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Resources: Students

A guide to Butler Libraries and Archives for students.

Reading & Taking Notes

There is a lot of reading in college, and you might read the same paragraph multiple times to understand and make sense of what the author is trying to communicate (recursive reading). Identifying the meaning and making connections between what you read and what you learned is key to improving reading comprehension.

To improve your reading comprehension, consider using these strategies the next time you read for class:

  1. Write down or think about what you already know about the topic related to your reading. This will help you make sense of what you are about to read.
  2. Before you start reading, preview the text. Look at all the headings and sub-headings to get an idea of what you will read.
  3. Read the introduction and conclusion of the text first (structured reading).
  4. Read the rest of the text, either out loud or silently, and take notes after each paragraph or section.
  5. Ask questions about the topic you are reading, as you read, and write down those questions in your notes.
  6. As you read, try to answer those questions based on evidence in the text or from your own reasoning.
  7. Acknowledge and take note of any hints or preferences provided by the author of the text.
  8. Write down words you do not know, look them up in a dictionary, and write down a short definition in your own words to help you learn the vocabulary.
  9. When you finish the text, review what you read and wrote down, then write a short summary of what you read.
  10. Revisit and rewrite or digitize your notes within 24 hours to improve recall and understanding.

Source: OpenStax's College Success: 5.2 Effective Reading Strategies

Reading Comprehension: Resources

Butler Community College: Resources

The Office of Academic Support and Effectiveness provides services and academic courses for students who need additional assistance in their college journey.

To learn more, contact Zach Cannady (Academic Scheduling and Assessment Coordinator) by phone or email.

Notes: Cornell Notes

If you are using this strategy to improve your reading comprehension, Cornell Notes are a simple yet effective way to take notes. They are useful when you are taking notes in class, reading a textbook, or using online resources.

There are three sections in the Cornell note system: Notes, cues, and summary.

  • Notes: This is where you will record all the information that is deemed important in your lecture or textbook. Your notes will be summarized versions of the lecture or text and can include symbols, abbreviations, or lists.
  • Cues: This is where you will connect your notes into main ideas. This section will include any questions you have about the content, diagrams, and prompts to help you study. This section can also include vocabulary words and their definitions.
  • Summary: This is where you will reflect on the lecture or text and review what you learned. It will be short, but it will be very useful to reference when you need to go through your notes at a later time. It will also help you with analyzing and reflecting on what you learned to improve retention.

Studying & Taking Tests

Study Smarter, Not Harder

While cramming and rereading your notes or textbook might be helpful if you have a test the following day, it is not helpful for retaining information. This is especially important when you are preparing for finals. Using active learning strategies, spacing out studying, and diversifying what you study will not only help you remember but it also means less studying in the long haul.

Check out these tips from Stromberg’s article on how to study smarter, not harder. You can also read the article below, in the links.

1. Don’t just reread your notes and textbooks. You absorb the most information when you read it the first time, and research has shown that reading text more than once does not improve your memory, help you learn, or create more permanent memories.

2. Ask yourself questions as you read. After reading a text once, quiz yourself and ask questions about what you read. Finding answers to those questions helps you improve your learning and memory, even when your answers are wrong. When you identify what you do not know, it will help guide your studying more effectively. Asking questions also helps you explain— and consequently— understanding the material, improving your learning and memory.

3. Connect information to what you already know. When reviewing your notes or the text, relate the information to something you already know, such as comparing Hamlet to The Lion King.

4. Turn the text into something visual. Consider drawing a diagram, flowchart, or visual model to help you remember what you are learning; translating the text into an image will help you present the information in a format that you understand.

5. Use flashcards, but do not remove the ones you get correct. Not all reptition is bad, and flashcards are a great way to improve your memory— but only if you encounter the ones you got correct while spending more time on the ones you got incorrect.

6. No cramming. If you want to improve your memory while also spending less time studying, spend time reviewing the material regularly. Check out the links below to learn more about spaced repetition.

7. There is such a thing as a growth or fixed mindset. The way we think about learning influences how well you learn. Learning requires experimentation, patience, and active learning— all of which can be achieved by anyone. Do not let a challenging class or difficult assignment stop you from growing as a student.

Studying: Resources