When reading this book, should I write down ALL the words that I don't understand?
I am reading this book for school pg. 48–53 – Conservatism, Elements of Conservatism, Paternalistic conservatism, The new right, Neoliberalism and Neoconservatism
I don’t understand most of the words, I have a tab open on my computer for Cambridge Dictionary and am looking up all the words that I don’t know. Should I write all of them down and the meanings in my own words in my notes book or what? I have a 30 minute test next class and I can use only notes,the teacher also put up notes which am gonna print and they are not about what am reading now, they are about the last chapter we read.
Hope you understand where am going by this.
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9 Answers
Yes, if your teacher is allowing you to have notes, you should write them down so you don’t fail. When I had tests like that, I wrote such detailed notes that it looked like I just copied down the whole book! I passed too. If it’ll help you, you should do it.
Yes, write it all down. Draw pictures to help you understand how they relate to each other.
The IB program here requires students to use Cornell Notes. You may find this note-taking method helpful.
@Aesthetic_Mess hmm I think am the same. When taking notes I always write just as the dictionry says, because even if I understand the meaning in the dictionary I still can’t come up with my own words to write the definition in.
I guess I better get to work – have too many words ahead of me.
@BarnacleBill and yeah thank you for reminding me about the cornell note-taking system, I forgot about it. Though its a little confusing…
You should make the notes in your own words. If you can’t understand the dictionary definition dig into it some more. It takes a little longer, but you have to get it straight in your head.
@Adirondackwannabe ahh man!
So I guess its better to spend 10 minutes trying to understand one word that just writing something from the dictionary that is not in my own words?
Unfortunately, you have to get each one clear before you move on. If it’s any condolence, your subjects are a lot more detailed than mine were when I was going through school.
WEll am off to work now. Be back in HOURS:P
Thank for the suggestion.
Don’t over-think it; try to relate it to something you already know about. Draw pictures and diagrams. If you really want to know it, you will. If not, you won’t.
I strongly believe in looking up words you are unsure of the meaning of. I have a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet I list them, their part/s of speech and their definition in, I have extra columns for derivation if it’s provided, and common usage. I’ll occasionally pull it out and review it to keep new words fresh in my mind. But most critical for your reading is that you understand the word in context while you are reading.
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