1. Survey: Look briefly at the text for any hints about the main ideas. Are there any headings or titles? Are there diagrams that illustrate the ideas? If none of these helpful guides are there, look at the first line of each paragraph (it often introduces the main idea).
What does your survey tell you is the main idea? ___________________
2. Question: Make up a few questions that you want answered when you read this text. What information do you want to know? What ideas do you want to explore?
Write two questions: _______________________________
_________________________________
3. Read: When you read, concentrate on identifying the main ideas and the facts or arguments that explain or support those ideas. Don’t get distracted by vocabulary you don’t know (if necessary, write down the words that you will have to look up).
4. Recite: Say to yourself (or write down) the main idea of the text. If you found the answers to your questions, write them down here.
Write down the main idea: _________________________
What details explain the idea? ____________________
_____________________
5. Your memory of what you have read will be strengthened if you review your notes a day or two later. Look at the text again to remind yourself what you need to remember and say it to yourself. Don’t just memorize; think about what you have read and wonder if it is true!