Study Skills

Before reading, take a moment to look over the following sections.  This may help you focus on what's important when you begin taking notes.

• Author: Who is the author? What else have they written? Has this author won any awards? What is the author’s typical style?
• Genre: What type of book is this: fiction, nonfiction, romance, poetry, youth fiction, etc.? Who is the intended audience for this work? What is the purpose of the work?
• Title: Where does the title fit in? How is it applied in the work? Does it adequately encapsulate the message of the text? Is it interesting? Uninteresting?
• Preface/Introduction/Table of Contents: Does the author provide any revealing information about the text in the preface/introduction? Does a “guest author” provide the introduction? What judgments or preconceptions do the author and/or “guest author” provide? How is the book arranged: sections, chapters?
• Book Jacket/Cover/Printing: Book jackets are like mini-reviews. Does the book jacket provide any interesting details or spark your interest in some way? Are there pictures, maps, or graphs? Do the binding, page cut, or typescript contribute or take away from the work?

As you read, determine how you will structure the summary portion or background structure of your review. Be ready to take notes on the book’s key points, characters, and/or themes.

• Characters: Are there characters in the work? Who are the principal characters? How do they affect the story? Do you empathize with them?
• Themes/Motifs/Style: What themes or motifs stand out? How do they contribute to the work? Are they effective or not? How would you describe this author’s particular style? Is it accessible to all readers or just some?
• Argument: How is the work’s argument set up? What support does the author give for her/findings? Does the work fulfill its purpose/support its argument?
• Key Ideas: What is the main idea of the work? What makes it good, different, or groundbreaking?
• Quotes: What quotes stand out? How can you demonstrate the author’s talent or the feel of the book through a quote?

Factual

• What is the general field of the book?
• From what point of view is the book written?
• Who was the book written for? (Professionals in the field?  People seeking help?)
• What is the book about?
• Do you agree or disagree with the author?
• What is the author's style? (Formal, informal?)
• Is there any obvious bias?
• Is the author's style suitable for the audience?
• Is the language clear?
• Are the ideas developed?
• What areas have the author left out or not fully considered?  
• How accurate is the information provided?
• What evidence does the author provide to support the central theme?
• What sources did the author use?  Primary? Secondary?
• What did the book accomplish?  Are you convinced of the author's stance with the information they've given?

Personal

• Did you like the book?
• What was your favorite or the most moving part of the book?
• What was your least favorite or the dullest part of the book?
• What are 3 things you learned from the book?
• Would you recommend the book to someone else?  Who?  Why?