How to Study

Use the Clues in Each Chapter
Begin with a very quick overview of the assignment, looking for ques-
tions that you’d like answered. Consider the following elements of
your reading assignment before you begin your reading:
Chapter titles and boldfaced subheads announce the detail about the
main topic. And, in some textbooks, paragraph headings or boldfaced
“lead-ins” announce that the author is about to provide finer details.
So start each reading assignment by going through the chapter, begin-
ning to end, reading only the boldfaced heads and subheads.
Look for end-of-chapter summaries. Knowing what the author is 
driving at will help you look for the important building blocks for his
conclusions while you’re reading.
Most textbooks, particularly those in the sciences, will have charts,
graphs, numerical tables, maps, and other illustrations. Be sure to
observe how they supplement the text and what points they empha-
size, and make note of these.
In some textbooks, you’ll discover that key terms and information are
highlighted within the body text. To find the definitions of these terms
may then be your purpose for reading.
Chapter 3 
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How to Read and Remember
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Some textbook publishers use a format in which key points are
emphasized by questions, either within the body of or at the end of
the chapter. If you read these questions before reading the chapter,
you’ll have a better idea of what material you need to pay closer 
attention to.
If you begin your reading assignment by seeking out these heads, 
subheads, and other purpose-finding elements of the chapter, you’ll
have completed your prereading step. I advise that you always
preread every assignment.
Three Ways to Read
Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish in a particular 
reading assignment and the kind of book involved, there are three 
different ways to read. Knowing when to use each will make any
assignment easier: