HOW TO USE A TEXTBOOK IN THIS CLASS

http://www.dixie.edu/fye_handbook/File/How%20to%20Read%20a%20College%20Textbook%20-%20handout(1).pdf

http://www.niagara.edu/assets/listpage/21-Tips-for-Better-Textbook-Reading2.pdf

Ten Tips for Reading College Textbooks

Adapted from Orientation to College Learning, Diana L. Van Blerkom, Wadsworth Publishing Co.

1. Read the chapter before the lecture. This will help you build

background on the topic, learn the basic organizational structure of the

material, and take better lecture notes.

2. Divide the chapter into readable chunks. A 50-page chapter

is probably best read in five chunks of around ten pages each. Dividing

the chapter into smaller reading segments increases your comprehension

and decreases the time you spend reading the chapter.

3. Be specific about when and where you will do your

reading assignment. Put it on your “To Do” list and choose times

when you are most alert, usually during daylight or early evening hours.

Select a location that is quiet, free of distractions, and well lighted (such

as the library). A routine of time and place aids in concentration.

4. Space your reading. Spread the ten-page chunks out over one or

two days. Take breaks between sections or read one chunk in the

morning, another in the evening, and the third chunk the next day.

5. Preview the chapter before you read. Read the title,

introduction, and headings, glance at charts and pictures, and read the

summary. A two-to-five-minute preview reduces the total time you

spend reading and increases your comprehension.

6. Turn chapter headings into questions before reading.

This will give you a specific purpose for your reading, resulting in better

comprehension. For example, the heading “Causes of the Civil War” can

be turned into the question, “What are the causes of the Civil War?” By

reading to answer the question, your focus will be greatly improved.

7. Mark the text or take notes as you read. Highlight,

underline, or take notes at the end of each section. Wait until you finish

reading the paragraph or small section before you begin to mark your

text.

8. Monitor your comprehension. Stop to check your understanding

of the material at regular intervals. If the material is easy to understand,

you may be able to wait until the end of each main division of the chapter

to summarize what you have learned. If the text is difficult, you may

need to pause at the end of each paragraph.

9. Review immediately what you read. After you complete your

reading assignment, take five to ten minutes (or more) to review what

you just read before forgetting takes place. Develop a recall column or

summarize the key information.

10. Prompt your memory. Use the headings of your textbook or

your notes to prompt your memory. Recite the information out loud or

write it down. This will help transfer the information into long-term

memory.

Using Textbooks

Wait...Is This a Sneaky Way to Make Me a Better Student?

Prezis and Textbooks??

Before or After?

Drawing Connections.

Thinking about Difference

Using Useful Parts

Yup

• Common Language
• Other Way of Explaining
• Continued Handbook

Draw Connections

Think about Difference

Use Useful Parts

HOW TO USE A TEXTBOOK IN THIS CLASS