How to Keep Score In the next few pages, I’ll explain the 11 primary study skills covered in this book: reading and comprehension, memory development, time management, library skills, computer skills, textbook note taking, classroom note taking, library note taking, classroom participation, writing papers, and test preparation. Then I’ll ask you to rate yourself on your current level of achievement and understanding of each: “A” (excellent) for mastery or near mastery of a particular skill; “B” (good) for some mastery; “C” (fair to poor) for little or no mastery. But let’s do a “downanddirty” test first, just to give you a taste of what’s to come. Read the following 28 statements and consider which apply to you. If a statement does apply, mark “Y” (for yes). If not, mark “N” (for no):
HOW TO STUDY SEVENTH EDITION Ron Fry Course Technology PTR A part of Cengage Learning Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, United States How to Study, Seventh Edition Ron Fry Publisher and General Manager, Course Technology PTR: Stacy L Hiquet Associate Director of Marketing: Sarah Panella Manager of Editorial Services: Heather Talbot Marketing Manager: Mark Hughes Senior Acquisitions Editor: Mitzi Koontz Interior Layout Tech: Judy Littlefield © 2012 Course Technology, a part of Cengage Learning ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced, transmitted, stored, or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, scanning, digitizing, taping, Web distribution, information networks, or information storage and retrieval systems, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the publisher For product information and technology assistance, contact us at Cengage Learning Customer & Sales Support, 1-800-354-9706 For permission to use material from this text or product, submit all requests online at cengage.com/permissions Further permissions questions can be e-mailed to permissionrequest@cengage.com All trademarks are the property of their respective owners Cover Designer: Luke Fletcher All images © Cengage Learning unless otherwise noted Indexer: Valerie Haynes Perry ISBN-13: 978-1-4354-5968-7 Proofreader: Sandi Wilson Library of Congress Control Number: 2011923932 ISBN-10: 1-4354-5968-7 eISBN-10: 1-4354-5969-5 Course Technology, a part of Cengage Learning 20 Channel Center Street Boston, MA 02210 USA Cengage Learning is a leading provider of customized learning solutions with office locations around the globe, including Singapore, the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, and Japan Locate your local office at: international.cengage.com/region Cengage Learning products are represented in Canada by Nelson Education, Ltd Printed by RR Donnelley Crawfordsville, IN 1st Ptg 04/2011 For your lifelong learning solutions, visit courseptr.com Visit our corporate Web site at cengage.com Printed in United States of America 13 12 11 Contents Introduction xi Chapter 1: How to Start Out Right Chapter 2: How to Organize Your Studying 15 Chapter 3: How to Read and Remember 45 Chapter 4: How to Organize Your TIme 75 Chapter 5: How to Excel in Class 101 Chapter 6: How to Conduct Your Research 123 Chapter 7: How to Write Terrific Papers 133 Chapter 8: How to Study for Tests 171 Epilogue 217 Index 219 This page intentionally left blank Introduction How to Use This Book “What one knows is, in youth, of little moment; they know enough who know how to learn.” —Henry Adams L earning how to study is learning how to learn And that is, to me, the greatest gift you can ever give yourself…or your children Having stated that so boldly, I suspect I still have to convince some of you that spending any time trying to master this stuff—studying, learning, reading, note taking, writing—is worth your while There are, of course, some terrific reasons why you should learn how to study, why you really must learn how to study But before I start convincing you that developing proper study skills is important—and why—let’s figure out exactly what we mean by “study skills” so we’re all on the same wavelength Yes, How to Study includes hints, advice, and techniques for taking notes in class, while you’re reading your textbooks, in the library, and online; how to prepare for tests; and how to organize your study schedule to get the best results in the shortest amount of time But that’s only half of the book There are essential skills you may think have nothing to with studying, and important steps you need to take right from the start vi How to Study Here’s Where to Start “Learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as if you would be in fear of losing it.” —Confucius Developing great study habits is like a foot race between you and your friends Before you can declare a winner, you have to agree on where the finish line is In other words, how you measure your ability to use these skills? What’s good? What’s poor? But you can’t even start the race until you know where the starting line is—especially if it’s drawn at a different spot for each of you! Chapter starts by explaining individual study skills and clarifying how each can and should function in your life Then you’ll be given the chance to find your own starting line In Chapter 2, you’ll learn the importance of where, how, and when you study, and you’ll start building the study environment that’s perfect for you Why is this important? If you’ve spent three hours reading Gravity’s Rainbow with Outkast shaking the walls, it’s not surprising you’re still on page three Reading about and understanding Mr Pynchon might have little to with increasing reading comprehension, rescheduling your time, or changing books and a lot more to with just turning down the volume There is no magic elixir in the study habit regimen If math and science are not your strong suits, memorizing How to Study will not transform you into a Nobel Prize-winning physicist Nobody is great at everything, but everybody is great at something So you’ll also get a chance to rate the subjects you like and dislike, plus those classes you best and worst in How to Use This Book vii Chapter also introduces some of the “intangibles” in the study equation: your home environment, attitude, motivation, and so forth If you are dedicated to studying and motivated to achieve certain goals, all the other factors that affect your study habits will fall more naturally into place A belief in the study ethic is one of the keys to success Finally, mastering some other key components of the study process— learning to “read” teachers, developing mentors, dealing with perfectionism, the importance of flexibility—will help you get off to the right start Reading and Comprehension Chapter introduces the skills basic to any study process: reading and comprehension No matter how well you learn to take notes, how familiar you become with your library, how deftly you surf the Internet, how doggedly you study for tests, if you are reading poorly (or not enough) and not understanding what you read, life will be difficult Becoming a good reader is a skill, one usually acquired early in life If it’s a skill you haven’t acquired yet, now is the time! Chapter also points out how your ability to recall ideas, facts, and figures can be significantly increased (quantitatively and qualitatively) with practice Making Up for Lost Time To see a significant change in your life, most of you will not need to study harder, just smarter This means making better use of your study time—spending the same two, three, or four hours, but accomplishing twice, thrice, or four times what you now Chapter introduces the simplest and easiest-to-use organizational and time-management tools you’ll ever find—powerful ways to make sure you are always on track, including guidelines to develop both short-term and long-term calendars viii How to Study Go to the Head of the Class In Chapter I talk about the one experience we all have in common, no matter how old we are: the classroom I’ll help you take better notes, encourage your active participation in class discussions— including pointers on how to overcome the tendency to hide behind the plant in the back of the room—and help you get a lot more out of lectures Becoming an Information Hound Chapter introduces you to the two important resources in your study career—your library and the Internet—and discusses how to build up your research muscles to get the information you need when you need it You’ll learn about the books, periodicals, newspapers, magazines, computer software, videos, audiotapes, and other reference materials available to you at most brick-and-mortar libraries and suggestions for how to find and use them, including an explanation of the Dewey decimal classification and Library of Congress systems I’ll also cover the use of online resources and the importance of becoming computer and Internet literate So You’re Not the Next Hemingway I’m convinced that too many of you place the emphasis in “writing papers” on the word “writing.” In Chapter I’ll introduce you to a remarkably easy way to take notes and organize your information By breaking down any paper, no matter how complex, into easy-tofollow steps, I’ll help you create papers infinitely better than before— even if you’re still no threat to Hemingway (or anybody else) when it comes to writing How to Use This Book ix How to “Ace” Any Test Chapter covers the dos and don’ts of test preparation, including the differences between studying for weekly quizzes, midterms, and final examinations; why last-minute cramming doesn’t work (but how to it if you have no other choice—shame!); studying for and taking different types of tests (multiple-choice, true/false, essay, open book, and so on); how to increase your guessing scores; even which questions to answer first and which to leave for last How Smart Do You Study? How to Study is the most comprehensive study guide ever written— a fundamental, step-by-step approach that you can follow to develop and sharpen your study skills If you’re struggling through college or graduate school, here’s your life preserver If you’re a high school student planning to attend college, now’s your chance to hone your study skills If you’re heading for trade school or not even considering college— even if you’re ready to drop out of high school at the earliest possible instant, you still need How to Study If you’re an adult returning to the classroom after a lengthy absence, there’s no substitute for the tips and techniques you will learn in this helpful collection So what if you’re a really poor student? How smart you are is not the point What counts is how smart you study With the possible exception of the percent of you who qualify as “gifted,” the effective study habits How to Study teaches will help students of any age and ability level ... Introduction How to Use This Book “What one knows is, in youth, of little moment; they know enough who know how to learn.” —Henry Adams L earning how to study is learning how to learn And that is, to me,... Chapter 5: How to Excel in Class 101 Chapter 6: How to Conduct Your Research 123 Chapter 7: How to Write Terrific Papers 133 Chapter 8: How to Study for... Chapter 1: How to Start Out Right Chapter 2: How to Organize Your Studying 15 Chapter 3: How to Read and Remember 45 Chapter 4: How to Organize