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WHAT IS SQ3R?

SQ3R stands for, S (Survey), Q (Question), 3R (Read, Recite and Review.

This method was designed to help people become more active in their reading

and retain information more easily.

SQ3R (Robinson, 1970) is a method for active elaboration of material that we

read, say in a textbook

The following are the explanations about SQ3R:

1. Survey: Before beginning reading, look through the whole chapter about a

minute. See what the headings are; the major one and the subheadings;

hierarchical structures seem to be particularly easy for our brains to latch onto.

Then, check for introductory and summary paragraphs, references and so on.

Remember to resist reading at this point, but see if we can identify 3 to 6 major

ideas in the chapter.

2. Question: Ask ourselves what the chapter is all about. We usually working on

this in about less than 30 seconds. What is the question that the chapter is trying

to answer? Repeat this process with each subsection of the chapter, as well,

turning each heading into a question.

3. Read: Read one section (the speed of reading is not important for it is slower for

some of us than others). At a time, look for the answer to the question proposed

by the heading. This is active reading and requires concentration. So, find

ourselves a place and time where we can concentrate.

4. Recite: This phase requires us to do some writing or with just say it out loud in

about a minute. Say to ourselves (I do this out loud so I have to study where I do

not embarrass myself) or write it down (I sometimes do this in the margins of the

book itself) a key phrase that sums up the major point of the section and answers

the question. It is important to use our own words, not just copy a phrase from

the book. Research shows that we remember our own (active) connections better

than ones give to us (passive), indeed that our own hierarchies are generally

better than the best prefab hierarchies.

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5. Review: After repeating steps 2-4 for each section we have a list of key phrases

that provides a sort of outline for the chapter. In less than 5 minutes, test

ourselves by covering up the key phrases and seeing if we can recall them. Do

this right after we finish reading the chapter. If we cannot recall one of the major

points, then that is a section we need to reread.

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RATIONALE FOR EVERY WORD IN SQ3R

1) Why Survey?

You will be better able to concentrate because you have established a

frame of reference.

You will be more aware of the author’s organization. Main points should

stand out more easily.

2) Why Question?

Your reading becomes an active search for answers instead of passive

activity.

Realising short-term goals will help you comprehend more difficult

material.

As you perfect the questioning technique, test question will seem more

and more familiar.

3) Why Read?

You discover answers to your questions and begin to recognise what is

and is not important.

You look at the material more critically for main ideas and important

details.

You keep yourself on track by being aware of your concentration level.

4) Why Recite?

Knowing that you will need to recite the information you are reading will

force you to concentrate and repeating it will help you remember it.

You will be able to gauge what you learn and what you still need to work

on.

Provides another activity to help you become more involved in the reading

process.

5) Why Review?

Immediate review of information facilitates retention.

Periodic review throughout the text will help you not only remember, but

learn the info.

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You will establish a base of information that should help you in reading

chapters later in the course.

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The Application Of SQ3R From The Text

TEXT: Ferrets as Pets

Step 1: Survey

Step 2: Question

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Introduction:

Ferret is a small, long bodied, low-slung creature.

Related to weasels, skunks, wolverines and badgers.

This animal is the third most popular pet in the United

States.

Use 5W1H (What, when, where, why, who and how):

i) What: What is ferret?

ii) When: When is the suitable time to adopt ferrets?

iii) Where: where are the ferrets can sleep peacefully?

iv) Why: Why ferrets not recommended for households with small

children?

v) Who: Who can hurt the ferrets?

vi) How: How can the ferrets getting active and willing to schedule

their playtime to their owners?

Step 3: Read

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i) Ferret is a kind of pet. It is a small, long bodied, low-slung creature and related to weasels, skunks, wolverines and badgers. This animal is the third most popular pet in the United States.

ii) For the ferrets well-being, and ours, the adoption should be a decision that is made after long and careful thought.

iii) In the cage but cannot stay in the cage for a long time.

iv) Because small child will hurts them.v) Small children can hurt the ferrets because any

child under the age of 6 will not have the sensitivity or coordination they need to pick up a ferret without hurting it.

vi) By sleeping for a much of the day.

Answering the questions:

Step 4: Recite

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Recite the main ideas (Recite it out loud):

Main ideas:

Ferret is a small, long bodied, low-slung creature.

We must spend several hours a day playing and socializing the ferrets.

Ferrets will defend themselves if a small child hurts them.

Ferrets do have a sharp teeth and they will use the to protect themselves.

Ferrets sleep in the cage peacefully but cannot stay in the cage all the time.

Ferrets love to play and if they have been properly socialized, they will love

to play with us.

Much attention must be paid to the house chore in so that it will not harmed

and to protect our possessions.

Ferrets sleep for much of the day so they are active for only a few hours.

Step 4: Review

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Review the main ideas. Look at each main heading and try to fill in the information we

know. Make summary and try to recite them. Go over other notes and work on the same subject. Do several review sessions. Once a week. Find out strengths and weaknesses.

Tips:

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Strengths And Weaknesses Of Using SQ3R Method in Reading

No. STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

1. Principles of learning skill, study skill

and learning styles are principally

incorporated into this system as there

is a great need to understand and

briefly form a basic idea of what one is

getting into. This is thought to be

better than blindly memorizing as the

conventional rules of studying dictate.

Surveying helps students identify

certain important ideas from the

chapter and the lessons.

The process may be viewed as too

formulaic and rigid. This is not suitable

for a students in primary school because

will be having difficulties since the

process is too formulaic and rigid.

2. Asking questions and seeking

answers immediately will help retain

ideas that the chapters contain then

helps develop study skills, learning

skills and learning styles. This is

necessary as reading automatically

makes a child understand the chapter

better and in an effective manner

enabling them to retain it for a long

time to come.

The process may be viewed as too time-

consuming. Therefore, this process is not

suitable for children in primary school

since children are easily get bored.

3. Understanding and repeating in own

words make the concepts clearer than

simply memorizing the pattern of the

book chapters or the language that is

used in the respective books.

The process does not let students to

focus on the text; They have to worry

about making questions, answering

questions, taking notes, and

"understanding" the text. Hence,

students will think that it is kind of

pointless and time-consuming.

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4. Allow students to use their memories

to their full potential by creating a

visual and auditory memory of the text

as well as using repetition of the

material as sort of a rote style of

memory.

Not all fields in education covered up or

useful by this method. For example,

students studying math typically do not

benefit by using this method. It is

because studying Mathematics requires

a lot of exercises instead of making

notes.

5. Students who utilize the SQ3R

Method will only require less time

studying for a final exam since most of

the textbook material has been stored

into long-term memory.

A student who less effective in recalling

may not suitable for this method as one

needs to recall what he or she has read.

6. Help to make more specific and

relevant notes when reading.

Not all readings will be worth the time it

takes to complete the SQ3R steps. Thus,

they will easily get bored.

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REFLECTION

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After all that study I had worked on for the reading skill, SQ3R, I had gain a lot of

benefits. SQ3R is not too complicated at all but still needs to put some effort on it

because it has certain skills need to be applied.

As I have known from my studies, the method was created for college students.

However, it can also be used by elementary school students, who can practice all of the

steps once they have begun to read longer and more complex texts.

Besides, I also have learned and gained some lessons from applying this method

of reading strategy whereas the information you gain from reading is important. If you

just "do it" without learning something. You're wasting a lot of time. Thus, train your

mind to learn!

In addition, if we have problems concentrating on our reading, forget what we

read the minute we finish, but, by following the five steps of SQ3R can help us to

process and remember what we read efficiently so we do not have to create such a long

notes when studying.

Futhermore, If you are looking to be a more efficient reader, SQ3R Method is

going to fix and fulfil your desire of being an efficient reader. It's designed to help you

read faster and retain more. SQ3R stands for the steps in reading: survey, question,

read, recite and review. It might seems like it takes more time to use the SQ3R method,

but you'll find that you retain more and have to reread less often. Hence, let us take a

look at the steps.

So, my advice for all is reading a chapter correctly takes a lot more time than you

probably spend now, but try this SQ3R method for just one class. Slowly add this

system into your other classes too. Be patient and give this method 2 weeks to make a

difference. At first, you'll spend a lot of time on this. But remember, you can study a lot

of hours over the course of the semester or you can study all of those hours the week

before your final.

As a conclusion, SQ3R reading method is very efficient for all readers or

students.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books

Brinton, Margaret (2004), 100 Little Reading Comprehension Lessons.

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United States of America (Page 86)

Darolyn Jones, M.S (2004), Reading Comprehension

Canada (Page 9).

J.P, Rosemarie & B.O, Neild (1994). Reading: skill enhancement.

Paradigm (Page 196).

Internet

SQ3R Reading Method. Refered on February, 13 2013 from

www.studygs.net/texted2.htm.

SQ3R. Refered on February, 14 2013 from

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQ3R.

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