Writing process
8 Reading strategies
General
Even though this script focuses on writing this section provides an overview on strategies to use in dealing with the literature found during the research process.
SQ3R technique
A recommended procedure for reading efficiently is known as SQ3R (Survey, Question, Reading, Recall, Review), which prompts you to interact more actively with a text.
Survey the text for its gist or general idea (title, contents page, first sentence of paragraphs, abstract, introduction/ conclusion).
Question – while surveying devise questions you would like the text to answer.
Read the text more carefully if you think it is relevant for your research.
Recall the main points after you have read the text.
Review the text to confirm that you recalled all the main points significant for you.
Critical reading
While you try to understand the main points of a text it is important to adopt an analytical and questioning approach, e.g. by trying to answer the following questions.
- What is the author’s key argument or main point?
- What conclusion does the author reach?
- What evidence does the author provide to support his or her argument and conclusion?
- Is the evidence strong enough?
- Does the author make any unstated assumptions about beliefs shared with the readers?
- Can these assumptions be challenged?
- What is the background context in which the text was written?