English Help

Studying for English Grammar/Composition

Tip 1: Don't focus only on memorization.
The key to doing well is not to try to memorize a thousand little details. Memory is important for some of the material; you'll have to do some rote drill for a few areas, such as phonetics. But this kind of learning is not as useful as more conceptual learning.

Instead of memorizing, work toward concepts. Ask yourself if you understand what a term means. not whether you can spit out a definition of it. Before doing anything, ask yourself: what does that mean? If you had to explain it to someone, what would you tell them? Can you come up with examples?

If you're having trouble doing this, go back over your notes, read the relevant sections in the text or readings, and then free write in your notebook to locate the source of the problem. You can't know what you're missing until you try to verbalize what you know. Take a few minutes and write, even if it's only about your confusion or frustration. Then look back over your notes. What precise areas of your thinking are fuzzy?

In contrast, imagine that you are relying on memorization. This won't help you because you might have the words to describe something, but without a deeper understanding of those words, you won't know what the concept means.

Tip 2: Form a Study Group.
This is an excellent practice, because it lets you collaboratively work through problems that alone you might have difficulty resolving. Sometimes a simple way to rethink a concept makes everything click into place, but without someone else's perspective, it may not happen. Try email study groups-set up a list of names and send each other questions, issues, concerns.

Tip 3: Write as much as you can about the course concepts.
If you write a lot, regularly, about the course, you'll find your knowledge growing and sharpening more quickly than if you just read and come to the lectures

Tip 4: Don't be afraid to seek help.
Your instructors and the staff of the Learning Enhancement Center are here to help you.

Tip 5: Pre-read and the reread the material.
A once-through is not enough. The material can be hard at first. Begin by skimming the readings first to get a sense of their content and structure. Then go back and do a good, thorough reading, without writing anything. Focus on the content; don't try to commit anything to memory yet. Just read~ with interest and energy. Finally, go back over the material a third time, noting important ideas, underlining terms and concepts, jotting down material in your notebook, and circling or marking areas where you are confused.

Tip 6: During lectures don't get overly preoccupied with writing everything down.
If you get obsessed with writing everything down from the presentations, you'll miss much of the actual presentation. Jot down key ideas. Your instructor will tell you what points to emphasis and concentrate on from the presentation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adopted from:

Department of English, University of Minnesota
URL: http://English.cla.umn.edu/CourseWeb/3851/studytips.html

Useful Links