Choose a Good Work Space
“…[C]ognitive scientists suggest that alternating study spaces is a more effective way to retain information, according to the New York Times. Memory is colored by location, and changing your study locales increases the likelihood of remembering what you’ve learned.”[1]
Make
Specific Study Plans
“‘Failing to plan is planning to
fail.’ We have all heard and agreed with that old adage, but how many times do
we still forget to plan? If you just start studying without a plan, you are
likely to overlook important areas and over-study unimportant subjects. Plan
your week, plan your day, and plan what to study.”[2]
Mix Up Your Approach“In keeping with the age-old proverb that values quality over quantity, scientists have found that immersion is not an effective method of study, the New York Times reports. Rather than sticking to one subject and spending hours attempting to master it, you should switch between a few (related) topics. It’s less boring -- and you’ll learn more.”[3]
Take Frequent, Short Breaks
After studying for the time you
found was best, you must then take a rest for about five minutes. Do something
else not connected with your work. Listen to music, have a snack, refresh
yourself - but don't stop thinking about what you were reading. This may be an
unusual thing to do in the middle of a study session, but your brain needs that
time to sort out the information in your short-term memory. At the end of the
rest period, the information you were reading will be much clearer than it was
to begin with. [4]- give yourself enough time to do a good job. Students
who procrastinate are more likely to plagiarize because rushing makes them
sloppy. (Being out of time is also the primary incentive for deliberate
dishonesty.)
- revise your paper. Significant re-writing can eliminate
plagiarized passages.
- proofread for errors. Proofreading can help you find missing citations and quotation marks, as well as other errors.”[5]
Stop Studying
When You’re Ready
"How
do you know when you've studied enough? It's not when you're tired of
studying! And it's not when you've gone through the material one time!
You should stop only when you get to the point that you feel confident and
ready for whatever will be on the exam—when you're actually eager to see the
exam to find out if you guessed its contents correctly."[6]
Hopefully these tips will breathe some new life into your study routine. In the meantime, here are some books in the library catalog that you also may find helpful:
Meditation Made Easy by Lorin Roche. 158.12 Roche
The Overwhelmed Person's Guide to Time Management by Ronni Eisenberg with Kate Kelly 304.23 Eisenberg
Study Strategies Made Easy by Leslie Davis and Sandi Sirotowitz with Harvey C. Parker. 371.3028 Davis
The Freshman Survival Guide: Soulful Advice for Studying, Socializing, and Everything in Between by Nora Bradbury-Haehl and Bill McGarvey 378.198 Bradbury-Haehl
How to Succeed in College (While Really Trying): A Professor's Inside Advice by Jon B. Gould. 378.198 Gould
Up Your Grades: Proven Strategies for Academic Success by Ann Hunt Tufariello. 378.198 Tufariello
The Big Book of Relaxation: Simple Techniques to Control the Excess Stress in Your Life edited by Larry Blumenfeld. 613.79 Big
Smart Food: Culinary Delights for Optimal Gray Cell Performance by Marlisa Szwillus. 641.5 Szwillus
Successful Time Management for Dummies by Dirk Zeller. 650.11 Zeller
How to Write Successfully in High School and College by Barbara Lenmark Ellis. 808.02 Lenmark-Ellis 2005
Essentials of the Essay: Writing, Reading, and Grammar 808.042 Dean
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