Study and Critical Thinking Skills in College

1. Study and Critical Thinking Skills in College Chapter 14 Learning from College Textbooks © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

2. Do you know… • How textbooks are organized? • What textbook features aid learning? • What previewing techniques are, and how they are useful? • How to use the SQ3R reading/study method? • How to read graphic material to understand its meaning? • How to choose a method for reading supplemental reading assignments? © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

3. Overall Textbook Organization • Preface • Opening statement by author • Get impression of author’s approach and purpose © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

4. Overall Textbook Organization • Table of Contents • Outline of textbook’s main topics and subtopics • Key to thought patterns • Use it to preview text and each chapter before reading • May be brief or detailed © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

5. Overall Textbook Organization • Appendix • Supplementary information • Valuable aids to understanding © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

6. Overall Textbook Organization • Glossary • Specialized terminology and definitions in text • Usually at end of textbook © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

7. Overall Textbook Organization • Index • Alphabetical subject listing with page references • Helps you find specific information • Can be used to study for final exams © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

8. Question 1 • You just bought your textbook for sociology class. To get an idea of the overall organization of the book and what you can expect reading it, what would you use? • Index • Glossary • Preface • Table of contents © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

9. Learning Aids in Textbooks • Chapter Preview • Gives reader an idea of content and organization before reading • Chapter Objectives • Statements of what you should know after reading • Chapter Outline • Formed from headings and subheadings • Chapter Overview • Preview paragraph © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

10. Learning Aids in Textbooks • Use chapter overview • Before reading • To activate prior knowledge • To predict thought patterns • To anticipate difficult material © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

11. Learning Aids in Textbooks • Use chapter overview • While reading • As a guide to important information • To mark key information mentioned in preview © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

12. Learning Aids in Textbooks • Use chapter overview • After reading • To monitor effectiveness of your reading • To test your ability to recall information • To review information you can’t recall © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

13. Learning Aids in Textbooks • Marginal Notations • Comments or questions in margins to aid studying • Special-Interest Inserts • Articles or essays that provide practical application • Read the text, then go back to read insert • Review Questions • Read before, then answer after reading text © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

14. Learning Aids in Textbooks • Lists of Key Terms • Review before reading • Chapter Summaries • Provide key to organization before reading • Help you tie together major points after reading • Suggested Readings or References • Provide starting point for researching topics © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

15. Question 2 • After reading a textbook chapter, you would use the chapter overview materials to do what? • Test your understanding of what you read • Decide what to focus on when you reread the chapter • Decide what thought patterns were used • Chapter overview materials are used only before reading chapter © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

16. Previewing Textbooks • Read the title and subtitle • Read the introduction or first paragraph • Read each boldfaced heading • Read first sentence under each heading • Note typographical aids • Note graphic aids • Read last paragraph or summary • Read end of chapter material © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

17. Previewing Textbooks • Helps you to make decisions • Activates your thought processes • Activates prior knowledge • Gives you a mental outline of chapter content © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

18. Question 3 • Why should you preview a chapter before reading it? • It gives you an idea of the thought patterns used. • It stimulates your recall of what you already know about the topic. • It helps to make you an active learner while reading. • All of the above © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

19. SQ3R • Survey • Preview chapter • Question • Write questions about reading, section by section • Read • Look for answers to questions while reading section • Recite • Answer questions without looking in text • Review • Go back through entire chapter and recall answers © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

20. SQ3R • Add or change steps in SQ3R to fit the reading • Add or change steps to accommodate your learning style © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

21. Question 4 • Which of the steps in SQ3R should you do for each section rather than the whole chapter? • Survey, Question, Read • Question, Read, Recite • Read, Recite, Review • Survey, Question, Review © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

22. How to Read Graphics • Read title or caption • Determine how graphic is organized • Note symbols or abbreviations used • Determine scale or unit of measurement • Identify trend or pattern graphic shows • Read footnotes • Check source © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

23. Thought Patterns in Graphics • Tables: Comparison and Classification • Determine how data is classified or divided • Make comparisons • Look for trends • Draw conclusions © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

24. Thought Patterns in Graphics • Graphs: Relationships among Variables • Linear graphs • Relationship between two variables • Positive • Inverse • Independent • Circle Graphs • Whole-part relationship • Bar graphs • Comparisons of quantities or amounts © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

25. Thought Patterns in Graphics • Diagrams: Explanation of Process • Look for overview • Read and review diagram more than once • Try redrawing diagram without looking at it • Explain diagrammed process in writing © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

26. Question 5 • What type of graphic is this? • Bar graph • Process diagram • Classification table • Linear graph © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

27. Supplemental Reading Assignments • Assigned reading other than textbook • Often less organized or concise than textbook • May include • New topics • Additional information • Updated information • Alternative points of view • Applications or related issues • Examples, case studies © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

28. Supplemental Reading Assignments • Analyzing the assignment • Determine purpose • Determine type and level of recall required • Choosing reading and study strategies • Thorough reading • Brief skimming © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

29. Learning from College Textbooks • Chapter Review • Features of Textbooks • Previewing Textbooks • SQ3R • Graphs, Tables and Diagrams • Supplemental Reading Assignments © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

30. Questions? © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman