<p>Hi I need some good study tips since it is extremely hard for me to get an A in my courses. Whenever I study I get into detail about the vocab word and learn its overall facts and not just the plain old definition but that only resulted in a C.</p>
<p>I do try to read the entire book but it is extremely time consuming and I feel as if some of the materials I've read isn't even going to be on the tests.</p>
<p>Whenever I get a bad grade on a test its usually because the professors ask me questions I'd never even expected to be on the test, or they ask such a specific question that it leaves me confused.</p>
<p>So how do you guys study? Just do flash cards, have a friend help out, or just sit there in front of a book for hours? I need a tip better than reading and memorizing the whole book.</p>
<p>Study WHAT? Each different subject area has different methods, so I can’t do squat for you until I know what you’re going on about.</p>
<p>Foreign languages? English? Math?</p>
<p>And you do have to read a whole book if that is assigned. You don’t have to of course, but then you take the risk of being asked minute questions about stuff you skipped because you ‘assumed it wasn’t going to be on the test’. If you’re having trouble remembering what you read, my suggestion is to stop studying with music on, in front of the TV, or whatever you’re doing and to stop trying to study intensely for hours at a time. Trying to read a whole book in two days or a few hours is insane. Yeah, you’ll get through it fine, but you won’t remember much.</p>
<p>I thought it was pretty clear even if I didn’t mention it, but yeah study like history, geography, any courses that is reading based and requires memorization.</p>
<p>It’s pretty elementary, but I like flashcards for memorizing vocab, facts, dates, formulas, etc…</p>
<p>For conceptual stuff I just reread and do practice problems. Usually hw suffices though.</p>
<p>Oh. And this might sound weird…but sometimes when it’s a particularly hard concept, I lecture myself. It’s lame, but it totally works for me. I’d love to tutor someone or just go on and on about biology or something to my friends, but they would die of boredom. So it’s “fun” and “helpful” when I study this way :] What I usually do is read it, understand it, and then just “lecture” myself…</p>
<p>A lot of people have been praising him recently. I checked it out really fast a couple of days ago and didn’t find it interesting. I’ll go take a second look at it though…
Also, tons of people love his books…not sure if those are worth it…</p>
<p>I’ve read his books. Religiously.
Well, I’ve probably read all the other books, too, but Cal Newport is kinda different. He doesn’t write much about reading techniques and basics, but gives rather good tipps on how to organize and motivate yourself.
Ya know - not “work hard”, but “so here’s how you get that essay done: first, go to the library and copy…”.
It’s real-world advice, and you don’t have to be superhuman to do what he says.</p>