Speed Reading

PSQ5R speed reading technique

PSQ5R is a formula that stands for the basic steps in
learning from reading in an efficient manner.

Purpose Survey Question 5 Rs
[Read Selectively, Recite, Reduce-record, Reflect, and
Review (PSQ5R)]

1. What is the purpose of reading?

Why are you reading this material and your objectives?

When you have accomplished your
purpose, stop reading. For instance, your purpose in seeking
a number in the telephone book is specific and clear, and
once you find the number, you stop "reading." Such "reading"
is very rapid indeed, perhaps 100,000 word a minute!

Perhaps it should be called by its proper name, "scanning",
but when it suits your purpose, it is fast and efficient.
This principle, of first establishing your purpose, whether
to get the Focus or Theme, or main ideas, or main facts or
figures, or evidence, arguments and examples, or relations,
or methods, can prompt you to use a reading method that
gets what you want in the minimum time.


2. Survey or skim the text

Glance over the main features of the piece, the lead and
summary paragraphs, look at the title, the headings, to find
out what ideas, to get an overview of the piece, problems
and questions are being discussed. In doing this you should
find the Focus of the piece that is, the central theme or
subject, what it is all about; and perhaps the Perspective,
that is, the approach or manner in which the author treats
the theme. This survey should be carried out in no more
than a minute or two.


3. Ask the question
Compose questions that you aim to answer:

What do I already know about this topic? - In other words,
activate prior knowledge.

Turn the first heading into a question, to which you will be
seeking the answer when you read. For example: "What were
'the effects of the Hundred Years' War'?" - and you might
add "on democracy, or on the economy"? Or "What is 'the
impact of unions on wages'?"


4. Read the text selectively

Read to find the answers to your question. By reading the
first sentence of each paragraph you may well get the
answers. Sometimes the text will "list" the answers by
saying "The first point is ... Second point is..." and so
on. And in some cases you may have to read each paragraph
carefully just to understand the next one, and to find the
Focus or main idea buried in it. In general, look for the
ideas, information, evidence, etc., that will meet your
purpose.


5. Recite

Without looking at the book, recite the answers to the
question, using your own words as much as possible. If you
cannot do it reasonably well, look over that section again.


6. Reduce and record

Make a brief outline of the question and your answers. The
answers should be in key words or phrases, not long
sentences. For example, "Effects of 100 Yrs' War? -
consolidate Fr. King's power, Engl. off continent". Or,
"Unions on Wages? - Uncertain, maybe 10-15%".


7. Reflect the information

Recent work in cognitive psychology indicates that
comprehension and retention are increased when you
"elaborate" new information. This is to reflect on it, to
turn it this way and that, to compare and make categories,
to relate one part with another, to connect it with your
other knowledge and personal experience, and in general to
organize and reorganize it. This may be done in your mind's
eye, and sometimes on paper. Sometimes you will at this
point elaborate the outline of step 6, and perhaps
reorganize it into a standard outline, a hierarchy, a table,
a flow diagram, a map, or even a "doodle." Then you go
through the same process, steps 3 to 7, with the next
section, and so on.


8. Review the text

Survey your "reduced" notes of the paper or chapter to see
them as a whole. This may suggest some kind of overall
organization that pulls it all together. Then recite, using
the questions or other cues as starters or stimuli for
recall. This latter kind of recitation can be carried out in
a few minutes, and should be done every week or two with
important material.

That's all for today.

For the next few days I'll be covering a few other techniques.

If you have any queries you can email me adniclee@getresponse.com

Cheers

Adnic Lee

Author of 7 Days to Excel At Speed Reading

P.S Previous post can be seen at www.expressreadology.blogspot.com

# posted by Success At Speed Reading @ 9:17 PM