A compilation of Suggestions on How to Study Jeff Fineberg

A compilation of A compilation of Suggestions on Suggestions on

How to StudyHow to Study

Jeff FinebergJeff Fineberg

An interesting quote:An interesting quote:“In the middle of difficulty lies “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity” – Albert Einsteinopportunity” – Albert Einstein

What is a reasonable academic What is a reasonable academic goal for most students?goal for most students?

Obtain the highest grades possibleObtain the highest grades possible GraduateGraduate Balance academic work withBalance academic work with

– RelationshipsRelationships– RecreationRecreation– workwork

How can you get there?How can you get there?

– Register for necessary coursesRegister for necessary courses– Attend classesAttend classes– Organize and review your notesOrganize and review your notes– Work on assignmentsWork on assignments– Work on projectsWork on projects– Make Study a habitMake Study a habit– Organize your time…Organize your time…

Organize a schedule to fit the Organize a schedule to fit the various activities in a dayvarious activities in a day

((details available in Time Management class)details available in Time Management class)

Sleep-8

Work-8

Class-2

Study-2

Eat-1

Travel-1

Exercise-1

Free Time-1

24 hour day

The Immediate EnvironmentThe Immediate EnvironmentThe environment in which you study can The environment in which you study can have a big effect on how efficient your have a big effect on how efficient your study time is. Check your place of study for study time is. Check your place of study for the following conditions: the following conditions:

Noise Noise Interruptions Interruptions Lighting Lighting Temperature Temperature Neatness Neatness Comfort Comfort Equipment Equipment Copyright - Counseling Services, State University of Copyright - Counseling Services, State University of

New York at Buffalo New York at Buffalo http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/stressstudy.shtmlhttp://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/stressstudy.shtml

Techniques for improving your Techniques for improving your studying to enhance your studying to enhance your academic performanceacademic performance

Take Notes in Class & Rewrite Take Notes in Class & Rewrite Them at HomeThem at Home

Take NotesTake Notes Take Complete NotesTake Complete Notes Use AbbreviationsUse Abbreviations Neatness Doesn't CountNeatness Doesn't Count Ask Questions & Make CommentsAsk Questions & Make Comments Copy Your Notes at HomeCopy Your Notes at Home Don't Take Notes on a ComputerDon't Take Notes on a Computer Don't Rely on the Instructor's Lecture NoteDon't Rely on the Instructor's Lecture Note

ss

Copyright © 1999-2005 by William J. Rapaport ([email protected]) http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html

Study Hard Subjects First & Study Hard Subjects First & Study in a Quiet PlaceStudy in a Quiet Place

Study hard subjects first.Study hard subjects first. Each night (or Each night (or day) when studying or doing your day) when studying or doing your homework, do those subjects first for homework, do those subjects first for which you need to be alert and energetic. which you need to be alert and energetic. Leave the easier, or more fun, subjects to Leave the easier, or more fun, subjects to later. later.

Study in a quiet placeStudy in a quiet place, with as few , with as few distractions as possible. Do distractions as possible. Do notnot listen to listen to music or TV: It is virtually impossible to do music or TV: It is virtually impossible to do two things at once if one of them is two things at once if one of them is studying. studying.


Read Texts Actively & Slowly, Read Texts Actively & Slowly, before & after Classbefore & after Class

Read actively, not passivelyRead actively, not passively Read slowlyRead slowly Highlight the text in the marginHighlight the text in the margin Make notes in the marginMake notes in the margin Keep a notebookKeep a notebook Read literature quickly and passively Read literature quickly and passively

the first timethe first time

Read before and after classRead before and after class Copyright © 1999-2005 by William J. Rapaport ([email protected]) http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html

Do your homeworkDo your homework

Do it and do it on time – don’t wait Do it and do it on time – don’t wait for the last minute crunch!for the last minute crunch!

For problem sets (exercises)For problem sets (exercises)– do them on scratch paper, then create a do them on scratch paper, then create a

final copyfinal copy– Keep a copy for your referenceKeep a copy for your reference– Don’t just write the answers – show how Don’t just write the answers – show how

you got the answeryou got the answer


Study for exams (scheduling)Study for exams (scheduling)

Begin around 1 week before (1 hr per Begin around 1 week before (1 hr per day)day)

The day before the exam, try to The day before the exam, try to spend the entire day/night studyingspend the entire day/night studying

Final exams – spend as much time as Final exams – spend as much time as possiblepossible


Study for Exams (cont.)Study for Exams (cont.)

Make a study outline (of important points)Make a study outline (of important points)

Use recopied notes, highlighted text Use recopied notes, highlighted text and your notebookand your notebook

Condense the material onto the front Condense the material onto the front sides of 1 or 2 pieces of papersides of 1 or 2 pieces of paper

Do your studying from these sheetsDo your studying from these sheets


Study for Exams (cont.)Study for Exams (cont.)

Write sample essays and solve sample Write sample essays and solve sample problemsproblems

Simply looking over your material may not Simply looking over your material may not be enough to prepare you for doing well be enough to prepare you for doing well on an examon an exam

Try to anticipate what questions may be Try to anticipate what questions may be on the test and try to answer themon the test and try to answer them

Practice past homework assignmentsPractice past homework assignments Practice past quizzes / testsPractice past quizzes / tests Practice solving problems from textPractice solving problems from text


When do you stop studying?When do you stop studying? NotNot when you’re tired of studying when you’re tired of studying NotNot just because you reviewed all just because you reviewed all

the material a single timethe material a single time When you feel confident that you When you feel confident that you

know the materialknow the material When you’re actually eager to see When you’re actually eager to see

the exam to find out if you guessed the exam to find out if you guessed its contents correctly!its contents correctly!


Additional ideasAdditional ideas Try to see the interesting aspects of ALL Try to see the interesting aspects of ALL

classes you take. The more interest you classes you take. The more interest you generate, the better you will do.generate, the better you will do.

Look at more than one book on a subject if Look at more than one book on a subject if necessary (go to the library)necessary (go to the library)

Go to class with your assignments Go to class with your assignments preparedprepared

Avoid procrastination – remember…work Avoid procrastination – remember…work before pleasurebefore pleasure

Time is a precious resource – use it wiselyTime is a precious resource – use it wisely Any others?Any others?

Good Luck…don’t wait!!!Good Luck…don’t wait!!!Start using some of these Start using some of these

techniques today!techniques today!

ReferencesReferences

Dr. William Rapaport – University at Buffalo Dr. William Rapaport – University at Buffalo http://http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.htmlwww.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html

Copyright © 1999-2005 by Copyright © 1999-2005 by William J. RapaportWilliam J. Rapaport ( ([email protected]@cse.buffalo.edu) file: howtostudy-2005-02-03.html) file: howtostudy-2005-02-03.html (see topic “Manage Your Time”) (see topic “Manage Your Time”)

UB’s Student Affairs website on “Time Management” UB’s Student Affairs website on “Time Management” http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/stressstudy.shtmlhttp://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/stressstudy.shtml

Copyright - Counseling Services, State University of New York Copyright - Counseling Services, State University of New York at Buffalo at Buffalo

http://www.how-to-study.com/http://www.how-to-study.com/ - a Study Skills Resource Site - a Study Skills Resource Site Barron’s “A Pocket Guide to Study Tips”Barron’s “A Pocket Guide to Study Tips” Harry Maddox “How to Study”Harry Maddox “How to Study”

Documents

A compilation of Suggestions on How to Study Jeff Fineberg