Page 220 - Keys to College Success

KEY 7.8 The “how” of study success.

Note Taking, Memory, and Studying

Put your notes to work
It is common to let notes sit in a notebook unread until just before mid-
terms or finals. Even the most comprehensive, brilliant notes offer no
reward if you don’t refer back to them. Regularly reread your notes in
batches (for example, every one or two weeks) to build your recall of
information. As you reread, do the following:

■ Fill in any gaps or get help with trouble spots.
■ Mark up your notes by highlighting main ideas and key supporting
points.
■ Add recall or practice test questions in the margins.

Understand what you memorize
It sounds kind of obvious, but something that has meaning is easier to recall
than something that makes little sense. This basic principle applies to every-
thing you study. Figure out logical connections, and use these connections
to help you learn. For example, in a plant biology course, memorize plants
in family groups; in a history course, link events in a cause-and-effect chain.
When you have trouble remembering something new, think about
how the new idea fits into what you already know. A simple example: If
you can’t remember what a word means, look at the word’s root, prefix,
or suffix. Knowing that the root bellum means “war” and the prefix
ante means “before” will help you recognize that antebellum means
“before the war.”

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