Opening Doors: Chapter 3 Approaching College Assignments: Reading Textbooks and Following Directions

The Study Process The study process has three components: 1) Preparing to read 2) Asking and answering questions 3) Reviewing the answers

Preparing to Read Look at the headings and subheadings in the chapter. Examine key words in bold, italic or colored Read any study questions that may appear at the end of the chapter

Preparing to Read Assess your prior knowledge! To do this, ask yourself “What do I already know about this topic?” Previewing the chapter can help you answer this question. Previewing also helps you budget your time. If you preview a chapter and discover that it is extremely long, you may need to break it up into smaller, more manageable reading sessions.

Ask and Answer Questions You need to give yourself a purpose before you begin reading. Creating questions to answer provides that purpose. Turn Chapter headings into questions THE VIETNAM WAR What questions could you create from this heading? What started the Vietnam war? Who fought in the Vietnam war? When did the war begin? What are some key events that happened during the war? Who are the key figures in this war?

Finding the Answers Often you will find that the questions you create may be actual test questions If you can’t find the answers to your questions, try the following: Reading ahead in the text Go back and reread – see if you simply missed it Do extra reading Ask your instructor, or a classmate Wait until you have finished reading to record your answers!

Review the Material You will forget at least half of what you learned unless you take steps to commit the information to your long- term memory immediately after you read. Recite your answers out loud Rewrite your answers on paper

Following Directions Not following or understanding directions usually results in lower grades Tips for following directions: Read the entire set of directions before you begin Understand all the words in the directions (compare/contrast, enumerate etc.) Circle signals that announce steps and underline key words (first, next, finally, lastly etc.) Number steps if they aren’t numbered for you Do these things before you begin!