Introduction
How to Study for This Course
In order for you to get the most benefit from this course, you will need to follow the directions in this course guide very carefully. The instructions in the sections below should aid you in completing this course efficiently.
Each lesson is composed of several parts.The first section in each part of a lesson is titled "Objectives." This section contains a list of what you should be learning in each part of the course. After you have finished studying the chapters in your textbook and the discussion section in the course guide, you should be able to do everything in the objectives section. If you can, you should have little or no difficulty in doing well on the tests.
You will note that the objectives and assignment questions clearly correlate. Therefore, it will be a good idea to refer back to the objectives from time to time as you read the required materials.
The discussion is the main section of your course guide. Its purpose is to introduce the lesson and give you additional information. You must know this material as well as the assigned textbook readings. Often, the material in the course guide will have a point of view all its own. You may or may not agree with it; that is not very important. It is important, however, that you think about what you read in both your textbook and in the discussion sections, and that you try to apply the concepts to yourself so that you may live a fuller and richer life. The material in the textbook will probably not be repeated in the discussion sections.
From time to time, a set of study aids will follow the discussion. These activities will tell you to review previous discussion sections and assigned readings in your textbook. Do not omit these; review is extremely important.
After you have read the reading assignment and discussion, you will be completing a portion of the assignment. You will download a word document with all of the assignments for each part in the lesson. Complete each part when you are instructed to do so. You will not submit the Word document for grading until you have completed all parts of the assignment.
Read the instructions carefully. If the question seems to call for more information than you know, it indicates you have not studied the material carefully enough, or you have given the material insufficient thought. You cannot do well without reading and reviewing carefully. Therefore, studying and restudying is highly recommended if you hope to benefit from the course and receive a good grade.
You should try to express your ideas clearly and carefully. Since your independent study instructor cannot see you in person, he or she has no way of interpreting your gestures, so you must say what you mean and say it so well that your instructor will have no doubt about what you mean. The following general study suggestions will help you:
- First, look over the entire lesson, noting the length of the reading assignment and the number and nature of the assignment questions. Set a realistic goal—four days, a week, or two weeks, for example—for completing a particular lesson. Make a schedule of the specific time periods you will devote to studying for this course and stick to it. You should spend approximately one week on each part of this course; however, you may go faster or slower depending on your knowledge of the subject and your study schedule.
- Examine the questions at the end of each textbook chapter, and jot down any ideas you have on them in a notebook before doing the assigned reading. These questions can help you assess the amount and kind of information you already have about this particular subject, as well as guide you in your study of the textbook.
- Read the entire reading assignment and the discussion in this course guide in one sitting. Then reread the material to obtain specific details. Jot down answers to the questions at the end of each chapter in your textbook.
- Many of the questions in the textbook and the assignments are designed to elicit interpretation of the material rather than regurgitation of it. Feel free to use your notebook to record your own opinions and insights as they occur to you. Return to the questions in earlier parts from time to time to review important ideas and to see what you might be able to add to your previous answers.
- When you complete a lesson, prepare a rough draft of your answers to the assignment questions. Organize your material logically and be sure to provide support for your opinions and conclusions. Review your instructor's comments from previous lessons and try to improve your work accordingly.
- Enter your final draft—paying close attention to spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and grammar—directly in the Word document. By writing clearly and concisely, you will give more effective answers.
After completing a part of the lesson, begin work immediately on the next part. Try not to let your work lag for more than a few days or a week. The longer you lay it aside, the harder it will be for you to go back to it.
Include in your notebook notes from the readings, answers to the end-of-chapter questions, and relevant clippings from newspapers or magazines. In some cases, you may want to write the answers to the assignment questions in your notebook and then polish them before typing them into the downloaded assignment document.
