This reading strategy will save you time, help you concentrate and prepare you for your exams. By using PGR, when you are finished with the chapter, you will also have finished practicing the problems.

Follow the steps below:

1. Decide whether PGR really applies to your situation.

   • This method works best if your homework and tests consist mostly of problems.

   • This method does not work well if you cannot solve any problems without first understanding the content of the entire chapter.

2. Classify your homework problems (or the ones from the chapter)

   • If you can solve some of the problems without referring to other sources, mark those accordingly.

   • If your lecture notes give enough information for solving some problems, label those accordingly.

   • You will probably still need to consult your textbook.

   • Code the remaining problems by writing next to the problem the section or page in the text you will probably need to consult.

   • Some end-of-chapter problems are already coded, indicating the section to which they refer.

   • This step provides a good overview for the chapter.

3. Decide which problems to work on first.

   • Start with the problems you already know how to solve, if any.

   • Work with one type of problem at a time.

   • Work on the easiest problems from the earliest part of the chapter.

4. Start solving a problem.

   • Try to solve as much of the problem as you can without consulting any other sources.

   • Analyze the problem. Separate it into "knowns" and unknowns." Note steps you already know to its solution. Identify formulas you will probably need. Solve as much of the problem as you can before you read the text.

   • Try to gain a better understanding of what you need to learn from your text reading.

   • If possible, indicate what you think the solution should look like (perhaps you know it has to be smaller than 1 or between 50 and 100).

5. Consult your sources.

   • To save time, consult whatever sources will help you solve the problem fastest: sample problems in your lecture notes, sample problems in the textbook, problems from the internet, sections of your lecture notes, sections in the text.

   • Whatever you decide to read, you will now be reading with a clear purpose in mind: To help you understand the problem you are trying to work.

   • To save time, read selectively (just the material that will help you solve the problem).

   • Switch back and forth from your reading to the problem, until you have solved the problem.

6. Go on to the next problem.

   • Follow the previous two steps (4&5), until you have solved the rest of the problems.

   • You will be reading only to solve the first few problems of the same type. After you have solved a few of the same kind, you won't need the text.

   • When you have solved all the problems, you will probably find that you have read most of the chapter.

7. Review the chapter.

   • Some textbooks include material not used in solving problems: you will need to decide how much effort you should devote to studying it.

   • Make up your own problems to check for your understanding of the CONCEPTS: most exams challenge you to apply what you have learned to new problems.

   • Solve problems from past chapters for review.

   • Put problems on cards and mix up the cards to determine if you can solve the problems in different contexts.

   • Try to understand the problems rather than memorize the solutions and formulas.