what are the best ways to study a college text-book?

Question

IS reading it over and over, writing notes, writing questions about it,. or is there another way?

Answer 1

I'm a junior in college, so hopefully I can give you some advice. What I do, (and I need to finish studying and get of Answers! haha), is say I have to read chapters 1-3 in a textbook. I will start off with the first chapter, and look through it, not necessarily read the writings. Read the highlighted parts, the titles, look at the pictures, etc. This will give your mind an idea of what you are going to be reading. Next, maybe formulate questions in regards to your class if you've already started discussing the chapter. If not, maybe look at the end of chapter questions. Then start reading the chapter. Highlight or underline things you think are important. If the chapter is really long, and you're not a fast reader, then take a minute or two break from your reading and think about what you've read. When you finish the chapter, think about your initial questions and see if they were answered. After you read the first chapter, take a break in between the first and second. Maybe five minutes. Then start the second chapter as you did the first. Look through the pictures, formulate questions, get your mind going. Hopefully this helps. One thing you might want to do is think about at the end what you've learned. Hopefully you did learn something! Good luck and God Bless!

Answer 2

I like to use a yellow highlighter to identify the important points in the book. Downside of this is you can't turn the books back in and get money for them as used textbooks. But, it is still most effective for me.

Second choice would be to write down the important points, try to relate them in some way to your life experience - even if it's silly - to help you remember

Answer 3

It may be best to highlight (taking that you bought the book) key vocabulary words,dates or major events (depending upon subject) and then going ahead and reading in sections and taking a break to take notes. Some people can retain and understand better by 'chunks' of info. rather than straight through.

Tape recording yourself reading and playing it back can also be beneficial.

Sheri http://findadvicehere.com

Answer 4

ur study space should be as quiet and comfortable as possible. Avoid studying in noisy places such as cafeterias or recreation rooms.

have a consistent place for everything, and above all, keep it there!

have everything needed for study handy beforehand. Don’t waste valuable time looking for books, notes, or other information. After you have assembled the items you need, put them where you can reach them easily.

Never study within 30 minutes of going to sleep.

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

Start early! An "all-nighter" is the least effective way to study for a test. Schedule several study sessions before a test. Repetition is the key to remembering.
Attend class, especially before a big test. Ask questions about the test. Find out as much as possible: What will it cover? What type will it be...essay, multiple choice, or true or false? How much time will you have to complete the test?
Learn the important information. Here are some activities to help.
Using your class notes and your textbook, make flash cards with facts, definitions, people, dates, events, lists, etc. The act of writing the information on the cards will help you remember it. Each time you go through the stack of cards, you are transferring the information from your short term memory into your long term memory.
If you learn better by listening, study with a friend or family member who can ask you the questions or give the answers aloud to yourself.
Don't forget charts, diagrams and captions to pictures in your textbook. They can contain lots of valuable information.
Use memory devices for learning lists or parts of something: for items that do not have to be remembered in any particular order, take their first letters and see if you can arrange them into a word or an easily remembered order. For example, the first letters of the Great Lakes spell HOMES.
Study with a friend - compare notes, ask each other questions, do flash cards together, discuss themes that would make good essay questions.
Play the role of your teacher. Make up the most difficult test you can and test yourself until you know the answers.
Use visuals to help you learn - invent charts, diagrams, trees, drawings to help you remember.
Study past quizzes.
Study until the answers come to you easily.

The Last Minute

Lots of kids experience math anxiety. Here are a few tips to help you deal.

Sing a song: Take some basic concepts from your textbook and transform them into a goofy song, poem or even a rap! For example, "In fourteen hundred and ninety two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue."
Attend class, especially before a big test. Ask questions about the test. Find out as much as possible: What will it cover? What type will it be...essay, multiple choice, or true or false? How much time will you have to complete the test?

Fear And Loathing In Mathsville

First of all...DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE! However, if you did put it off and now you need some tips on the go...here they are:

Remember, it's okay if you don't know how to solve a problem. Mathematicians confront this every day.
Think of a math problem as an interesting puzzle that you are going to solve. Just like a crossword puzzle, nothing is at stake in your solution, except the joy of coming to grips with the problem!
Don't expect to solve a problem instantly. Take all the time you need. Logical thinking cannot be done on a timetable.
Don't expect to remember every tool needed to solve a problem. Right in the middle of a solution, you may need to look up information or examples to help you.
Find your happy math place. You use math more than you think throughout the day...shopping, sports, etc. You did it then. You can do it now.
Get help if you need it. Maybe you have a family member or friend that can help or maybe you need help from a tutor. Either way, it's better to ask for help than to never learn the skills.

Answer 5

it truly depends on how you learn, I like to highlight and take noted in the margins and then go back and formalise my notes with my laptop........ its time consuming but pays off at examtime.

most students who highlight liberally never go back and read all that they highlighted in the firstplace BUT the act of highlighing itself can be helpfull for some people!

whatever works works... try new stuff and find out what works for you

Answer 6

i usually read it and take notes. then i go back before a test and just read over my notes.

Answer 7

No, just read it once then try to use the materials... such as doing problems, writing notes... don't bother trying to memorize it.

Answer 8

YOU JUST ANSWERED YOUR OWN QUESTION,READ IT AT LEAST TWICE, AND WRITE DOWN NOTES, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT WRITING NOTES) AND KEEP READING THEM OVER AND OVER !!!!!

Answer 9

read it thoroughly and look for references or book reviews about it.