🗸Psyc101: Study Skills Assessment [to complete after taking Test 1] Due Date: See

Syllabus

In order to further ensure that you have access to tools that will assist your success in this and other
college courses, the Psychology Discipline is requiring that you do a Study Skills paper after you have
taken the first exam. This project is intended to help you analyze your approach to studying, identify
ways to improve your learning and help you better prepare for exams.
You will: 1. Complete the Checklist, and 2. Write a 1-page paper.
In Brightspace, you will submit this paper as an attachment in the Study Skills Assignment folder
found in the Assignments tab.
Here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Complete the Checklist below:

Time Schedule Strategies

1. Y_🗸_ N__ I spend too much time studying for what I am learning.

2. Y__ N_🗸_ I usually spend hours cramming the night before an exam.

3. Y__ N_🗸_ If I spend as much time on my social activities as I want to, I don't have enough time
left to study, or when I study enough, I don't have time for a social life.

Concentration

4. Y__ N_🗸_ I usually try to study with the radio and TV turned on.

5. Y_🗸_ N__ I can't sit and study for long periods of time without becoming tired or distracted.

6. Y__ N_🗸_ I go to class, but I usually doodle, daydream, or fall asleep.

Note-Taking and In-Class Listening Skills (Listening and Note Taking)

7. Y__ N_🗸_ My class notes are sometimes difficult to understand later.

8. Y__ N_🗸_ I usually seem to get the wrong material into my class notes.

9. Y_🗸_ N__ I don't review my class notes periodically throughout the semester in preparation for
tests. 

SQ3R – Reading /Study System (Reading)

10. Y__ N_🗸_ When I get to the end of a chapter, I can't remember what I've just read.

11. Y__ N_🗸_ I don't know how to pick out what is important in the text.

12. Y__ N_🗸_ I can't keep up with my reading assignments, and then I have to cram the night
before a test.

13. Y__ N_🗸_ I often find myself getting lost in the details of reading and have trouble identifying
the main ideas.
 14. Y__ N_🗸_ I rarely change my reading speed in response to the difficulty level of the selection,
or my familiarity with the content.

15. Y_🗸_ N__ I often wish that I could read faster.

Strategies for Difficult Questions and Taking Exams

16. Y__ N_🗸_ I lose a lot of points on essay tests even when I know the material well.

17. Y__ N_🗸_ I study enough for my test, but when I get there my mind goes blank.

18. Y__ N_🗸_ I often study in a haphazard, disorganized way under the threat of the next test.

19. Y_🗸_ N__ I often ‘get stuck’ on a test question and feel like there must be more than one
correct
answer.

Writing Papers

20. Y__ N_🗸_ When my teachers assign papers I feel so overwhelmed that I can't get started.

21. Y_🗸_ N__ I usually write my papers the night before they are due.

22. Y__ N_🗸_ I can't seem to organize my thoughts into a paper that makes sense.

2. You will turn in this completed checklist with your final written paper.

3. Once you finish the checklist above, go to this website:

http://ucc.vt.edu/academic_support/study_skills_information.html

If you answered ‘Yes’ to two or more questions in any section, you will click on hyperlinks
that will offer suggestions to help address those study concerns. There is a hyperlink for each
section of the checklist above (time schedule strategies, concentration, etc.). Each of those links
will give you information and suggestions about that specific skill. To see the suggestions, click
the dark gray rectangle near the top of the screen that says "EXPLORE" (see picture below).
Click on the plus sign on the top, right of the gray rectangle.

4.

Write a minimum 1-page paper discussing what the Study Skills Checklist identified as areas of
concern for you (or see the next paragraph if there were no identified areas of concern).
Make sure you at least answer the following questions:
What type of suggestions or information was provided regarding this area of concern? How
 could you implement the recommendations/ information received for future success in our
course? Does knowing what your strengths are as a learner (e.g., are you a good reader, good
listener in class, good note-taker, good at organization, good in groups, curious, motivated, etc.)
help you to focus on specific ways to implement these current Study Skills suggestions for the
next test in this course?

If the checklist results showed no identified areas of concern, reflect on the study strategies you used
for the first exam. Are there any ways you can think of to improve how you studied to learn the
material? Write your paper on the changes (if any) you will use as you move forward in our course. If
there are no changes, outline the strategies you used and why you feel they worked well for you.

Formatting:
● Put your name in the margin (no title page is needed). Include page numbers if needed.
● Remember to also submit the completed Checklist with your final paper. You can cut and paste the
completed Checklist in to the end your paper or simply save the completed checklist and attach that as
well.
● No citations are needed for this paper.
● Watch your grammar, spelling, and punctuation! (more than 4 errors will negatively impact your grade).
● Your paper should be double-spaced with 12 pt. font and 1-inch margins.