#sqr3

Hi! I was wondering if you could help me or direct me to a good source, I want to develop the best techniques to study - I have a very reading intensive course (like Politics) and while I do pose questions and try to engage actively - I don’t always review regularly or write practice questions - because I end up not having enough time I find with reading and other stuff. Any ideas?

Thank you for inspiring this study tips post for reading-intensive courses! It’s really good that you’re already actively engaging with the material that you’re covering, as that is an excellent way to enhance your understanding of concepts. I’m guessing you already do the SQR3 method or some adaptation with modifications of your own if you’re saying that. 

The Cornell Method

If your main problem is that you can’t find time to review regularly or to write practice questions, I think the Cornell method of note taking may be best for you. This is because

It would be easy to integrate this into your current studying as you are already posing questions as you write. Simply pop your questions into the cue section as you think of them during the initial reading.

Then since you are presumably taking notes on your readings, put any thing that you need to note down in the Note-Taking column next to the question you’ve just posed.

Make sure that you’re using your discretion when choosing what to write down, as you want these to be in a condensed format for revision later.

This way, you won’t waste any additional time in making review notes compared to what you currently are doing.

Being in an intensive course like Politics, I would guess you need to do upwards of 5 readings a week per course? So I would suggest sticking to one if typing, or maximum two A4 pages if you are writing as much as possible per reading.

If you are just starting out with the Cornell method, you may find yourself overshooting this, but as you get more familiar with it, you will get a sense of how much information is going to be contained during your initial Survey (from SQR3) of the paper and target 1 or 2 pages as necessary.

How to revise with a Cornell sheet

Fold the paper on the divide between the Cue column and the Note Taking Column. 

Read through the questions you’ve written for yourself and try to recall how to answer them and what you’ve written on the Note Taking column on a blank piece of paper. 

Unfold the paper and compare what you’ve written/recited aloud with what’s actually written on the Note Taking column. 

Time Management Tips

Once you have done the initial note making, it’s more about time management to revise these notes.

Create a schedule - you can use a paper printable, which I’d suggest using something like @emmastudies​ printable here. Otherwise, if you’re more a digital person, I’d suggest utilising a calendar app such as Google Calendar, where you can block out times for revision in a weekly format. 

I have a brief post about how I schedule here, but will probably do another post to expand on it. Basically you block out the times that are inflexible e.g. lectures, tutorials, part time work, etc. Then start plotting in things that are increasingly flexible - so start with completing tutorial sets > assignments > self-care/relaxation > revision > leisure or things you can do without. 

Every week you’ll have a new set of notes to revise, so although it’s more ideal if you can revise on the first weekend, looking at the fact that you’re strapped for time, more realistically, you can schedule a time at the end of the second week to revise for the previous week’s content.

If you’re the type who has a very packed weekend, I would suggest scheduling a time during a long break at uni, since you’re already in an environment where people are studying and you can choose your level of sound ambience depending on where you sit, e.g. cafe vs. sidewalk vs. library.

I personally find that I get more done when I break up the revision time and dedicate it to different chapters/lectures. First time round, revise one of your Cornell sheets and time how long it took you to revise it. Then count how many sheets you have and multiply the time to work out how much revision time you require each week. 

Hope that helps!! 

MY STUDY TIPS

All original posts at #optomstudies and see my study tips directory (web only) for the full list + kpop vocab lists + stationery + bujo spreads!