SELECTING MAIN IDEAS

Your ability to decipher key concepts/information while reading and listening.

You find it difficult to identify the most important ideas in a lecture or reading.

You are overwhelmed by the amount of reading you need to do and don’t know what to focus on first.

You study for hours for tests only to find that you didn’t spend enough time on areas that the Prof prioritized.

You don’t want to waste time when you study – you want to get quickly to what you need to know and focus on that.

Play Detective

Prepare to read and learn by noting the chapter names and headings in your textbook and the lecture outline in your syllabus.
Look for the repetition of ideas in your readings and lectures.
Read one paragraph in your textbook, ask yourself, what was the main idea of that paragraph?

Pay attention to the final paragraph or concluding sentence in your readings, typically they summarize the main idea.
The same day you attended a lecture, review your class notes.
At the end of your notes, write a short 5 sentence summary of your key points of learning.

Ask your Professor to clarify what they mean if you’re uncertain.
Take time to comprehend your learning; asking why and how?
Identify in your readings and lecture notes what could be potential exam questions.
Think outside the box, see how you can apply what you are learning to other situations.