Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Faraaz Sareshwala
Contents
1 Introduction 1
2 Study Basics 2
3 Assignments 3
3.1 Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3.2 Notes on Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3.3 Problem Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1 Introduction
I have just finished reading How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport (ISBN: 0767922719)
which attempts to teach students about ‘secret’ methods used by Straight-A students across the
country to score higher grades in classes while doing less work. The book delivered on its promise
of teaching the reader unconventional strategies for approaching university level work and getting
the work done on time. Newport emphasized working smart but efficient so that a student may
complete all of the work in a reasonable amount of time allowing for a social life, while at the same
time learning and retaining the material. While the two objectives are seemingly unrealistic, the
book offers common sense strategies for an efficient approach to college level work. Here I document
1
those items which sparked my interest and those items which I took note of while reading the book
for future reference.
2 Study Basics
2
– Priority 3: Record steps in the problem
– Priority 4: Annotate
3 Assignments
3.1 Reading
• Don’t read everything. Always read favored sources (the text or course reader) and don’t
always read supplemental sources (academic papers, speeches)
• For supplemental reading, readings that
make an argument > describe an event > provide context (speeches)
read skim skip
• Use lecture title as a clue as to which items you should read
• Use subsequent lecture to confirm your choices. Go back and re-read if necessary.
• Work in groups
• Work on them constantly (a few problems a day)
• Take advantage of office hours
• Solve problems on the go
– Read problem
– Attempt
– Fail
– Walk around
– Reattempt . . . solve
• Write solutions into LaTeX immediately so can be done with that problem
3
4 Quizzes and Exams
4.1 Preparation
4.2 Studying
• Quiz and recall method (review, explain unaided. If can do it, go on. Else repeat)
• Construct practice questions for each topic
– Take practice quiz on paper (actually do the problems)
– Checkmark those which give you trouble. Review their answers and tricks.
– Take a break.
– Repeat from start with only those you checkmarked. Continue until have no more check
marks.
4
• Previous year’s exams under timed conditions.
• Review early on.
5.1 Research
5
– Add citation information
– Get its bibliography for more sources
• Annotate - Skim
• Done? Have a source for everything you want to say.
5.2 Writing
• How to start? Read newspapers to get good thinking juices flowing. Bounce ideas off of
friends.
• Outline
– Don’t under-outline: argumentative dead-ends
– Don’t over-outline: get started already
• Consult friends about your argument and outline. Especially consult professor.
• May be good to read William Zinsser’s On Writing Well
• Schedule for completion: a few sections a day.
• Fresh mind better for writing
• Revise on a different day
5.3 Editing
• 3 pass approach
– Argument adjustment
– Send to a friend
– Final revision
6
Insidious proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects
Milieu a person’s social environment
Posit assume as a fact; put forward as a basis of an argument
Prognostic serving to predict the likely outcome of a disease or ailment
Rote mechanical or habitual repetition of something to be learned
Stymied prevent or hinder the progress of
Tome a large, heavy, scholarly book
Tortuous full of twists and turns
Triage sorting according to quality
Vermillion brilliant red pigment made from mercury sulfide
Wistful having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing