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Effective Study Skills Writing based subjects. What’s new?. S1-3. S4-6. Getting prepared. 1. Practicalities (from research studies). Eat healthily and regularly – especially breakfast. Get 8-10 hours of sleep every night, and a regular bedtime
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What’s new? S1-3 S4-6
1. Practicalities (from research studies) • Eat healthily and regularly – especially breakfast. • Get 8-10 hours of sleep every night, and a regular bedtime • Get out into the fresh air and do some exercise (even just a walk) • Drink water regularly • Revise in a quiet environment – no TV or music or family life. • Most studies show that music does not aid memory (it simply tricks your brain into thinking it is busy)
Lowers concentration • Increases FOMO/stress • Reduces memory • Makes you sleep worse • all advice says do NOT charge it in your room overnight. 2. Phones – put them away! Alarm Clock Argos – cost £3.99
3. Planning • Make a simple plan or timetable. • Lay out your week in a plan and fill in what you will do and when. • This can include other activities. There is an SQA app but there is nothing wrong with a bit of paper and some coloured pens
4. Class Notes • Make sure you have all the appropriate notes • Catch up any class notes that you have missed (the exam doesn’t care if you were “off that day”) • Organise your notes and make sure they are all available during your study time (this should be done well ahead of studying actually starting)
What are you learning? • For a writing subject this will be for information such as: • Quotes • Definitions and Explanations • Examples • Arguments for and against • Evaluations • Comparisons • Conclusions
Highlighting Passive – not very effective
Reading notes Passive – not very effective
Writing Techniques DO NOT just copy, it is passive • Rewrite information and put it into your own words • Change the layout – turn a paragraph into a mind map, or write a table out in full prose. • Read your information, look for links and put it into categories • Add drawings as little memory aids • Revisit again and again over time – see diagram
Reading Techniques DO NOT just read, it is passive • Prepare a talk with note cards • Give the talk to someone • Explain what you have learned to a real or imaginary someone else, with notes and then without • Record yourself and listen back when on a walk.
Most Effective Learning? DOING IT – simulating the real thing • Use past paper questions (SQA website) • Plan answer summaries – don’t write a full answer • Repeat writing until you know it by heart • Write sections of answers – practice your weak areas • Practice skills types (knowledge, analysis, evaluation) • Write FULL answers Work with a partner to help stay on task