Study Tips/Inspirational: How To Read A Textbook

How to Read a Textbook: The PQRST Method

This approach for reading textbook chapters, called the PQRST method, has been shown to be very effective in improving a reader's understanding of and memory for key ideas and information. The method takes its name from the first letter of the five steps one follows in reading a chapter - Preview, Question, Read, Self-Recitation, Test. The first and last (Preview and Test) apply to the chapter as a whole; the middle three stages (Question, Read, Self-recitation) apply to each major section of the chapter as it is encountered.

STAGE P (PREVIEW) In the first step, you preview the entire chapter by skimming through it to get an idea of major topics. This is done by reading the chapter outline and then skimming the chapter, paying special attention to the headings of main sections and subsections and glancing at pictures and illustrations. The most important aspect of the preview stage is to read carefully the summary at the end of the chapter once you have skimmed through the chapter. Take time to consider each point in the summary; questions will come to mind that should be answered later as you read the full text. The preview stage will give you an overview of the topics covered in the chapter and how they are organised.

STAGE Q (QUESTION) As noted earlier, you should apply Stages Q,R, and S to each major section of the chapter as it is encountered. Work through the chapter one section at a time, applying Stages Q,R, and S to each section before going on to the next section. Before reading a section, read the heading of the section and the heading of the subsections. Then turn the topic headings into one or more questions that you should expect to answer while reading the section. Ask yourself: "What are the main ideas the author is trying to convey in this section?" This is the Question Stage.

STAGE R (READ) Next, read the section carefully for meaning. As you read, try to answer the questions you asked in Stage Q. Reflect on what you are reading, and try to make connections to other things you know. You may choose to mark or underline key words or phrases in the text. Try, however, not to mark 10 to 15 percent of the text. Too much underlining defeats the intended purpose, which is to make key words and ideas stand out for later review. It is probably best to delay taking notes until you have read the entire section and encountered all the key ideas. so you can judge their relative importance.

STAGE S (SELF-RECITATION) After you have finished reading the section, try to recall the main ideas and recite the information. Self-recitation is a powerful means of fixing the material in your memory. Put the ideas into your own words and recite the information (preferably aloud or, if you are not alone, to yourself). Check against the text to be sure that you have recited the material correctly and completely. Self-recitation will reveal blanks in your knowledge and help you organize the information in your mind. After you have completed one section of the chapter in this way, turn to the next section and again apply Stages Q,R, and S. Continue in this manner until you have finished all sections of the chapter.

STAGE T (TEST) When you have finished reading the chapter, you should test and review all of the material. Look over your notes and test your recall for the main ideas. Try to understand how the various facts relate to each other and how they were organized in the chapter. The test stage may require that you thumb back through the chapter to check key facts and ideas. You should also reread the chapter summary at this time; as you are doing so, you should be able to add details to each entry in the summary. Don't put off the test stage until the night before and examination. The best time for a first review of the chapter is immediately after you have read it.

Research indicates that the PQRST method is very helpful and definitely preferable to simply reading straight through a chapter (Thomas & Robinson, 1982). Self-recitation is particularly important; it is better to spend a significant percentage of study time in an active attempt to recite than it is to devote the entire time to reading and rereading the material (Gates, 1917). Studies also show that a careful reading of the summary of the chapter before reading the chapter itself is especially productive (Reder & Anderson, 1980). Reading the summary first provides an overview of the chapter that helps organize the material as you read through the chapter. Even if you choose not to follow every step of the PQRST method, special attention should be directed to the value of self-recitation and reading the chapter summary as an introduction to the material.

The PQRST method and various other study skills, including taking lecture notes and preparing for and taking examinations are discussed in an excellent book entitled Building Study Skills: Practical Methods for Succeeding in College, published by the American College Testing Program, Iowa City, Iowa. As its subtitle indicates, this book focuses on practical methods for achieving personal and academic success in college.