Homework Hints is a
collection of tips on studying, memorization, and test preparation.
Collected from students, these are the top hints that work for them.
You will find 18 homework hints.
To choose the right ones for you, follow the steps below:
Step 1. On a sheet of paper, list three
problems you have when you study.
Step 2. Take a look at the Homework Hints.
Step 3. Choose the top three hints you
think will work for you and start using them.
Active
Association.
Say you’re going to give a presentation and you want to
memorize it.
Move around your home. Start in your room for the beginning of the
presentation, go to other rooms for the middle, then end up in the
kitchen for the conclusion of your speech. This memory
association
system isn’t new—philosophers in Ancient Greece and
Rome would remember
speeches by linking parts of the speech with parts of their
homes. This
makes it easy for you as you can mentally take a tour of your home
while recalling your presentation. This method works for other
studying, too.
- Wayne Rasmussen
Avoid
Distractions.
Separate yourself from any and all distractions in order to study and
complete your assignments. Going to the library really helps because
you get a lot of work done. It has resources that are easily
available
if you need them.
- Kelsea Kanahele
Break It
Up.
To memorize a lot of information, break it up into small groups. Also,
writing it out for yourself helps your memory by writing and seeing the
words.
- Shefali Parekh
Eliminate
Procrastination.
When you have a large project or paper with a seemingly distant
deadline, set mini deadlines at regular intervals and keep to them. By
working the project into a regular schedule, it becomes part of your
weekly routine. This way it’s possible to eliminate
procrastination.
For example, if the deadline is two weeks away set aside an hour every
day or every other day. You’ll complete higher quality work,
without as
much last-minute stress.
- Ariane White
Exercise.
Exercise is very important. You often think you’re too tired
or don't
have time, but twenty to thirty minutes of exercise will wake you up
and give you the energy to get some serious work done. If you're going
to take a break from studying, exercise first to keep your brain active.
- Mayukh Bose
Get
Some Rest.
Study for a test by revising the work for the particular subject over a
few days preceding the test. That way if you have any problems you have
time to ask for help. On the night before the test you can concentrate
on what you are being tested on rather than trying to figure out how to
solve a problem. A good night sleep is also important. Rather go to
sleep if it's getting late and you can't keep your eyes open, then wake
up early for any short-term memorization.
- Robert Salucci
Go All
Out.
Outstanding athletes, star performers, skilled
musicians—what’s their
secret of success? They go all out. To be an excellent student, go all
out! This doesn’t just apply to homework, quizzes, and tests,
but also
to all areas of your life. Your attitude makes all the difference.
Start now and go all out for lifelong learning.
- Meetal Gandhi
Mind
Mapping.
Use mind maps, such as drawing an oval in the middle of the page for
the main topic, then drawing spokes to other ovals. Write subtopics in
the branched ovals. It’s a great visual learning activity for
getting
your right brain working and increasing your comprehension, creativity,
and recall. For example, I draw a map for each chapter, with the
chapter title in the middle. Then I write the chapter headings in ovals
around. You can also use mind mapping for notes and planning essays.
- Pauline Holloway
Mnemonics.
Often, the best way to remember a word, a phrase, or a presentation is
to create a mnemonic device. Use acronyms, such as scuba (self-contained
underwater breathing apparatus).
Make up your own. Unusual or humorous acronyms and associations are
easier to remember. Use rhymes and rhythms, such as rap. Many people
learn to spell Mississippi by emphasizing all the i’s
to make the word rhythmic.
- Louie Siongco
Multicultural
Music.
Listen to music in another language while you’re studying.
This way it
helps you relax and focus but you’re not distracted by the
words.
- Darren Shinichiro Endo
Nutrition
Tip. It’s always good to have breakfast in the
morning and eat fruit before the exam to give you a quick boost.
- Laurice Alaan
Scan Read.
Always scan through an article or chapter you’re about to
read. Ask
yourself questions such as: What’s the main point? What makes
this
happen? What are the important words? Look for things that catch your
eye to get a feel for what you’re about to read. For example,
I'll
often start reading in the middle of a chapter and then come back to
the beginning. Knowing where you're headed makes getting there all the
easier. I've found I learn more when I do this.
- Matthew Arnold
Short
Attention Span.
If you know your attention span is short, study in short time segments
of 15, 20, or 30 minutes. Take a short break and then get right back to
studying. If you’ve got chores to do, such as laundry, list
them for
your short breaks. Keep to your study and break plan. This way you feel
good about yourself and feel good about what you’re
accomplishing.
- Irene Barnard
Technology
Tip.
A good study strategy is to rewrite the notes you take in class using a
software program designed for mind mapping and outlining. Outlines can
be viewed as a map. It’s often easier to see how main ideas
are related
to one another and to sub-topics when you see them as a map. This
software is also good for preparing essays. You can review materials
and focus on the main idea and supporting topic sentences. If you
search on the Internet you can find many sample outline and
mind-mapping programs.
- Suzanne Feit
Tell a
Story.
Get into small study groups and go through the material together. By
teaching each other and telling the story to someone else, you know
you've learned the material well. Develop quizzes and test each other.
Success in the world of work relies on team skills. Studying in a group
helps you learn to get along with different people.
- Vicki Yang
Test Prep.
Review all your notes and materials three to five days before the exam.
Then you can have questions ready ahead of time to ask your teacher or
classmates.
- Betty Ta
Tricks
and Techniques.
Memorizing.
Write definitions over and over again on a piece of paper or type them
on a computer. The repetition works well and helps with memorizing.
Studying.
Being in an uncomfortable environment helps with studying. Sit up or
stand. You might get sleepy if you’re too comfortable (i.e.,
sitting on
a bed).
Organization. Use tabs to organize notes
for quick
reference. Keep a schedule book, or a planner. Make your due dates and
assignments noticeable on a calendar.
Food. Keep something
small next to you so you can munch on it while you study. Sometimes
when you are hungry for something, you waste your time preparing food
and cleaning up.
- Minh Tong
Write
it Down.
Create a master list of all the formulas in a particular subject. Use
this as a study aid. For a particular difficult formula that you can't
remember, review your study aid to read the formula right before the
test is handed out and then immediately write the formula down
somewhere on the answer sheet.
- Ronnie Purnell
Walker Physics Practice tests and more - Click Here
Some example problems - Click Here
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