While these tips do apply to any course with a reading component, it is targeted towards college students in English courses. As an English major, I’ve taken plenty of these classes, and I wanted to share the best ways I’ve handeled the stress caused by enormous loads of reading.
Stay ahead of the reading
I know this is hard. I know that you have other courses, and that English or reading may not be your thing, but listen. The load will be a lot easier on you if you split the huge chunk of pages into smaller sections that you read every day. If you do this, you’ll remember the information easier because it’s something that you read everyday instead of when you have to the day before it’s due.
Stay focused when you’re reading
If you’re reading while painting you nails, you aren’t focused. If you aren’t focused, you aren’t retaining any information. Yeah, you’re going through the motions, but that’s all you’re doing. It feels good multi-tasking, but one of those things is being half-assed, and you better hope its your nails (ouch, I know… I had to be harsh…).
Read again
Yeah, I said it. Read again. You definitely missed details. Don’t try to deny it. Did you even notice that Bella called Edward Spider-Monkey that first time around? Probably not because you were fangirling. But that happened. And that word should still be crossed out of the english language. Regardless, read your textbooks and novels AGAIN.
Participate in discussion in class
The most effective way of learning is to teach the information you’re being told. By trying to explain the subject to another person or a group of peers, you’re repeating the information mentally and verbally, which is just learning x 2. Yay. Education.