"Q" is for QUESTION
1. Questions should have the effect of reducing a reading to smaller, more meaningful ideas. Ask yourself what you already know about this topic. What can you expect to learn from the chapter? Did the instructor say anything in class or on a handout about this chapter?
2. If the author is trying to present a particular point of view, ask yourself if the evidence justifies the position. Are there alternative explanations or points of view?
3. Convert topic headings into questions. A typical heading in a chapter on the American Revolution might be: "ECONOMICS EFFECTS OF THE REVOLUTION." You might shift this to: "What were the economic effects of the revolution?" "Who benefited from the revolution?" "Who suffered the most from the revolution?" "Who had the most to lose from an unsuccessful revolution?" Then read to answer these questions.
4. Try to answer the questions printed at the end of the chapter, if there are any.
5. Formulate "in-depth" questions as well as obvious ones.
6. Asking questions makes your reading more active. It stimulates curiosity and it establishes a kind of dialogue between the author and the mind of the reader.
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