Survey:

Determine broadly what the text is about.

• Quickly skim the material to grasp the overall idea of the work. Focus on headings, subheadings, figures, tables, and summaries.
• Note the structure and main features without getting too deeply involved with the text.
• Understand what the text is: Who is the author? What type of text is it (a journal article? something else?)? How does it connect to your studies?
• Identify your purpose for reading (beyond it being an assignment).

Question:

What are the questions the text will answer? Write some down.

• Before properly reading the text, think of some questions you might have based on your initial survey.
• You could change any headings in the text into questions, or think of generic questions such as: What is this chapter about? How does this text help me understand the main topic?

Read:

Do a first reading. Read selectively.

• Keeping your questions in mind, read actively to find answers. Focus on sections that directly relate to your questions, and be ready to adjust your understanding as you gather more information.

Recite:

Recall the key points in your own words.

• Immediately after reading, summarise the text's main ideas in your own words. You could say them out loud or write them down, as long as you do this without looking at the text or any notes you've made.
• Try explaining the material as if you were teaching it to someone else, focusing on the main points and your questions from the "Question" step.
• Write concise summaries, notes, or flashcards of the material to solidify your understanding and facilitate easy review.

Review:

After you have completed the reading…

• Go over the text's main points and summarise the material's main ideas.
• Assess how well you remembered the content. Refine your notes and focus on the more challenging areas.
• Revisit your questions, answers, and material. Update any responses or notes as needed to ensure a comprehensive grasp of the topics.
• Take breaks to reflect on what you've learned. 
• Regularly review your notes, including after breaks and over time, to strengthen memory retention through spaced repetition.