How to Study
William J. Rapaport
Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Department of Philosophy, Department of Linguistics, and Center for Cognitive Science
rapaport@[Link] [Link]
Outline
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Manage your time Take notes in class & re-write them at home Study hard subjects first, in a quiet place Read actively & slowly, before & after class Do your homework Study for exams Take exams Do research & write essays
Introduction
Everyone has a different attitude towards learning
What are the answers? (You tell me) Lets discuss this / find out together (We tell each other) Heres why I think this is the answer (Ill convince you)
So, everyone has a different studying style
So, my suggestions might not work for you But they worked for me
So, try them!
1. Manage Your Time
School is a full-time job, so
1. 2. Education > {job for fun, extra-curricular activity} If you must work, dont be a full-time student
If education is your full-time job, then spend 40 hrs/wk
1 academic credit 1 hour So, 12 cr 12 hrs in class; so: 4012=28 hrs @ home studying 28/(5 study days/wk) 5.5 hrs/day 1.4 hrs/course (4 courses) 9 cr + 20 hrs assistantship = 20 hrs/wk for courses So, 9 cr 9 hrs in class; so: 209=11 hrs @ home studying 11/5 2.2 hrs/day 0.7 hrs/course (3 courses)
Or:
2. Take Notes in Class & Re-write at Home
Take complete notes in class
write as much as possible
forces you to pay attention keeps you awake (!) less to remember
use abbreviations neatness doesnt count ask questions & make comments
put in notes, even if not uttered in class
Understand at home
copy class notes at home
dont just re-read in-class notes reorganize notes
Dont take notes on computer
noisy; Internet is too tempting; inconsistent with re-writing
Dont rely on instructors notes or copies of slides
re-write them, too!
3. Study Hard Subjects First
Study harder subjects while youre alert.
& Study in a Quiet Place
Recent finding:
People cannot multi-task successfully!
4. Read Actively & Slowly, before & after Class
Dont read passively
think about what youre reading
Slow-reading algorithm
after each sent., ask why? (next slide)
Slow-Reading Algorithm
WHILE there is a next sentence to read, DO: BEGIN (* while *) Read it, SLOWLY; IF you do not understand it, THEN BEGIN (* if *) re-read the previous material, SLOWLY; re-read the incomprehensible sentence, SLOWLY; IF you still don't understand it, THEN ask a fellow student to explain it; IF you still don't understand it, THEN ask your Teaching Assistant (TA) to explain it; IF you still don't understand it, THEN ask me; IF you are in an upper-level course & you still don't understand it, THEN write a paper about it (!) END (* if *) END; (* while *) Since there is no next sentence (because the Boolean test in the WHILE is false), you've understood the text!
4. Read Actively & Slowly, before & after Class (contd.)
Highlight text in margin
dont paint entire page in day-glow yellow highlighter! 1st pass: square bracket in margin
2nd pass: 3rd pass:
double bracket more important material underline really important material]]
]]
Write notes in margin
personalize your (own!) text index your notes
Keep a reading journal
copy important passages (with full citation) write your comments about it
Read twice: both before & after class
5. Do Your Homework
Do HW on time
Do it on scrap paper
then copy neatly
Write both problem & solution
6. Study for Exams
Manage your time
start 1 week before exam spend 1 hr/day studying
study entire night before exam
final exams:
do nothing else but study! for E exams over D days,
spend D/E days studying for each exam
Make a study outline & study from that
from re-copied class notes + highlighted text + reading journal try to fit on 1-2 pages, front only (write small)
Write sample essays or do sample problems
work in a study group
Make flash cards (actually: notebook paper, 2 cols):
left column: question right column: answer cover R column with blank page; write answers; then check
7. Take Exams
Read entire exam first. For essay questions:
do mind dump develop outline write (or copy from memory)
Do easy problems first
Review answers
8. Do Research & Write Essays
Choose topics carefully
not too broad, not too narrow
Do literature review & research
read slowly & actively keep reading journal
Make an outline (from reading-journal notes)
top-down design & stepwise refinement
Write, using outline as guide
keep audience in mind
Edit
read your own work slowly & actively have fellow student/colleague read critically
Manage your time
start early, do a little each day, finish early
Do I Really Have to Do All This?
Yes!
But not necessarily all at once
