Explain to students that the first step in reading an expository text is surveying the document. Tell them to first read the title of the chapter or document they are about to read. Encourage them to look through the chapter or document and instruct them to read and to take note of subheads, bold print or captions, as well as any summaries that may appear. These items will give students an idea of what the document will be about, helping to build background knowledge.
Inform students to ask questions while they are surveying the document. Tell them to turn the title, subheads and other highlighted information into questions. For example, when reading a chapter about the Civil War, they may create a question, such as "Why did the Civil War occur?" Posing questions about the document will get students thinking about the text in a productive way.
Instruct students to read the text. While reading, tell them to think about the questions that they posed while surveying the chapter. Encourage them to reread captions, subheads and other pertinent information and tell them to try to link the information together. Explain that they should only read one section or paragraph at a time.
Explain to students that after reading a section or paragraph, they should stop and recite what they've read. Instruct them to orally summarize or paraphrase what they've read. Encourage them to take notes on pertinent information. Tell them to highlight key words or concepts in the section.
Tell students to review what they have read. After reading an expository text, students should review any notes they have taken. They should reread the title and subheads and try to recall what the chapter or section was about. If students find themselves confused or unsure, encourage them to reread the section or the entire chapter, applying the previous steps of the SQ3R method while doing so.