L517: Advanced Study of the Teaching of Secondary School Reading

INSTRUCTIONAL READING STRATEGY: SQ3R (SURVEY, QUESTION, READ, RECITE, REVIEW)

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bullet Description of SQ3R
bullet Purpose for Using SQ3R
bullet How to Use SQ3R
bullet SQ3R: An Example

Description of SQ3R

When using the SQ3R strategy, students begin by surveying (S) the text they will be reading. As they do so, they question (Q) the text by turning the title, headings, and introductory sentences into questions.  Students then read (1R) the text, looking for the answers to those questions. After reading, students recite (2R) the answers to their questions out loud. In the final step, students review (3R) their questions and answers one day and one week after reading, as well as right before the exam that covers the material.

Purpose for SQ3R

SQ3R serves several purposes:

bullet Elicits prior knowledge.
bullet Sets a purpose for reading.
bullet Allows students to monitor their comprehension.
bullet Allows students to assess their comprehension of the text.

How to Use SQ3R

 
1.  Choose a text. This strategy is intended to be used with an expository text.
2. 

Before students read, have them survey the text. Have them review any of  the following that are included in the text:

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the title
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headings and subheadings
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introductory sentences in paragraphs
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captions under pictures
bullet

charts
bullet

graphs
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maps
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bold or italicized words
3. 

Before students read, have them ask questions about the text they will be reading. These questions should be recorded in the left-hand column of a two-column table on a sheet of paper. Students should arrive at their questions by doing the following:

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Turing the title into a question.
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Turning the headings into questions.
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Turning introductory sentences in paragraphs into questions.

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 If the author poses any questions in the sidebars or at the end of the text, writing those questions in their own words.

4.  Have students begin reading. Students should read to answer the questions they have written down. Each answer should be recorded in the right-hand column of the table, next to the appropriate question.

SQ3R: An Example

Suppose your students were going to be reading a text called, “The Life of an Ant.” The text might include the following subheadings and introductory sentences:

  

After surveying the text, the student would turn the title, headings, and introductory sentences into questions and write them down in the left-hand column of a table. Then, while reading, the student would look for answers to those questions. Each answer would be written down in the right-hand column next to its question:

 

When the student has finished reading, he or she would read each question and answer out loud. Then, a day, a week, and several weeks later, that students would review both the questions and answers.

Last updated: 06/07/2006, by Jennifer Conner
URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~l517/SQ3R.htm
Comments: jmconner@indiana.edu
Copyright 2006, Jennifer Conner