out loud: who, what, when, where, why and how. |
| WHY | Your mind will be forced to reproduce the information you’ve just read, allowing you to internalize the information. |
Recite
| HOW | Recite your notes after each section. Ask yourself if your notes makes sense to you. If no, re-read or add more notes to improve the information. |
| WHY | Speaking your notes out loud lets you hear them on their own and determine how clear and helpful they are. |
Relate
| HOW | Try to relate what you read it to something you already know, or connect it to your own experience. Or come up with an analogy that helps you illustrate the information. |
| WHY | You will apply the reading material to your life and knowledge which should help you retain the information at a later time. |
Review
| HOW | Look over all of your notes for the entire chapter. Clarify your understanding and decide if you need to go back and re-read any sections of the chapter. |
| WHY | Clarifying this information now means that when you come back to review it later, it’ll be quicker and easier for you to study and remember. |