How to study
While we know it can be dull, studying is part and
parcel of being a student, so why not make it as easy as possible?
Before you start:
Buy a diary and use it. Put in deadlines for work,
tutorials and exam dates and tick off the things you have done. Stick a
copy of your timetable inside too, so you always know where you should be.
This is a good habit to keep so don't let it die off.
Stock up on folders, dividers, paper and an assortment of
pens. Try to keep things organised from the beginning. Even if you can't
be bothered with many of these tips, putting your lecture notes in order
as you go along will help.
Get to know your campus. Where are the computer rooms?
Does you department have its own facilities (computers, printers,
photocopying, research papers archive)? Where is the library? How does
their catalogue system work?
Lectures:
OK so we know they're not compulsory but do try to go to
them, and if your hangover is really too bad or the bar's too inviting to
make it, at least get the notes off someone else. Get a copy of your
syllabus, reading list and past exam papers as early on as possible and
keep them with your notes. Tick off sections as you go along. If you feel
your lecturer is making no sense, ask them to explain better, and if this
fails mention the problem to your tutor.
Taking notes
Don't worry about making them neat as you can write them
up properly afterwards. Don't take down every word they say, instead write
down names, dates and key words, and listen to them. You can fill in the
gaps afterwards, but only if you get the vital bits down. If you are a
slow note-taker use a dictaphone and make full notes later.
Write them up
It may sound duller than dull but you'll be glad you
bothered come revision time. Use your own words when writing notes and
keep them brief, it will be easier to understand when you read them
through again later. Set out your notes in a way that is easy to relate to
the syllabus and use key words, that way you won't spend time searching
for one fact among a mountain of pages.
Tutorials and seminars
These are where small groups of people on your course meet
to discuss, debate, ask questions and get feedback on the course content.
Seminars tend to involve more people and occur less often, while tutorials
are slightly more intimate and often involve presentations.
It is important to go to most of your seminars and
tutorials, as they will help facilitate your understanding of the topics,
and prepare you for writing your essays. You are usually set work to
prepare for each session too, some of which may count towards your final
year assessment.
Finding study time
You usually find that lectures and tutorials take up very
little time, leaving you many hours of each week free (especially for arts
students). It can be easy to fill this free time doing very little, but if
you want to stay ahead and have an active social life, set aside some time
each week (say before or after a lecture) to study. You can use this time
to rewrite notes, research essays and catch up on your reading. Find
somewhere that you won't be interrupted, like the library, your room, or
the local park.
Active study
Set reading is often dull, rather than reading pages and
taking nothing in try taking the odd note as you go along to keep you
focused.
Finally
Don't spend all your time studying, uni life has much more
to offer, the idea of good study technique is to free you from stress and
cramming so you can go and enjoy it, and that's not so dull now, is it?
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ODLC
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