Academic Reading
Why is college reading difficult? How should you approach it?
College texts are written at a higher level. Topics are more complex and you have less time to understand. Use the PQ4R method.
What is annotation? Give examples of how to do it.
Annotate means highlighting or underlining key ideas. Examples include color, symbols, arrows, questions, summaries, page tabs, and lists.
What is the test taking cycle? List all the steps.
A method for test prep. 1. Prepare for success. 2. Preview, read, recall. 3. Self test. 4. Test. 5. Review test.
What are the six keys to academic success?
Attend and engage in class. Turn in your assignments. Have a study plan. Keep up with reading. Take notes. Engage with faculty.
What is Bloom's Taxonomy? What are the levels?
A list of six cognitive tasks organized by difficulty. Used by professors to create assignments. 1. Remember. 2. Understand. 3. Apply. 4. Analyze. 5. Evaluate. 6. Create.
What is distributed practice? Describe the steps of doing it.
A study method where you spread your review time out. It's the opposite of cramming. 1. Review after class. 2. Review after one day. 3. Review before the weekend. 4. Review after a month. 5. Recite your notes out loud
What are the two types of test anxiety? What strategies can you use?
Anticipatory and situational. Beware of negative self talk. Follow a study plan. Remember to rest and eat. Relax your muscles. Deep breathing.
When turning in assignments, what five things should you keep in mind? Why?
Look ahead. Daily check in. Follow directions. Turn everything in. Give yourself room to breathe. It helps you stay on track!
What does PQ4R mean? Why is it helpful?
Preview. Question. Read. Reflect. Recite. Review. PQ4R. It helps you focus on understanding what you read. Instead of passively glazing your eyes over it.
What is the Cornell method? Draw it on the board.
A two column note taking system. It's like a closet. Notes go in a large space to the right. Key ideas go in the left margin. Summary of main points go in bottom drawer.
What is active studying? Give five examples.
Studying by practice. Not reading! Teaching a friend. Creating flash cards. Doing practice problems. Creating a study guide. Taking a mock exam.
Why is it important to read in college? Why is it important to take notes?
Reading gives you an idea of what the professor will teach and ask about. Taking notes helps you capture key ideas so you can remember later.
Chase has a major midterm exam coming up. He's not been reading the textbook and has to cram this week. How can he use PQ4R to get ready?
1. Preview the chapters he needs to read. 2. Ask himself questions to find key ideas. 3. Read for the answers and annotate. 4. Reflect on his annotations. 5. Discuss with peers. 6. Review his answers for accuracy.
Tabitha has a 100 page research article to read. She has to write a summary for her English class. What note taking strategies might help?
Chase has a midterm in chemistry and calculus. He's not feeling too hot about either of them. Which active study methods might help?
Create a study guide. Do practice problems. Make flash cards. Take an online mock exam. Ask his professor for a practice test.
Tabitha just got her midterm grades back. They don't look too good. Which academic success strategy might help? Why?
Tabitha is doing everything right. But she still can't understand what she's reading. What reading tips might help?
Don't force read everything all at once. Use chunking! Read a section. Think about it. Take notes. Read the next section. Notice chapter titles, headings, and sub headings. Identify key terms and main points.
Chase is pretty good about paying attention in class. What are the six steps he can use to take good notes? Give examples.
1. Listen for an organizing pattern. 2. Note if there's a handout or slides. 3. Recognize verbal cues. 4. When in doubt write it down. 5. Consider his own learning style. 6. Create a personal shorthand system.
Tabitha has really bad test anxiety. Her math exam is a big grade and it's stressing her out. What type of anxiety is this? What strategies might help?
Anticipatory anxiety. Make and follow a study plan. Remember to eat and sleep. Deep breathing. When not studying, do something not school related. Talk to University Counseling.
Chase is having trouble studying. He has good notes but he can't figure out what to do with them. How can he make a real study plan?
Find a location. Find a time. Choose the subject. Choose a goal. Be very clear about which active study methods he's going to use.