strategies – IAMD Research

Grad Study Strategies

read beginning+end = good snapshot of reading
looking for content, structure, theoretical framework
- how are arguments made
- what are the nuggets of it
- looking for gist of it
- create space to ask questions
- identify what you do not get
- writing summary at end of text helps w/ info retention
handwriting is better for retaining info
give yourself a time limit so you do not take 4 hours to read a text (although some texts are just difficult)
- better to skim than to deeply read small part
- option: read every other paragraph
- see if there are “steps” described in text that summaries how the writer will go through points
do not write huge amounts of notes while reading, find ways to distinguish (visually) between quotes, paraphrasing, own thoughts
- ex – quotes with “quotations” or highlighting in text, paraphrase with (parenthesis), own thoughts with star…
- // look up more strategies for this to make notes easier to search
keep in mind your future self and try to make discovery / finding old info easier for thesis

strategies for nervousness
- prepare powerpoint so no one is looking at your face
- can cover camera with sticky, or cover view or own self (on screen) with sticky so you dont have to look at yourself
- prepare before discussion
10 minute time describes your presentation, discussion is unlikely to be 10 minutes
it is not illegal to look up other sources of information to give context, it is ok to talk about them in your discussion
things you might include: bio of author, how text fits into academia/what discipline, how text fits in with other texts
ask why is this text the first text of the class, why here and now, will it be easier or harder than other texts, how does this orient us in critical theory
ask questions, share what you did not understand and ask the class to discuss/help figure it out
use facilitation to find space to talk about the text

sq3r – survey text, form questions (ex from headings), read review recite
after reading text – what are main points? is it important to record them? (will you need it later?) Summarize in own words to help retain information.
- titles of chapters/subsections help
- think of pre-reading, reading, review
- scan titles/headings/subheadings/topic sentences/graphics to prioritize info
- do not skip preface it containts important info about author context, voice, objectives
- for larger texts keep own table of contents to help with review
- take note of what author provides at end ex: bibliography, glossary, key terms, index, appendices
- take note of boldface and italicized word/phrases
- questions – what will prof ask? what will come up in discussions? make connections to associations + what you have already learned
during lecture – take notes using shorthand and keywords.
after lecture – read notes and see if they make sense, if they don’t/you have questions, ask colleague or prof while it’s fresh.