Finals are here, once more. These finals, though, don’t have the same looming uncertainty and tinge of terror that finals from last semester had. I feel much more confident in my ability to take these exams, having passed the novice level. I have learned to cut all the excess crap from my studying by condensing forty page outlines into 10-12 hand-written pages.
That’s right, hand-written.
At the beginning of the year, I forgot how to write notes in a class setting. So much so, in fact, that two weeks into the first semester I began typing notes on my computer. Of course, I typed every little thing the professor said, thinking it would someday be useful.
It’s true, by the way, about what they said at orientation. People, who type, usually type too much garbage. While those who write, focus on the main things because they can only write so fast.
Remembering the joys of handwriting from my pre-laptop days, I took out all of my outlines and began to write a condensed version of them. Somehow, I got started writing on printer paper and never switched to regular note taking paper, but that’s beside the point.
The result?
Clean, condensed pages of the most important and relevant information for each of my classes. The most fascinating part of this process, though, is that I actually remember the information better, compared to just reading my typed notes.
The “condense your outline” trick is a well-known study method, but actually going through the process proved to be an invaluable tool. Forty pages is just too much to learn, not to mention a daunting task. Twelve pages, though, is much more manageable. Plus, your brain will thank you.
Finally, though, I must give some thanks to my laptop. It enables my need to keep notes neat and organized. It allows me to delete, copy, and paste without leaving any strike out marks. I can keep all relevant pages together, without needing to skip back two pages and write in the margins. Lastly, I can find any word or case within the blink of an eye.
Lay Down the Law.
