This time you’re ready. You will read the textbook or watch the lecture once, find all the main ideas and practice the material. But wait! How do you find the main ideas on the first time through?
Questions to find main ideas:
Not to worry. Use these 3 questions to help you identify the main ideas as you are listening/reading.
- Who or what is this about?
- What is the author/teacher trying to convey on this topic?
- What information is getting repeated?
Recognize different topics
Topics are usually clustered together, especially in math class. One day you learn a single topic and the next day is a very similar topic, but with some slight differences. Since those differences are what’s going to trip you up on the test, here are questions to recognize the key differences between math topics.
- What are similar ideas or types of questions that we have come across before?
- How do these types of problems relate to old ones? Focus on similarities and differences.
- When are these ideas useful? What kinds of problems are they associated with?
- What are the pros and cons of this method/strategy? Is it easier to use or remember, useful in a wider range of circumstances, or quicker? What are its limitations?
- Why does this strategy work?
Identify all the main ideas for your next test. This could be relatively simple (as in your teacher has a syllabus with all the topics listed) or it could be more challenging.
Next step: Quiz yourself
After you have identified the main ideas, collect explanations of each one. Either during the lecture or while reading the textbook, write down your best explanation of each main idea in your notes. Try to do this before lecture so you can clarify any concepts during class. Later in your study time write down questions that relate to each topic. Divide your paper into two sections, one side with notes and one side with questions. Then quiz yourself to practice the material.
Check out next article: Self-quizzing to Prep for Exams