MODULE Study and Thinking Skills

CHAPTER 1: Effective Study Skills

Objectives:

a.) Develop study skills helpful for you.

b.) Apply the methods learned in studying..

Effective Study Skills are about more than Understanding

Effective study skills must be practiced in order for you to

improve. It is not enough to simply "think about" studying; you have to
actually do it, and in the process use information from what you do to
get better. This is the central idea of this page. All that follows depends
on this single concept. There is a saying that goes like this:
"Practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect." If
you want to be an achiever, take this saying to heart.

The value of a schedule

Before you even begin to think about the process of studying,

you must develop a schedule. If you don't have a schedule or plan for
studying, then you will not have any way of allocating your valuable
time when the unexpected comes up. A good, well thought out
schedule can be a lifesaver. It's up to you to learn how to develop a
schedule that meets your needs, revise it if necessary and most
important, follow it.

A schedule saves time

All schedules should be made with the idea that they can be revised. A good
schedule keeps you from wandering off course. A good schedule, if properly managed,
assigns time where time is needed, but you've got to want to do it!

Making every hour count

A schedule should take into account every class, laboratory, lecture, social event,
and other work in which you engage. There are givens such as classes and so on that
have to be incorporated. You must focus on the other "free time" available and how you
will use it. Make a weekly schedule and block off the 24 hour day in one hour
increments. Indicate times for classes, labs, lectures, social, and work time. Also block

Page 1
 MODULE Study and Thinking Skills

off a period for sleeping each day. With what is left over, plan time for study. This gives
you a rough road map of the time available. Of course, you can revise your schedule as
circumstances warrant.

When to study

The problem of when to study is critical. A good rule of thumb is that studying
should be carried out only when you are rested, alert, and have planned for it. Last
minute studying just before a class is usually a waste of time.

Studying for lecture courses

If your study period is before the lecture class, be sure you have read all the
assignments and made notes on what you don't understand. If the study period is after
the lecture class, review the notes you took during class while the information is still
fresh.

Studying for recitation courses

For classes that require recitation, such as foreign language, be sure to schedule
a study period just before the class. Use the time to practice. Sometimes, practice with
others can help sharpen your skills in a before-class study period.

Making and revising a schedule

Don't be afraid to revise your schedule. Schedules are really plans for how you
intend to use your time. If your schedule doesn't work, revise it. You must understand
that your schedule is to help you develop good study habits. Once you have developed
them, schedule building becomes easier.

The Process of Study

How to use your time

Time is the most valuable resource a student has.

It is also one of the most wasted of resources. The
schedule you develop should guide you in how to allocate
the available time in the most productive manner. Sticking
to your schedule can be tough. Don't dribble away
valuable time. Avoiding study is the easiest thing in the
world. It's up to you to follow the schedule you prepared.
A good deal of your success in high school or college
depends on this simple truth.

Page 2
 MODULE Study and Thinking Skills

Where to study

You can study anywhere. Obviously, some places are better than others.
Libraries, study lounges or private rooms are best. Above all, the place you choose to
study should not be distracting. Distractions can build up, and the first thing you know,
you're out of time and out of luck. Make choosing a good physical environment a part of
your study habits.

Strategies

Thinking skills

Everybody has thinking skills, but few use them effectively. Effective thinking
skills cannot be studied, but must be built up over a period of time. Good thinkers see
possibilities where others see only dead-end. If you're not a good thinker, start now by
developing habits that make you ask yourself questions as you read. Talk to other
students who you feel are good thinkers. Ask them what it is they do when they think
critically or creatively. Often times, you can pick up valuable insights to help you
become a better thinker.

The SQ3R method

The SQ3R method has been a

proven way to sharpen study skills. SQ3R
stands for Survey, Question, Read,
Recite, Review. Take a moment now and
write SQ3R down. It is a good slogan to
commit to memory to carry out an
effective study strategy.

Survey - get the best overall picture of

what you're going to study BEFORE you
study it in any detail. It's like looking at a
road map before going on a trip. If you
don't know the territory, studying a map is
the best way to begin.

Question - ask questions for learning.

The important things to learn are usually
answers to questions. Questions should
lead to emphasis on the what, why, how,
when, who and where of study content.
Ask yourself questions as you read or
study. As you answer them, you will help to make sense of the material and remember it

Page 3
 MODULE Study and Thinking Skills

more easily because the process will make an impression on you. Those things that
make impressions are more meaningful, and therefore more easily remembered. Don't
be afraid to write your questions in the margins of textbooks, on lecture notes, or
wherever it makes sense.

Read - Reading is NOT running your eyes over a textbook. When you read, read
actively. Read to answer questions you have asked yourself or questions the instructor
or author has asked. Always be alert to bold or italicized print. The authors intend that
this material receive special emphasis. Also, when you read, be sure to read everything,
including tables, graphs and illustrations. Often times tables, graphs and illustrations
can convey an idea more powerfully than written text.

Recite - When you recite, you stop reading periodically to recall what you have read.
Try to recall main headings, important ideas of concepts presented in bold or italicized
type, and what graphs, charts or illustrations indicate. Try to develop an overall concept
of what you have read in your own words and thoughts. Try to connect things you have
just read to things you already know. When you do this periodically, the chances are
you will remember much more and be able to recall material for papers, essays and
objective tests.

Review - A review is a survey of what you have covered. It is a review of what you are
supposed to accomplish, not what you are going to do. Rereading is an important part
of the review process. Reread with the idea that you are measuring what you have
gained from the process. During review, it's a good time to go over notes you have
taken to help clarify points you may have missed or don't understand. The best time to
review is when you have just finished studying something. Don't wait until just before an
examination to begin the review process. Before an examination, do a final review. If
you manage your time, the final review can be thought of as a "fine-tuning" of your
knowledge of the material. Thousands of high school and college students have
followed the SQ3R steps to achieve higher grades with less stress.

Reading

A primary means by which you acquire information is through reading. In college you're
expected to do much more reading than in high school. Don't assume just because
you've "read" the assignments that is the end of it. You must learn to read with a
purpose. In studying, you may read the same assignment three or four times, each time
with a different purpose. You must know before you begin reading what your purpose is,
and read accordingly.

Getting the Main Idea

Getting the main idea in reading is central to effective studying. You must learn what the
author's central idea is, and understand it in your own way. Every paragraph contains a

Page 4
 MODULE Study and Thinking Skills

main idea. Main ideas are perfect for outlining textbooks. Make it a habit to find the main
idea in each paragraph you read.

Extracting Important Details

Extracting important details means that you

locate in your reading the basis for main ideas.
There is usually one important detail associated
with every main idea. The more important
details you can identify, the easier it will be to
review for examinations because you have
made a link between an idea and information
that supports it. The more links you can make
between details and ideas, as well as ideas
themselves, the more powerful will be the efforts
of your study.

Don't Read Aloud to Yourself

Generally, reading aloud to yourself does not help you study more effectively. If you
move your lips while you read, you're not reading efficiently. If you read aloud or move
your lips while you're reading, you are reading slowly, so stop moving your lips. Try
putting a finger over your lips. Your finger will remind you not to move your lips. Make
an effort to read faster and retain more - after a while, you'll be surprised how little effort
it will take.

Taking Notes

Like reading, note-taking is a skill which must be learned and refined. Almost invariably,
note taking, or the lack of it, is a constant deficiency in the study methods of many high
school and college students. Learning the ingredients of good note taking is rather easy;
applying them to your own situation depends on how serious you are in becoming a
successful student.

Where to Keep Notes

You must learn to keep notes logically and legibly. Remember, if you can't read your
own writing a few days after taking notes, they are of little use. By all accounts, the best
place to keep notes is in a loose-leaf notebook. Use dividers to separate the different
classes you take. Make it a habit of using your notebook to record ALL your notes. If
you're caught without your notebook and need to take notes, always have a supply of

Page 5
 MODULE Study and Thinking Skills

loose-leaf paper with you. Insert your note papers into the notebook as soon as you
can. Be sure to buy a good notebook, as it will get a lot of wear and tear.

Outlining Textbooks

First of all, don't underline. Use a highlighter. Experience has shown that text passages
highlighted are more easily remembered than the same passages underlined. In
outlining a text, don't just read along and highlight what seem to important words. That
technique rarely works. The act of outlining works much better.

Taking Lecture Notes

Surveying, Questioning, Listening

Taking accurate and concise lecture notes is

essential. Develop the habit of taking notes
using appropriate methods described earlier in
the SQ3R technique. For example, when you
listen to a lecture, formulate questions as you
listen. Your main job in taking lecture notes is to
be a good listener. To be a good listener, you
must learn to focus and concentrate on the main
points of the lecture. Get them down, and then
later reorganize them in your own words. Once
you have done this, you have set the stage for successful reviewing and revising.

Reviewing and Revising

As you prepare for examinations, tests, or other assessments, you should spend time
reviewing and revising your lecture notes. Begin the process by reviewing your notes
right after a lecture. If you wait too long, you may discover that the notes just don't make
sense. Don't hesitate to revise your notes based on the review process.

Research Notes

Any form of note-taking that requires compilation of information by categories, rather

than in narrative form is best done using index cards. You can sort, edit and arrange
index cards to suit your particular study needs. The most important point in using cards
is to indicate the correct reference or topic at the top of the card. Use the cards for
study, review, to help organize information for papers, reports, or projects. An even
better idea, if you have a personal computer, is to organize your categorical information
in a database. Once you set it up, finding, updating and adding new information is quite
easy. If you have a printer, you can print out your notes in a variety of ways.

Page 6
 MODULE Study and Thinking Skills

Taking Examinations

Objective Examinations

Surveying

Survey any objective examination to find out what types of questions are being asked.
Surveying helps you to know what to expect.

Knowing the Ground Rules

Always read directions! Indicate your answers exactly the way the directions state.
Make sure your answers are clear. Determine what the scoring rules for the test are and
follow them to your advantage. For example, if wrong answers are penalized, don't
guess unless you can reduce the choices to two.

Answering Easy Questions First

Answering easy (to you) questions first is the best strategy. If you stumble over difficult
questions for too long a time, you may not be able to complete the exam.

Picking out Key Words

Objective examination questions usually contain one or more key words. A key word or
group of words are those on which the truth or falsity of a statement hinges. Learn to
spot the key words in the statement that define the meaning. If a statement contains two
clauses, one of which is false, the whole statement is false. Usually, two-statement true-
false questions are either both true or both false.

Reading Multiple-Choice Questions

Multiple choice questions are essentially true-false questions arranged in groups.

Usually, only one alternative is correct. Your job is to pick the alternative that is more
nearly true than the others. Read multiple-choice questions the same way as for true-
false. Eliminate obvious false choices.

Reading Other Types of Questions

The methods used to answer true-false and multiple choice questions apply to matching
questions as well. Always scan the entire list of alternatives before matching any. As in
the other types of questions, try to identify key words in each list and test them.
Completion questions require you to provide a word or phrase. When you encounter
completion questions, choose your words carefully. If you don't know the answer, give it
your best guess, as often times such responses get at least partial credit.

Page 7
 MODULE Study and Thinking Skills

Essay Examinations

Planning your time in answering essay questions

is more important than in objective type tests. The
general rule is not to get carried away on one or
two questions to the extent that you cannot
answer that other questions in the time allowed.
Read through the entire examination first. Get a
feel for the questions you are expected to answer.
If the exam allows you to choose from a number
of questions, be sure to number your answers
exactly to match the questions.

When you follow directions for an essay exam,

pay attention to the key words the instructor has included. Such words as "list,"
"describe," "compare and contrast," and "outline" have special meaning. Don't "write
around" the question but answer it directly. If a question asks you to list something,
don't write a narrative about it. Answering essay questions directly is always the best
policy.

After scanning the list of questions to be answered, choose the ones you know most
about. A good idea is to prepare an outline of your answers. The outline will help you
remember important ideas and facts to be included in your response. Another technique
is to do a "memory-dump." This technique is discussed in the last section of this guide,
"Power Study Tips."

Good handwriting is an absolute essential. If your cursive writing is very hard to read, try
printing instead. Most instructors value clear handwriting. Grammar, punctuation, and
spelling also count. Well-written grammatically correct answers almost always receive
higher grades than poorly written grammatically incorrect answers, even though the
answers themselves are the same.

Writing Themes and Reports

Reviewing the Topic

Students usually have some freedom to choose the subject of themes or reports. When
you make this choice, be sure that the topic is acceptable to the teacher, and is as
interesting to you as possible. Another consideration is that of availability of resource
material. Your task is made much easier when there is a good amount of reference and
resource material available.

Page 8
 MODULE Study and Thinking Skills

Using Correct Punctuation and Grammar

As in writing essays questions, good grammar and

punctuation are a must. Most students use word
processors to write papers. Be sure to use the spell
checker that almost all word processors have built
in. Many word processors also have some sort of
grammar checker. Learn to use a grammar checker,
as it can point out serious flaws in your writing and
help you become a better writer. Most grammar
checkers explain the grammar rules that apply to the
suggested corrections to your writing.

Gathering Materials Before You Write

Before you begin writing, assemble the materials you will need. Use index cards, notes,
bibliographies, summaries, reports and reviews as part of your preparation process.
Using index cards for references is an excellent way to organize your materials.
Computer database programs can also help you classify and organize reference
materials.

Preparing an Outline and Writing the Paper

Once you have your topic, have gathered and organized your materials, it is time to
outline your paper. Put your outline on paper! Don't make the mistake of trying to keep
everything in your head. Make your outline in the form of main headings or ideas with
sub-headings fleshing out the flow of the paper. Using the outline as a guide begin
writing begin by asking yourself what the paper is going to say and what conclusions
you want to reach. Doing this ahead of time will help keep you focused and prevent you
from straying from the purpose of the paper. Making up the outline as you go along
almost always results in a less than satisfactory product. Writing is important in high
school and is a key to success in college and in many professions. Become a good
writer by writing, revising, and reviewing your work. Don't be afraid to ask other students
to critique your work. Try to write in your own natural style, be aware that most good
writers go through many revisions, and be prepared to do the same. Writing and test-
taking are the end results of developing good study skills. There is no magic formula for
success. If you follow the suggestions in this guide, apply them and think about them,
you'll have taken a giant step toward becoming a successful student.

Page 9
 MODULE Study and Thinking Skills

Power Studying Tips for College Students

The following tips have proven to be extremely powerful guides for organizing,
thinking, studying, and learning in college. They represent the best advice of successful
college students. They can also work for high school students.

Study Space

Tip: Your study space should be as quiet and comfortable as possible. Avoid studying in
noisy places such as cafeterias, recreation rooms, or lounges.

Tip: When studying, keep a waste basket handy.

Tip: Have a consistent place for everything, and above all, keep it there!

Tip: Have everything needed for studying handy beforehand. Don't waste valuable time
looking for books, notes, of other information. After you have assembled the items you
need, put them where you can reach them easily.

Study Habits

Tip: Begin studying no less than 30-90 minutes after a meal.

Tip: Never study within 30 minutes of going to sleep.

Page 10
 MODULE Study and Thinking Skills

Tip: Prioritize! Make a list of what you intend to study, prioritize the list, and stick to it!

Tip: If possible, study no more than 30-40 minutes at a stretch. Many students retain
more by studying for short periods with breaks in between. It all depends on what you're
trying to study, but generally, after a period of study, take a break.

Tip: Take study breaks away from your desk or wherever you are studying. Let the
break be a time to think about other things. Use some break time to reflect, not
constantly review what you have just studied.

The Classroom

Tip: Distractions in the classroom are deadly. To help avoid distractions, sit near the
front of the class. You're less likely to miss something important, and there are far less
distractions at the front than any other location.

Tip: Think! Thinking is one of the most important things you can do in class. If you just
sit there passively, and not think, class can be deadly. Think about what the teacher is
saying BEFORE writing down anything. Writing down each word is a WASTE OF TIME.
Reorganize in your mind what the teacher says, and then write it down. This way you
will be connecting the teacher's words with HOW you think. If you do this, your notes will
make a lot more sense later on.

Tip: Pay attention to the course outline or syllabus. Generally, important points and
materials are referenced here and repeated. Don't be afraid to ask the teacher if there is
something you don't understand. Most teachers will be glad to clarify for you.

Preparing for Class

Tip: Efficient students do not underline! Underlining is not a productive way to

emphasize textbook material. It's best to use a highlighter.

Tip: Read the table of contents of your texts carefully. If the textbooks have chapter
summaries, read them first! If you don't understand the material from the summaries, go
back and highlight. Take notes on what you have highlighted and review your notes.
Tip: Break study material into short segments of length dependent on its difficulty.
Remember, concise notes are more powerful than copious notes. Think about the
material! Then take notes on what you don't know or are not sure of.

Test Taking

Tip: For essay examinations, try the "memory dump" technique. If permitted, write down
everything you've memorized - facts, names, dates, ideas, events, and so on BEFORE
you do anything else. Sometimes reading through the essay questions can distract you

Page 11
 MODULE Study and Thinking Skills

from what you've studied. The "memory dump" technique requires that you write down
everything possible BEFORE you begin writing essay answers. This way, you are less
likely to forget something important.

For More Knowledge:. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS2gCgjSq3U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_pbcIKkHyQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=860LtRxP3rw

Reference:
https://www.adprima.com/studyout.htm

Campbell, R., Martin, C.R., and Fabos, B. (2016). Media Essentials: A Brief Introduction,
Third Edition. Boston: Bedford St. Martins. ISBN: 978-1-4576-9376-2. Available for
purchase or rental through the MSU Bookstore, Amazon, and other third-party
.booksellers.

Page 12