Using a text book

Start by reading the Learning Goals/Key Concepts and the introductory paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter so that you will know what you are trying to learn.

Next, get an overview of key concepts by studying the illustrations and reading their captions. The illustrations highlight almost all of the major concepts, this this 'illustration first' strategy gives you an opportunity to survey the concepts before you read about them in depth.

Read the chapter narrative, but save the boxed features to read later. As you read, make notes in your note book to remind you of ideas you'll want to review later.

In taking notes, it helps if you turn the section title into a question. Then write down the answer(s) as a note. It is also helpful to check the review questions to see what the author thought was important. That should be in your notes. And finally, look at anything in bold. If it is in bold, the author wanted to catch your attention.

Make a second pass through the section assigned, this time reading the boxed features and rereading any material that is not yet clear to you.

After completing each section, due the assigned review questions. If you do not know the answer, then look back through the section or chapter until you figure it out.