How to work with the text

There are three steps to follow:

  1. Read carefully the text and write down questions about everything that is not clear.
    Record the subsection (and the page number) which was the source of difficulty.
    By the time you finish the reading, you will have the answers for some of the questions.
  2. Read again the same portion of text. Write down a very brief summary -
    2 - 3 sentences, or an itemized list (detailed contents) for each section or a group of sections/subsections.
    This will help you organize better the new concepts and relate them to what you already know.

    During the second reading your understanding of the material will improve very much,
    and maybe the number of your questions will be reduced.
    If you have any doubts about the answers you have found, write down these doubts too.

  3. Do the exercises at the end of the chapter. Some of the exercises have answers - check the answers and write down any questions you may have about the solutions. As a minimum you should do at least half of the exercises.

In class, look for the answers of your questions. Read again the text after class and if something has remained unclear, send me you questions by e-mail, or come and ask me in person.


Lydia Sinapova