How to study for A&P
Adapted from “get ready for A&P”
By
Lori K. Garrett
Some questions
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Why do we study A&P?
What did we hear from others about A&P course?
Does the reason/what we’ve heard influences the
way we study? May it affect our grades?
If the answer to previous is “yes”, what can we do
to change it?
Can we change study habits?
How do we start?
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Write a commitment to yourself:
I am going to be a _________________
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Put the statement in a place where you can see it
often (car, study area etc.)
Taking notes in class
or
do you try to write down everything in class?
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The instructor can not wait for you to copy from
board/screen
Usually, you have class notes/slides on website
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If you do not have the notes
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Use time in class to listen and ask questions
Underline/color main ideas and key words/terms
Write main ideas in your own words
Use abbreviations
As soon as possible after class read notes and
improve them (if needed), write down new terms
Study at home
or
do you review what you’ve learned in class?
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Too many students study when they have to!
Memorizing notes without understanding
Don’t study only “ when get around it”
Don’t make your studies the first thing you
drop from your “To Do List)”
Schedule study time
or
Take charge of your time
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Decide when during the day you are going to
study and STICK TO IT
Write it down
Plan 10-15 minutes break for every hour of
studying
DON’T FORGET TO SLEEP
What to do when studying?
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First thing to do – specific assignments (lab
reports etc.)
Go over today’s notes
Read corresponding section in textbook/lab
manual
Quiz yourself (use website of textbook/instructor)
Review notes again and write down a list of
things to clarify with instructor
What to do when studying?
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Long-term memory – active learning
Take notes while reading
Develop and answer questions
Check yourself on the meaning of key terms (use
definition list)
If you have a study partner quiz each other
Not just memorizing!!!!
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Don’t just memorize – UNDERSTAND
When memorizing:
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If a question is worded differently than the way you
memorized it you might not realize that you know the
answer
You might give a definition that is incomplete if you
forget words you memorized (hormone/chemical messenger
example)
Concept maps
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A good way to understand relationships.
No cramming allowed!
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Cramming is like pushing stuff into a full closet
and slamming the door – what happens when the
door is open?
Same happens when you open the door of your
brain after cramming – everything “falls out”
Can result in mixed up information
No vampires allowed…
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Studying all night before a test is a marathon
cram session held at the worst possible time!
It is NOT EFFECTIVE
You need to rest your body and brain the night
before a quiz/test/practical
For your brain to be kind to you, you have to be
kind to it:
– Eat
Sleep
– relax
How to read a text book
or
science book is not a novel
Survey the chapter
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Read
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Chapter title
Goals
Introduction
Headings
Bold/italic items
Summary
That gives you a road map of where you will be going
Make up questions
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Look at the heading of each section and form as many
questions as you can regarding what you think should be
covered by the section
Write the questions down
By having a set of written questions, you’ll automatically
search for the answers
Read and recite
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Read the chapter in details
TAKE YOUR TIME
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After reading each section
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Think about your questions
Try to answer them
Review
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Go back to each section and see if you can still
answer your questions
Test taking
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Read each question thoroughly before answering
In multiple choice questions, cover the answers until you
finish reading the question. Try to give your own answer
before uncovering the answers
If initially you do not know the answer
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Think of all you know about the words in the question
Use a process of elimination and narrow down your choices
After answering a question
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Read your answer to make sure it says what you want
Than, LEAVE IT ALONE
Test taking
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Don’t worry if in multiple choice test you chose
the same letter several times in a row
Note the wording. Some key words to look for:
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Always, never, most, some, all, none, is, is not
Look for questions in the back of pages
Be aware of point values of questions
Study groups
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When studying alone you may not be aware to your
weaknesses
In a study group you can:
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Quiz each other
Split up material and than teach each other
Discuss
Help and support each other
Best time to meet – when you are already in campus –
after class
Individual accountability
or
“ I don’t know how I got C!”
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When we get frustrated we often look elsewhere
for the cause
You must do everything you can to guarantee
your success (no cheating!!)
Accept responsibility for you own effort
No excuses
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Think of any possible obstacle and plan around them
(car problems, sick kids etc)
Have at least 2 solutions for each
Think positive
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Surround yourself with supportive people who are
happy and proud of you
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It may be friends, family, kids(!!!) or your study group
 Stay
in track and you will soon be
LIVING (not LEAVING) your
dream
(Anonymous Student in Structure of the
Human Body Course)
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"Make the notes your own. Draw them out right after
lecture, and then draw them out again later."
"Find a study group and study (with your notes) IN THE
LAB. Discuss, make a game of it, whatever!"
"STAY IN THE LAB; Dissect out as much as you can.
Don't allow yourself the excuse "we couldn't find that".
YES YOU CAN. Once you dissect something out for
yourself, it's yours, you won't forget it."
"You are going to use this information for the rest of your
career, so remember to look at the big picture. You are
learning this information so you can practice as a
physician. You are not learning this information to pass an
exam."
"Be encouraged! This course is doable."