How does one go about reading a science textbook?
Nobody expects you to understand everything in the book by reading it only once. You will probably find many descriptions of phenomena that seem incomprehensible. Just as scientists learn by trial and error, experiments, and theoretical models, you improve your comprehension by developing your reading skills. There are obviously different ways to read your assignments for maximum understanding. I recommend you do step #2 first (inspectional), then prior to class read the assignment using the elementary method, and after class, reread the assignment using the analytical method. However, do what’s comfortable for you. Write down questions you have and ask them in class next time. There are three levels of reading: 1) elementary – This first level requires only the skill of being able to recognize the words and understand the meaning when you read a paragraph. 2) inspectional – This level allows you to familiarize yourself with the book without worrying about the details and without stopp
