How to study for A

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How to study for AP
Adapted from get ready for AP
By
Lori K. Garrett
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Some questions

• Why do we study AP?
• What did we hear from others about AP course?
• Does the reason/what weve heard influences the
  way we study? May it affect our grades?
  
• If the answer to previous is yes, what can we
  do to change it?
  
• Can we change study habits?

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How do we start?

• Write a commitment to yourself
• I am going to be a _________________
• Put the statement in a place where you can see it
  often (car, study area etc.)

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Taking notes in class or do you try to write
down everything in class?

• The instructor can not wait for you to copy from
  board/screen
  
• Usually, you have class notes/slides on website
• Use time in class to listen and ask questions
• Underline/color main ideas and key words/terms
• If you do not have the notes
• Write main ideas in your own words
• Use abbreviations
• As soon as possible after class read notes and
  improve them (if needed), write down new terms

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Study at home or do you review what youve
learned in class?

• Too many students study when they have to!
• Memorizing notes without understanding
• Dont study only when get around it
• Dont make your studies the first thing you drop
  from your To Do List)

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Schedule study time or Take charge of your time

• Decide when during the day you are going to study
  and STICK TO IT
  
• Write it down
• Plan 10-15 minutes break for every hour of
  studying
  
• DONT FORGET TO SLEEP

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What to do when studying?

• First thing to do specific assignments (lab
  reports etc.)
  
• Go over todays notes
• Read corresponding section in textbook/lab
  manual
  
• Quiz yourself (use website of textbook/instructor)
  
  
• Review notes again and write down a list of
  things to clarify with instructor

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What to do when studying?

• Long-term memory active learning
• Take notes while reading
• Develop and answer questions
• Check yourself on the meaning of key terms (use
  definition list)
  
• If you have a study partner quiz each other

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Not just memorizing!!!!

• Dont just memorize UNDERSTAND
• When memorizing
• If a question is worded differently than the way
  you memorized it you might not realize that you
  know the answer
  
• You might give a definition that is incomplete if
  you forget words you memorized (hormone/chemical
  messenger example)

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Concept maps

• A good way to understand relationships.

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No cramming allowed!

• Cramming is like pushing stuff into a full closet
  and slamming the door what happens when the
  door is open?
  
• Same happens when you open the door of your brain
  after cramming everything falls out
  
• Can result in mixed up information

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No vampires allowed

• Studying all night before a test is a marathon
  cram session held at the worst possible time!
  
• It is NOT EFFECTIVE
• You need to rest your body and brain the night
  before a quiz/test/practical
  
• For your brain to be kind to you, you have to be
  kind to it
  
• Eat
• Sleep
• relax

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• How to read a text book or science book is not
  a novel

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Survey the chapter

• Read
• Chapter title
• Goals
• Introduction
• Headings
• Bold/italic items
• Summary
• That gives you a road map of where you will be
  going

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Make up questions

• Look at the heading of each section and form as
  many questions as you can regarding what you
  think should be covered by the section
  
• Write the questions down
• By having a set of written questions, youll
  automatically search for the answers

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Read and recite

• Read the chapter in details
• TAKE YOUR TIME
• After reading each section
• Think about your questions
• Try to answer them

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Review

• Go back to each section and see if you can still
  answer your questions

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Test taking

• Read each question thoroughly before answering
• In multiple choice questions, cover the answers
  until you finish reading the question. Try to
  give your own answer before uncovering the
  answers
• If initially you do not know the answer
• Think of all you know about the words in the
  question
  
• Use a process of elimination and narrow down your
  choices
  
• After answering a question
• Read your answer to make sure it says what you
  want
  
• Than, LEAVE IT ALONE

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Test taking

• Dont worry if in multiple choice test you chose
  the same letter several times in a row
  
• Note the wording. Some key words to look for
• Always, never, most, some, all, none, is, is not
• Look for questions in the back of pages
• Be aware of point values of questions

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Study groups

• When studying alone you may not be aware to your
  weaknesses
  
• In a study group you can
• Quiz each other
• Split up material and than teach each other
• Discuss
• Help and support each other
• Best time to meet when you are already in
  campus after class

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Individual accountability or I dont know how
I got C!

• When we get frustrated we often look elsewhere
  for the cause
  
• You must do everything you can to guarantee your
  success (no cheating!!)
  
• Accept responsibility for you own effort
• No excuses
• Think of any possible obstacle and plan around
  them (car problems, sick kids etc)
  
• Have at least 2 solutions for each

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Think positive

• Surround yourself with supportive people who are
  happy and proud of you
  
• It may be friends, family, kids(!!!) or your
  study group
  
• Stay in track and you will soon be LIVING (not
  LEAVING) your dream

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(Anonymous Student in Structure of the Human Body
Course)

• "Make the notes your own. Draw them out right
  after lecture, and then draw them out again
  later."  
  
• "Find a study group and study (with your notes)
  IN THE LAB. Discuss, make a game of it,
  whatever!"
  
• "STAY IN THE LAB Dissect out as much as you can.
  Don't allow yourself the excuse "we couldn't find
  that". YES YOU CAN. Once you dissect something
  out for yourself, it's yours, you won't forget
  it."  
• "You are going to use this information for the
  rest of your career, so remember to look at the
  big picture. You are learning this information so
  you can practice as a physician. You are not
  learning this information to pass an exam."
• "Be encouraged! This course is doable."

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