tiffany

3 ways to read actively

reinotes:

so, this is my first real how-to-study post, so bear with me.

(1) summarize as you go

basically, textbook notes. while reading, i prefer not to highlight directly on the book regardless if i can or cannot write on it. (i rent some of my textbooks.) when writing your notes, make sure not to copy directly, since you’re not going to remember much afterwards. instead, read a paragraph and commit to memory, then write it in your own words in your notes.

another way to do this would be to use the margins if you can. for every paragraph, write a quick summary, or the key points, that can fit in the margins of your book.

(2)  mind maps

i didn’t really like this method at first, but i tried to modify it to include more active reading, and i realized its helpfulness lately and have been doing it a lot for the past month or so.

first of all, read your book/text/whatever. highlight or write in the margins. it doesn’t matter, as long as it retains in your brain, or at least the most vital concepts.

next, close your book and keep it across the room, so you’re not tempted to cheat. we’re lazy people. admit it.

write the topic in the middle of your paper. make sure your paper is either gridded or blank, because lined isn’t going to help with the flow of your thoughts. then, add your headers and subheaders and write down as many concepts and facts as you remember.

when you’re done with that, grab your book and a different-colored pen and write down the other key things you missed. basically, that’s it, and now you have a reference in the future so you know what you don’t know / don’t master! you can keep on redoing this until you no longer have two colors on your paper.

(3) draw

YES, I’M NOT KIDDING. when making your study notes, draw and visualize the concepts that you learn, or the mnemonics that you memorize. i do this for memorization-heavy tests and subjects that require us to enumerate a lot of facts. for example, i was studying gateway drugs the other day, and our teacher gave us a list of reasons behind smoking, such as peer pressure, parental influence, ads, stress relief, and the like. it was 8 words, and as an acronym it was PPASSWTR, which i couldn’t really twist around to form a word, so i created a mnemonic.

(tip: if you’re stuck on making a mnemonic, use mnemonicgenerator.com. you’re welcome.)

here’s the mnemonic. the funnier, the more visual, the better! Popeye Polished Armored Spatulas So Wieners Tossed Raisins. so, i drew it, and it turned out as such a funny drawing :”) but it doesn’t matter since afterwards i was able to remember the mnemonic and therefore the complete list!

 (don’t study hard; study well)

so basically, that’s it for my first post, hope you like it! all the love, rei :”)