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You are here: Home > In School > Doing The Leaving Cert > Study Skills > Aoife Rogers Secrets Of Study: Lesson One - Memorisation Posted on 2007-01-09 in In School
AOIFE ROGERS SECRETS OF STUDY: Lesson One - Memorisation
AOIFE ROGERS SECRETS OF STUDY: Lesson One - MemorisationMemories, like the corners of your mind, are unstable things at the best of times. For example, you might find it hard to recall your mother's birthday or the name of your cat. This doesn't bode well for the mass memorisation of facts and figures that is necessary for the Leaving Cert. However, not all is lost. Misty, watercoloured memories can be improved - it's just a case of choosing the right approach.A quick glance at Rocket Science for Beginners doesn't mean that you will be able to blend in at the NASA Christmas party. To really remember something, you have to understand it. Reading intelligently is one of the best ways to consolidate material that has been covered in class. A good way to do this is to first skim the chapter in question, noting the main sections. Then read the chapter fully, taking notes as you go. If your teacher has thrown any hints on what might come up, then pay special attention to these parts of the text. Perhaps even break out the highlighter pen. Some of these teachers have been in your school since Fianna Fail and the PDs were one big, happy party. Who knows what connections they may have? Once you have a fair idea of what is going on in the wonderful world of Home Rule/Plate Tectonics/Earthworms, then you can set about binding the facts immutably to your brain. One way of the best ways to do this is through mnemonic devices - ways of associating facts, concepts or theories with sounds. These sounds can come in the form of acronyms, songs, peg words or phrases. One of the most famous acronyms for learning is HOMES, which contains the initial letter of each of the American Great Lakes - Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior. Acronyms are easier to remember if you try for a meaningful world - SMEHO just doesn't glide off the tongue. However, even thinking up acronyms can be helpful - the more you think about the subject, the more you will remember. Site Links
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