Are you sick and tired of reading and forgetting them all, the next day? Maybe you've already given up! Probably, you've declared right away, "To hell with studies for all I care!" Or "I'm not brilliant enough!" Perhaps you're yet to proclaim any of these, but the truth remains that you are not happy, your academic performance is incredibly at stake and based on that, you feel downcast and incompetent among peers. Ever wonder why?
The problem is you aren't using the right approach to study. But, don't you worry about that; It's finally here, right here at your fingertips. So, before the end of this piece, you'll discover various strategies to help you retain and then to trash forgetfulness into the lagoon.
Few years back in high school, I also faced a similar challenge. I had to struggle with virtually all my subjects. I'm a voracious reader. Over five hours, I can spend on a particular topic tirelessly reading. At the end of my studies, I feel so much excitement and well-read. But, unfortunately, next day or two, I forget almost every bit of the information. That was the most despondent moment of my academic life.
That got me weary and same time, searching, asking and adjusting until finally, I hooked up with these outstanding step-by-step approach to effective study, which eventually changed my life. Therefore, I'm so glad to share with you, those strategies right here and now! Let's get started.
FIRST THING FIRST: EXERCISE!
Studies indicate that mental exercises, to be precise, help the brain retain larger range of information for a longer period. Spend at least 20minutes on mental exercise before study. The mental exercise can be meditation or yoga where total calmness and relaxation of the mind is maintained. It can as well be brainstorming, solving difficult puzzles or word problems. The whole essence is to get the mind relaxed and focused. When the mind is relaxed and focused, then the brain can assimilate and retain more effectively.
TRASH THE SOCIALS
Social networks such as facebook, twitter, and so many others, are the major source of distraction for 21st century teens. According to some psychological facts, the ability to retain new and vital information is almost impossible when the mind is distracted. Therefore, it is advisable to turn off all electronic devices-phones, tablets, ipads, laptops, e.t.c-before study. Forget about your numerous "tweets" and "beeps," you'll get back to them afterwards.
USE THE SQ3R TOOL-KIT
SQ3R is a reading strategy developed by Francis Pleasure Robinson in his 1946 book, "Effective Study." Robinson adopted SQ3R to boost students' ability to retain information for a longer period. Therefore, SQ3R is an acronym for: Survey; Question; Read; Recall; Review.
SURVEY
The usual student-tradition is: open up a text and begin to read straight to the end. This is one of the reasons our brain battles to retain those information. A straight-away-reading is not an effective study skill. First job when you open up a text is survey. That is, browse through the entire chapter you hope to study at that moment. Identify the topics and subtopics in that particular chapter. Also note every highlighted words and phrases (most highlighted words and phrases appear in italics while others are boldly printed). Survey the summaries and the exercises. The whole essence of survey is to prepare your mind on what it's expected to know before the study ends.
QUESTION
After survey, ask questions. Write out some basic questions you expect to answer by the time you're done. Also, pen out some of the questions written at the end of that chapter. Try giving an answer to these textbook-questions, but in case you can't answer any at the moment, don't panic. keep it aside. However, have it in mind to provide the correct answer before the end of study. Note: questions outline the core purpose of your study. It's, however, these questions that determine whether you've acquired the required information at the end.
READ
Read mindfully, paying attention to important details. This is quite different from survey. In survey, you read quickly mindless of certain words and phrases, but reading pays close attention to every details including "new" words and phrases. You read to digest. The best approach is to take note; jot down basic information! The more you jot, the longer it sticks. If you don't jot, the whole reading is wasted. So, note-taking very important to effective reading. The goal is to get it painted in the brain.
RECALL
After every 45minutes, take a break. Let's say 5minutes-break. Studies show that few minutes break after 45-50minutes reading give the brain-memory more room to access and process information. Spend the 5minutes on some other activities. It could be to score a song, play game, gist with a friend etc. but hey! don't turn on device.
After the 5minute break, task the brain. This is the "recall" process. Go over the questions you had written earlier and provide answers to them. You might not necessarily answer all correctly, but just measure your progress by attempting. Then, see if you need to read over again. Focus on the passage that provide answers to that particular question. Also, voice out loud those things you learnt from that chapter. The more you chant them; the better they stick.
TOOLS TO HELP YOU RECALL.
Teaching! Just walk up to a friend and volunteer to teach him/her, or you can stand in front of the board at your free period and share your newly acquired knowledge with classmates. However, in case you're shy or rather uncomfortable with that, you can gather up toys, heap of books or any kind of inanimate objects, make them students and then teach. The purpose is to get it fixed and easy to remember.
Another way to recall is by diagrams and related video games. By diagram, create a mind-picture of what you've learnt. It can as well be done on paper. We assume the topic studied is family. Sketch out a diagram to represent different types of family, members and roles of each member of the family. Further, visit sites such as youtube et al. Download video games related to "family" and play.
Finally, REVIEW! Every day or two, go through the note taken during the reading process.
Repeat the SQ3R over again if you need to. If, however, you judiciously follow these strategy for five "good" times without any positive change, buzz my inbox
Hi Beatrice, welcome to EF! :)
I reckon that it is indeed a long-piece of writing. However, I don't have any idea about what is the point of your writing. What do you want to reach or what is your goal with this essay? Assuming that you need corrections related to grammatical range and accuracy, so that the detailed descriptions below are my contributions related to that particular aspect.
1st paragraph:
- I can see that in this paragraph you've used many contractions such as you've and I'm. Try to avoid doing that in academic essay. It is better to write in complete form for example "you have" and "I am" in order to make it becomes a formal piece of writing.
2nd paragraph:
- It is virtually the same case as above but this paragraph needs additional corrections related to the use of semicolon and FANBOYS. Using semicolon is not suggested and FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) are not suggested to be used in academic writing. Those are considered as coordinating conjunctions, not cohesive devices.
3rd paragraph:
- You can follow the above suggestion.
4th paragraph and the rest of your essay:
- I notice that there are many similar problems with the above-mentioned feedback. However, there are some parts that should be corrected related to the use of plural and singular. You have several problems about that for example, the passage that provideS , these outstanding step-by-step approachES , and many more. Also, you need to consider that a sentence should consist of a subject and a verb. This sentence "So, note-taking very important to effective reading." was missing its verb. The correct one is that "SoThus , note-taking IS very important to effective reading."
Hope this helps :)
HI Beatrice, first thing that I notice in your essay is the fact that there is no uniform or concentration of ideas in your essay. I say this because, as I read through the essay, I found some actions that needs to be highlighted that are taken into the back burner instead of having them as banners. Speaking of banners, the last banner you have is not pointed out as important as the others, this can actually ruin the overall impact of the essay, uniformity is the key.
Also, is this essay backed by any cited work? The reason I asked is because, an essay like this, once its published, it is you who is responsible for the outcome of this article, therefore, we have to be very careful and back our topics with the most credible source as we can. Though this is tagged as writing feedback, it still needs to have as much information to cite the claims that you have and this is very critical in this kind of writing.
Having said that, I hope that you revise the essay with the necessary source and it will greatly help if you have it written in a parenthesis and included in the article. Keep writing!
HI Beatrice, no worries at all, we are here to provide you with the most accurate and valuable feedback and should you need any help to further your essay, do let us know so we can duly assist.
Moreover, when you are writing an essay that is more likely to be published, you have to be very cautious with the information that you provide, if it is an analysis, it should be accurate to the given graphic representation, an essay that asks your opinion can be rather safe, as this is your opinion on a specific topic that will not be that critical as you are entitled to your opinion. On the case of a research, as the title of the project implies, this is a more serious writing article than any other essay as it needs a lot of research, fact finding that will back you up with your claim on the research, finding the applicable source of information is also quiet crucial as this will be checked in order to strengthen your essay.
Furthermore, as most of the essays are base on our opinion, we need to be responsible in all there is that we write and owe it to ourselves that we write what will help each and every person who will chance upon our writing.
When you write, make sure to review the English language rules as this will lead you to creating a well written essay. Keep writing!
