 Method
There isn't a single formula or a secret recipe for studying texts. But to study
effectively, you should be a careful reader. You need to pay attention. This
means reading, and re-reading. It means reading actively. And it means
making notes.
Approach
You can read a text quickly first, just to get an idea what it's about. Then
you might read it again more slowly, making notes. Good reading should combine
understanding and note-taking.
Make
notes
Make two types of notes - some written in the book itself, and others on separate
pages. Those in the book are for highlighting small details as you go along.
Those on separate pages are to help you remember, lists of details, points
of interest, page references for study topics or quotations.
Notes
in the book
Use a soft pencil - not a pen. Ink is too distracting on the page. Don't
underline whole paragraphs. If something strikes you as interesting, write
a brief note saying why or how it is interesting. If you read
on the bus or in the bath, use the inside covers and any blank pages for making
notes.
Separate
notes
These will help you to remember the characters, events, and features of text.
It's easier more easily if you make notes whilst reading. Use separate pages
for different topics. You might make a list of
- Characters
- Events
- Themes
- Style
Characters
Make a note of the name, age, and appearance of characters in the text. Writers
usually give most background information about characters when they first
appear in a story. Make a note of the page(s) on which this occurs. Note
any special features of main characters, what other characters (or the author)
thinks of them.
Events
Make a summary of what happens in each part of the text. If the text is a long
story, a novel, or a play - it will help you remember the whole thing, long
after you have read it. A list of events can help you to understand a complex
story. It can also help to separate plots from sub-plots, and even help you
to see any structure in a text.
Themes
These are the important underlying issues with which the text is concerned.
They are usually summarised as abstract concepts such as - marriage, education,
justice, freedom, and redemption. These might only emerge slowly as the novel
progresses on first reading - though they might seem much more obvious on
subsequent readings.
Seeing the main underlying themes will help you to appreciate
the relative importance of events. It will also help you to spot
cross-references and appreciate some of the subtle effects orchestrated
by the author.
Style
These are the features of the writer's style - which play an important part
in the way the story is told. The style might be created by any number of
features:
- choice of vocabulary
- imagery and metaphors
- shifts in tone and register
- use of irony and humour
Quotations
If you are writing a coursework essay about the text, you will need brief quotations
from it to illustrate the points you make. You might underline the words
you want to quote - using a soft pencil, don't forget! You should also make
a careful note of the pages on which they occur. Do this whilst you are reading
- otherwise tracking them down later will waste lots of time. Write out the
quotation itself if it is short enough. But don't bother writing out long
quotations.
Bibliography
If you are reading other background materials related to the text, make a full
record of every source. In the case of books, you should record - Author,
Book Title, Publisher, Place of publication, Date, Page number.
If you borrow the book from the library, make a full note of
the library number. This will save you time if you need to take
it out again later.
Maps
and diagrams
Some people have good 'visual' memories. A diagram, map, or chart might help
you to remember the 'events' of the text. This might be something as simple
as a series of boxes with key words. .
Summaries
Many longer texts such as novels and plays are structured in chapters or scenes.
After reading each section of a text, make a one sentence summary of what
it's about. This will help you remember the events at a later date. The summary
might be what 'happens' in an obvious sense (Mr X travels to London) but
it might be something internal or psychological (Susan realises she is 'alone').
Deciding what is most important will help you to remember the content of
the text.
Making
links
Events, characters, or other parts of the text might have significant links
between them, even though these are revealed many pages apart. Always make
a note of these links as soon as you see them. They will be very hard to find
later.
Use
a dictionary
Some writers like to use unusual, obscure, or even foreign words. Look these
up in a good dictionary. It will help you to understand the text and the author,
and it will help to extend your own vocabulary. If you need help using a good
dictionary for studying, have a look at our guidance
notes on the subject: |
