Study Hints

1)    Budget your time

       ·    A standard rule of thumb is 2 hours of study outside the classroom for each course credit hour.
       ·    Notice that, if you are taking a normal full-time course load of 15 credit hours, you should budget a minimum of 30 study hours per week.
       ·    Hence, your minimum class and study time together will total 45 hours per week -- easily the equivalent of a full-time (40 hour/week) job.

2)    Maximize your learning efficiency

        ·    Find a quiet location with no distractions.
        ·    Find your best time of day for study. Research indicates that most adults are more efficient in the morning.
        ·    Break up your study sessions. After 40 or 50 minutes, take a 5- or 10- minute break.

3)    Read and listen critically

        ·    Make marginal notes to yourself in the text and on the chapter outline that you printed from the course website.
        ·    Be an active participant in class. Ask questions about anything that is not clear to you or that you disagree with.

4)    Read and review daily

        ·    Don’t wait until the last day or weekend before an exam to try to cram.
        ·    Read each chapter ahead of class discussion.
        ·    Review your class notes and textbook notations after every class.

5)    Recruit other students into a study group

        ·    Compare study notes.
        ·    Quiz each other on facts, concepts, and theories covered in your reading assignments.

	Department of Public & International Affairs Roger C. Lowery, Ph.D.	Study Hints