2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

A. Consult your teacher B. Take a break C. Make a timetable

D. Create a working space E. Sit comfortably F. Study at home

G. Talk about your work H. Photocopy important material I. Catalogue references

J. Use the library K. Prioritise your work L. Exercise regularly

SELF-STUDY-TIPS

0 C

However difficult you find it to arrange your time, it will pay off in the long run if you set aside a

certain part of the day for studying — and stick to it. It is best to make a weekly allocation of your

time, making sure that you have enough left for recreational activities or simply to be ‘with’ yourself:

reading a novel or watching a television programme.

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As part of your weekly schedule, it is also advisable to consider exactly what you have to do in that

week, and make sure that you tackle the most significant tasks, first, leaving the easier or less urgent

areas of your work until later.

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On a physical level, make sure that you have an area or space for studying. Don't do it just anywhere.

If you always study in the same place, preferably a room of your own, you will find it easier to adjust

mentally to the activity when you enter that area. You should have everything that you might need at

hand.

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Make sure that all the physical equipment that you use, such as a desk, chair etc. is at a good height for

you. If you use a personal computer, there are plenty of guidelines available from the government on

posture, angles, lighting and the like. Consult these and avoid the typical student aches and pains.

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If you are doing a long essay or research paper which involves the use of library books or other

articles, it helps to keep details of the titles and authors on small cards in a card box. It is also a good

idea to log these alphabetically so that you can find them easily— rather like keeping telephone

numbers. It's all too easy to read something and then forget where it came from.

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Make use of equipment that is available to you. If you find a useful article in the library, it is best to

make a copy of the relevant pages before you leave. Then, when you get back to your study, you can

mark the article and make any comments that you have in the margin.

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If you are working on a topic your teacher has set, but finding it hard to concentrate, it may be that you

actually need to take your mind right off it for a period of time. 'Airing the mind' can work wonders

sometimes. After a period away from the task, having not thought about it at all, you may return to it

refreshed and full of ideas.

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Similarly, it may help to discuss a topic with other people, especially if you feel that you have

insufficient ideas, or too many disorganised ideas. Bring your topic up in conversations at meal times

or with other students and see what they have to say. You don't want to copy their ideas but listening to

what they think about something may well help you develop or refine your own thoughts.

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