Study Skills

For Students of English

English as Your Language of Instruction p.1

MotivationConcentrationDistractionPlace of StudyTime of Study

Motivation

Inside: Your hopes and expectations

Outside: Grades (small, artificial steps to

ultimate goal)

Concentration

1. How and why is the subject important?

2. How is the subject related to other subjects, other times, places, problems and purposes?

3. Interest depends on understanding

Distraction: How to avoid?

• May not have 100% control

• Choose your time and place to study

• Keep good health

Place of Study

• To increase efficiency

• Ideally if you have your private room

• A desk specifically reserved for studying

• Quiet environment

• Optimal lighting and temperature

Time of Study: Plan your work and work your plan

• 1 or 2 hours early in the morning• Definite time schedule• Don’t allow your work to accumulate• Never cram materials 2 days before exam• 1-hour lesson + 2-hour study time

•Trade time, don’t steal it.

Learning Vocabulary of English p.47

1. By Phonograms

2. By Guessing meaning from Context

3. By Word Formationa) Prefix + word stem + suffix

b) Changing Parts of Speech

c) Present and past participles as Adjectives

d) Word stems

Recording the Meaning of Words p.75

• File cards/ Note book

– New word on a separate card– Copy meaning, pronunciation, part of speech,

usage on 4 columns– Arrange cards alphabetically– Review regularly – Check mark beside difficult word

Writing an Outline: organization of related

ideas p.81

• Useful for :

• Analyze ideas when reading (summary of ideas)

• Organize ideas when writing (expansion of ideas)

How An Outline Is Written p.81

1. System of indenting, numbering and lettering

2. Heading: i. Topic Outline

ii. Sentence Outline

Outlining Before Writing p.90

• Expository writing: expose facts or ideas by presenting, explaining, or interpreting

• Brainstorming of ideas• Delete irrelevant points• organize your ideas by organizing main

ideas and supporting details systematically• One main point=> One paragraph• Descending order of importance

Improving your Reading p.95

• Reading speed Vs Comprehension• Achieve a comfortable balance• Don’t vocalize words• Try pointing at lines but not words• Speed increases with a better knowledge of

grammar and usage• Speed varies depending on material and purposes

of reading• Regression unavoidable

Ways of reducing uncertainty: Predicting p.100

1. Visual information (by actual looking at it )

2. Orthographic information (by phonograms)

3. Grammatical information (by rules of grammar)

4. Semantic information ( by logical deduction)

5. Revising if necessary (when more, new information comes up)

Recognizing Paragraph Patterns while Reading p.122

1. Paragraphs of Analysis2. Paragraphs of Description3. Paragraphs of Comparison and

Contrast4. Paragraphs of Analogy5. Paragraphs of Definition

Paragraphs of Analysis: deductive organization

• Function: to analyze a topic

• Moves from General to the Particular

• Main ideas introduced at the beginning of the paragraph (topic sentence) or as a conclusion at the end

• Supporting details: causes, effects, reasons, methods, purposes

Paragraphs of Description

• Physical description : general to specific or vice versa

• Description of a process: order of sequence, imperatives

Paragraphs of Comparison and Contrast

Main idea: is it similar or different?

Supporting details: descriptions+ examples + definitions

Paragraphs of Analogy

• Purpose: clarifying an abstract idea by comparing it to a more concrete, visualizable example

• Start with a clearly stated Topic sentence

• Followed by Comparison to reduce it to a common, easily comprehended situation for better understanding.

Paragraphs of Definition

• Purposes: define, explain, clarify the meaning

• Includes: analysis, comparison or contrast, description, an analogy

• Main idea: topic sentence at the beginning or as conclusion at the end

Reference

• Relate ideas to each other

• Signals syntactic or semantic connection within and between sentences

• Can refer back to ideas mentioned, or forward to ideas yet to be stated

Connectives p.130

• Better understanding increases reading speed

• Helps prediction of the subsequent ideas in reading

• Helps flow and elaboration of ideas when writing

Functions of Connectives

Signal Results: consequently, accordingly

Signal Contrast: nevertheless, in spite of

Signal Addition: in addition, furthermore

Signal Examples: for instance

Signal Series or Time Sequence: to begin with, finally

Making Good Notes p.185

1. Requires active participation

2. Demands full attention

3. Be alert to the thought of speaker

4. Be able to differentiate important ideas

How to keep a note book

1. Use an outline

2. Use a large loose-leaf notebook

3. Use ink, colour pencils for visual effect

4. Title each page with course name and date

5. Leave wide margin on the left or right for review

Purpose of making notes

• Guide you through carefully through the course (Outline)

• Aid your thinking by referring to the main points (Highlight)

• Remind you later the development and relationship of essential ideas (Macro view of idea:-Mind Map)

How to make notes effectively?

Ω Distinguish the relative importance of ideas, facts /opinions (Thinking Skills)

Ω Write rapidly and clearly (regular practice essential) using symbols or abbreviations, the exact words of which should be written later

Ω Practice with outlining written materials first : especially arranging topic sentence, subordinate details, connectives, transition and conclusion