Shailendra S. Thapa

Darren Chiang-Schultheiss

English 1

May 8, 1997

For most students in the High school or college, getting the "A" is the most important priority in any class. Unfortunately, it doesn't always happen this way. There are multiple reasons students have to settle with a score other than an "A". For most, the problem is the lack of good solstice habits. Others, however are just happy to pass the class with just a "C". For those who do want that "A" here are a few helpful hints on improving solstice success.

The first step in improving your study skills is improving your class room skills. The first step is to sit where you can see and hear the teacher. Many tend to gravitate to the back of the class or sit by the door or a window. These positions tend to lead to distractions you form what the teacher is saying and doing. Those in the back have to look over other students and those by the door or window get distracted by the noises outside of the classroom. The ideal place to sit would be in the center of the room toward the front. Also sit where you can see the instructor and the blackboard. This way if you do have difficulty in hearing the teacher, you can see the lecture on the board or his lips moving. Studies have shown that people who generally sit in the back have poorer grades than people in the front of the room.

Attendance in classroom plays another major part in your study skills. Don't cut class. Absent students miss part of their instruction and teachers occasionally react negatively towards chronic cutters. Second, get to class on time. Being late not only distracts everyone, but also shows some disrespect towards the teacher and interrupts the lecture. Some people have valid reasons to be late and if so let the instructor know in advance of such a problem. Consistent attendance really is half the battle in any class room situation, remember that a good grade is essentially showing the teacher that

one has learned the lessons given to accurate degree, while book study is important interpretation is the realm of the instructor.

Note taking is another important factor. Write down what the teacher tells you, but not word for word. Paraphrase, and write down the examples the teacher gives you to explain the topics. Make sure that you do have all the necessary tools for the class such as pen paper, sounds very basic but without writing materials memory is all the note taking power one has. Note taking isn't only to write what the teacher says, it's to also to put one's own thoughts on the subject down on paper. Coming to class prepared prevents you from wasting your time trying to allocate your resources somewhere else.

Having conferences with your teacher outside of the classroom doesn't deem you "stupid" but only lets the teacher know that you are serious about the class and most instructors enjoy the opportunity to work with and know their students individually. If you are having any problems with the materials in the class that wasn't clarified in the class, make an appointment with your instructor as to when you can meet with them. If you do make an appointment be sure to keep it. It might be alright to "stand up" fellow students, but teacher's schedules are too full to be used up by missed appointments.

Next, you need to organize your study time. This takes a lot of discipline. Self-discipline, the ability to study even when more inviting attractions (movies, television, parties, dates, etc.) beckon, will in the long run, determine how well you do in your studies. Always keep you goal in mind, whether it is a test or an exam, a research paper or even minor quiz. To organize your study time, you must first take into consideration the subject. The subject that gives the student most trouble should be studied first. A student will find that his thinking is sharper, and interest though perhaps not high, will not have degraded to frustration. The subject a student finds the easiest, should be studied the last since your brain will be too tired to be working at its full efficiency required for the difficult subjects.

When a student allots his hours, make sure you don't study too much for it is just as bad to study too much as it is to study too little. The maximum amount of continuos study should be kept under four hours because at that time the brain is saturated and cannot absorb new information as well. It is also a good idea to take a 10 minute break every hour to relax. However, if one is working well and smoothly, then finish the subject, because if one takes a break while "hot" one may find that taking a break may have "cooled" you off.

Developing good reading skills can dramatically improve your study skills since 99% of your study time is spent reading. While the average untrained reader reads at the speed of about 150 to 350 word a minute, a trained reader can read up to 600 word per minute. The late President Kennedy was said to be able to read up to 1,200 words per minute. When you read ask yourself questions about the topic that your are dealing with. How much do you already know about it? What is the author trying to prove to you? Try to analyze and evaluate what you read. One of the best ways to improve your reading speed is not to speak out the words that you are reading, since you can only say about a 150 words a minute. If you have a habit of doing this, chew gum or candy to prevent this. Now that your eyes are taking the full load of reading, you should be able to increase your speed.

Train your memory. Many good books have been written on the subject but a good way is to start by memorizing names of people you have recently met. Mental exercises are a good way to keep your mind in shape during the time you are not studying. These include mental puzzles which rely on logic rather than intelligence. Adding to your knowledge is a never-ending process, and as your ability to absorb knowledge increases, your studies will become fun instead of the wearisome chores that they seem.Doing some of these things, or all of them consciously and systematically will go a long way in sharpening you mind and stimulating your intellect.