Use the REAP Method When Learning Completely New Information
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The way you study the material will likely depend on how familiar you are with the subject. If you’re fairly familiar with the basic concepts, you can use active retrieval , such as using flashcards , or improve your understanding by sharing the topic with someone else . But what if you’re encountering new information for the first time and don’t have any real-world context?
Many reading techniques involve formulating questions or hypotheses before you begin reading, but this can be difficult if you’re completely unfamiliar with the subject. In such cases, the REAP method can help. This method encourages you to read first and save deeper exploration for later. Here’s how it works.
What is the REAP method?
REAP is an acronym that stands for “read, encode, annotate, and ponder.” Like methods like SQ3R or KWL , it requires you to approach each new passage with a strategic plan. But unlike those methods, you don’t need to know anything about the subject before you begin your reading session. Instead of skimming a chapter, brainstorming ideas about what you think it’ll be about and what you want to get out of it, and relying on what you already know before you begin, you acknowledge that you know very little about the subject and intend to learn more about it, then reflect on it further to figure out which parts are most important before committing it to memory.
Essentially, it’s a way of reading something that allows you to take a moment to “get it” and also gives you a chance to absorb the material. Simply by acknowledging that you’re feeling lost, you can begin working to understand as much as possible.
How does REAP work?
Here are the main elements of the REAP method:
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Read the material
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Encode the information in your own words.
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Abstract with a record of the main ideas
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Think about what you have experienced.
Using the REAP method, you first read a passage, chapter, or section of the text on your own. Don’t overdo it: the goal of the “read first” approach is not overly critical reading, but rather complete assimilation of the information.
Next, you encode the information by putting it into your own words. You can do this by writing a short, paragraph-long summary in your notes or by describing it out loud to someone else. You can try blurting out or writing down everything you can remember without referring to the materials, but don’t worry if you forget something: you’re still in the REAP process.
Then, annotate the text, jotting down only the main ideas—whether they’re keywords, snippets of information, quotes, or the most significant elements of the introduction or conclusion. If you’ve already “blabbed,” you can use this section to refine and revise your writing, comparing it with the source material and then condensing it to include only the key points.
When it’s time to reflect , revisit the text, summary, and general notes, developing additional research questions that arise from your reading. This is when you can begin to establish connections between the information and its practical application. Only at this stage can you rely on critical reading and reflection: compare the coding and annotation with the original text and consider whether you’ve correctly identified the most important themes and general ideas in your rewrite.
In a sense, this is the opposite of methods such as the aforementioned SQ3R or KWL. With these methods, you write down your questions before starting work and then search for answers in the material. With REAP, since you don’t have the context or knowledge to formulate your questions, you need to gather them before you begin thinking. The choice of reading method depends on how well you know the material.
The REAP approach is a good place to start before moving on to more detailed analysis, such as the SQ3R method. It allows you to familiarize yourself with the entire text rather than focusing immediately on small subheadings and tables. This helps you grasp the overall meaning before delving into the details. For maximum comprehension, try skimming the text again and using a critical reading method such as THIEVES to extract all the important details.