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On this page you will find some tips on how to prepare
for class, read effectively, take notes, and answer
essay questions effectively. These skills apply not only to Biblical
Studies 130, but to any course you are taking. If you have additional
suggestions that you think would be helpful to other students, please email me (cowan@maryvillecollege.edu),
so that I can improve these resources.
Preparing for Class
A. Complete each reading assignment before
the class for which it is assigned. For each assignment respond to the
following (in writing is preferable):
- List words that you are not sure you understand.
Look them up and write definitions.
- Write a general statement summarizing the content and
message of the author. Be sure that you are connecting the content and
message with the historical setting of the text/author/audience.
- Identify sub-topics and themes.
- Decide which sub-topics and themes were difficult or
would make an interesting discussions. Be prepared to raise questions
about these in class or email them to me ahead of time.
- Note connections between this reading and other concepts or materials.
Ask yourself what previous materials or knowledge help in
understanding this reading and how this reading helps make sense of other
materials.
- Think of ways the reading might apply to your own
situation, experience, interests.
- Write down your reactions, evaluations.
B. Review the materials on the Study Guide for the
class session. Doing this will prepare you to organize your class notes
and to know what material should receive your greatest attention.
Prepared by the Maryville College Learning
Center.
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Reading with
Confidence
Steps to Reading
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Divide
course reading assignments up and set daily goals to cover the material.
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Read
in a place where you can stay alert and focused.
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ALWAYS
read with a pen, pencil, or marker in your hand.
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Skim
your passage first. Look at any introductory material.
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When
marking, be careful to pick out the MOST important points, terms, phrases in
each paragraph. (Don't make everything yellow. . . )
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Constantly
ask yourself questions as you go: " What does this have to do with the
first paragraph?" "What was the main point of that
section." "Do I agree or disagree with this?"
"Have I ever experienced this in my life?" "Does the
speaker/character remind me of someone I know?"
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Review
at the end of your reading. If you are preparing for a test on the
material, create a study guide (including possible questions based on the
reading.
Additional tips when
reading is difficult:
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Read it again.
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Try to outline it.
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Search for key words.
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Read it aloud.
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Use your instructor for help.
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Use a tutor for help.
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Use another text to provide additional explanation of
material.
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Pretend you understand, and try to explain it.
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Change physical positions.
MOST
IMPORTANT READING COMMANDMENT: Never, ever simply sit down, open a book, and
begin to read!!!!!
Prepared by the Maryville College Learning
Center.
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Creating Effective Class Notes
Tips for note taking:
- Use plenty of paper. Try a column method which
leaves a wide margin for adding additional ideas, facts. Leave spaces
if you can't keep up and fill them in later.
- Read or skim the text before the class; you will
be more familiar with the vocabulary and the ideas.
- Review Study Guide before class. You may even
find it useful to write the questions on blank sheets of paper leaving room
for notes after them.
- Go early and stay late in class; make sure that you are
ready to begin listening and taking notes when the instructor is ready to
begin the class.
- Take notes throughout the class, not just if and when
the teacher is lecturing.
- Sit close to the teacher.
- Don't try to write down everything. Take
cues from what the teacher emphasizes on the board, in study guides, by body
language, and by voice.
- Develop your own set of abbreviations.
- Use separate binders/notebooks for each subject.
- Date your notes
- As soon as possible after each class, review
your notes and summarize them on paper.
- Share notes from a classmate or two.
Additional Tips
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Be active as your prepare for class and
during class. Speak up and participate.
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Listen for ideas and broad
concepts rather than word-for-word details.
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Constantly summarize.
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Use the end of class to fill in gaps and
wrap up your day's notes.
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Keep notes to a minimum, but with a
maximum of information.
MOST IMPORTANT NOTE TAKING
COMMANDMENT: Review notes frequently; look for key ideas that are likely
to be test or exam questions.
Prepared by the Maryville College Learning
Center.
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Writing Essay Questions
- Read the questions carefully, and make sure you
understand what the questions are asking.
- If you have a choice, choose the question that you can
answer most completely and thoroughly. Choose quickly.
- Watch for instruction words, and know the difference in
their meanings:
- comment: an observation intended to
explain, illustrate, or criticise
- compare: point to both similarities
and differences
- contrast: point to differences only
- criticize: not to find fault, but to
judge
- define: to give meaning by setting
boundaries
- describe: to list the characteristics
of something
- differentiate or distinguish: to point
out particularities that enable a person to tell two or more
things apart
- discuss: to present various angles,
perspectives, points relating to a topic
- enumerate: to list, number
- evaluate: to express an opinion
concerning worth or merit
- explain: to make plain or
understandable; to give the reasons for something
- give an account of: to provide a
narrative summary
- identify: to give essential facts to
show recognition and distinguish from other similar things
- illustrate: to give examples of
- justify: to provide reasons that
support the validity of something
- list, mention, name: to give
lists or groups in logical order
- outline: to give a brief, systematic
summary
- relate: to tell or provide a narrative
account
- show: to prove, to provide strong
evidence supporting something
- state: to indicate briefly
- summarize: to present in a condensed
form
- trace: to present items
chronologically
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- Note any other limiting or narrowing words such as causes,
steps, major qualities.
- Sketch an outline briefly and quickly before you begin
to write.
- To be sure you are on the right track, restate the
question in your opening sentence.
- Make sure you answer all parts of a question.
- Write a clear, specific answer.
- Express yourself simply, in clear, concrete
terms
- Use rather short sentences. Avoid wordy
introductions.
- Avoid choppiness by using transition
words to connect ideas and show relationships between sentences
and paragraphs.
- Avoid careless spelling errors.
- In longer answers, use paragraphs to
contribute to the logical divisions of your answer.
- Distinguish between theory and fact.
- Each essay should have a beginning
(introduction), middle (body), and end (conclusion).
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- When you are developing your points, be sure to use
examples and illustrations.
- Do not be afraid to include your own
inferences/interpretations. Reach below the surface to deeper meaning.
- Wrap up the essay with a conclusion that revisits the
original question.
- Carefully read your complete answer to yourself to
check for errors and coherence.
Sources: Maryville
College Learning Center
Sederberg, Nancy. Thiel College, "Tips for Writing Essay Exams"
Birk, Newman P. and Genevieve Birk. Understanding and Using
English. (Indianapolis: The Bobbs Merrill Company, Inc., 1972)
Book, J. N. How to Take Examinations in College. (New York: Barnes
and Noble, Inc., 1969
Lump, Jane. "Writing an Essay Examination" Valparaiso
University Writing Center.
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