How to Improve Your Reading

Before Class

Take the time to get a concrete idea of material that will be covered in class.

For Lecture Classes:

• Take 5-10 minutes to systematically look over the chapter(s) that were assigned.

• Read the chapter outline, main headings, and key words.

• Look carefully at the pictures, charts, graphs, and/or diagrams.

• Read the summary (twice if the material is unfamiliar or difficult).

For Discussion Classes:

• Read ALL material assigned; if you run out of time at least follow the instructions above.

• Take notes, or make comments, and/or pose questions on the reading, both in the text (use post-its or write in the margins) & in your notebook.

During Class

For Lecture Classes:

• Take effective notes (see Tipsheet: 3 Steps to Effective Notetaking).

  • In the "Comments" column of your notes, indicate when the lecture is dealing with material from the reading.

  For Discussion Classes:

  • Try to participate in the discussion at least once (also, don't dominate it).

  • Either comment during ongoing discussion, or wait for a lull and either make (from your reading notes) one of your observations or pose one of your questions.

  • Add to your reading notes those points that the instructor emphasized.

After Class

For Lecture Classes:

• For Lecture Classes:

  • Read all the material that you previouly scanned before class.

  • Interact with your class notes while reading, making comments and clarifying concepts and details that were covered in lecture.

  For Discussion Classes:

  • Review your reading/class notes to clarify your comprehension of the assignment; think about possible test/essay questions.

Test Taking Strategies

Before:

• Seek tutorial help if your understanding is weak (call the LAC at 523-5524).

• Take good notes and develop an effective study guide; pace your study with frequent shorter sessions.

• Try to anticipate test questions and then test yourself before the teacher does.

• Take care of yourself (eat well and exercise regularly), reduce anxiety, and have a positive attitude.

• Organize and bring materials with you to the test; and arrive early!

During:

• Listen to or read all directions carefully.

• Look over entire test before answering anything.

• Immediately jot down formulas and definitions you will need and might forget.

• Do prewriting or outlining if it is an essay test.

• Budget your time, but be sure to read each question carefully.

• Do easy questions first; then do harder ones.

• Don't let emotions get in the way of being successful.

• Check and/or proofread your answers.

After:

• Analyze your test performance for strengths and weaknesses in you knowledge and preparation.

• Visit with the professor (or tutor) to go over questions or concepts that were difficult.

• Revise your study process and schedule time accordingly.

• Seek tutorial help, if necessary.

 Multiple Choice Strategies:

• Eliminate the obvious wrong answers.

• Watch for absolute terms (always, never, inevitably, etc.); 80% of the time these answers are incorrect.

• There can be only one right answer unless otherwise stated (Look for answers that cancel each other or are the same and eliminate them).

• Look for clues to questions you can't answer within other questions.

• Make sure the answer you choose answers the question.

• Consider all alternatives before answering, especially with "all of the above" or "A and B" answers.

• If 3 of 4 answers given are on the same topic, the answer is probably not the one on a different topic.

• Some people claim their first answer is the correct one -- See if it works for you!

Essay Test Strategies:

• Read the question carefully, circling the verb and important words. Know what it is asking you to do.

• Outline, diagram or jot down notes of your ideas.

• Write your answer referring to your notes, outline, or diagram.

• Proofread your answer, check for grammar, spelling & punctuation errors.

• Allow 10-15 minutes for each essay.

3 Steps to Effective Notetaking

Step #1 -- Develop an effective method of taking notes

Use the "Cornell" method to take initial notes during class.

Draw a line down the length of the page, one third the distance from the left margin. This creates a "Comments" column where you can make comments and observations or pose questions on your regular class notes as they are being taken on the right hand side. This makes your notetaking more interactive and less passive.

Develop a personal code to use while taking notes based on the instructor's emphasisin the lecture, for example:

• A star (*) for likely test items or topics.

• Underline for particular instructor emphasis.

• Circle comments if you don't know or are unclear (?) and skip spaces to allow you to look it up later and write in what you find.

• A box for key concepts that you need to remember.

Step #2. Develop your notes into an effective study guide

Take your class notes, comments, and notes from readings and develop them into a new set of more condensed and focused notes to study for a given quiz or test. Use any or all of the following strategies

• Develop concept maps, information matrices, and/or process or systems diagrams that show relationships between key ideas and details.

• Make flash-cards with important concepts, formulas, and/or terminology and review them frequently (placing them into maps, matrices, or diagrams as appropriate).

• Develop a key word approach for groups of information like "5 key concepts for -- " that will allow you to more easily memorize and recall the necessary information.

• Regardless of how you develop your notes, review them frequently for shorter periods of time, rather than occasionally for longer periods of time, and don't cram at the end just before a test.

Step #3. "Audit" you notes after every quiz and test

Soon after each quiz or test, go back over your notes and highlight the concepts and details that appeared on the test. Also note any information that was on the test that you did NOT have in your notes. This will help you find out two important things:

• To get a concrete idea of how much of the quiz/test comes from the book, and how much comes from the lecture, and perhaps how much comes from somewhere else.

• To get a better picture of what the instructor considers important; this is especially important in classes where the midterm and final exams are cumulative.

Time Management Strategies

Using a daily/weekly/monthly planner, follow each of the strategies listed below:

Daily TO-DO Lists

• Make daily "laundry lists" of what needs to get done during each day.

• Use the opportunity to practice prioritizing tasks and obligations.

Weekly Schedules

• Systematically map out your commitments and interests for the week, including class, exercise, etc.

• Use the schedule to find times when you can study; even just 15 minutes can be enough for a review

Monthly and/or Semester Timeline

• Systematically outline all your assignments, tests, and papers/projects (try using different colors for different classes to keep easier track of assignments).

• Learn to organize and prioritize your time to get things done on or ahead of time

Long-Term Goals

• Take the time each semester to outline and remind yourself of whatever personal, academic, and social goals you want to accomplish while in college.

• Post these goals in a visible place to remind yourself why you are here and what you want to accomplish -- over and above just going to class and getting a passing grade