Study Smart-Less!

In this world of ease, when students hear the word “reading” expect a sigh. Analytical reading can be a daunting experience if not practiced properly and efficiently. Today, I will be offering a set of tools for training your ways of seeing and making sense of things you are reading.

Here is a list of reading strategies that I mostly adhere to:

1-    The SLOW DOWN Method

If the course requires you to holistically and critically analyze a certain text, then this method would work the best for you. I think this approach is suitable for scientific majors that require a lot of visual analysis. So, here how it goes.

When you are actively reading a text, always stop and dwell longer with the information before deciding what the data means. In other words, ask yourself “What do you notice in this paragraph?”. Although asking “What do you think” is an important question, it does not constitute an integral part of the critical analysis process.

-       Make a list details of all the things that you have noticed whilst reading the passage.

-       Rank them based on their purpose and their relation to the course.

-       Choose the top 3 elements.

-       Ask yourself at the end why have you selected these elements and what made them so interesting and noticeable?

 2-    Repetition Method

This might sound weird- but this method offers you the chance to get physical with the data. How? Let us find out.

-       List the exact repetitions and the number of terms in each chapter.

-       List the terms that “enjoys” a binary opposition relationship. This would indicate if there is a dichotomy in a number of views. (Good/bad, ugly/ beautiful).  

I rarely apply this method; unless, I am studying a literature text or a poem. This is a micro approach to dissect information while reading.

 3-    “SO WHAT” Method

This method could be as fun as P!nk's ultimate single “ So What”! It is a challenge to create new meanings from essential terms, but knowing how to observe and constructing conclusions is a fun process believe me. This approach is interconnected to the above methods: you could observe the significance of the three elements or repetitive terms to make implications. Always remember to push your observations and implications into concrete conclusions. This method could be shorthand for the following questions:

 “What does this observation imply?”

“Why does this observation matter?”

“Where does this observation get us?”

 Happy Reading Y’all!

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How To Cook Your Own Research?

People ask me sometimes on how I perceive research. Let me simplify the process and compare it to the cooking process. I hope at the end of this blog you will end up being a master chef in Research.

Step 1: Choose your Recipe

This is a very important step. Choosing your topic is similar to the selection of your cooking recipe. The main question that you should ask yourself here is why am I cooking this? Is it for review or amendment purposes?

When choosing your research recipe aka research topic make sure to know the purpose of the research - the expected outcome.

Step 2: Select your Ingredients

People go to fancy restaurants because they use the finest ingredients. Also, I would go to certain restaurants because they might offer high-quality vegetarian dishes.

What makes a research credible is the use of academic literature and sources. Do not to use expired and low -quality ingredients.

In other words, make sure to review these ingredients before buying them. For example, If I want to buy parsley at the grocery store, I would check the color and the smell of the product to guarantee a fresh salad. The same goes to your research when reading a certain article apply the SCAR method:

Stop

Complaining

And

Read

Also, knowing your audience is an important aspect of your paper especially if you are writing a persuasive one. If you are holding a Christmas dinner and most of your relatives are vegetarians make sure to cook vegetarian dishes. We all want to excel in our papers, so know what your professor needs from you before starting the writing process.

Step 3:  Choose The Cooking Method

Now you know how many liquid and solid ingredients you have on hand. So, it is up to you to start cooking the liquid and/ or the solid ingredients first. Read the cooking instructions for a clearer picture.

The same goes to your research. After gathering and reviewing all the information, it is the time for you decide your research method. Will it be quantitative, qualitative etc.? Always check your syllabus or course outline for more details on this step.

Step 4: Assemble the Recipe

It is your chance now to put all the ingredients together in one pot. Do not cook them for too long otherwise, they will become soggy.

Make sure when writing your research, your information is clear and straight to the point. Use simple language and different sentences structure.

Step 5: Tasting Time

Before you present your dish, taste it for seasoning. I always call my roommate to taste my “piece of art” as we all have tongues, but we have different tastes.

Before submitting your research paper, send it to a colleague for proofreading. Neglecting such a step might lower your grade and make your paper biased. Remember, sharing is caring.

Step 6: Learn from Your Mistakes

Your professor will be sending you the grade with a feedback form. Understanding and reading the feedback with an open mind would guarantee a fun learning process.