Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-13
READING FOR STUDY
Bv H. AddingtOn Bruce


n WANY people, when they sit down to
M read a book for purposes Of
AVA study, make the serious mistake of
neglecting to safeguard themselves as far as
possible against conditions unfavorable to
concentrating the attention. This by itself
may be quite enough to account for the bar
renness of the results they obtain from their
study periods.
Thus, instead of isolating themselves in the
quetest room they can find, they may under
take to study in noisy rooms, even IN a room
where other people are carrying On a lively
social conversation. For the average person
this is fatal to efficient study.
Unless the book being read is as fascinat-
ing as a novel-and few textbooks are-the
attention is sure to be distracted in some de-
gree by what is going on around the reader
Or if isolation and quiet be secured, the
ability to concentrate may be affected ad-
yersely by faulty air or temperature cond1-
tions in the room chosen.
Students soon begin to yawn over their
books when reading in stale or stagnant air.
And they find it extra hard to keep their at
tention fixed in a room unduly hot or unduly
cold.
Experiments go to show that 6S degrees is
the ideal temperature for reading or study
Yet the average student reads IN room sew
eral degrees higher than this.
Not few students, too, needlessly increase
their difficulties by studying in clothing that
is too light to be comfortable. Attention is
then distracted by sensations or pressure
which also hasten the onset of mental fatigue
The same result follows reading IN poor
light or when seated in CHAIR SO poorly
constructed as to cause muscular strain Not
onIy should the light be good, but care snould
he taken never to sit facing IL anu not 10
let it ilIumine the book so as to cause glare
effect.
able physical conditions is by no means
enough to insure efficiency in study. Due re-
gard must also be paid to the laws governing
mental action in general
Which means, in especial, that the reaolns
should be done slowly, thoughtfully,, critical
w. In his admirable "How to Use Your
Mind" Professor H. D. Kitson offers a sug-
gestion valuable to all who would STUDY u
best advantage:
+ion then close the book and write down III
vour own words what you have read. Next
take YOUR summary and compare WIN tne
orioinaI text to see that you have really grasp
ed the point. :; .o,,-
.HTbis procedure will be beneficial IN sew
eral ways 1t will encourage continuous con
49, s+..tioni of attention on an entire argu-
ment. It will help you to preserve relatlVe
amnhasis of parts 1t will lead you to regard
thought and not WORDS. ,. 80
Also It will notably assist remembrance VI
what has been read. The deeper INC III g!1 %
s;on made on the mind the greater the l1he-
1ihood of it's being lastingly retalneu.
which is why students who read hassliy, ~, or
u,;+ %o real thought to the meaning of what
thew read. soon forget the contents Oh 'ne
book studied. 4,a,,irr ~
Such students, in fact, are not STUDYING -
anv real sense of the word. They are redu-
80 90 as do those who wish merely to be enter
tanned, and the ypay the penalty OF rapid
obliviscence.
downright, 1920, by the Associated News
papers.)