How to Study

[HwaRang777]

hey guys,

being a high school student with a GPA that is under a 3.0 and wanting to go to college (and I know God wants me to), I'm trying to work my butt off in my classes. My parents keep telling me how I have to study harder, longer, ... okay that sounded a bit disturbing

Anyways, I went to ask some of my friends that have 4.0s and things along that nature, and asked them if and how they study. 99% of them don't study at all, they do their homework and somehow excel in their quizzes and tests (WHY GOD WHY CAN'T I BE LIKE THAT!!!) the other 1% works their butt of so hard, I literally can not concieve as to how they can still have a social life.

While I do want to keep and get good grades in school (as well as college) I definetly don't want to sell my soul to my studies (besides it's not worth much:lol: ) So if any of you know how to study smarter or give me tips on how to study specific subjects please give me as much advice as you can.

And if you want to know what kind of tips I need here's the list:

1) Foreign Language

2) Writing (not literature but like learning how to write better)

3) Forensic Science

4) Functions, Statistics, and Trig (don't need much help here)

P.S. Is there anything me and/or my parents can do to motivate myself (other than wanting to go to college)

[Slater]

1. I hated Spanish. But, the way to learn the language is to speak it a lot. Go to that language's natural home.

2. Write a lot. I wrote (haven't finished yet, much to many people's anger) a fan fiction that is a few hundred pages long, and that's about the majority of the writing that I ever did through HS. I noticed that my skills in writing improved A LOT from the point when I started writing that thing to where I am now. As a matter of fact, my college English professor was startled at how good I was!
3. Forensic Science? Hmm... Never took that.
4. Math, just do lots of problems. Memorize the basic formulas of trig and figure out how to derive the tougher ones from those easy ones.

[Lynx]

for learning a forgien language in school i'd suggest getting a partener at your level and practicing it with them. just talk in that lanugage as much as possable!

i took forensics in highschool. basically just learn the stuff, watching CSI helps too believe it or not, the stuff they do on that show is very accurite (except time wise... it takes a lot of time to do some of those tests and they make it look like it takes 5 seconds)

everyone learns differently so what helps someone learn things might not help you. make sure you dont blow off the assigned readings for the textbook! those help reinforce concepts!

dont study the day before a test. plan ahead. start studying a week or so in advance and take it in small managable chunks so that you really understand the material and dont cram it.

make a point to do all your homework. not only will it help your grade by doing well on it but you learn the material by having to think about it and process it and answer questions about it.

oh, make sure you go to your classes! don't miss them unless you have a really good reason to, the teachers are there to teach you and to answer questions about what you dont understand, so take advantage of that!

[Jman]

Your lucky having a 3.0, I have a 2.75

But as You are, I need to study more, so I am interested in these responces

[Mave]

1) Foreign Language
- Find people to communicate in so-called language on a regular basis and associate this language with something you like (i.e. music, books in that language). You know, like how some of us try to learn Japanese through anime/manga

2) Writing (not literature but like learning how to write better)
- If you meant argumentative-styled papers or scientific papers, all I can say is practise and extensive proof-reading/peer evaluation. Most of my friends had problems with structure and flow.

3) Forensic Science
- Heh. I've never taken this class before but CSI was always educating and fun. Still, I agree w/ Lynx: You can't generate chromatograms and DNA profiles that quickly.

4) Functions, Statistics, and Trig (don't need much help here)
-Had a very bad time with this until the day I discovered how much I could apply it to my job

P.S. Is there anything me and/or my parents can do to motivate myself (other than wanting to go to college)

Change your mindset: Acknowledge that knowledge/intellect are blessings from God to mankind and we should embrace it, not shun it. Study to fulfill God's purpose in your life, not for your parents, not to gain approval from the rest of the world. That may help to take off the pressure. For me, studying is way easier and effective without the pressure.

Admittedly, learning is more fun without the pressure and eventhough I've graduated from college, I still learn for my personal pleasure.

[uc pseudonym]

My general advice: attend all classes (you probably do this) and pay as much attention as possible. That's not as simple as it sounds: plenty of people daydream during lectures, and I know it is easy for me to starting planning a story or do something completely different. Unless a class is incredibly easy, you probably can't afford to do two things at once.

1) Language classes can be difficult. I will echo what others have said (practice it a lot) but add one step first: look over all the concepts you have learned and make sure you have a clear grasp of them. Not a perfect one, but enough that your verbal/written practice will help things improve.

2) My first question is: what are you having trouble with regarding writing? If possible, show your paper to someone you know is good at writing and have them critique it. Ideally, talk to the teacher and find out what is making you lose points, then methodically don't do those things.

3) What you should do all depends on how the class is set up and what is graded. So a word of general advice: look at all your grades and see where you are losing the most points. Work on those things first.

In general regarding studying for exams: make sure you understand everything in the text and lectures. Ask people if you don't understand before you get much further, or things will snowball. Then, before an exam (or if you want to prepare for a potential pop quiz) go over those things that you need to memorize (lists and the like). It generally doesn't help to review major concepts.

[Ashley]

1) Foreign Language - Repetition. Seriously, write out notecards, write out endings, force yourself to memorize the grammarese like "conjugate" and "declension". Pratice a little every day. Do translations or exercises that you don't have to do, maybe just an extra sentence or two.

2) Writing (not literature but like learning how to write better) - Read more. The more you are exposed to great authors, the more your own writing and vocabularly will improve. Find a genre or a writer you like--there are many good, NOT BORING "great authors" like C.S. Lewis or Oscar Wilde who are entertaining and helpful.

Those are the only two I have any expertise in at all; math and forensics I'm not good in. ^^;;

[mitsuki lover]

Foreign Language:One of the best pieces of advice is to just try to immerse
yourself as possible in the language are studying.If you can get as many books,
magazines,tapes,DVDs,even comic books that are written in that language so
you will have something to study other than the text book.And also what you learn
in class might not be the same as how the people actually talk so be sure you
get stuff that's written in the contemporary form of the language.
For example if you are studying Japanese than try to see if you can buy manga
and anime in the original Japanese.
As far as writting:Keep a journal would be the best advice as it would focus you
on writting every day which is what you need to be doing to improve.

[Technomancer]

All studying requires an environment free from major distractions (television, noisy housemates/siblings/parents) or other aggravations. Likewise, you should put away any temptations to distraction as well. A bit of music often helps concentration, at least if it's the right kind. Generally, you should also take a short break once every hour to refresh yourself and rest your eyes a little (video games however, are not very restful).

Onto more specific matters:
1)Foreign languages require a lot of practice. It is especially important to have basic audio exercises and a speaking partner so that you can learn to listen to the structure of the language.

2)Good writing comes with experience, so you'll perfect this over time. However, one of the most important keys to writing is reading. Unconciously you will learn how to put words and sentences together. I'd also recommend studying some of the rules of grammar and a guide to writing essays and such.

3)I don't know much about this, but I'd assume that the basic approach is the same for any science: learn the fundamental principles and then understand how they apply to specific cases.

4)Mathematics always requires practice in order to learn how to solve problems. Most importantly though, you need to understand the principles you are applying rather than memorizing how to do specific problems.

[Eriana]

1) Japanese (Still learning it)
2) I right my own novels yes
3) Hmm. Not really.
4) Hmm. Not exactly sure about that one.

Sorry that probably sounded really stupid and boring! ^^;;;

[lostlamb99]

I can't actually tell you how I study cause you might suffer severe symptoms of boredom and even get a little bit frustrated. lol. I guess not all ppl can study. Ok my advice, I'll just repeat what I tell my classmates. You have to be interested in studying first. We all know taht it's hard and sometimes we ask, "Why do we have to do this?" but if find teh right motivation tehn you're gonna do fine. Is it ok if you get advice form a 14 year old? I am in 11th grade. hehe it's actually 3rd year but we have a different sysytem of education.

Foreign language: Well what they said pretty much covered taht up and it might help if you had a friend who speaks taht language. I do taht all eth tiem with my Thai classmate and being around Filipinos all teh time he can speak an dunderstand Filipino adequately now.

Writing: LIke tehy said read a lot and write a lot. Oh you should also pay attention to dialogue if you watch TV regularly.

Science: Hmm didn't even know what taht was. But like any other science or subject you should be interested. Do research on it. Look for interesting stuff obout teh topic. Get into it if you have to.

Math: Trig's ok its just like otehr math you should just practice and solve more porblems to shrapen your skills. Sooner or later thsi will be a breeze for you.

Oh asking help form your friends who do good in class and your teachers is also good. Or you could ask teh guys here if they're interested. And one last piece of advice. It would help to think taht you want to study not to get a job but beacuase you want to do it for God coz wen you do things for God you're sure He's supporting you all teh way. And don't forget to pray before exams ^^

[Eriana]

It seems that eveyone else here has given you a decent response to your question, but may I suggest at least a 15 minute break inbetween subjects? This will give your brain some time to soak in all of the info. I believe that this will also prepare your mind for the transition to a completely different topic that the pervious one. May things go well with you!

Agreed!
Go run laps to get your brain pumping at tackle and accomplish all that you can! Good luck and God Bless!
~Eriana~

[indyrocker]

1) Foreign Language

Find some one that speaks it as their first language and just talk with them in that language and for writing it do it over and over and over again.

2) Writing (not literature but like learning how to write better)

the only way i got better at my writing style was to write more not much you can do there but if you find somthing that you love write about it or a form of writing (for me it was poetry and songs) and just write about every day life in that form.

3) Forensic Science

read all that you can and if it helps when ever you are reading certen information have a spacific artist or song on while reading it the mind may link the two in your memory (I do that with books can almost tell you the entire hobbit in my own words detail by detail because of this) and with that area of science find the area that you plan on spesholizing in such as anthopology, balistics, DNA,Trace whatever and study that area and if you plan on going into that feald try and take a introduction to criminal justice class.

Hec the only way I graduated was because of a long and painfull comparitive research paper on the fedral firearms laws in the USA and Austraila that and lots of allnighters writing papers. (if any one is intrested in knowing more about fedral firearms laws in eather country or just wants to read the paper just pm me)

[Eriana]

Coolala. ^_^

[agasfas]

Anyways, I went to ask some of my friends that have 4.0s and things along that nature, and asked them if and how they study. 99% of them don't study at all, they do their homework and somehow excel in their quizzes and tests (WHY GOD WHY CAN'T I BE LIKE THAT!!!) the other 1% works their butt of so hard, I literally can not concieve as to how they can still have a social life.

I found that a lot of people who didn't study in Highschool and got A's tend to do much worse in college. They go into classes thinking with the same mentality and college is much different then highschool. Test deal with more critical thinking stuff... that's probably why everything seems to have an essay portion. It seems like the people who worked really hard in highschool to get the C or B tend to do much better because it's their natural study habbit.

Just something I've noticed... So I think as long as you study, you'll be okay.

[Eriana]

Hm, that seems more likely I suppose. I hope I do well when I reach college! ^^;;;

[Kaligraphic]

To learn how to write, read.
To learn how to speak, listen.

To learn how to write well, read authors who write well.
Same for speaking.

You learn language - any language - by hearing and seeing how other people have used it.

Listen to your target language to understand it's "sound". Every language has a distinctive sound to it, that can even help you find irregularities that you may not have gone over in class. Understanding the sound of a language is a key to speaking it.

As for writing, read Shakespeare for creativity, Addison and Steele for traditional style, Hemmingway for natural feel and dialogue, Tolkien for narrative - in short, people who wrote well. Read Caesar's De Bello Gallico (The Gallic War, or The Conquest of Gaul, depending on the translation), and pick up some speeches by Cicero. This will help you do develop your style. Absolutely do not read any fiction posted to the Internet, as you will pick up errors in spelling, grammar, and style. The Internet will dull your skill, and you don't want that. Read real books.

[Kaori]

In foreign language, flash cards are great for simply memorizing vocabulary. It's simple, but it works. For verbs, it can be helpful to practice conjugating verbs in whatever tenses you have learned so far and then check to see whether you made any mistakes. Assuming the language you are studying is not dead, it's important to expose yourself to it (particularly by speaking and listening) as much as possible. College language courses frequently require students to spend a certain amount of hours per week listening to the language, but it's not a bad idea at the high school level, either.

The best advice I can give for writing without actually seeing something you have written is to know your teacher's expectations and to conform to them as closely as possible. In general, try to state your ideas clearly and concisely. If you don't do so already, be sure to proofread your papers--and preferably not immediately after you have finished writing them.

I wouldn't say that reading bad writing is necessarily detrimental; it depends on your approach to it. If you read such things knowing why the weak elements of it are weak, then I don't think that it will actually have a negative effect on what you write yourself. We do tend to subconsciously imitate what we read, however, so it is best to read as much high-quality writing as you can.

[Wakarimashta!]

Since the other posters have given you some very specific pointers, I'll just lay some general tips for ya. You need to study in a relaxed environment, away from distractions. The more focused you are on what you're studying determines the ease of which your mind takes in the information. Like somebody mentioned, studying in short bursts is definately helpful in remembering key information.

If you're learning stuff from a book, outline the various sections in the book and put it on paper. That way you'll build an image of what you need to study in your head and that "image" will later come back to you when you start taking tests.

Getting enough sleep, although it may seem unrelated to studying, is important since stress levels make it hard to keep the information you studied.

And finally, do NOT study on the day of the test. In my experience, it's a better idea to feel confident that you know the material on the test day, as opposed to cramming in information minutes before you're handed the test. This creates more stress than if you simply relax and let your mind recall what you studied the nights before (which is why you need to study as much as you can before the day you take the exam).