Tips for College Students: Reading Textbooks

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So you want to go to college, but you don’t really like reading. Unfortunately, many degree plans require you to take reading-intensive classes like English Literature and history. If you want to get through those classes with the best-possible grade, these tips will help you make the most of your reading time.

Give yourself plenty of time to go over the reading. Some people can sit down and read twelve pages at a time; others can’t. Don’t wait until the night before the big test to crack open the book. The more time you have before that day, the more chances you have to review, absorb as much of the material as you can, and get answers to any questions you have about the reading.

Take notes while you read the assigned passages. You can write them down on paper or underline the key points in your book. This will help you absorb the information and recall it when you have to write a paper or take an exam.

Re-read the passage if you don’t understand the message the first time. Don’t move to the next paragraph until you understand what this one is trying to say. This way, the next paragraph makes more sense and is, therefore, easier to understand.

Answer any discussion questions you might have. This will help you process the information that you’ve just digested. If you don’t have any questions in the book, get online and look for discussions about the concept or story you’ve just read.

Look at your professor’s syllabus or Web site for study guides and other, similar things. Some profs set up a discussion area online so that you can talk about the reading with other students. This is a great way to digest the material, ask and answer questions, and otherwise absorb what you need to know.

Attend classes as often as possible. You’ll learn many important things just by being there and paying attention. Be sure to take notes so that you can review what you know before you take the exam.

Join a study group. Sometimes, it’s easier to stay focused on the reading if you’re working with other students. This also gives you an opportunity to discuss the reading with others and be sure that you comprehend the passage before exam day.

Ask for help when you know that you’re lost. There is nothing wrong with visiting your professor during office hours, signing up for a tutor, or asking a classmate for help. If you don’t let somebody know that you’re struggling, you can’t get the help that you need.

Keep a positive attitude. Telling yourself that you can do this – and doing everything you can to reach your goal – makes your life as a student much easier. Defeating yourself with a negative attitude will only make things harder, so don’t cheat yourself.

As you continue reading, taking notes, and otherwise learning, you’ll find that studying becomes easier. With practice, you’ll be able to knock out the assigned passages in less time.