How to succeed in this course
HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS CLASS
Learning is a process that requires effort. It isn't necessarily hard to do, but you do have to put work into it. Here's the recipe for succeeding in this class, or any other.
COME TO LECTURE. Seriously, come to lecture. You can't expect to learn anything from a class that you never attend, and multiple studies have shown that there is a direct connection between attendance and grades, so showing up for class is step one. Showing up for class means more than just keeping a seat warm, it means paying active attention and taking useful notes (your notes will be one of your best study tools). In this class, I won’t just be repeating material covered in the textbook, I'll also be introducing new material that will appear on our exams and provide context for your papers. In fact, anything important enough to be included in my Powerpoints is likely to show up on an exam or be useful in a paper, so make sure it's in your notes
I will be recording all of the lectures for this course using Panopto and posting them to the course website so you will be able to review all of them and catch up on any that you missed, but watching a recorded lecture isn't really a substitute for being present in class and actively engaged in learning. You can't ask a video questions.
COMPLETE THE ASSIGNED READING. My lectures will assume that you have already done the reading from our textbook, so complete the reading assigned for the week before lecture. The work you will do in discussion section each week will also assume that you have already completed the reading, so make sure you complete the assigned reading for discussion before section on Fridays.
TAKE NOTES, TAKE NOTES, AND THEN TAKE SOME MORE NOTES (TAKING PICTURES OF MY POWERPOINTS DOES NOT COUNT AS TAKING NOTES). Take notes during lecture, while you’re reading our textbook, and while you're reading primary sources for discussion. These notes will help you on our papers and exams.
During lecture, anything important enough to be on the Powerpoint is important enough to be in your notes.
For the textbook, note the overarching point of each chapter and each subsection, as well as specific information that relates to what we've covered in lecture.
For our primary sources, keep track of major themes, the overarching point of the reading, and note anything that seems particularly important or revealing or confusing. Make sure to note page numbers for important information or quotes.
Not only does taking notes provide you with a record of what you’ve just read or learned, studies have shown that taking notes, preferably by hand, actually helps you synthesize and retain information. These studies demonstrate that taking notes by hand is better than typing on your computer because you have to summarize the material rather than just transcribing it, and the process of summarizing helps you retain the information.
I've noticed that many students have started taking pictures of my Powerpoints as a substitute for taking notes in class. This completely defeats the purpose of note-taking. Yes, you'll have a record of what was on the Powerpoint, but I'm going to post them on the course website anyway. Snapping a photo is not the same as actually taking notes. It does nothing to help you process or retain information.
COME TO DISCUSSION SECTION. The Friday discussion sections are an essential part of this course. They are where you will discuss our primary sources, learn how to analyze those sources, and learn how to construct your own historical arguments. We will also focus on teaching you how to write a history paper in the first few weeks of section. You should come to section having done the reading for the week, taken notes on the reading, and prepared to contribute to discussion.
Your performance in section counts for 20% of your final grade: on a 4.0 scale, that is .8. That’s a lot. It means that if you earn a 4.0 on every paper and exam, but earn a 0.0 in section, your final grade in the class will only be a 3.2.
STUDY. Yes, you will have to study if you want to succeed. Unless you have an eidetic memory, there's just no way around it.
MAKE A STUDY SCHEDULE. A lot of college students find themselves overwhelmed halfway through the quarter because they never created a study schedule. Early in the term, sit down and block out time on your weekly calendar to study. A session might include reading assignments, reviewing concepts, or preparing for an exam — depending on the class and week. Then, do your best to stick with that schedule.
BE STRATEGIC ABOUT WHERE YOU STUDY. Some students need absolute silence with no distractions in order to focus, while others work best in public spaces like the library or a cafe. Try out a few locations to find what works best for you, then stick with what works.
FIND A STUDY PARTNER OR GROUP. The accountability of a study partner or group can help you stick with your study schedule. So consider finding another student in class to study with, joining a study group, or creating your own study group.
PRIORITIZE COMPREHENSION OVER MEMORIZATION. Memorization will only get you so far, you need to prioritize comprehension. This means making sure you understand the material instead of simply reading and rereading the same pages in your textbook or your notes.
REVIEW MATERIAL. Reviewing material helps with memory and comprehension, so be sure to incorporate regular review sessions into your study schedule.
KNOW WHAT TO STUDY. Ever spent all your time reviewing concepts from the textbook only to have the test draw upon lecture materials? Knowing what to study plays a huge role in studying smarter. What you should study depends on the course. Look at the syllabus and listen to your professor — those two sources should tell you where to devote your study time. For example, the exams in this class will ask you to match terms to their definitions, answer short-answer questions, arrange events on a timeline, and write primary source analyses that connect material from lecture with the primary sources you read for sections on Fridays. This means you'll mostly need to study your lecture notes for the exams, but you'll also need to be familiar with the primary sources to write the analyses on the exams. Likewise, our papers will focus on analyzing primary sources, but also ask you to provide context using material from lecture and the textbook.
PLAN AHEAD FOR EXAMS AND PAPERS. You might be tempted to wait until the last minute to study for an exam or write a paper, but this is usually a recipe for a very sleepless night and a mediocre paper, or a bad exam. Note when exams and papers or due in your calendar at the beginning of the term so you can plan ahead. Getting into a regular study routine will mean that you don't have to cram for exams at the last minute. And giving yourself a couple of hours a day over a few days instead of one night to write your papers will mean that you produce better papers with less stress.
TAKE BREAKS. Study breaks can actually improve the quality of your studying. So make sure to schedule breaks, and throw in a reward for productive sessions too. Breaks can improve your memory, reduce stress, and give you an energy boost. They're good for your physical health as well. Combine your break with some fresh air or physical activity to clear your mind.
ASK FOR HELP
COME TO US FOR HELP. Please contact me or your TA if you need help with any aspect of the course. We are happy to offer clarification and assistance, and we have office hours set aside to meet with you for just that reason!
VISIT A WRITING CENTER. Papers are an essential part of this course and a big portion of your grade. If this is your first college-level history course, you may find that the type of writing we ask you to do is a bit different from what you did in high school. We will be teaching you the basics of writing an argumentative essay during the first few weeks of section, and there are also three excellent writing centers on campus that can help you at any stage of the writing process, from getting started to fine tuning your rough draft.
History Writing Center
CLUE Writing Center
Odegaard Writing and Research Center
http://depts.washington.edu/owrc/ Links to an external site.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. Make friends. Make sure to eat, sleep, and exercise regularly. And use campus resources for academic, financial, social, and emotional support.