Hi emma, How to study dry material ? Some of my subject is very dry that we need to actually read and understand to the point that it always get me bored.
Hi! Here are a couple of things that could help:
do a skim read initially - read the chapter name, the subheadings, the definitions/bold words, the first sentence of each paragraph throughout. Make a mental note of how sections flow on. Then once youâve acquainted yourself with the chapter, you can start reading. You might feel a little less bored if you have an idea about what youâre reading, rather than going in clueless.
read slower - this sounds counterproductive, but works. If youâre reading at a speed reading pace, not taking in each sentence, skipping several at a time, youâll end up 1) confused, 2) bored, 3) frustrated. It will also lead to you having to re-read sections because you donât understand what is going on. Donât read at your comfortable pace. Take each sentence in, let it sink in, rather than just moving on in an instant. Try to visualise and conceptualise what it is saying.
make small notes - the joy of having the textbook is you can refer back to it if need be so there is no need to overcomplicate notes that youâre taking. Try to summarise each paragraph in just a few sentence or bullet points. You could use flashcards or stick post-it notes inside to make concise summarise.
a short amount at a time - sometimes that idea of sitting and reading 35 pages is daunting and just uninspiring af. Try to read for 5-10 minutes, maybe just a few of the subsections rather than the whole thing at once. Then take a break and come back 5 minutes later after youâve had a chance to understand the first part and refocus.
if you can, buy a simplified textbook - if it is a big topic that might be available in other books, try find one that is easier to understand. In economics, my teacher would use this textbook that was so complicated and definitely aimed towards the top like 5 people in the class (terrible for the rest). Because I really didnât understand the classwork, Iâd go home and read a simpler version that I picked up in my local bookstore. It gave me a much better understanding for when I was trying to grasp the more complicated explanation.
do additional research - it might add more time but if it is a bit more interesting and helps you memorise, isnât that best! If there is a particularly interesting concept, quote or event, give it a Google. Look into more on that. See if you can connect it with something you already know!
search for a summary - when we had novels in high school the first thing we did was search *name of book, summary/chapter guide* so we had an outline of what happened. Usually, they were so boring it wasnât a big deal to spoil them!
do not put on distractions - avoid music for this kind of thing! It can be tempting but your mind will just be in two places at once.
use a reader/pointer - it might just help keep you focused and reading slower.
Hope this helps! xx
