Study Tools 2-Study Guides

 A study guide is a tool that helps you reinforce and increase your comprehension of material. They are usually created in advance of a quiz or test and are especially helpful for big exams like midterms and finals. Sometime you luck out and an instructor will provide you with a pre-made study guide. For the times that this doesn't happen, you can certainly make your own.

The great thing about self-created study guides is they be in whichever format best fits the content and your study style. If you're a note card person (like me) put the info on index cards. If you prefer mind maps, graphs, charts, pictures, or whatever you can create it. The steps are simple and the possibilities are endless!

Uses:

Condense all study materials into manageable sections

Identify, explain, and demonstrate relationships between ideas and concepts

Create practical examples that apply the material to real-life situations

To Create:

1. Compile all the information you need to study including textbook, class notes, assignments, and any other materials provided by your instructor.
2. From the materials you collected, identify the main concepts you need to include in your study guide. Create a list of these “categories.”
3. Under each “category” list or identify the supporting details and facts which pertain to them.
4. Choose a format and input the material from #2 and #3
5. At the end of each concept, create a brief summary statement or paragraph to reiterate key points

To Study:

• Read over the material-especially out loud.
• Create a self-test by turning the headings and factual material into questions. See if you can answer the questions.
• If you and a classmate each created study guides, you can each create a test and trade it to see how much you remember.

Tips:

• Focus on one class, topic, or section at a time
• Compare notes and study guides with a classmate-take the best points from each to create an even stronger study guide
• Use symbols, color, or other emphasis to note important points such as those the instructor said specifically would be on the test, vocabulary, etc.
• Words that are highlighted in your textbook are often key points and good indicators of study guide material