5 P,s Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance
So there are a variety of study systems available, but all are organized in basically the same way and are designed to accomplish the same
ends. The system which we are going illustrate you is called SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review).
This is neither the time nor the place for an essay on learning or memory, but the key to any study system is simply this:
YOU REMEMBER MORE WHEN YOU ARE
ACTIVELY INVOLVED AND UNDERSTAND THE
CONTENT.
The SQ3R method is designed to keep you involved
and increase understanding. Remember dont skip
any step.
STEP 1 - SURVEY
Before you begin reading, take just a few
minutes for a preliminary survey of the chapter or
section of your assignment. The goal of this step is
simply to get an overall picture of the nature of the
material and how it is presented. If you are not
accustomed to doing this, you will be amazed at
how clear many materials become, even before you
start reading. Some authors make this step easy by
providing chapter outlines, descriptive headings, key
sentences, or chapter summaries. If so, read through
these as your first step. The outlines, headings and
sentences will show you how the material is
organized and the summaries will tell you what the
author considers to be most important in the chapter.
If you understand this first, it will be much easier to
go back and fill in the details.
Even if your authors dont make it easy - dont
skip this step. Make your own survey by reading
the table of contents, or if necessary, simply quickly
scanning the entire chapter to get a rough idea of
what it is all about.
STEP 2 - QUESTION
After completing your survey, formulate
questions about the material. Again, some authors
provide questions either at the beginning or at the
nd of each chapter. If so, read them and be
prepared to answer them after reading the material.If
questions are not provided, make up your own. As you grow more skilled in the art of questioning, ou may find more and more of your questions
ppearing in examinations!
STEP 3 - READ
Now and only now are you ready to begin
reading your assignment. As you read, try to answer
the questions that you formulated in the previous
step. Answering the questions gives your reading
purpose and direction and increases your attention
and concentration. There is now a reason for reading
this passage and the material makes more sense!
STEP 4 - RECITE
This step means exactly what it says. After
reading a section, actually recite or restate the
important ideas from it preferably aloud. If you are in a public place and dont want to be seen talking
to yourself, then put down the book and silently do
your recitation, word by word. If you cant put your
new-found knowledge into your own words, you
dont really understand it!
DONT ALLOW YOURSELF TO CHEAT ON THIS
STEP. If you cant restate the important points, go
back and re-read that section until you can.
At first, you may want to do this for each
paragraph - then as you get better at it, use a sub-
topic section, then a whole section, eventually
maybe a whole chapter, but dont stop until you
can put the material into your own words.
Research has demonstrated that for most
effective learning, at least one-half of your study
time should be spent on questioning and reciting.
These steps require your active participation. You
cant be daydreaming while you are reciting what
you have learned!
STEP 5 - REVIEW
This is not just glancing over the material again,
but a later repeat of the question and recite steps.
Come back to the chapter the next day - or next week and see how much of it you can restate i
your own words. How much do you really remember
Now is the time to fill in the weak spots.
This is another vital step. If you spend one hou
oday studying, by next month you will be fortunat
o retain 15-20% of the material. But, if you spen
30 minutes today, then review for 15 minute
omorrow, 10 minutes next week and 5 minute
next month, you may retain 80-90% of what yo
irst learned with the same one hour of total effor
(The exact amount retained will vary considerabl
depending on the type of material, how meaningfu
t is for you, etc., but the differences are dramati
based on proper review.)
A FINAL WORD
A systematic plan of study gives the best return
on your time investment. Rather than grabbing
chunks of time here and there for studying, plan
some time for study and for review.
Friends hope it helps u all please do comment and rate on this article if u liked it Ihave worked hard on it
As usual All the besttt..
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