How to Work the Academic System

Read quickly through the material assigned for class.

• Note headings, new vocabulary.
• Study charts, diagrams. Measure relative emphasis.

Get to class — every class — early.

• Get a seat where you can see and hear easily.
• Take the clearest, best spaced notes that you can.

Within 24 hours, go over the class notes.

• Correlate class notes with text book, noting pages.
• Add in facts, details.
• Color, underline, circle, connect, star, etc., as needed.

Read text carefully, looking for the full picture.

• Keep class notes open, following along, stressing class emphasis.
• Highlight text as appropriate, but sparingly.

Check material for completeness 4 to 5 days before test.

• Place handouts in sequence with class notes.
• Add in any helpful material (xeroxes, etc.)

Study all material with instructor's testing method in mind.

Develop a sample test on all the material, then wait a day. Take your own test, correct and grade it.

Go through all the material once more, stressing the areas where you were weak on your own test.

Take the instructor's test. You should be able to say that you have predicted (and taken) 75 to 80% of it already!