Page 224 - Keys to College Success

get practical

ANSWER YOUR JOURNALISTS’ QUESTIONS

Complete the following on paper or in digital format.

Think about a study session you’ve had in the past that you believe did not prepare you well for a test, and recall
what strategies you used—if any. Now, plan a study session that will take place within the next seven days—one that
will help you learn something important to know for one of your current courses. Answer the questions below to
create your session:

1. When will you study, and for how long?
2. Where will you study?
3. Who will you study with, if anyone?
4. What will you study?
5. Why is this material important to know?
6. How will you study it—what strategy (or strategies) do you plan to use?
7. How do you think the journalists’ questions, and this structure, would have helped you get more out of your
previous study session?
8. Final step—put this plan to work. Name the date you will use it.

new ways and boost analytical and creative thinking, things that are especially important
for essay exams.

Create a summary of reading material
When you summarize main ideas in your own words, you engage analytical thinking, con-
sidering what is important to include as well as how to organize it. Don’t include your own
ideas or evaluations at this point. Your summary should simply condense the material.
First, choose material to summarize—a textbook chapter, for example, or an article.
Identify the main ideas and key supporting details by highlighting or annotating the
material. Then, in your own words whenever possible, write down those ideas and details
in a concise, cohesive way—in a paragraph or two, or perhaps in an outline or think link.

Combine class and reading notes into a master set
The process of combining class and text notes enables you to see patterns and relation-
ships among ideas, find examples for difficult concepts, and much more. It strengthens MASTER NOTE SET
memory and offers a cohesive and comprehensive study tool, especially useful at mid- The complete, integrated
term or finals time. Follow these steps to use a master note set: note set that contains both
class and text notes.
Step 1: Condense down to what’s important. Combine and reduce your notes so
they contain only main ideas and key supporting details, such as terms, dates, formulas,
and examples. Tightening and summarizing forces you to critically evaluate which
ideas are most important. Key 7.10 shows a comprehensive outline and a reduced key
term outline of the same material.

Step 2: Recite what you know. Use the terms in your combined notes as cues for
reciting what you know about a topic. Make the process more active by reciting out
loud during study sessions, writing your responses on paper, making flash cards, or
working with a partner.

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