Study Skills

Survey

Question

Read

Recite

Review

Do the first two steps together to get an idea of the material you are studying. Simply scan through the material to be learned first. Look for important things such as titles, headings, author, table of contents. Look at the pictures and focus on big or bold words. Ask questions as you survey the material. (Who, What, When, Where, How? What is emphasized?). Next, pick a topic and read the introductory paragraph, and find the unknowns. Focus on the headings, subtitles. If the material is more difficult you may want to read a few sentences of the paragraph. Repeat this with questions. Turn the headings into questions. This helps you become more familiar with the material. This should be done before classes to help you prepare, and to get the most out of your class.

The next step is reading. However, there is no need to read everything. Look for key words to answer the questions you asked in the previous step. Be sure to restate (in your own words) the relationship there is. No notes should be written until the whole headed section has been read.

The next step is to recite. Try to recite the answer to the question you just answered. Put it in your own words. Make notes of key words. These should be very brief! Repeat these steps until the entire lesson is finished.

The final step to this study method is to review. It is important to check your memory by reciting the major subunits under each heading. Use another book to cover up your notes below. Try to review daily to keep it fresh in your mind. Review shouldn't take more than 15 minutes per day.

Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.

Thomas Edison

All of us, at certain moments of our lives, need to take advice and to receive help from other people.

Alexis Carrell