Using Your Textbook Efficiently

• Read a chapter ahead of the lecture. Skim the next chapter before going to class. Get an idea of what will be taught. Try to understand key terms. It will make understanding in class a lot easier.
• Take the Chapter Pre-Test. The lower your grade on the pretest, the more time you have to spend studying the chapter.
• When reading the textbook, read one sentence at a time. Don't read ahead until you understand what is going on. Unlike English and social sciences, math and science textbooks don't usually repeat a lot.
• If you have trouble understanding a concept,
  • look on the previous and the next page. Try to put the concept in context.
  • read the sentence or paragraph out loud.
  • reread your class notes.
  • read another textbook. Another author might explain the concept differently.
  • talk to your study buddy.
  • write down questions to ask your tutor.
• Work the examples until you understand them. Then work the matching margin problems.
• Summarize key concepts and vocabulary definitions in a separate section of your notebook for easy review.
• After each section, summarize the key concepts of that section. What new words were introduced, what kind of problems were covered? After you have done this, compare your notes to Summary and Review Section of that chapter.
• ALWAYS review the chapter and your class notes before working on homework problems. Do not work on homework assignments until you understand the example problems and have worked the margin exercises.
• It is a waste of time to go back and forth between the homework and the textbook.
• Although they are not assigned, it is beneficial to work the problems in the following sections of each chapter:
  • Skill Maintenance
  • Synthesis
  • Cumulative Review