-Advertisement-
  About AE   About NHM   Contact Us   Terms of Use   Copyright Info   Privacy Policy   Advertising Policies   Site Map
   
Mystery Spot
Activities Collections
Health Headquarters
Resources
Custom Search of AE Site
spacer spacer

How To Get A's Chapter 1



Introduction : Beginning science students rarely study enough to master the subject.
You can no longer obtain good grades by simply going to class.
From now on you must memorize more by using frequent, but shorter
study sessions.

Definition :

High grades

are the result of effort and good study techniques .

Meaning of definition : 1. The competition gets tougher in the higher level science classes.
( effort) 2. Consistent effort is half of the secret to doing well.
(Study daily) Never allow yourself to fall behind.
(Learn techniques) 3. Reliable study techniques comprise the second half.
(Homework = at home) 4. Studying, generally means outside of class time .
(Hand-in work ~25%) 5. Homework that you hand-in should be about 25% of your study time, NOT 100% of it.

Study techniques :


        1. Always do

          some

          studying. When you have no assigned
(Study nightly) homework, work on sample problems and read the essays, study guides and supplemental workbooks. Try studying every night. You might find that some of the chapters are a lot more interesting than TV.

(20 on, 20 off) 2. Never study one subject for very long. Twenty minutes on and twenty minutes off works well. Take a break. Cramming does not work for long term memory .
Do you want to learn for the test or for your career?
Careers are for a lifetime!

        1. Reading - If possible, it's best to buy the book and

          mark in it.

          Build a home library.
(Skim)

Skim

the material first to get an overview, then read it.
(What's this section about?) Copy the headings that are in

bold

.
(KNOW THE MAIN IDEA)
(Highlight text)

Highlight

the text and make notes in the margin.
(Add to class notes) As you read,

add

to your class notes.
Read with your notebook open and polish your notes by
improving on them.
 (Learn vocabulary)

Memorize

the

underlined/bold/italicized

words.
Learn the new vocabulary.
(Flash cards work) Flash cards help .
Read the summaries and

understand

all of them.
(Review)

Review

the chapter quickly - ask yourself if you
understand each section completely. If not,
(Write down queries)

write down a question

and ask it in class.
You learn by writing out a question, and finding a
legitimate answer. (Not by asking it.)
(Summarize in writing) Summarize each page or section in your own words. Add this summary to your notes.
(Read questions) Try to answer the questions at the end of the chapters.
They are excellent questions for 2 people to ask each
other.
(Friends teach) Talk to your friends - you learn and remember by interacting with them. Form a review group.
(Pictures help) Study the diagrams and pictures. Read the

captions

. What was the meaning of each picture, graph or table?

(Notes are GOLD ) 4. Take notes for

every

day of class.
(Obtain all notes) If you miss a day of class, get the notes from your lab partner or friend.
(Passive is poor)

Be mentally active

, get silently involved; passive people miss facts and the total picture.
(Think in class) Think as you write - don't be concerned with the
(Don't goof off) social scene. A class that horses around will
(Don't doodle) take the same type of tests as a serious class. Which one will get the better grades?
(Stay alert) Focus ! What is the point; where is this lecture going?
(Guess ahead) Anticipate ! What comes next? What is the teacher going to say next?
(Outline) Take notes in

outline

form.
(Shorthand, symbols) Abbreviate long words or repetitive phrases.
Always make a key for the abbreviations.
(Write lots) Write down everything on the

board/overhead

+

more !


Write down some notes to help explain what you
(Notes last forever) copied from the board. You need to understand your notes two years from now !
(Write fast) Write fast.
(Add to class notes)

Leave room

to add to them when you read the book

Paper is cheap!

(Recopy) Recopy your notes for the day, if they are not clear.
 (Memorize notes)

Memorize

your notes before tests. This is the number one technique for raising your grades!
(Understand notes) Try to

understand

your notes.

(Predict for exams) 5. Predict exam questions. What questions would you ask if you were tutoring your best friend?
(Analyze notes) Examine your notes; look for similarities & differences.
            • Look for reasons that explain why.
            • Look for a complete picture.
            • Look for an explanation in

              your own words

(Use practice tests)

Take

practice

exams at home. Time them to assure that you are working at the proper speed.

(Lab notes) 6. Labs - take notes on the tips given at the beginning of the lab.
There will often be hints that mean little before the lab, but after you have finished, they will make
(What's the point of the lab?) sense. Write them down and write fast. Ask yourself what concepts the lab attempts to convey?

(Learn by doing) 7. Mimic simple problems to solve complex ones.
            • Look for examples in the text.
            • Look for examples in the study guide.
            • Look for examples in the work sheets.
            • Look for examples in your class notes.

(Acronyms) 8. For some memory work it helps to make-up an

acronym

or a sentence using part of the memory work.
ex.) SIGN = S tudying I mproves G rades N ow

(Study alone) 9. Study by yourself. Learning is an individual activity, but you will learn faster by interacting with others. Therefore discuss the material with others in your review group, but memorize on your own .

(Proper atmosphere) 10. Where you study will influence how you study and how effectively that time will be spent.
Study in a place with no distractions.
Do not study in front of the TV.
If you like music, it should low and without lyrics.
Always have a comfortable seat and adequate light.

This is Chapter 1 from Getting Started in Chemistry: An Expanded Synopsis with Worksheets by Darvin DeShazer and
Charles Buff. Copyright 1993. The privilege to copy for face-to-face teaching situations is granted to educators.
Copies of the booklet are $8.00 including free shipping.
Darvin DeShazer, 406 Pleasant Hill Rd., Sebastopol, CA 95472
(707) 829-0596, E-mail: ddeshaz@cello.gina.calstate.edu

View Activity Description

Activities-To-Go Index

Activities Exchange Index

 
Custom Search on the AE Site

 
-Advertisement-