How to read a chapter so it sticks

Reading a textbook is not the same as reading a novel. Novels carry you forward; textbooks expect you to do the carrying. Use this four-step method on every assigned chapter.

Step 1: Survey

Spend two minutes looking at the chapter title, all section headings, the bold terms, and the summary or review questions at the end. You now know what the chapter wants you to walk away with.

Step 2: Question

Turn each heading into a question. 'The Causes of World War I' becomes 'What were the causes of World War I?' You are now reading to find an answer instead of letting your eyes drift across paragraphs.

Step 3: Read in chunks

Read one section at a time. At the end of each section, look away and say or write the answer to your question in your own words.

Step 4: Review the next day

Spend five minutes the following day re-answering the questions from memory. This single short review can double how much you retain a week later.