1. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Study Skills Topic 8 Study Strategies PowerPoint by JoAnn Yaworski

2. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Overview Questions  What strategies can you use to organize the information you have to learn?  When does it make sense to take outline notes or to make maps to organize information?  How can you use your computer to synthesize course content?

3. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Overview Questions (Continued…)  What are the characteristics of each academic discipline?  Should you adapt your reading and study strategies for each discipline?  What particular thought patterns can you expect in each discipline?  How should you take lecture notes for each discipline?

4. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Approaching New Fields of Study  Process information in several different ways.  Use several methods of learning.  Ask questions.  Look for similarities between the new subject and other fields that are familiar to you.  Establish an overview of the field.  Use reference materials to gain background knowledge of the subject.

5. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Social Sciences & History  Are highly factual.  Introduce a vast number of new terms.  Require large amounts of reading.  Use many graphics.  Are research oriented.  Emphasize theories and the social scientists who develop them.

6. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. How to Read and Study the Social Sciences  Read a chapter section or two every day.  Maintain a notebook for new vocabulary.  Locate and read supplementary reading materials.  Preview before and after reading.  Thought patterns generally used:  Listing  Comparison and contrast  Cause and effect

7. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Taking Lecture Notes in the Social Sciences  Always take thorough and complete notes.  Summarize cases or examples.  Summarize films or tapes.  Edit and organize your notes.

8. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Life & Physical Sciences  Expect unfamiliar subject matter.  Recognize connections and relationships between the subject matter and its applications.  Expect participation to be required (weekly labs in addition to lecture classes).  Expect textbooks and lectures to be formal, straight forward, and factual.  Thought patterns generally used:  Cause and Effect  Process  Problem-Solution

9. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Reading and Studying the Life & Physical Sciences  Preview assignments.  Read everything carefully: do not skip anything.  Learn notation systems.  Translate formulas into words.  Create a vocabulary system for learning scientific terms based on common prefixes, suffixes, and roots.

10. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Taking Lecture Notes in the Life & Physical Sciences  Focus on principles and overall purpose.  Record any problems that the instructor solves on the chalkboard.  Make quick sketches of diagrams and charts.  Outline or summarize notes.  Use scientific notation to speed up note taking.

11. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. How to Read and Study Mathematics  Expect each lecture to be based on skills learned in previous lectures.  Expect regular homework assignments.  Place emphasis on accuracy and precision.  Expect math assignments to take longer than other subjects.  Focus on process and procedure.  Pay attention to sample problems.  Practice variations of problems daily.  Learn to read mathematical language.

12. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Taking Lecture Notes in Mathematics  Focus on concepts and procedures.  Record sample problems.  Study the text before class.  Ask questions.  Identify thought patterns such as:  Process  Problem / Solution  Comparison / Contrast

13. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. How to Read and Study Literature & the Arts  Expect these courses to require and depend heavily on writing skills.  Expect there to be no right answer or a single interpretation.  Read slowly and carefully.  Annotate as you read.  Look for themes and patterns.

14. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Taking Lecture Notes in Literature & the Arts  Make notes directly on the textbook page.  Summarize the instructor’s main points.  Identify the main themes.  Look for the following thought patterns:  Chronological order  Process  Comparison / Contrast  Cause and effect

15. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Textbook Highlighting  Preview the assignment, read, then highlight.  Use boldfaced headings as guides to important information.  Highlight main ideas and key supporting details.  Highlight no more than 15-25% of a page.

16. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Marginal Annotation  Write summary words or phrases in the margin.  Write summary clues that briefly state an idea presented in the passage.  Write recall clues in the margin (recall clues are words, phrases, or questions that you can use to test yourself on the material).

17. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Outlining  Identify how ideas are related.  Group similar ideas together.  Concentrate on the main ideas.  Use words and phrases instead of complete sentences.  Categorize or classify headings according to their importance.

18. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Organizing Ideas  Concept maps  Time lines  Process diagrams  Classification diagrams  Organizational charts  Comparison / Contrast charts

19. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Process Diagram Misdemeanor Arraignment Charges DismissedTrial Guilty Acquitted Sentencing Fine Probation

20. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Mapping Note-taking Edit Notes Use Abbreviations Record Examples Record Details Record Main Ideas

21. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Comparison / Contrast Charts TypeCostResponse MailCheapestHighest PhoneDepends on 800 number Same as interview InterviewMost expensive Same as phone Market Survey Techniques

22. ©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Visit the Longman Study Skills Web Site http://www.ablongman.com/studyskills