Getting the most from your textbook!

Alexander College Writing & Learning Centres

Learning Outcomes for this Workshop:

By the end of this workshop: You will learn to identify key features in

any textbook for any course that will help you learn

You will analyse and summarise what you think a chapter is about

You will learn how to use SQ3R

Step 1: Buy the textbook! In order to succeed in college and university

classes, textbook learning is very important

If the instructor assigns a textbook, you

NEED to buy it!!

DO NOT listen to those who tell you

otherwise!

Key features

Learning outcomes

Subheadings and bolded terms

Chapter summaries

Review exercises

Active Reading [SQ3R]

Textbook Learning Outcomes

Presented at the beginning of the chapter

A guide to the material being discussed and

what you should know by the end of the

chapter.

Sub-headings and bolded terms

Sub-headings provide key information on

what certain pages contain

Bolded terms contain crucial information,

definition is usually on the margins of the page.

Tip: Make a list of all the terms and definitions

to aid with your studying.

Chapter summaries Found at the end of the

chapter

A review of all the

important points covered

in the chapter

A great way to review if

you have sufficiently

understood the

information in the chapter

Review exercises At the end of the chapter

or part of online course

materials.

Contains questions that you

can use to test yourself to

see how well you

understand the material

Great tool to use when

studying for exams!

IndexFound at the back of

the textbook

Great way to look up

key terms/ideas or

any topic you may be

interested in

Active reading: SQ3R METHOD

Survey:

Quickly skim the chapter to get an idea

Question:

What is the main point of what I am reading?

Why is this important? What does this

mean?

Active reading: SQ3R METHOD

Read: Concentrate on the topic, Avoid distractions!

Active reading: SQ3R METHOD

Read: Remember:

Take notes! Test your memory? Do you “get” the gist?

Active reading: SQ3R METHOD

Read: Remember: Review:

Go back and reread if you must! Refine your notes!

Reading effectively

You DO NOT have to memorize every word

Highlight ONLY key terms and points!

Summing up

Using textbooks effectively will make you a stronger student

Improved Grades!!

Focus on the key features to guide your learning Learning outcomes Subheadings and bolded terms Chapter summaries Review exercises in textbook/online