How_To_Study_2e.pdf

How_To_Study_2e

LEARNINGEXPRESSTHEBASICSMADEEASY. . . IN20 MINUTES ADAY!A New Approach to “Mastering The Basics.” An innovative 20-step self-study program helps you learn at your own pace and make visible progress in just 20 minutes a day.GRAMMARESSENTIALS, 2 ed.HOWTOSTUDY, 2 ed.IMPROVEYOURWRITING FORWORK, 2 ed.MATHESSENTIALS, 2 ed.PRACTICALSPELLING, 2 ed.PRACTICALVOCABULARY, 2 ed.READBETTER, REMEMBERMORE, 2 ed.THESECRETS OFTAKINGANYTEST, 2 ed.Become a Better Student–QuicklyBecome a More Marketable Employee–FastGet a Better Job–Now HOW TO STUDY HOWTOSTUDYSecond EditionUse Your Personal Learning Style to HelpYou Succeed When It Countsby Gail Wood®LearningExpressNEW YORK Copyright © 2000 Learning Express, LLC.All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.Published in the United States by LearningExpress, LLC, New York.Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataPrinted in the United States of America9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1First EditionFor Further InformationFor information on LearningExpress, other LearningExpress products, or bulk sales,please write to us at:LearningExpress®900 BroadwaySuite 604New York, NY 10003Visit LearningExpress on the World Wide Web at www.LearnX.com Introduction: How to Use This Book ix1 Getting Started 1Keeping calm, getting in the mood to study, creating an environment that works2 Discovering How You Learn 9An introductory look at what makes you unique as a learner3 Looking and Listening 19Discover how you see and hear as part of the way you learn4 Making Images, Making Order, Making Sense 25Discover how you use imagery and sequence as part of the way you learn5 Learning by Doing 31Discover how you use movement and experience as part of the way you learn6 Making Studying Do-able 41Break assignments into sections to suit your learning style and your calendar7 Knowing What You Know 51Realize when you are sure of what you studied8 Knowing When You Don’t Know 59Realize when and how to question what you studied9 Getting Involved in Learning 67Find and use what interests you to help you to wantto study10 Getting More Out of Reading 75Before you read, anticipate; while you read, be aware; after you’ve read, reflect11 Remembering What You’ve Learned 85Make a memory chain: link what you’re learning to what you already knowCONTENTS 12 Getting the Most from a Lecture 95Make the most of what you hear; different notes for different learning styles13 Getting the Most from Class Participation 103Keep your focus and prepare for the unexpected14 Getting the Most from a Class Discussion Group 111Make the most of interacting with others15 Making Yourself Understood 117Speak and write so others will know what you mean16 Working with a Study Buddy 127How to best work with a study partner17 Being Your Own Partner 137How to work with yourself as if you were working with a partner18 Preparing for Short-Answer Tests 145Prepare for multiple-choice, true/false, matching, and fill-in-the-blank tests19 Preparing for Essay Tests 155Create an essay test and reflect on the process to develop your own test-taking guidelines20 Knowing When You Need Help 167Identify and appreciate special learning needsAppendix: Additional Resources 173Useful organizations and publications to help you get more from studying ixINTRODUCTIONHOW TOUSETHISBOOKWhat do comfort andfeeling good have to dowith learning? Lots! When you have the rightattitude and can focus onyour studying in a stylethat’s right for you, youlearn more with seeminglyless effort. In the 20minutes a day that you’llspend with this book, you’ll learn how to learn! To get the most out of studying, you need to find what works best for you. Other people can’t tell youhow to study. All they can do is to tell you what works for them.If you learn the same way as they do, their tips might be helpful. But ifyour style is different from theirs, those tips might not be very useful toyou. In fact, they might even be a waste of your time. HOW TO STUDYxGETTING COMFORTABLE WITH STUDYINGThis book asks a lot of questions to help you learn how to study effectively. But there are no “right” or “wrong”answers here. Every questionis designed to help you discover how you learn, and to help you do more ofwhat works for you—whether you’re reading a text, listening to a lecture,writing a paper, or preparing for a test.For example, in order to understand what you’re reading right now,you are doing something that works for you. Maybe you’re reading thisout loud. Or “hearing” your voice in your head as you read this silently.Perhaps you are making pictures on paper. Maybe you’re reading this asyou’re walking. You might be reading all this in an orderly way, making akind of outline in your head as you go along.Each of these ways is a different learning style. And the early chap-ters in this book focus on helping you find your own learning style. Laterchapters help you work with your learning style so you can use it moreoften. The icons shown to the left stand for the five learning styles you’llfind out about in this book. Once you’ve identified your learning style inChapter 2, “Discovering How You Learn,” you can look in the later chap-ters for the icon that stands for your style to find study tips that will helpyou take advantage of your strength.You’re more comfortable when you’re using your own style becauseyou’re understanding more. And when you’re comfortable, you’re morereceptive—you find it easier to get involved with what you’re studying, asyou’ll see in Chapter 9, “Getting Involved in Learning.” When you’reinvolved with what you’re studying, it doesn’t feel like work; it becomessomething you enjoy.Getting satisfaction from what you’re studying requires carefulplanning. Dividing big jobs into little ones makes overwhelming tasksmore bearable. There’s a chapter in this book on that, too. Sometimes people can’t pay close attention to their studying because something elseneeds to be done. Spending a few minutes on that other job before studyingwill ease the conscience—thus making studying more productive.Also, some people work best if they work on several things at once.Maybe you’ve heard,“Can’t you just do one thing at a time?” Well, for youperhaps the answer is, “No, I can’t. I work best if I go back and forthbetween two or three projects. If I try to stick to one job at a time, I getdistracted and don’t work well.” Many people work best this way. The1.2.3. . learn how to learn! To get the most out of studying, you need to find what works best for you. Other people can’t tell youhow to study. All they can do is to. will help you find out how to get ready for productive study. HOW TO STUDY2 GETTING IN THE MOOD You probably know what it’s like to have to do something you