Frustrated!!

catzy5 · Oct 3, 2007

I am getting really frustrated, I am taking A&P 2 and it's taking me so long to read and understand each chapter. I have to read each section 2 or 3 times and write the information down in a format that makes sense to me. I am writing the entire chapter, word from word. It is taking me forever to complete a chapter! I have tried other methods of studying but I don't comprend the information and score low on the exam. I have to write everything down. Everyone else in my class seems to grasp the information quickly. I am behind a chapter and it's hard to do all the reading and writing and be prepared on exam day. I just don't understand why is it taking me so long to grasp the material and move on.

Everyone has to find their own way to study, and sometimes it takes a little while to get into that groove, and sometimes it depends on the class/course work.

Have you had an exam yet? Do you know where the teacher pulls the questions, do you see a pattern as to what things might be important? Does your book have any student tools with it? computer animations, online quizes, if your not sure look at the publishers website. Our AP had a fantastic online rescourse free to students. Sometimes animation would help. They had vocabulary flash cards knowing the words can help answer questions better, when you aren't sure of the answer.

I would suggest highlight as you read, if I don't highlight I don't understand it. What I do is I read a section and highlight as I go, I read a bit and think what did that just say what is the main point and then I high light it. Be sure you are reading the material BEFORE you go into lecture, this way you can focus on what the professor says, and you can rewrite just those notes. APII is a very hard course but it sounds like you are putting the work into it, so you will do fine once you find what way clicks best for you.

aHolisticStudent · Oct 3, 2007

I am writing the entire chapter, word from word. It is taking me forever to complete a chapter!

This is a really bad idea. First of all, are you familiar with SQ3R? Try this link: http://arbeitsblaetter.stangl-taller.at/LERNTECHNIK/PQRST.shtml for a quick run through. Secondly, only for particular processes that you don't understand should you try to rewrite it in your own words (not copying the book). By forcing your self to translate the process into your own words you are forcing yourself to understand what's going on in a deep way. This will make the associations and transitions easier to recall later on your tests.

Next, are you familiar with the Cornell Note taking method? Check this link for an example: http://www.clt.cornell.edu/campus/learn/LSC%20Resources/cornellsystem.pdf. By placing questions related to the notes in your left hand column you have ready made sample tests to go over weekly with no extra work.

Finally, have you gone online and grabbed free test question batches to see how other professors approached the subjects you are covering? Sometimes it's just a matter of seeing the information presented in a new voice that can make it stick.

No matter what you choose to do, you have to move away from reading every chapter 2-3 times completely, and scribing what is in the book. Copying doesn't force the brain to store information, you must use more active, higher level thinking processes to "burn" the information into your long term memory.

Best of luck.