How to study in college

Part I: BUILDING A FOUNDATION. 1. Goal-Setting: Know What You're Aiming For. March to Your Own Rhythm. Resist the Tug of the Crowd. Harness the Power of Imaging Pursue Quality Instead of Quantity. Change the Meaning of GPA. Define Your Goal. Devise a Plan. Take Action. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. 2. Organization: Use Your Time and Space Effectively. Reclaim Lost Time. Find Hidden Time. Change Your Time Habits. Stick to a Schedule Divide Your Time into Blocks. Think in Terms of Tasks. Get Your Priorities Straight Stay Organized. Devise a System. Keep Things Flexible. Cut Down on Clutter. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. 3. Concentration: Stay Focused. Eliminate Distractions. Reduce External Distractions. Discourage Internal Distractions Minimize Multitasking. Cultivate Concentration. Make Lists. Take Breaks. Find a Balance. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. 4. Stress Management: Learn How to Handle Pressure. Eliminate Avoidable Stress. Discourage Procrastination. Sidestep Common Stressors Improve Your Attitude. Learn to Relax. Enhance Your Self-Esteem. Take Control of Your Life. Follow a Healthy Routine. Develop Good Eating Habits. Improve Your Sleep. Get Some Exercise. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. Part II: GAINING INFORMATION. 5. Learn Your Speed Limit. Keep an Eye on Your Eyes. Listen to Your Silent Speech. Don't Forget Comprehension Pick Up Your PACE. P: Increase Your Preparation. A: Choose Your Altitude. C: Read in Clusters. E: Draw on Experience. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. 6. Vocabulary: Extend Your Word Frontier. Choose the Right Tools . Harness the Power of Interest. Learn from a Dictionary Preserve Your Words on Index Cards. Explore Your Personal Frontier. Understand How Words Are Learned. Recognize Frontier Words. Apply the Frontier System Treat Words Like Chemical Compounds. Learn Roots and Prefixes. Use the Fourteen Master Words. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. 7.Critical Thinking: Use Questions to Zero In on Valuable Information. Figure Out Whether Information Is Relevant. Do a Bull's-Eye Search. Do a Ballpark Search Decide Whether Information Is Important. Answer the Author's Questions. Answer Your Own Questions. Determine Whether Information Is Reliable. Beware of Reliability Distractors. Follow a Set of Guidelines for Analysis. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. 8. Flexible Thinking: Learn Through Multiple Channels. Deal with the Dominant Channels. Cope with Difficult Texts. Understand Visuals Change the Channel. Convert Words into Pictures. Work in Groups. Gain Hands-On Practice. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. Part III: RETAINING INFORMATION. 9. Remembering: Fight Back Against Forgetting. Make an Effort to Remember. Avoid Pseudo-Forgetting. Find a Motivation. Organize Your Information. Limit What You Choose to Learn. Arrive at Meaningful Patterns. Strengthen Your Memories. Connect New Memories to Old. Use Recitation to Rehearse. Allow Time for Consolidation. Study in Short Periods. Come to Terms with Plateaus. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. 10. The Cornell System: Take Effective Notes. Be Prepared. Prepare for Readings. Prepare for Lectures. Start with the Cornell System Take Separate Notes. Mark Your Textbook. Annotate Electronic Text. Gather Information Be Inquisitive. Follow the Signs. Record Efficiently. Deal with Special Cases. Tie Things Together. Wrap Up Your Readings. Relive Your Lectures. Walk Through the Note-taking Steps. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. 11. Mastery: Turn Your Notes into Knowledge. Review to Cement Understanding. Target Key Ideas with the Q System. See the Big Picture with Summaries. Recite to Strengthen Memories. Recite Out Loud. Recite By Writing. Reflect to Add Wisdom. Learn Why Reflection is Vital. Use Techniques to Help You Reflect. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. Part IV: EXPLAINING INFORMATION. 12. Tests and Quizzes: Ace Your Exams. Manage Test Anxiety. Prepare Yourself Academically. Prepare Yourself Psychologically. Know What Each Question Requires. Understand Objective Questions. Learn the Basics of Writing an Essay. Work Systematically. Read Before You Answer. Map Out Your Time. Use Markings and Jottings. Learn from Experience. Analyze Your Answers. Plot a Course Correction. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. 13. Class Participation: Get the Most Out of Discussions. Do Your Homework. Prepare Based On Specific Readings. Prepare Based On Specific Questions. Know the Ground Rules. Learn What the Instructor Expects. Adapt to the Discussion Environment. Participate Fully. Listen Actively. AIM to Make Points Effectively Follow Up Promptly. Review In-Class Discussions. Review Online Discussions. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. 14. Written Assignments: Turn in a Solid Research Paper. Decide What to Investigate. Choose a Subject. Narrow Your Topic. Find a Focus. Gather Your Information. Know Where to Look. Assemble a Working Bibliography. Take Notes Devise a Framework. Decide on a Basic Premise. Cluster Your Notes. Plot An Organizational Pattern. Write the Paper. Race Through the First Draft. Revise and Edit Your Paper Add the Missing Elements. Final Words. Chapter Checkup. It's Your Q. Vocabulary in Action. Appendix . Index.