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Before
you lead the charge into a book battle, get some
basic study training first.
Study Power Leads to Victory!
By Feona Sharhan Huff
December 2000
The CollegeBound Network NewsClick -- You've read
your history book backward, forward, sideways,
upside down, and you still haven't mastered the
facts about the Battle at Gettysburg, the War
of 1812, or any war for that matter. Why? Perhaps
your strategy was all wrong. Instead of diving
straight into the 525-page book, you should have
given yourself time to warm up.
Warm up? No, this isn't
about doing exercise warm ups like stretches,
knee bends, or head rolls, but a mental warm up
of tactics that will help you become more comfortable
with the material, and most importantly, understand
what it's saying. Here are five strategies to
help you maximize study time.
STRATEGY #1: Take
a Survey. Once you're sitting at your desk
with book in hand, get started on your study venture
by surveying the book and its chapters. First,
you'll want to read all the headings and subheadings.
This will give you a heads up on what you'll be
reading in pages to come. Next, read the Preface
(found at the beginning of the book). It'll tell
you the reason the book is written, what it contains,
and how it is organized.
STRATEGY #2: Get
Motivated. Wow, you've gotten over your first
hurdle, now it's on to say "I want to learn.
I want to learn. I want to learn." Why would
you repeat this mantra? Well, because you should
want to learn. Not just to get an 'A' on your
forthcoming exam, but to be able to say you have
information embedded in your brain for future
reference. When you think this way, you're motivating
yourself. Your level of motivation can take up
to 30 minutes, depending on what you are studying.
Once you want to learn, you can begin reading.
STRATEGY #3: Read,
don't skim. Read for understanding, not just
to soak up information to ace tomorrow's quiz.
Start off by reading the first paragraph very
carefully. It usually has the most important information
and sets the tone for the chapter. If you skip
this, you'll be missing out on the facts, big
time. As you read, look for key phrases that indicate
a major point is being made. Also, ask yourself
what you want the material to answer. And, if
you don't know the meaning of a word, look it
up in the dictionary. It could have a different
meaning than what you assume.
STRATEGY #4:
Look back. Reflect on what you have just
finished reading. If it helps, repeat the information
out loud or write it down. Just make sure you
are able to remember the concepts and facts.
STRATEGY #5:
Time to review. Your test is days away.
What are you going to do? Instead of creating
a cram situation laer, use down time to review
what you have learned! Go back through every topic
covered by the book until you are absolutely sure
you know the material. If you've taken notes,
use them to help refresh your memory as well.
See... studying wasn't
that hard, now was it? It just takes some prep
time and a willingness to learn the material.
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You've scorde in the studying department,
now find out if you're AP-apt.
· Still need study assistance?
Click into the Web's largest, free
online library of study guides: PinkMonkey.
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