2.9: Reviewing
- Describe strategies for effective review
Reviewing is the final stage in the academic reading process. All the other steps you’ve taken while reading—previewing, active reading, and summarizing (which we’ll discuss in detail later)—put the content into your head. Reviewing helps seal it in place and makes sure it stays accessible when you need the information later.
For example, when you’re ready to study for an exam, you should:
- Review your notes
- If provided, review the chapter objectives and outline
- Review important information, such as theories, facts, names, dates, and terms
- Review any vocabulary flashcards you created
- Review any study questions you created
- Review your answers to study questions and activities
You can use a variety of strategies to review:
- Quiz yourself using your questions
- Review a chapter map you made while previewing or actively reading
- Expand upon a concept map
- Create vocabulary cards
- Recall the information in writing or out loud
As you review, monitor your learning.
- What do you know well?
- What still needs reinforcement?
The following section shows what it looks like to review a text using the summary notes this reader took in previous reading steps.
In the days after I finish reading the chapter, I need to actively review the information and start to learn it well. Since I used the Cornell two-column note-taking method while I was reading, I decide to quiz myself by covering the right side of my note page and asking myself the questions on the left. If possible, I recite my response aloud or write the answer on a scrap of paper. Then I check my answer against my notes. If I recall the answer correctly, I give myself a checkmark ( ✓ ); if incorrect, I give myself an X ( ✘ ).
| What is a Mistake in contract law? |
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I work through the remainder of my notes in the same way. I repeat this process over several study sessions since I know I won’t have mastered the material after looking at it only once or twice! After a number of review periods, I am able to clearly see which areas I know and where I still need work.
| What is a Mistake in contract law? |
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For variety in my study periods, I might also use my chapter map to test my recall of ideas. I might focus on one major topic and try to recall the sub-points and details related to that topic. Alternatively, I might put a section of the map, such as “Misrepresentation,” onto another page and expand the details there. I might also create vocabulary cards for specific terminology that I need to know. I can easily carry a bundle of cards with me and review when I have a few spare minutes.
Sample vocab card:
Front of card
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MISTAKE (in contract law) |
Back of card
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Definition: a circumstance where parties to a contract have entered an agreement that doesn’t reflect the parties’ actual intentions.
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These different review methods will help me to thoroughly understand and learn my course material. Regular review will also help me monitor my learning, helping me identify what I know well and what still needs work.
Contributors and Attributions
- Revision and Adaptation. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
- PQRST Script. Provided by : Lethbridge College. Located at : www.lethbridgecollege.net/elearningcafe/index.php/pqrst-script. Project : eLearning Cafe. License : CC BY: Attribution
- Annotating a Textbook. Provided by : Excelsior Online Reading Lab. Located at : https://owl.excelsior.edu/orc/what-to-do-while-reading/annotating/annotating-a-textbook/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
- Image of student studying. Authored by : vidhyarthidarpan. Located at : pixabay.com/photos/education-learning-engineering-4796952/. License : Other . License Terms : pixabay.com/service/terms/#license