Use the Thief Technique to Remember What You Read

There are many popular learning methods to choose from, depending on the type of learner you are and how you best retain information. However, the THIEVES method is not discussed as often, but can help you think critically when reading new information. Use it the next time you start a new chapter in your studies or need to save a lot of new information for work.

What is the THIVES method?

The THIEVES reading technique, recommended by universities like Kent State , is designed to challenge you to think critically as you read. Thieves, in addition to being fun to say and conjuring up images of unruly criminals literally stealing new information and ideas, is just an acronym for the following elements of your content:

• Name
• Headings
• I’m an introduction
• E the very first sentence in the paragraph
• Visualization and vocabulary
• End of Chapter Questions
• Summary

The goal of using this method, according to Iowa State , is to figure out what you want to learn from the chapter and how the information in it is connected. By writing down each of the seven categories before you begin, you’ll set the stage for getting a broader picture of the content before you start digging into it, similar to how the SQ3R or KWL methods work.

How to use the THIEVES reading method

Once you’ve written down all seven categories, from title to summary , and left space under each, start writing down what you want to get out of each of them. Under the title , ask yourself what you think the text is about and what you already know about it. In the Headings section, ask yourself why the information is divided in this way, what you think you will learn in each section, and how the subtopics might relate to the bigger picture. From now on, start reading, but write down notes every time you come across one of the THIEVES items. For example, after the introduction , write down what made you interested in the rest of the chapter after reading it, and be sure to do the same after the very first sentence of the section. Each time you come to a graph, image, or table, write in the Visuals section about what each one represents and what it can tell you about the content and the big picture.

At the end , write down how the author ended the chapter and what you learned, as well as what you might learn in the future. Finally, summarize your reading by writing down what you think the author’s main idea was and your general understanding of the main themes and concepts.

Doing this before and while reading will help you stay engaged as you read and give you notes to refer back to when reviewing in the future. Use distributed study to determine how often you need to review these recordings before your next big test.