How to Study William J Rapaport Department of

How to Study William J. Rapaport Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Department of Philosophy, Department of Linguistics, and Center for Cognitive Science rapaport@buffalo. edu http: //www. cse. buffalo. edu/~rapaport

Outline 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Manage your time Take notes in class & re-write them at home Study hard subjects first, in a quiet place Read actively & slowly, before & after class Do your homework & assignments (≠ studying) Study for exams Take exams 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 session is less efficient than multiple, 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 • reorganize notes (passive) (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 Algorithm WHILE 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! ] – 1 st pass: square bracket in margin – 2 nd pass: double bracket more important material – 3 rd 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 writing. html

Do I Really Have to Do All This? • Yes! • But not necessarily all at once