Difference between revisions of "Create a Basic Study Guide"
(importing article from wikihow) |
m (Update ref tag) |
||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
#* Write the most important content pertaining to the idea or concept on the back of the card. | #* Write the most important content pertaining to the idea or concept on the back of the card. | ||
#* Summarize information to make it easy to go over as you study. | #* Summarize information to make it easy to go over as you study. | ||
| − | #Make a summary sheet. The easiest and most common form of study guide is the summary sheet. Simply start by summarizing important parts of your notes. Summary sheets are excellent for people will learn well by reading over material. They are particularly useful for history and literature classes with little memorization required.<ref>https://www.purdue.edu/studentsuccess/academic/asc/documents/study_guides.pdf</ref> | + | #Make a summary sheet. The easiest and most common form of study guide is the summary sheet. Simply start by summarizing important parts of your notes. Summary sheets are excellent for people will learn well by reading over material. They are particularly useful for history and literature classes with little memorization required.<ref name="rf1">https://www.purdue.edu/studentsuccess/academic/asc/documents/study_guides.pdf</ref> |
#* Use titles for sections that are meaningful to you to help you understand the concepts. | #* Use titles for sections that are meaningful to you to help you understand the concepts. | ||
#* It is one of the most thorough forms of study guide and is great to cover large amounts of material. | #* It is one of the most thorough forms of study guide and is great to cover large amounts of material. | ||
#* This method may not be time effective as you may include material that is unnecessary. | #* This method may not be time effective as you may include material that is unnecessary. | ||
===Preparing Your Study Guide=== | ===Preparing Your Study Guide=== | ||
| − | #Gather all of the sources you will need. You will be putting together information from a number of sources, so start by getting them together. The better prepared you are when you begin, the easier the study guide will be to write.<ref>http://www.brighthubeducation.com/study-and-learning-tips/71467-make-your-own-study-guide-to-learn-a-subject/</ref> | + | #Gather all of the sources you will need. You will be putting together information from a number of sources, so start by getting them together. The better prepared you are when you begin, the easier the study guide will be to write.<ref name="rf2">http://www.brighthubeducation.com/study-and-learning-tips/71467-make-your-own-study-guide-to-learn-a-subject/</ref> |
#* It will be much easier to assemble your study guide once you have all the sources you will need within arm’s reach. | #* It will be much easier to assemble your study guide once you have all the sources you will need within arm’s reach. | ||
#* All of your assignments and class materials can be valuable when putting together a study guide. | #* All of your assignments and class materials can be valuable when putting together a study guide. | ||
#* Gather your previous tests to look for areas you may have struggled with. | #* Gather your previous tests to look for areas you may have struggled with. | ||
| − | #Use your textbook as a source. Most classes are accompanied by one or more textbooks that are invaluable resources when creating a study guide. Textbooks can help you clarify subjects, organize materials and find definitions of important terms.<ref | + | #Use your textbook as a source. Most classes are accompanied by one or more textbooks that are invaluable resources when creating a study guide. Textbooks can help you clarify subjects, organize materials and find definitions of important terms.<ref name="rf2" /> |
#* Go back through the sections you covered in class or for assignments and look for important concepts. | #* Go back through the sections you covered in class or for assignments and look for important concepts. | ||
#* Make a note of bold or italicized words as they may be important to the subject or cover information you may need to know for your exam. | #* Make a note of bold or italicized words as they may be important to the subject or cover information you may need to know for your exam. | ||
| − | #Pull from your notes. Taking good notes in class can help you to retain the information covered, but they can also serve as important parts of your study guide. Your notes can serve to aid in your organization of material as well as to know what areas your teacher thinks are most important. <ref | + | #Pull from your notes. Taking good notes in class can help you to retain the information covered, but they can also serve as important parts of your study guide. Your notes can serve to aid in your organization of material as well as to know what areas your teacher thinks are most important. <ref name="rf2" /> |
#* Go back through your notes and highlight or underline information that seems important. | #* Go back through your notes and highlight or underline information that seems important. | ||
#* Focus on big concepts or parts that you think are especially important based on the lectures and ensure that information makes it into the study guide. | #* Focus on big concepts or parts that you think are especially important based on the lectures and ensure that information makes it into the study guide. | ||
#* Identify areas that you may not be sure about through your notes. Research things you are uncertain of in your textbook and make sure to include that content in your study guide. | #* Identify areas that you may not be sure about through your notes. Research things you are uncertain of in your textbook and make sure to include that content in your study guide. | ||
#* Class handouts are also valuable sources as they show what the instructor felt was important. | #* Class handouts are also valuable sources as they show what the instructor felt was important. | ||
| − | #Use your homework to guide you. Homework assignments can show you what your teacher felt was important as well as providing an idea for what type of questions may appear on the exam.<ref | + | #Use your homework to guide you. Homework assignments can show you what your teacher felt was important as well as providing an idea for what type of questions may appear on the exam.<ref name="rf2" /> |
#* Pay close attention to things you got wrong on the homework. Begin by including those portions in your study guide. | #* Pay close attention to things you got wrong on the homework. Begin by including those portions in your study guide. | ||
#* Homework can also serve as a reminder of all the material you covered over a long semester. Use it to help structure your guide. | #* Homework can also serve as a reminder of all the material you covered over a long semester. Use it to help structure your guide. | ||
| Line 43: | Line 43: | ||
===Organizing Your Study Guide=== | ===Organizing Your Study Guide=== | ||
| − | #Split your information into subjects. Now that you have all the material you will need to assemble your study guide, it’s time to organize it. Organize your study guide in a way that makes sense to you and is easy to follow.<ref | + | #Split your information into subjects. Now that you have all the material you will need to assemble your study guide, it’s time to organize it. Organize your study guide in a way that makes sense to you and is easy to follow.<ref name="rf2" /> |
#* If you are being tested on a portion of a text book, you may want to divide your material into what chapter it appears in the book. For instance, organize your study guide by chapter with supporting information, or large concepts such as nations for world history or regions of the body for anatomy. | #* If you are being tested on a portion of a text book, you may want to divide your material into what chapter it appears in the book. For instance, organize your study guide by chapter with supporting information, or large concepts such as nations for world history or regions of the body for anatomy. | ||
#* Once you have identified what broad topics the information must fall into, use that to begin the framework of your study guide. | #* Once you have identified what broad topics the information must fall into, use that to begin the framework of your study guide. | ||
| Line 49: | Line 49: | ||
#Try these examples to help you organize your study guide. Dividing information into easy to follow segments is important to make your study guide useful. Here are examples of dividing information from various subjects into segments that may be more manageable. | #Try these examples to help you organize your study guide. Dividing information into easy to follow segments is important to make your study guide useful. Here are examples of dividing information from various subjects into segments that may be more manageable. | ||
#* The American Revolution can be divided into time periods on a summary sheet such as “the 1750s, 1760s and 1770-81” or by events such as the Sugar and Stamp Acts, the Boston Tea Party and the Declaration of Independence, followed by supporting information for each category.<Ref>http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/revolution/</ref> | #* The American Revolution can be divided into time periods on a summary sheet such as “the 1750s, 1760s and 1770-81” or by events such as the Sugar and Stamp Acts, the Boston Tea Party and the Declaration of Independence, followed by supporting information for each category.<Ref>http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/revolution/</ref> | ||
| − | #* The Periodic Tables can be divided into flash cards to help you memorize the abbreviation for each element.<ref>http://stemsheets.com/science/periodic-table-flash-cards</ref> | + | #* The Periodic Tables can be divided into flash cards to help you memorize the abbreviation for each element.<ref name="rf3">http://stemsheets.com/science/periodic-table-flash-cards</ref> |
| − | #* Academic psychological approaches can be divided into a concept map. Start with a center circle called “psychological approaches” with branches coming from it for the dynamic approach, humanistic approach and social learnings.<ref>http://success.oregonstate.edu/sites/success.oregonstate.edu/files/LearningCorner/Tools/creating_study_guides.pdf</ref> | + | #* Academic psychological approaches can be divided into a concept map. Start with a center circle called “psychological approaches” with branches coming from it for the dynamic approach, humanistic approach and social learnings.<ref name="rf4">http://success.oregonstate.edu/sites/success.oregonstate.edu/files/LearningCorner/Tools/creating_study_guides.pdf</ref> |
#* Viruses or other biological concepts can easily be organized into a comparison chart. If you are using viruses, list them on the left hand column, then create columns for aspects of a virus such as means of transmission, symptoms and treatments. | #* Viruses or other biological concepts can easily be organized into a comparison chart. If you are using viruses, list them on the left hand column, then create columns for aspects of a virus such as means of transmission, symptoms and treatments. | ||
| − | #Don’t jam too much information into your study guide. Your study guide is supposed to help you understand complicated subjects, so keep it easy to understand and follow and don’t be afraid to leave out things that don’t matter.<ref | + | #Don’t jam too much information into your study guide. Your study guide is supposed to help you understand complicated subjects, so keep it easy to understand and follow and don’t be afraid to leave out things that don’t matter.<ref name="rf2" /> |
#* Be very picky about what information you include in your study guide to avoid making it too daunting to use. | #* Be very picky about what information you include in your study guide to avoid making it too daunting to use. | ||
#* You don’t need to cover topics you are extremely comfortable with in as much depth. Instead focus on areas you are unsure of. | #* You don’t need to cover topics you are extremely comfortable with in as much depth. Instead focus on areas you are unsure of. | ||
