College Assistance

[Carl]

Hello, Im using my first post here to ask a question about studing in college. My instructor in Psychology has tolded us to outline the chapters in our textbooks. However, everytime I attempt to do this I end up copying the entire chapter word for word. So I come to the folks here at fofc to get ideas on how to improve my techniques.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Carl

Hello, Im using my first post here to ask a question about studing in college.

Studding in college, eh? Sounds like a pretty sweet gig, if you can keep it up.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Carl

Hello, Im using my first post here to ask a question about studing in college. My instructor in Psychology has tolded us to outline the chapters in our textbooks. However, everytime I attempt to do this I end up copying the entire chapter word for word. So I come to the folks here at fofc to get ideas on how to improve my techniques.

I'm sorry about my first response. It had to be done.

Since it was your first post and I am a nice guy, I will try to answer your question. Outlining is a pretty good way to study, but if you're writing down every word, you're doing it wrong.

I was a psychology major in undergrad and I couldn't think of any chapter in those books that couldn't be outlined in about 3 pages or less. Just stick to the main themes and jot down small reminders or a short one sentence summary that will trigger the larger, more complex subject.

For example, if you were outlining a chapter on behvarioalism and came across Pavlov. Want more would you need then: "Pavlov - Dogs salivating/bell ringing."

[Noop]

I try to read everything twice and do active reading where I ask myself after every chapter what is important and how it could possibly show up on a test.

[Eaglesfan27]

When I was in school, I tried to pick out one main thought/point from each paragraph and a summary of that went into my outlines. As a result, my outlines ended up being bigger than most of my classmates, but I avoided writing everything down and it worked very well for me.

[digamma]

I'm intrigued by how you managed to pick FOFC as THE message board best suited to field this inquiry.

[I. J. Reilly]

Originally Posted by digamma

I'm intrigued by how you managed to pick FOFC as THE message board best suited to field this inquiry.

Especially if he really did mean “studing in college.” You’re in the wrong room, budy.

[Carl]

Actually ive lurked these board for a few years. I figured there would be someone here who could offer me some insight.

[MJ4H]

Originally Posted by I. J. Reilly

“studing in college.”

you might be surprised

[I. J. Reilly]

Originally Posted by Carl

Actually ive lurked these board for a few years. I figured there would be someone here who could offer me some insight.

Now I feel bad, so I’ll try an honest answer.

I always spent a lot more time on reviewing my notes from the lectures than worrying about getting everything out of each chapter in the text. In my experience most professors consider themselves smarter or more knowledgeable about the subject than the textbook authors; they only assign a text because they are forced to. So I never did outline chapters, just highlighted as I read. Then I would compare the lecture notes to what I had highlighted and make note of anything that showed up in both.

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by I. J. Reilly

Now I feel bad, so I’ll try an honest answer.

I always spent a lot more time on reviewing my notes from the lectures than worrying about getting everything out of each chapter in the text. In my experience most professors consider themselves smarter or more knowledgeable about the subject than the textbook authors; they only assign a text because they are forced to. So I never did outline chapters, just highlighted as I read. Then I would compare the lecture notes to what I had highlighted and make note of anything that showed up in both.

This is pretty good advice, but I'd suggest talking to anyone that may have had this (these?) professor(s) before to get a feel for the breakdown between lecture questions and textbook questions on a test. While some professors believe they are smarter than the text and lecture on everything they will test on, others are lazy enough to use tests created by the textbook people and lecture on what interests them. You'll get a feel for this after the first exam, but talking to others can give you a leg up on the first exam.

For outlining, pay attention to the difference between a fact/point and supporting evidence. Most textbooks will present one main point every few paragraphs and surround that with stories and supporting evidence. If you can identify what the supporting evidence is trying to support, that will give you the point you need to include in the outline.

[Sublime 2]

Originally Posted by BrianD

This is pretty good advice, but I'd suggest talking to anyone that may have had this (these?) professor(s) before to get a feel for the breakdown between lecture questions and textbook questions on a test. While some professors believe they are smarter than the text and lecture on everything they will test on, others are lazy enough to use tests created by the textbook people and lecture on what interests them. You'll get a feel for this after the first exam, but talking to others can give you a leg up on the first exam.

For outlining, pay attention to the difference between a fact/point and supporting evidence. Most textbooks will present one main point every few paragraphs and surround that with stories and supporting evidence. If you can identify what the supporting evidence is trying to support, that will give you the point you need to include in the outline.

I feel this is especially true for intro and early level courses, at least based on my experience at Boston U. A lot the intro course professors would give exams based on the book, while lecturing on more modern news/items pertaining to the text. And then there were a couple professors who just wanted to be doing their own research/work and just read verbatim from powerpoints taken directly from the book. I usually skipped those large lectures and just went to the discussions with the teaching aids (grad students usually).

[RomaGoth]

I am disappointed to discover that this thread is, in fact, NOT a plea for money to pay for hot college girls.