for the adult learner tackling dense reading without drowning in highlighter
Goal
Turn a dense chapter into Question/Evidence/Conclusion notes you can recall from.
Source principle
For reading, capture the Question, the Evidence, and the Conclusion, not a transcription of the text. : from How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport.
The plan
- 🔍8:00-8:15 AMSkim headings + bolded terms, don't read yet, just survey.
- ❓8:15-8:30 AMWrite the question each section answers, one per heading.
- 📊8:30-8:55 AMRead each section, pull 2-3 evidence points per section.
- ✍️8:55-9:10 AMWrite the conclusion in your own words, not the author's.
- 🚩9:10-9:15 AMFlag unknowns with a star.
- 📥9:15-9:20 AMAdd unknowns to tonight's recall list.
- 🔁9:20-9:30 AMReview the question stack, can you answer each from memory?
- 🧠9:30-9:40 AMClose the book, recall the whole chapter in one paragraph.
- 📓9:40-9:45 AMMark items for follow-up, close the notes.