Can't concentrate while reading? Do you feel that the words go through your eyes to go straight out of your ears? This article tells you how to study well by reading.
Steps
Step 1. Get all the necessary materials
If you want to study properly, it's not enough to just take your book. You will need a notebook, pencil, pens and a highlighter. These tools will help you pay more attention while reading (as opposed to reading passively).
Step 2. Read it for the first time
During this step, read to locate the general content. Try to understand the topic or story. Make an asterisk (*) with the pencil next to the passages that you think are important, unusual or exceptional. If you prefer, you can proceed with one page at a time.
Step 3. Read it again
This time try to understand if the passages you marked with an asterisk have the same importance that you attributed to them during the first reading. If so, then highlight them. A page should eventually contain no more than 10 highlighted lines. The highlighted passages will later help you find important quotes or phrases (for example when you are studying for the final exam). This way you can avoid re-reading the entire content of the book, and you can focus only on the highlighted passages.
Step 4. Take notes
Take out your notebook, and summarize, briefly and precisely, what you read. You can write notes or a paragraph; choose the solution that allows you to reread more easily later on.
Step 5. Study
You have already read the content twice, and you have engaged your mind to write the summary and annotations; at this point the concepts should be engraved in your mind. But remember to review everything every 2-3 days, so you don't forget.
Step 6. Review
After reading, comes the most important step: memorizing. The ability to memorize will determine your grades. Be prepared to give a meticulous and detailed answer to the question "What did you read?". If you can remember now, you will most likely be able to remember later as well. Your brain acts like a muscle - you need to keep it trained. After all, you don't learn to run without first being able to walk. You learned your native language by repeating it over and over, and remembering the use and meaning of every single word you heard someone else say.
Advice
- If it helps, read aloud. Sometimes, listening to yourself helps you memorize.
- After you have finished taking notes, pretend to be the teacher and to give an imaginary lesson, using all the contents that come back to your mind; if necessary, review your notes. In this way you will have knowledge of the subjects that you know perfectly and of those that need further study.
- Avoid distractions. Do not read for 2 minutes, then stop for another 2 minutes to send SMS. Your mind must be 100% focused on reading.
- Don't put it off. If you have a week to read, start immediately. Do not wait until the next week, as you will have less time and will be discouraged. Get off your mind right away so you can relax later.
- If you want to learn effectively, prepare your notes first.
