TABLE OF CONTENTS

• PREFACE

• INTRODUCTION

1. GETTING STARTED Reading skills, Writing Skills, Listening Skills.

2. LEARNING Developmental Levels of Learning.

3. THE TEXTBOOK Title, Copyright Page, Table of Contents, Preface, Chapter Titles, Subheadings, Chapter Summaries, Study Questions, Appendix, Glossary, Reference Page, Index, Study Guide.

4. NOTES Highlighting, Lecture Note Taking, Textbook Outlining, Study Sheet, Flash Cards, Tape Recording Notes.

5. TIME MANAGEMENT Calendar, To Do List, Studying Time.

6. STUDYING PROCEDURES Study Place, Work Area, Study Method, Studying with Others.

7. TESTS Types of Tests, Multiple Choice, True/False, Matching, Sentence Completion, Fill in the Blank, Essay, Open Book Tests, Study Strategies for Questions, Test Taking Techniques, Things to Do Beforea Test, Relax After a Test.

8. MANAGING STRESS Ways to reduce stress.

9. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE GRADE

Copyright 1992, 2005 Lamon H. Small

Text used by permission.

Preface

Studying is not a natural phenomenon. It is something, which has to be developed, and usually does not come natural to most people.

One of the biggest misconceptions about studying is the big mystery about how to do it. Another misconception is that some people are just naturally better at it than others. They seem to have been born with a gift that makes learning come easy for them.

In the public school system students are taught the three basic R’s: Reading, Riting and Rithmetic, but they are usually not taught how to study.

Learning how to ride a bicycle, to drive a car, or to do any similar type activity takes practice and needs to be approached with a plan and procedure for accomplishing the task. Learning to study is no different. It takes a plan, procedure, practice and a desire to be successful. Productive Study Techniques is designed to give you the tools needed to achieve proper study skills. The one very important element this technique does not have is motivation, which is where you come in. Without motivation learning will not occur. Productive Study Techniques will not work without a motivated learner. Learning requires work, effort, and a commitment to achievement. These ingredients can only be added by the learner.

This is a self-help textbook written in simple and easy-to-understand language. It is designed for someone who wants to learn. It offers no tricks or short-cuts. What it does offer is a systematic method for establishing a productive approach to learning. It will assist you in learning how to learn.

Productive Study Techniques is designed to eliminate poor study habits and replace them with productive ones that are adaptable to your needs and life style. It is designed to help you develop a method whereby you can learn and establish the skills needed to achieve success in forming productive study habits. You will learn ways to organize your approach to studying which will lead you to more effective and efficient study habits. It is not a quick fix approach to let you just get by. Nor is it an approach designed just to help you get better grades, even though it will. It is an approach concerned with the process of learning.

Productive Study Techniques is a blueprint for forming productive study skills for undergraduate, graduate and even doctoral level students. Even though this book was written with college students in mind, Productive Study Techniques is effective in learning any new material and lends itself to any type of studying needs.

Productive Study Techniques can be applied to any form of learning such as high school classes, the G.E.D (general education development) exam, or correspondence courses. It can help improve your career or even help you prepare for job advancement. This method is designed for any and all forms of learning.

Productive Study Techniques is a total approach to studying, and more importantly, to learning. The worse thing you can experience is the loss of some sleep. The best thing is you will learn something and, better yet, even learn how to learn. Productive Study Techniques will allow you to create productive study habits, which will ensure your learning success.