How to Study

William J. Rapaport

Department of Computer Science & Engineering,Department of Philosophy, Department of Linguistics,

and Center for Cognitive Science

rapaport@buffalo.eduhttp://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport

Outline

1. Manage your time

2. Take notes in class & re-write them at home

3. Study hard subjects first, in a quiet place

4. Read actively & slowly, before & after class

5. Do your homework & assignments (≠ studying)

6. Study for exams

7. Take exams

8. Do research & write articles

Introduction• Everyone has a different style of learning

– “What are the answers?” (“You tell me”)– “Let’s discuss this / find out together” (“We tell each other”)– “Here’s why I think this is the answer” (“I’ll convince you”)

• So, everyone has a different style of studying– So, my suggestions might not work for you– But they worked for me

• So, try them!

• Single, massive study sessionis less efficient thanmultiple, short study sessions

1. Manage Your Time• Grad school is a full-time job, so…

1. Education > {job for fun, extra-curricular activity}2. If you must work, don’t be a full-time student

• If education is your full-time job, then spend 40 hrs/wk– 1 academic credit ≈ 1 hour– So, 12 cr ≈ 12 hrs in class; so: 40–12=28 hrs @ home studying– 28/(5 study days/wk) ≈ 5.5 hrs/day ≈ 1.4 hrs/course (4 courses)

• Or: 9 cr + 20 hrs assistantship = 20 hrs/wk for courses– So, 9 cr ≈ 9 hrs in class; so: 20–9=11 hrs @ home studying– 11/5 ≈ 2.2 hrs/day ≈ 0.7 hrs/course (3 courses)

2. Take Notes in Class & Re-write at Home• Take complete notes in class

– write as much as possible• forces you to pay attention• keeps you awake (!)• less to remember

– use abbreviations– neatness doesn’t count– ask questions & make comments

• put in notes, even if not uttered in class

• Understand at home– copy class notes at home

• don’t just re-read in-class notes (passive)• reorganize notes (active)

• Don’t take notes on computer– noisy; Internet is too tempting; inconsistent with re-writing

• Don’t rely on instructor’s notes or copies of slides– re-write them, too!

3. Study Hard Subjects First…• Study harder subjects while you’re alert.

… & Study in a Quiet Place

• Recent finding:– People cannot multi-task successfully!

4. Read Actively & Slowly,before & after Class

• Don’t read passively– think about what you’re reading

• Slow-reading algorithm– after each sentence,

ask “why?”– (next slide)

Slow-Reading AlgorithmWHILE there is a next sentence to read, DO: BEGIN (* while *) Read it, SLOWLY; IF you do not understand it, THEN BEGIN (* if *) re-read the previous material, SLOWLY; re-read the incomprehensible sentence, SLOWLY; IF you still don't understand it, THEN ask a fellow student to explain it; IF you still don't understand it, THEN ask your Teaching Assistant (TA) to explain it; IF you still don't understand it, THEN ask your professor to explain it; IF you are in an upper-level course & you still don't understand it,

THEN write a paper about it (!) END (* if *) END; (* while *)

Since there is no next sentence (because the Boolean test in the WHILE is false), you've understood the text!

4. Read Actively & Slowly, before & after Class (cont’d.)

• Highlight text in margin– don’t paint entire page in day-glow yellow highlighter!

– 1st pass: square bracket in margin ]– 2nd pass: double bracket more important material ]]

– 3rd pass: underline really important material ]]

• Write notes in margin– personalize your (own!) text– index your notes

• Keep a reading journal– copy important passages (verbatim, with full citation)– write your comments about it

• Read twice: both before & after class

5. Do Your Homework

• Do HW on time

• Do it on scrap paper– then copy neatly

• Write both problem & solution

6. Study for Exams• Manage your time

– start 1 week before exam– spend 1 hr/day studying

• study entire night before exam

– final exams:• do nothing else but study!• for E exams over D days,

– spend D/E days studying for each exam

• Make a study outline & study from that– from re-copied class notes + highlighted text + reading journal– try to fit on 1-2 pages, front only (write small)

• Write sample essays or do sample problems– work in a study group

• Make “flash cards” (actually: notebook paper, 2 cols):– left column: question / theorem / statement of thm– right column: answer / statement / proof– cover R column with blank page; write answers; check; repeat

7. Take Exams• Read entire exam first.

• For essay questions:– do “mind dump”– develop outline– write (or “copy from memory”)

• Do easy problems first

• Review answers

8. Do Research & Write Essays• Choose topics carefully

– not too broad, not too narrow

• Do literature review & research– read slowly & actively– keep reading journal

• Make an outline (from reading-journal notes)– top-down design & stepwise refinement

• Write, using outline as guide– keep audience in mind

• Edit– read your own work slowly & actively– have fellow student/colleague read critically

• Manage your time– start early, do a little each day, finish early

• http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/501/501writing.html

Do I Really Have to Do All This?

• Yes!

• But not necessarily all at once