Surveying your reading material helps set the framework for what you will learn. In this first step, you quickly read over key components of the text, including introductions, headings, captions, introduction and closing paragraph. You also read over any questions presented at the end of the chapter so you know which ideas and concepts you should take from the text. This quick step shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes in most cases, but may with longer texts.
The question portion of SQ3R has you read over the subheadings within a text and reword them into questions. For example, when reading about the SQ3R method, a question may be "What is the purpose of the 'Question' step?" Write your questions down and leave a few lines for answering the questions later. The more questions you ask, the deeper you may understand the subject. This improves thought organization by helping you determine key points within the text and remain focused while reading.
This third step, reading, is where you actually dig in and read the text. Likely the longest step in the process, this is where you learn the answers to the questions you previously asked. Read one section at a time while focusing on obtaining the answer to your question. Since speed isn't the goal here, you are encouraged to reread anything with difficult concepts or hard-to-grasp information until you fully understand the text and grasp the concepts presented.
After reading each section, recite your question and summarize the text, which should provide the answer. Use your own words to ensure you understand the text fully, then write an answer under the appropriate section's question. Reciting your question and answer out loud ensures you understood the reading while also giving you the chance to hear the question and answer audibly as you speak them. Seeing the question and answer, saying them and hearing them provide a stronger chance of retention than simply thinking about them internally.
After completing the previous four steps in the process, you should be left with a healthy understanding of the topic and a thorough study guide that summarizes the text and important information within it. Reread your questions, answers and any additional notes you've written and use them as a guide for retaining the information you've just learned. While you should do this directly after reciting, it also helps to review multiple times, driving that information into your head.