Go to the Head of the Class
In Chapter 5 I talk about the one experience we all have in common,
no matter how old we are: the classroom. I’ll help you take better
notes, encourage your active participation in class discussions—
including pointers on how to overcome the tendency to hide behind
the plant in the back of the room—and help you get a lot more out
of lectures.
Becoming an Information Hound
Chapter 6 introduces you to the two important resources in your
study career—your library and the Internet—and discusses how to
build up your research muscles to get the information you need when
you need it. You’ll learn about the books, periodicals, newspapers,
magazines, computer software, videos, audiotapes, and other refer-
ence materials available to you at most brick-and-mortar libraries and
suggestions for how to find and use them, including an explanation of
the Dewey decimal classification and Library of Congress systems.
I’ll also cover the use of online resources and the importance of
becoming computer and Internet literate.
So You’re Not the Next Hemingway
I’m convinced that too many of you place the emphasis in “writing
papers” on the word “writing.” In Chapter 7 I’ll introduce you to a
remarkably easy way to take notes and organize your information.
By breaking down any paper, no matter how complex, into easy-to-
follow steps, I’ll help you create papers infinitely better than before—
even if you’re still no threat to Hemingway (or anybody else) when it
comes to writing.
viii How to Study