Help I am a freshman in college & its very hard when I read chapters I forget what I read soon after studying?

Question

Just last week my History Professor assigned us to read ch.1 & 2 of our book & now each chapter is about 30 pages so I had to read 60 pages of material & I had a test on the reading. Keep in mind that I have never read a novel in my life & I hate reading because everytime I start reading I get a headache literally my head feels like its splitting from the inside out. When I took the test my mind went blank & I only got 2 questions right out of 10 questions. Throughout middle school & high school I just got answers off my friend and studied very little but now that I am in college I have to study & read tons of pages I feel like I am about to go INSANE. PLEASE HELP WHAT SHOULD I DO

Answer 1

"You do not always get what you pay for, but you will always pay for what you get." - F. Douglas This is a comment regarding:

'Throughout middle school & high school I just got answers off my friend and studied very little but now that I am in college I have to study & read tons of pages I feel like I am about to go INSANE. '

Now in response to your question:
1.Do not repeat the errors of H.S.& M.S. It complicates your future endeavors
2. Get eyes tested and glasses if necessary.
3. Get body & mind rested
4, Exercise body before study; a walk will help blood flow to the brain
5. Test YOURSELF on each page you read. Keep a notebook journal of the novel. write the keypoints write questions about the chapter or portons of the chapter as if you were teaching someone else about the book.
6. Smile when you do anything that find difficult. Smiling tells your brain that the task is easy,the brain responds by telling you the same.
7. Read ahead of the assignment.
8. Read more. Practice makes progression.
9. Keep a personal journal. Writing is a way to collect & organize your thoughts. The added benefit is that you have your personal progress recorded for future reference.
10. Find a comfortable, inspiring place to read.
11. Read something over again if you do not understand it.
12. Make friends with Mr. Dictionary keep it on hand while you read. Put the words in your reading journal. Gather an arsenal of vocabulary words.
13. Summarize the material you read.
14. Avoid distractions. Including this forum. You have work to do.
Get up! Go do it!!

Answer 2

Man, I know what it feels like, but here's a few pointers to help you out:

1.) Take some fairly detailed notes as you read: I knows this gets to be a pain in the butt, but they don't have to cover every last detail, just some things to jog your memory, plus, when you study,
you can look at your notes, not your tectbook (much easier)

2.) Study in a place without distractions (tough in college): self-explanatory, turn off the tv, computer, etc.

3.) Slowly get into the habit of reading: For the next 4 years of College life you're going to be reading a lot, so get into the habit now, try reading some novels to get it where you don't get a splitting headache everytime you read.

4.) Plan ahead, do your reading little by little: Trying to read 60 pages in one-two nights will drive nearly anyone insane. Also, take frequent breaks between important ideas to let everything settle in and let your mind process it all.

5.) Form a study group of some kind (with people who can actually focus): May not work all the time, but if it works for you, then it's invaluable. And when choosing the place, try the library, not a friend's dorm or house.

6.) Stay away from Caffeine: The last thing that will help you focus and succeed is Caffeine. as stated before, spread out your work so you don't have to pull off allnighters

These are just some things that help me get by High School AP reading, but I hope they work for you as well.

Answer 3

First of all the headaches may mean that you need glasses (or contacts). Look into that right away because if you don't correct the headaches you will continue to dread the reading assignments.

Second when you read try to devlope a picture or time line etc. of what you are reading. This may take a little time to develope but when you do you will be able to read with out really realizing it. It will be like you are reading subconciously.

Try this - read a couple of paragraphs (you'll have to find a good breaking point) and then stop for a minute. Try to recall what you just read by creating a picture, time line or someting that makes sense, in your mind. If necessary rewrite in your own words or speak a summary out loud. Once you start to get the hang of it you will be able to read, comprehend and remember more and more paragraphs at a time. This will go much quicker than it sounds.

Example: If you are reading Tom Sawyer then create a type of movie in your head.

Answer 4

First of all, it sounds like you need to take more study breaks. You'll remember more if you take breaks in between. Think of it this way: if I gave you a long list of numbers to remember, you'd probably remember the first few and the last few, but not so much in the middle. It's the same with studying - do it in short bursts. If you are blanking out while reading, it's not going to do you much good.

Also, make sure you're taking full advantage of your textbook. Read the table of contents first, and skim through the chapter headings, pictures, and margin notes BEFORE you read the material. This really does work!!! It gives you a little bit of "prior knowledge," and helps to create a road map for the information in your brain. When you read the chapter, part of your brain will recognize the information and sort it out according to what you "learned" in the pre-scan. You might even want to do the scan again after reading the chapter. Oh, and always, always read the summaries if there are any. Before and after.

Remember that your college has resources to help you study. Check out the Learning Assistance Center, free tutors, or whatever's available. It doesn't mean you're stupid! And go to your professor's office hours! That's what they are there for, for YOU, but most students don't take advantage of it. Professors are very impressed with students who take the initiative to show up to the office and ask for help. It shows that you are doing everything you can to do well in the class. MUCH better than begging for your grade at the end of the semester!

Good luck!!!

Answer 5

Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury was a nightmare for me in college. I hate stream of consciousness. No, it wasn't worth it. I only remember hating it. I tried reading Ulysses and Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man, but James Joyce is even worse than Faulkner. I actually love Dickens, especially Great Expectations. Although it's a bit difficult and complicated, the characters are fascinating and the structure of the book is really quite genius. I taught this novel to my ninth graders each year for fifteen years. We read the entire thing together in class, so I've read it 60 times, believe it or not!

Answer 6

First, don't read with music or a tv on... or a noisy room-mate around. While your reading, take notes and highlight things. Also, make a list of questions you have about what you read. Make sure to ask your professor about them in class. After you've got your notes together try making flash cards to help you remember what you need to know. If push comes to shove, you can always get a study group together or get a tutor.

Answer 7

You defenitely have to take notes while you're reading. Don't get overwhelmed, pace yourself. Set short-term goals, like reading a few pages, then doing something else, then reading another few pages, etc. Sketching on the margins helps too. You need visuals to help you remember what you're reading, and it's most helpful when you create your own visuals. But most importantly you have to make what you read relevant to yourself. Make connections of what you read to your own life experiences. Like if you're reading about Again, get those eyes checked, and consult a doctor to make sure you don't have Attention Deficit Disorder.

Answer 8

welcome to the club... Studying in college is hard..im a Junior now... you just gotta stick in there... before you read...just skim through it...look at bold words and stuff... then if there is a summary read that first...so you have a basic idea of what you are about to read. then read it...highlight stuff. trust me it helps.. It took me 2 years to learn that... i hope this helps

Answer 9

Ouch!

Very seriously, you may want to consult a neuropsychologist who specializes in reading disorders. (Good thing you are noticing this early in your college career.) And no, you don't have a brain tumor.