Straight A Student Flashcards
How to start challenging item
Go somewhere out of the way for challenging tasks, removes you from distractions and effort to get there will make you more willing to start of task
Note-taking
Re-read notes immediately when class ends to help remember, clean-up, and confirm conclusions
Note-taking: Non-technical
With non-technical material, lectures are often structured as question, evidence, conclusion. Structure notes the same
Sometimes the question or conclusion are not clearly stated. In this case just wrote down QUESTION: or CONCLUSION: and leave it blank, come back at lull in lecture or at end of class
Ask questions in class or at office hours to confirm complicated conclusions
Note-taking: Non-technical Discussion Groups
Jot down insightful ideas only. When you have insightful idea, write it down prior to asking. When teacher says something, always write it down
Note-taking: Technical
Capture all detailed explanations of problems, the more notes the better.
Record as many sample problems as possible, most valuable study resource
Don’t read your reading assignments ahead of time but keep them handy
In technical classes, same material will be reviewed in class. If you don’t understand material after reviewed in class, then go back and read. Much more efficient
Bring reading to class, follow professors examples with textbook open
Prioritizing Note-taking: Technical
First: Record problem statement and answer
If in the middle of writing steps and teacher gives answer, skip to record answer before proceeding
Second: Question the confusing
If don’t have time to ask question, identify with circles and question marks to come back to. Much more efficient to get off question in class
Third: Record the steps of the sample problem
Teacher usually only goes slowly thru first set of problems, after much faster
Fourth: Annotate steps
If get ahead of professor, annotate steps with small descriptions and identifying why important
Demote Assignments: Reading
Decide on importance, if to read, skim or skip
Favored Sources - Sources that show up for most or every lecture, always do these reading assignments
Remainder are supplemental, good to read if time allows
Readings that make an argument > describe event or person > provide context (speech, transcript, press clippings)
If no favored reading, prioritize reading that most closely ties to the name of the lecture
If professor emphasizes reading you missed, note it to go back and read. Set time into schedule asap, otherwise will be put off until exam
Demote Assignments: favored readings
○ For favored readings, structure question, evidence, conclusion
§ First, look for question in title of chapter or first few sentences
§ Next, look for conclusion (or thesis)
□ Often in first or last few paragraphs
§ Next, skim entire reading, putting checks next to important paragraphs for evidence
□ Ok if miss some, just get main gist and move on
§ Once complete, go back and find check marks to record in notes
□ Label each piece of evidence with page number where found
§ If takes longer than 30min, reading too slow
□ Looking for arguments, not facts
Working on problem sets
○ Identify a few other students with similar skill level and schedule regular work sessions, 2-3 days before due
§ Try problem sets before so come to work sessions with only places where you get stuck
§ Don’t do work session day before due, need time to re-review and correct any errors
○ Utilize office hours
Best approach to hard problem sets
§ Review problem sets
§ Attempt problem in most obvious fashion
§ If doesn’t work, put away your notes and move on to something else. Use the time walking between classes, shower, etc to think through solutions. Maybe even go on a hike to mull it over.
□ Easier on the go and saves valuable free time chunks by using intermittent unused time
§ Only then write it down formally
When you go to write it formally, write it so it is ready for submission. Avoid unnecessary step to rewrite
Writing Essays: Topic vs Thesis
topic describes interesting subject or area of observation. Thesis presents interesting, specific argument about that subject
* Start thinking about interesting topics early and jot them down as you
○ Identify research papers from syllabus on first day and get a head start
○ Look at for points that interest you in lectures or reading
* If having trouble, approach professor with ideas and ask for recommended reading materials
* Read through primary readings carefully, looking for interesting angles or connections
Conduct a Thesis-Hunting Expedition
○ Start general, then move one layer deep
§ Find general in prescribed reading material or reference section of books set out by the professor at the library
§ Once general is identified, check out bibliography of that section. These focused pieces of literature should have something worthwhile
§ Even small details can lead to very interesting topics
○ Interesting thesis is usually provoative, nuanced, direct and inclusive, while showing a grasp of the complexities of a subject
§ Watch out for too reductive and simplistic
§ Don’t be afraid to leave room for ambigity and unresolved isues
○ Thesis will evolve with additional research
Get a second opinion on thesis
· Review thesis and approach with professor to avoid an argument that’s already been made or too broad or unsupportable
○ Is my idea appropriate for the assignment?
○ Does it cover too much?
○ Is it too simple?
· For research paper, review your sources with them, they will likely provide additional saving time on research
Research like a machine
· Need to have sources identified before starting So you can have them ready to be used as you build your case. IF they are incomplete and unorganized , so will your paper
· Also avoid never ending one more Source cycle
· System:
○ Find Sources
○ Make personal copies of sources
○ Annotate the material
○ Decide if done, if not then repeat
Find Sources
○ General: Overviews of topic (biographies or text books)
○ Specific: Article or book about specific idea or event
○ Best info from specific but need to find
§ Bibliographies of general
§ Professor
§ Library catalogue
□ Library of Congress topic classifications - detailed heirarchal grouping system. Find another General and check bibliography
□ Direct search - break thesis into general chunks
§ Journal databases
□ JSTOR
□ Library has list of databases
§ Google to find website that references sources
§ Ask a librarian at the reference desk
