The geeky individuals at GeeklyHub have finally revealed some secrets about how they read textbooks by making it faster and better. Contrary to the popular belief, you do not have to read things from corner to corner because it will only take time and will not let you focus on what really matters. Some of you may remember how using a pencil to outline certain sentences would help in the past, yet these days we have most content available online that would let us copy the key elements easily. While each textbook may look different on the surface, most of them still keep within the same structure and the parts that will pose the most important.
Let us break it down into five major parts:
- Identify what the paragraph is trying to tell you. Sometimes the textbook can get quite lengthy and boring, which is why to break down your reading into paragraphs as it was meant by the author(s). This is what we always implement at GeeklyHub when we have to deal with large volumes of data. Take one step (one paragraph) at a time and try to analyze it to get the point of what it means. Be it Literature or Nursing, seek the concepts discussed, and ask yourself about how it can be applied to your task.
- Focus on the first and the last sentences in a paragraph. This secret trick is always used by our college professors even when they check our papers. It is a reason why they can cope with a large number of written tasks. The first sentence usually introduces some concept while the last bits of a paragraph in a textbook makes a conclusion or rephrase the most important more simply. Just remember what is written there to save yourself some time and make things faster. This way you can add the little bits here and there later!
- Write down the sentence(s) that make things clearer for you. Use the old trick that most of us know well. It may sound as time-consuming, yet experts at GeeklyHub recommend doing so anyway because this way you will remember what the textbook says and will have the “cheat” list with the key elements of the subject at hand. If something has inspired you, write it down and use it later as a good quote or a reference. This way you will truly learn things and will always keep them in mind! Do not forget that you can always copy bits of text in a separate file to keep as a reference.
- If there are numbers or statistical data, write it down as well. Focus on numbers and the dates that are mentioned in a paragraph. This way you will always stay aware of the statistical information or the time passages that have been mentioned. It is especially important for History, Geography, Nursing, or even Political Science where the key dates or events are always related to some numbers. Knowing them helps you to stay safe during the exam or when you must provide evidence for a statement.
- Make additional research on a subject. Now, this part is always related to the hard-working types at GeeklyHub, yet it will make you a better student and will let you approach your studies in a different way. The textbooks are mostly boring and do not keep most students inspired until they start seeking additional information on their own. Find unusual facts, controversial information, or things that are not mentioned in the textbook. Add this data to your research paper or the essay you are working on. It will show that you are not only blindly following the instructions but actually do some work on your own that makes your paper stand out from the rest.
Textbook Information VS Your Thoughts
Another point that we would like to mention is keeping the right balance between what you read in a textbook and your thoughts or ideas that you mention in a paper. After all, every paragraph that you read is meant to provide an explanation about theories or even scientific assumptions. As a rule, most textbooks will provide evidence or keep it safe at bay without giving out their sources. Therefore, some students like copying entire bits into their papers without thinking that it leads to plagiarism risks. The solution is adding your opinion by referencing your textbook as the source of information. Start by using a certain quote, then continue with analysis based on some other similar source, and end up with your conclusion that sums up the information. This way you can prove that you have read the textbook and keep yourself safe from any plagiarism issues or problems with the overly strict college professors.
