Then turn to the table of contents and see how the book is organized. Doing this will help you understand how the author conceives of the topic, and how his or her argument is structured. Finally, read the book, chapter by chapter. Identifying the author's style can frequently help you to understand a monograph or article. One of the most exciting aspects of historical investigation is to sort through and analyze primary sources and arrive at a probable explanation of some part of the past.
Primary sources require special attention, however.
You must read words carefully, and be open to seeing meanings that are not necessarily compatible with those of the present day. When you are given an essay question, your first task is to determine its meaning. The few minutes you spend studying a question and deciding how to answer it will pay high dividends later. Pay close attention to the wording of a question. Explain means to make something clear.