Suggested Study Method

 

The following method may seem very cumbersome and lengthy and you may think that you don't have time to study like this.  You do.  In fact, you probably can't afford NOT to study this way if you want excellent grades and, perhaps more importantly, if you really want to master the material in this course (and any other course you take).

 

This will take a bit of time initially, but as you practice this is will get easier, and quicker, and you're grades will be the best you've ever gotten.  Use it!

 

 

1    PREPARE FOR LECTURE.  Look at the items on your Study Guide that pertain to the topic for the upcoming lecture that you are preparing for.

 

2.      SKIM-READ YOUR TEXTBOOK BEFORE COMING TO LECTURE. Read the lecture material (see my suggestions below) before coming to class. TAKE NOTES from the material you are reading IN YOUR OWN WORDS.  While you’re reading, if you see something that was in the Study Guide, highlight it in your textbook.

 

3.      TAKE NOTES IN LECTURE ANS COMPLETE THE STUDY GUIDE ON THAT SECTION. Take some notes in class during lecture if you need to, and then as soon as possible after class COMBINE your reading notes for that topic with your class notes - AND COMPLETE THE STUDY GUIDE FOR THAT SECTION.

   

 4.     REVISE/CONDENSE YOUR NOTES; REVIEW THEM AT LEAST THREE TIMES.  Once you’ve geared up to start studying for a test, try REVISE and CONDENSE your notes a little more without sacrificing any clarity.  REMEMBER, when studying for an exam, you are now using ONLY your notes, not your textbook (unless you need clarification about something).  Make sure you’ve gone over your notes and memorized them AT LEAST three times before the exam

5.      SEE IF YOU'RE READY FOR THE EXAM BY COMPLETING A BLANK STUDY GUIDE.  Finally, get a BLANK Study Guide, put your notes aside then answer the questions on the study guide and compare your answers to your notes.  If you can’t answer the questions correctly or address the points on your Study Guide without looking at your notes, you’re not yet ready for the exam.  Review/re-memorize those things you are still not solid on. 

 

A SUGGESTED METHOD FOR SKIM-READING YOUR TEXTBOOK prior to coming to lecture is the following:

a.       Skim the chapter section HEADINGS first to get an overview of the chapter contents

b.       Look at all the figures in the text and read the legends for the figures/tables before you actually read.  Ask yourself what you know about the figures as you’re looking at them.

c.       Read over the Study Guide for the material (that I give you for each exam) before you read to focus your thoughts on the most important 20% of what  you will have to know.

d.       Read the Chapter summary (yes, BEFORE you read the Chapter) and while you’re reading through it keep asking yourself what you already know and what you don’t know, and focus on the things that are mentioned in your Study Guide.

e.       Read the chapter material and, using the Study Guide and the Expert Questions, make notes on what you’re reading.  Don’t COPY sentences in your textbook word-for-word, but put a summary sentence for each paragraph you read IN YOUR OWN WORDS.