Studying for Success

List of figures xii Preface xiii Acknowledgements xvi PART I How to get the best out of your mind 1(108) 1 Attitudes, assets and achievement 3(35) I Getting sorted 3(10) Preliminary 3(2) A Your situation 5(1) B Tour attitudes I: Inward 5(3) C Your attitudes IL Outward 8(1) D Your behaviour, rhythms and practices I: General 9(2) E Your behaviour, rhythms and practices II Specific 11(1) F And finally 12(1) Summary 13(1) II Getting started 13(7) Preliminary 14(1) Your brain - or why you can look down on computers 14(3) The uses and pleasures of bribery 17(1) How not to bribe yourself 17(1) Using your brain's natural facility 18(2) Summary 20(1) III Getting good 20(18) Preliminary 20(1) Discover your own best method of working 21(1) Be honest with yoursef, but not puritanical 22(1) Learn to be selfish 22(1) If you get bored with something, stop 23(1) Effective time management I: An overall strategy 24(6) Effective time management II: Devising a realistic timetable 30(1) The 'buzz factor' and the 'boredom factor' 31(1) Think of your brain as the strongest muscle you possess 32(1) Keep physically alert as well as mentally aware 33(1) Rest and recuperation 34(1) Never be afraid to ask 35(1) Keep reviewing your work 36(1) Remind yourself what your ultimate achievement will be 36(1) Summay 37(1) 2 Memory 38(19) Preliminay 38(1) Short-term memo g (STM) and long-term rnemoy (LTM) 39(4) Memory and do-it-yourself visual aids 43(2) The importance of play' 45(1) Contemplative learning and intensive learning 45(2) Memoy and frequency 47(3) Memoy and thoughtfulness: How much do you care? 50(4) Mnemonics: The value of do-it-yourself 52(2) Memoy blocks 54(1) Summay 55(2) 3 Review 57(11) Preliminay 57(1) Review: Basic principles 57(1) The benefits of interediate review 58(5) Feedback 63(2) Taking the misey out of revision 65(1) Summary 66(2) 4 ICT and the knowledge revolution 68(24) JON DOWN Preliminay: Computer can't-do 68(1) I Computer can-do: The enabling armoury 68 Software applications 68(1) Organising and deploying software facilities 69(1) Caution! Word-processing and planning 70(2) Word-processing: Troubleshooting and tips 72(1) Spreadsheets 73(1) Databases 74(1) Other software 75(1) II Buying a computer 75(1) What sort of computer do I need? 76(1) Further criteria and considerations 77(1) Research and shopping around 78(2) Computer 'peripherals' 80(1) 'Upgrading' software 80(1) Adaptive technologies 81(1) Internet access 81(1) Protecting your computer - and you 82(2) Conclusion: Some further pitfalls 84(2) III Electronic learning: The Internet and email 86(1) The Internet: A new wonder of the world 86(1) The Internet: Potential snags 87(1) Email 88(1) E-learning 89(1) IV What should we conclude? 90(2) 5 Other sources and resources 92(17) Preliminary 92(1) Reference books 93(3) Libraries 96(1) Bookshops 97(1) Indexes 98(1) Personal indexes 99(2) Teachers and how to use them 101(7) Summary 108(1) PART II Skills and techniques 109(1) Introduction 109(64) 6 Eyes right: Effective reading 111(17) Preliminary 111(1) Six misconceptions 112(7) Speed-reading techniques 119(7) Summary: Speed-reading and prejudice 126(2) 7 Creative doodling: Note-taking for fun and profit 128(12) Preliminary 128(1) The grudging note-takers 128(1) The evangelist note-takers 128(1) Methods and practice I: Basic strategies 129(2) Methods and practice II: Key words 131(6) Methods and practice III Inventing codes and shorthand 137(1) Note-taking at different stages 138(1) Summary 139(1) Postscript 139(1) 8 Crunch time: Essay planning and writing 140(33) Preliminary: Fundamental considerations 140(2) The 'exploratory essay' 142(2) Essay planning 144(2) Energising patterns: Reducing the thought gap 146(4) The psychology of planning - and how not to do it 150(2) Writing the essay I: How and where to start 152(4) Writing the essay II: Further considerations and guidelines 156(2) Analysis: The three-point method 158(2) Pleasing your reader 160(12) Summary: Be natural as well as sensible 172(1) PART III Examinations 173(1) Introduction 173(37) 9 Psychology and attitudes 175(12) Preliminary 175(1) The virtues of exams 176(1) Examiners: Friend or foe? 176(2) Changing gear and approach 178(7) Summary: Exam phobia - authentic or phoney? 185(2) 10 Preparation tips 187(1) Preliminary 187(1) Revision strategy and timing I: Basic principles 188(2) Revision strategy and timing II: Subtler considerations 190(1) Past papers: Advantages and limitations/dangers 191(2) Summary 193(1) 11 Skills and techniques 194(1) Preliminary: The day of the exam 194(1) In the exam hall: Before writing 195(2) What does the question mean? 197(2) Writing your answers I: Elementary strategies 199(3) Writing your answers II: Performance strategies 202(4) Elementary and performance strategies: A summary 206(1) 'Exam block': What to do if stuck 207(1) Conclusion: Don't be frightened 208(2) Appendix I Reading novels and creative literature 210(3) Appendix II Literary analysis: A strategy 213(5) Appendix III An ICT glossary /some useful websites 218(4) Appendix IV Some simple relaxation and fitness exercises 222(2) Notes 224(6) Bibliography 230(3) Index 233