3 R's for Academic Survival
Here
is a lean and wiry system containing all the essential techniques for mastering
textbook assignments. This is an
"exam passer".
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R1 READ. Read
the chapter paragraph by paragraph. Read
and re-read until you can answer the question: "What did the author say in
this paragraph?"
R2 RECORD. Once you are able
to describe what is in the
paragraph, you will want to retain that learning by underlining, making notes in the margin, or making notes in your notebook.
R3 RECITE. Cover up your
notes or printed page and recite
aloud. Remember! If you can't say it now, you won't be able to
say it tomorrow in class, nor write it in a week on an exam; so while you still
have a chance, try and try again, until you can say it.
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Step 1: SURVEY - Look over material critically. Skim through the book and read topical and subtopical headings and sentences. Read the summaries at the end of chapters and books. Try to anticipate what the author is going to say.
WRITE these notes on paper, in sequence; then look over the jottings to get an overall idea or picture. This will enable you to see where you are going.
Step 2: QUESTIONS - Instead of reading paragraph headings such as "Basic Concepts of Reading," change to read, "What are the Basic Concepts of Reading?" These questions will become "hooks" on which to hang the reading material.
WRITE these
questions out; look over the questions to see the emphasis and direction; then
attempt to give plausible answers before further reading.
Step 3: READ - Read with smoothness and alertness to answer the questions. Use all the techniques and principles demonstrated in class.
WRITE notes, in
your own words, under each question.
Take a minimum number of notes-use these notes as a skeleton.
Step 4: RECALL** - Without looking at your book or notes, mentally visualize and sketch, in your own words, the high points of the material immediately upon completing the reading.
a. This forces
you to check understanding.
b. This channels
the material into a natural and usable form.
c. This points up
what you do not understand.
d. This forces
you to think.
Step 5: REVIEW - Look at your questions, answers, notes and book to see how well you did recall. Observe carefully the points stated incorrectly or omitted. Fix carefully in mind the logical sequence of the entire idea, concepts, or problem. Finish up with a mental picture of the WHOLE.