Science textbooks are not meant to be read like a novel. There is no build up to a gripping climax! You are guaranteed to fall asleep if you start at the beginning of the chapter and read straight through. But what other way is there to read a book? Glad you asked! Many students find the method of "reading from the outside in" to be quite helpful.

In this technique you attack the chapter by first reading the "bookends", that is, the introduction and the summary. Yes, it does ruin the surprise ending but it focuses you on what the authors (and probably your instructor) consider to be the most important concepts of the chapter. Before you begin reading any part of the major chapter sections, you should spend some time studying the figures and tables in that section. Since a picture is worth a 1000 words, learn as much as you can from them before reading the prose. Then, and only then, do you proceed to read the section. As you read, identify the thesis statement of the section, jot down questions that you have in the margins, and before proceeding to another section, write a summary of what you've learned. Do not go on until you can answer the question: "What have I learned from this section?". You might also consider creating some possible test questions, or create a concept map which organizes all the important material in that section (see page 5 for more on mapping).

One last tip: if you find that you just can't concentrate on a particular section of the chapter, take a quick 2-3 minute break and then start in another section that looks more interesting. You can always come back to the troublesome section later; it's more productive to move on than get bogged down and give up.

Learning how your textbook is organized

1. Where is the quickest place for you to learn about the contents of chapter 3? Where else is this information?
2. What subjects should you already be familiar with before reading this chapter?
3. Study Figure 3-16 on page 58. Notice the blue symbol at the end of the caption. Go to the link and compare the two diagrams. Consider sketching your own version that blends the two illustrations into one.
4. What is the answer to the second "Concept Check" question in the red box on page 62? Where did you find the answer? Where else could you have found the answer?
5. Locate the tan "Running Problem" box on page 54. What is the answer to the question? Where did you find the answer? Where else could you have found the answer? On what page does this story continue?

Learning how to effectively read your textbook

1. Read the introduction. What is the thesis statement?
2. Read the chapter summary. How are the outline and summary similar?
3. Look at the pictures in the chapter. Read the captions.
4. Consider item 8 in the summary. Go to the page from which this summary statement was made and read the section about mitochondria. Write two more physiologically important concepts that expand on the summary statement.
5. Read about Tissue Remodeling on page 67. Write a 2-3 sentence summary of this section.
6. How does figure 3-16 compare to the table 3-2? What are the similarities and differences?
7. Construct a concept map organizing the material about epithelia (to learn more about concept maps see page 5).
8. Read about the three types of cell junctions on pages 55-57. Write 2 exam questions that you feel address the important concepts in this material.
9. Connective tissue is presented in three different ways in this chapter: descriptive prose on pp. 62-65, Table 3-3, and a concept map in figure 3-24. Study each. Which type of presentation do you feel is most enlightening? Explain.