|
SQ3R was developed during World War II to help military personnel learn complex material quickly. The method works well for most types of complex reading, including legal studies. SQ3R uses one type of preview-do-review strategy to actively involve the reader in learning. Apply SQ3R to both the entire assignment and each case within the assignment.
Survey (the assignment)
Survey the assignment as a whole by looking at the instructor's syllabus and casebook's table of contents to see where you've been and how this subject fits into course. Read the introduction and summary of the section assigned, as well as the headings and subheadings within the section. You may also wish to read an overview or summary of the topic in a reliable study aid.
Question (the assignment)
Ask questions about the assignment as a whole. How does this assignment fit with what you have already studied? What seem to be the most important concepts about this topic?
Survey (each case)
Survey or skim each case to learn the key facts, holding, and gist of the court's reasoning.
Question
Ask questions about each case. What are the salient facts? What issue is being decided? What rule of law did the court apply? What was the rationale for the court's holding?
Read
Now that you have previewed the reading by surveying and questioning, you are ready to read each case. Read carefully, trying to find the answers to the questions you have asked yourself. Using abbreviations, take notes in the margins. If the court uses several different rationales to support its holding, jot down each different rationale. Before you start briefing, reread those sections that gave you difficulty. Mark unfamiliar words and look up their definitions in a good law dictionary.
Recite
The "recite" part of SQ3R begins your analysis and helps you understand the material. Vocalizing the material allows you to engage more of your senses to learn the material better.
With your casebook closed, recall and answer your questions about the case. Say the answers out loud (or to yourself) in your own words, then write them down in your case brief without looking at the case. The recitation will help you keep your brief short and key in on the most important points.
Review
After you have read the entire assignment and recited/briefed each case, your review helps you remember the material for class and synthesize the assignment. Revisit the questions you had about the assignment as a whole. What were the most important concepts? What policies are important? Are there conflicts between the cases? Can these be explained by old rule/new rule, majority rule/minority rule, rule and exceptions? How does this assignment relate to what you already know? What questions do you have about what you have read? What questions might the professor ask about this assignment? Once you have completed this review, you will be prepared for class.
Other helpful sources:
Increasing Textbook Reading Comprehension by Using SQ3R, from Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
For more class preparation tips, visit
Return to Skills for Success.
© Nancy Luebbert 2007
Last updated 2007-08-17 |