Improving Your Study Skills

Posted: maestro on Dec 28 | Personal E-Book

Product Details

Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: Cliffs Notes (June 17, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764578030
ISBN-13: 978-0764578038
Format: PDF

Editorial Reviews
Book Description
Study Smart. Study Less.

Sports, extracurricular activities, your job, hangin’ with friends—you have a life! You simply don’t have time to spend hours studying every day! Improving Your Study Skills helps you really get cracking when you do crack the books. It helps you cram a lot of learning into a little time with tips on:

Using technology to study and work more efficiently
Organizing your time and space
Note-taking and organization
Strengthening your reading skills
Choosing classes strategically
Getting the typical “100f your grade” for class participation
Using the library and other resources efficiently
Writing papers—from choosing the theme to proofing
Studying for tests and overcoming the jitters
Strategies for taking various types of tests

Whether you’re in high school or college—an average student, an honors student, or barely getting by—Improving Your Study Skills will help you up your grades without giving up your life.

With Improving Your Study Skills, CliffsNotes—the resource that helps millions get to and through college—now helps you study smart and study less.

About the Author
Shelley O’Hara has written more than 100 books. She holds a master’s in English from the University of Maryland.

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Simple Rules for Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
What This Book Contains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Test Yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
1 Making Good Grades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Planning Your Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
What Classes Do You Have to Take? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
What Classes Are Available? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
What Classes Do You Want to Take? . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
When Is the Class and What Are the Requirements? . . .19
Knowing What Your Instructor Expects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
A Good Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
A Problem Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Preparing for Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Doing Your Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
2 Getting Organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Organizing Your Study Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Helpful Items in a Good Study Space . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Avoiding Distractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Organizing Your Space at School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Keeping Track of Your Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Managing Your Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Ways to Record Your Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Planning Class Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Making a To-Do List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Planning Study Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Planning Time for Big Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Participating in Extracurricular Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
3 Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Having a Plan for Reading Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
What’s the Purpose? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
What’s the Resource? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
When Is the Reading Due? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Getting the Most from Reading Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Previewing the Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Reading for the Main Ideas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Reviewing Your Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Taking Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Improving Your Reading Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Building Your Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Read More and Be an Active Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Reading Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Looking for Key Literature Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Reviewing and Taking Notes on Literature . . . . . . . . .55
4 Taking Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Taking Notes in a Lecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
The Wrong Way to Take Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
The Right Way to Take Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Taking Notes on Reading Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
To Highlight or Not to Highlight? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Making Notes in Your Textbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Recording Reading Notes in a Notebook . . . . . . . . . .67
Organizing Your Notes for Studying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Compiling Your Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Anticipate Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Sharing and Comparing Notes with Classmates . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Recognizing the Benefits of Taking Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
5 Studying for Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Anticipating the Test and Its Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
What Type of Test? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
What’s Covered on the Test? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
When Is the Test (Or How Long Do You Have
To Study)? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
How Will the Test Be Graded? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Reviewing for a Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Reviewing Readings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Reviewing Lecture Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Practicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Final Tips on Studying for Your Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
6 Taking Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Final Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Preparing Mentally and Physically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Studying the Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Avoiding Test “Jitters” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Taking the Actual Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Skimming the Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Deciding Where to Start and What to Answer . . . . . .92
Checking Your Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Strategies for Typical Test Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
True-or-False Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
Multiple Choice Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Matching Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Essay Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
Strategies for Test Subjects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Preparing for a Math Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Preparing for a History or Social Studies Test . . . . . .100
Preparing for a Science Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Preparing for an English or Literature Test . . . . . . . .101
Performance Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
Other Types of Assessments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
7 Doing Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Selecting a Topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
Understanding the Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
Getting Ideas for Topics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Evaluating Your Topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Understanding Types of Research Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Reference books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Regular Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Magazines, Journals, and Articles
from Other Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Web Site Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Finding Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Using Your Classroom Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Finding Sources at a Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Finding Magazine Articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Using Internet Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Using Other Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
Working with Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
Deciding What to Include . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
Taking Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Avoiding Plagiarism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
Citing Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
8 Writing Papers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
Understanding the Paper-Writing Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
Kinds of Papers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
Parts of a Typical Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
What Makes a Successful Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132
Steps for Writing a Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Picking a Topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Is the Topic Interesting? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
Is the Information Available? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
Is the Topic the Right Size? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
How To Find the Right Topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
Researching Your Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
Knowing in Advance What You Want to Find . . . . . .136
Know What Your Audience Expects . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
Finding Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
Taking Notes on Your Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
Citing Your Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Organizing Your Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142
Editing Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143
Taking Advantage of Your Word Processing
Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
Reviewing an Editing Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
The End . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
9 Using Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
Using a Computer for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148
Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148
Doing Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
Communicating with Your Instructor
and with Other Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150
Calculating Numeric Data
and Creating Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150
Taking Pictures or Creating Videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
Getting Extra Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153
Tips for Keeping Your Work Organized and Safe . . . . . . . . . . .154
Saving Your Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154
Creating and Using Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
Printing Your Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
Tips for Doing Internet Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157
Searching the Internet Using a Search Tool . . . . . . . .157
Searching for Something at a Particular Site . . . . . . .160
Keeping a List of Favorite Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
Protecting Yourself and Your Computer . . . . . . . . . .161
10 Getting Extra Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
Deciding Whether You Need Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
Identifying the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
Creating a Plan for Improvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
Working with School Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
Having Your Instructor (or Instructor Aide)
Tutor You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170
Working with a Reading Expert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171
Working with a Student Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171
Getting Outside Tutoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
Hiring a Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
Tutoring Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173
Using Other Tutoring Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
Taking Summer Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
11 Dealing with Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .177
What to Do When You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .177
Miss a Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178
Miss a Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
Miss a Deadline or Assignment Date . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
Dealing with Instructor or Grade Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180
Handling Instructor Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
Handling Grade Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184
Dealing with Special Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186
Math . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187
Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
Other Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
Appendix Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
Reference Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
Style Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192
Study Guides and Workbooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192
Web Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193
General Reference Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193
Search Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197