Suggestions for Reading your Textbook
Take notes while you read.
Summarize the author’s points in your own words.
Ask yourself if you agree or disagree with the author – be able to support your position.
Write questions down about anything you do not understand. Ask the questions in class.
List the words you do not understand – investigate their meaning.
Work the problems that are demonstrated
Test yourself when you have finished a chapter.
Get a fresh piece of paper.
Right down the author’s main points from the chapter.
Itemize supporting evidence for each of the points.
Check your answers by reading through your notes to see what you have missed.
Active involvement is the key to learning technical material from your reading. Successful students become actively involved with the author during their reading session. If you are only reading passively, you are not making the most efficient use of your time. Studying technical material is seldom easy and does not occur by osmosis. It usually takes a great deal of effort and concentration to successfully learn the material. Although the effort is high, the result will pay a great dividend – you will be able to perform technically where many others consistently fail.
Remember, the key to understanding what you read is interaction with the author. Very little learning takes place from passive reading.
It is generally a waste of your study time.