I read but cant comprehend?

Question

When I read i read over and over again. I find it hard to comprehend what I am reading and hard to stay focus. Also after I read I have no clue as to what i just read. I could read a definition and then forget the word as well as the definition i just read. What should I do? Im a college student and am trying to remember two chapters of a law enforcement book.

Answer 1

Hi there,

This is a problem I have suffered with for some time and is not as uncommon as it sounds.

We all have what we call attention defecit from time to time, but for those of us that suffer from it on a continual basis, have a really hard time focusing and then, we have what is called the attention defecit disorder.

There can be a number of reasons why you have it and before being diagnosed as having it, I would try and figure out why you could be struggling to focus on your study. A heavy or very difficult subject matter such as law, requires an enormous amount of mental cognition and it could just be that your mind is over-loaded with far too much information.

When I was at University, I found the level of study required of me, very very taxing and although I am very competent at very detailed analysis of something, when you are doing higher level study, your mind really does have to absorb an amazing amount of mental stimulus. You would be surprised by the number of students who have real problems taking in what they are learning but a lot of students don't want to appear as if they struggle in any way because such is their strong need to appear brilliant even when they know that no one is.

What I found helpful was the works of Tony Buzzan - he devised some study aids in which students suffering from attention loss can do word-picture association and is fantastic for aiding memory. Studying is also very stressful and is not surprising you struggle to focus! - it is very mentally taxing to read something that makes no immediate sense or logic. You need to make your study interesting.

Talking to your tutors will also help and they are there to help you so don't feel that you can't, because that is their job and what they want students to do. It is far better to go to one of them and say that you are finding it hard to understand than to go to an exam without any ideas whatsoever. I have made that mistake and it just isn't worth it. Honestly, the sooner you talk to someone you feel who could help you the most at your college, the better and tutors are lenient on students marks who have at least tried to seek help from them first.

There is nothing to feel ashamed of and no student is Einstein or else there would be no colleges or universities if there were!. All students struggle with the work load and concentration and so you are not alone at all. You just need some support and aid in the right direction that will help you focus so much more than you do already.

Some things that might help:

Using colour-coded pens to make word-picture associations
Make sure you have a good comprehensive book on ancient laws
Tony Buzzan book
test cards to aid your memory
A law dictionary

Focus more upon the definition rather than the content of study as tutors are more interested in the validity of sources - when was the law written and by whom and what were the political and social views and sentiments during which that particular law was stipulated. Definitions count significantly so don't be afraid of putting too much emphasis upon this.

A modern law may come directly from an ancient Greek or Roman Law and so why does it remain the most effective law enforcement around? - Is it because that law was more humane and/or positively corrective, and remember that in the latter part of Roman democracy, a great many of the Emperor's were benevolent in their rulership. These are just some of the things I would be inclined to focus upon if you make any cross-references in your studies and will get you very high marks as well as help you to concentrate upon what you are learning if your study has no significance to anything of interest.

I hope I have helped you a little bit, but my best guess is that you need to make your learning of such a stiff subject a lot more interesting and why it is always good and important to make some references to the origins of that modern law. the past has everything to do with today's society and is so fascinating to learn. Focus also upon the authors who passed the law and what motivational factors had encouraged that law to be passed? - this is what the lecturers need to know. Ask them what they want always helps too so that you know what angle you should come in at when answering a question?. - This is what they want and shows that you are serious about wanting to get good marks from them too.

Good luck, but you will get through it. Law for dummies is a very good basic book for students that I will highly urge you to get and because it leads in the direction you need to go!

Answer 2

It seems like you are reading to get through the material and not to understand. Sometimes the biggest obstacle is being able to picture what you are reading. Find someone who will let you teach them what you know. This way you will try harder to understand the material. Or you could draw pictures based on ideas in the chapter.

Answer 3

instead of reading again and again give your self a five minite break and then come back. also slowly read! and you may be dyslexic! my sister is and shes smart but has trouble on some things. you may want to check and see if you are!

Answer 4

try to not read it all at once. do little by little every day. that way youll remember it easier. i cant read something and remember it all in one sitting (textbook wise).