Here is a Five-Finger guide for previewing a textbook: (If you were absent, trace around your own hand, and write the following on the thumb and fingers, labeling the page "Using a Textbook.")
Label the thumb: 1. Read the title = main idea Label pointer finger: 2. Take a picture walk. What do these visuals have to do with the title? Label middle finger: 3. Write down all bold (bold-faced) words. Label ring finger: 4. Write down headings and subheadings in order. Label little finger: 5. Read first and last paragraphs.
Can you identify and use -- captions? pictures? graphs? maps? titles? headings? subheadings? bolded (bold-faced) words? text boxes?