Write a
paragraph of about 250 to 300 words on how you made sure that you had
enough time for all your favourite activities besides, of course, your studies in
these 7 months you've been away from school.
Answers
When we start our studies, all of us already have different kinds of study skills. Our motivation springs from different sources, as does our general attitude to our studies. Nevertheless, regardless of where we are coming from, we need to take many things into consideration in our studies. Study success requires clear objectives, motivation, planning, self discipline, self confidence, good study habits and a positive attitude. Being physically fit is also helpful. Now that’s quite a list!
It is relevant here to ask if motivation and the ability to make plans and set objectives are inborn traits? And what about good reading and study habits, a positive attitude and physical fitness? How self confident were we when we were born? Indeed, we must assume that we are not born with the above. These are not inborn traits; we have learned and developed them and many others through the course of our lives. (Ringom 1994.)
As a student, you are given an excellent opportunity to develop not just your study skills, but also many other skills useful in life. These skills will help you to succeed in challenging tasks after graduation.
We hope that the following pages will help you to reflect upon your own study skills and habits. The discussion proceeds on a rather general level. Should some topics raise your interest, however, we encourage you to dig deeper, for example by familiarising yourself with the reference literature provided at the end of this guide. You can also find lots of study tips on the net.
Five steps to better reading
START INTELLIGENTLY
It’s best to start by browsing through the table of contents and headings. While doing this, think about:
• How important the material is to you: very important, important, or not so important?
• What kind of background knowledge do you have on the topic? A lot, some, not at all?
• What do you want to learn? Check the requirements in the course description and think about your own needs. Look for information that is relevant to your objectives.
BROWSE THROUGH THE BOOK
Instead of reading the text proper, pay attention to the headings, highlights, images, charts, models, examples, exercises etc. At the same time, take notes, e.g. by means of a mind map. Jot down important facts and headings. This kind of a review provides information on the book’s objectives and main arguments, i.e. with "hooks” on which to hang information.
READ THE TEXT
Take notes at the same time, or, if the book is your own, highlight key points with a magic marker or by underlining. Don’t underline several words in a row, but rather seek key concepts and thoughts. On the first reading, it’s not good practice to stop for long to think about things you don’t understand; it’s better to just mark unclear passages and then return to them later. Once you have a good general understanding of the text, it is most likely that what was at first unclear is no longer so.
READ THE TEXT A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF TIMES
If the material is especially hard, read it several times. It is possible that your chosen key words will change quite a bit because you have a much greater understanding of the text with each new reading.
If you still don’t understand a passage, stop to reflect. Consider whether the information is relevant to your own needs, or with regard to the book's main lines of thought. Consult a dictionary, the net, reference literature, or even the teacher or other students. Try also the phone. Discussing the matter for a few minutes might help you get ahead. If things still seem unclear, continue reading and taking notes, and make a note that the passage is still unclear.
REVIEW KEY TERMS
Reviewing key terms should take about 10 minutes, and has the objective of ensuring the quality of your reading and note taking. It’s good to do such a review right after you stop reading.
Review the key words (e.g. in your mind map) and try to recall key information packed behind each term. If you are not successful, pick up the book and go through the relevant material one more time. Also seek new key words and deepen your grasp of existing ones by means of images, arrows, symbols or numbers. In general, the more images you have, the better you will remember. (Ringom 1994)
Explanation:
When we start our studies, all of us already have different kinds of study skills. Our motivation springs from different sources, as does our general attitude to our studies. Nevertheless, regardless of where we are coming from, we need to take many things into consideration in our studies. Study success requires clear objectives, motivation, planning, self discipline, self confidence, good study habits and a positive attitude. Being physically fit is also helpful. Now that’s quite a list!
It is relevant here to ask if motivation and the ability to make plans and set objectives are inborn traits? And what about good reading and study habits, a positive attitude and physical fitness? How self confident were we when we were born? Indeed, we must assume that we are not born with the above. These are not inborn traits; we have learned and developed them and many others through the course of our lives. (Ringom 1994.)
As a student, you are given an excellent opportunity to develop not just your study skills, but also many other skills useful in life. These skills will help you to succeed in challenging tasks after graduation.
We hope that the following pages will help you to reflect upon your own study skills and habits. The discussion proceeds on a rather general level. Should some topics raise your interest, however, we encourage you to dig deeper, for example by familiarising yourself with the reference literature provided at the end of this guide. You can also find lots of study tips on th