How to Study a Textbook

Students today are not often taught study skills that can help them with the densest of college textbooks. As a result, students have picked up habits that work against them instead of for them in studying textbooks. This article will help clarify one method of helping students simplify and learn even the densest of material. In fact, if followed through, this method of textbook studying will actually be a time saver.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Optimizing Your Reading

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If it is a book that takes a detailed look at a particular topic, the introduction will summarize the author's argument and present an outline of the book. If the textbook is a general introductory text, such as Introduction to American Government or Principles of Microeconomics, the introduction will serve to tell you how the author is going to approach the topic.
First, have a look at the table of contents for the textbook. See how it’s organized; this may help you predict what you will cover in class and what will be on exams. Second, look at the organization of each chapter. Most textbook authors use a detailed outline of major headings and subheadings that they plan to cover in each chapter of their book.^{[1]XResearch source}
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Many textbooks offer a recap or summary of the chapter content and study questions or “food for thought” at the end of every chapter. Skipping to this part first, before you read the whole chapter, will help you know what to focus on as you read through the chapter.
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Create questions based on your survey. See if the headings and subheadings provide any clues to potential questions. For example, a section titled Causes of Alcoholism in a psychology textbook might easily be converted into a question you could see on an exam: What are the causes of alcoholism?^{[2]XResearch source}
- As you read, look for the answers to these questions. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, consider changing your questions.
You may find it easier to comprehend and get through your textbook if you read aloud. Reading aloud can also help you maintain your pace, especially if the prose is dense or complex.^{[3]XResearch source}
Put away your cell phone, do not sit at a computer, and do not allow yourself to be interrupted. We often think that we can multitask and study without full concentration. But if you are going to tackle any subject seriously, then you need to give it your full attention. Focus and you will be rewarded.
Go for a 10 minute walk or reward yourself with some entertainment. You won’t study well if you’re exhausted. Approach each chapter with a clear mind.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Studying the Textbook

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This will help generate a preview of the textbook so that you can approach the reading with a sense of its structure and main points. Keep things like the end-of-chapter questions in mind as you complete your reading.
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Read the entire chapter through. On this read-through, don't take notes or do anything else; just read. You have two objectives in doing so. The first is to get a sense of the purpose of the chapter. Ask yourself: what is the author trying to convey in the chapter overall? Second, how does the author build the information or argument in the chapter? When you have a mental picture of these two questions, you can then begin taking notes that will benefit you in your study for exams and research papers.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Don’t rush this step! It can be tempting to just get done with your reading as soon as possible, but you are unlikely to retain information if you hurry through.
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Take notes on your reading. Notes do not mean taking every word down verbatim. The art of note-taking involves discerning what is important and engaging with the material rather than just copying text out.
- The first thing to write down is the main point or argument that the author is conveying in the chapter. Do this in no more than three sentences. Then ask yourself how the author begins to make this point. This is where the major headings and subheadings help. Under each heading are paragraphs that make up the section of the chapter. Document the topic sentences that help build the argument in the section and chapter.
- Don’t be afraid to write in your book. Annotating a textbook by writing notes, comments, and questions in the margins near relevant material can be invaluable when studying.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Hand write your textbook notes. Handwriting your notes forces your brain to actually engage with the material as opposed to glossing over the material or mindlessly typing the same text into the computer.
- Taking notes in your own words will help you better understand and memorize what you're reading.^{[6]XExpert SourceAlexander Ruiz, M.Ed.
  Educational ConsultantExpert Interview. 18 June 2020.}
- Try writing important things down on sticky notes and marking the pages of your textbook with them.^{[7]XExpert SourceAlexander Ruiz, M.Ed.
  Educational ConsultantExpert Interview. 18 June 2020.}
Go back through the chapter and list major theoretical concepts and properties key to understanding any technical elements of the chapter. Also list key terminology with corresponding definitions. Often, this information will be printed in bold, italics, or set apart in a box or with some other eye-catching method.
Begin by summarizing the chapter and its main points in your own words. This will tell you where your knowledge gaps are. Ask yourself questions about what you’ve read and the notes you took: What question does this information answer? and How does this information relate to other things? are good places to start.^{[8]XResearch source}

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Understanding Some Common Errors

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This is a common myth held by students. Particularly if you’re a slow reader, you may find it more effective to read the beginning and end of the chapter, along with pull-outs (information placed in a box, graph, or other attention-grabbing area on the page) and anything bolded or italicized in the text.^{[9]XResearch source}
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Plan to read more than once. Another common mistake students make is to read their textbook once and then never look at it again. A better strategy is to practice layered reading.^{[10]XResearch source}
- On your first read-through, skim the material. Determine what the main idea or goal of the text is (often signaled by the chapter title and subheadings), and mark any places that you didn’t feel as though you understood well.
- Read headings, subheadings, and other organizational elements. Textbook authors often construct their chapters so that it is very clear what the goal of each section is. Use this to your advantage.
- Read for more detail in later readings.
Sometimes, students will just move their eyes along the page again and again and feel like they’re not getting anything from their “reading.” Reading is an active process: you need to be engaged, paying attention, and thinking about what you read.
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Know that highlighting is not ideal for first-time reading. While it’s tempting to break out the rainbow of highlighters when you read through a chapter, avoid this temptation. Research has shown that highlighting actually can hamper your reading because you may feel tempted to highlight every single thing you feel is important without thinking critically about the ideas presented.^{[11]XResearch source}
- If you must highlight, wait until you’ve completed your first read-through, and use the highlighter sparingly to point out only the most important ideas.
It can be tempting to just read past words or elements you don’t understand in an effort to “just get it done.” This actually damages comprehension. If a dense textbook on Marxist economics has terms that you don’t initially understand, don’t just read on: stop what you’re doing, look up the word, and understand it before continuing.

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How can I prepare for an exam when I don't have much time?
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Try to skim through the book or material you are using to study and note down important points or main ideas. If it's a textbook, review any summaries they've provided at the end of the chapters. If you have notes from class discussions, review those as well.
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The textbook I try to read is very boring and thick, so I keep dozing off every few minutes. What can I do?
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Try dividing each chapter into multiple sections, make a list of them and read each thoroughly. Study it and delve into the complexities of the article. Then try to recall what you've studied. Don't be overwhelmed by the number of pages, instead, try to look at it as a challenge and make it easy for you.
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What other ways apart from note-taking could I do to learn off a textbook?
Stormcat3
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Do practice problems they give you. Most of the time, note-taking is the only way you can learn from textbooks, but if they have practice problems, you can do those.
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Tips

Give yourself some time to do this. Do not expect to understand 10 chapters of microeconomics or human anatomy the night before an examination. Set realistic expectations and goals for your studying.
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If you are going to mark your textbook, do so by underlining important passages. This technique will force you to at least engage the material as opposed to mindlessly coloring the text like a coloring book.
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Instrumental music has been proven to stimulate parts of the brain that help with studying and memory.
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