Hi Oz29xr8!
Happy to address your questions.
Is there a way for me to use this method a lot more faster to save time? I've been using this method and its been very helpful and useful in helping me understand the passages I read. However, I want to get faster at using it so what improvements do I need to do?
That's great to hear that you've found the VIEWSTAMP analysis helpful in understanding passages. The short answer to these questions is to keep practicing! It's certainly normal for a student initially to take longer on a question or passage when the student is applying one of PowerScore's techniques. After all, the student is just getting to learn a given new technique and has to go through multiple attempts of putting it into practice. Hopefully, however, you'll find that you gradually will increase in speed the more you practice and use the tool or technique. So make sure that you are drilling yourself on reading comprehension, and you'll almost certainly find that you'll get quicker at applying the VIEWSTAMP analysis as you do so.
Do I use the VIEWSTAMP Method as I read the passage or after I finish reading and the passage?
On the one hand, it's not a bad idea to complete it after you've finished reading a passage. This gives you a chance to pause, reflect on what you read, and briefly digest it before you turn to the questions. On the other, if you find that you're spending too much time on it after reading a passage, each element is something that you could have tracked anyways while reading through the passage. For example, if you see multiple viewpoints being introduced, you can write something like V(A), V(B), etc. in the margins of the passage, which will let you know exactly where to find the various viewpoints. Similarly, you can write MP next to a sentence if you identify it as the main point of the passage. You can also circle words that cue you in to the tone of the passage. In short, you can be marking up the passage as you go to capture each VIEWSTAMP component. If you're doing that, you can spend much less time needing to write them out after reading the passage.
As I use this method how much detail should I put in to them?
Be sparing on the amount of words you use. Use single letters or other abbreviations--for example, for viewpoints, you can write a V and subscript the first letter of the person's name, rather than spelling the entire name out.
Is it also ok to look back into passage even when I use this method?
Yes, it's definitely okay and indeed is good to be in the practice of looking back to the passage. What you don't want to do is have a passage that isn't marked up at all--in that case, looking back to the passage can turn into rereading it again as you search for each VIEWSTAMP element. Looking back to a passage that's been appropriately marked up, by contrast, is an important part of the analysis and can even make it faster.
