General Notes about Using Textbooks
Each college disciplines has its own language - and you will learn to speak that language. It is good to remember that your instructor is most likely to talk about your textbook and its use. Read the syllabus to see whether or not you are going to read each chapter in order. Use the hints we give you to become familiar with your books. We guarantee it will be worth your time.
When you purchase a new textbook, there are several things you should do automatically. The Dartmouth University Academic Skills Center tells their students to:
I. Look in the front
A. Read and think about the table of contents.
1. This will show you the overall organization of the course and help identify what's important.
2. It will get you interested in the material.
B. Glance over any preface or foreword to see what the book is trying to do. What is the author's purpose?
C. Consider the title. This is often a significant statement about the book's "slant." Do you know the author?
II. Look in the back
A. Glance at the index. This is a listing of subject and pages upon which they can be found.
1. You can tell from the percentage of known and unknown words how difficult the text will be for you.
2. You can see with greater precision what the course is concerned with.
3. You can look up specific items of interest.
4. As a review for tests, you can easily look up unknown items since the page number is given.
B. Is there a glossary listing unknown words and their definitions?
1. The main concern of many courses is to teach the vocabulary of the subject. This is a vital section, not something to be ignored.
2. Make a page tab out of scotch tape, and undertake to study and learn these words during the term. Use the tab for easy reference during time between classes- time which might otherwise be wasted.
C. Determine what other possibly useful materials are in the back- before you need them. You don't have to read them now; just know that they exist .
III. Determine how a typical chapter is constructed.
All of the other chapters will be put together the same way. If one chapter has a summary, they all will; if one chapter has questions, they all will.) Use this knowledge when you have a reading assignment. Structure your approach accordingly.
IV. Don't be afraid to write in your book.
Vocabulary words, condensations of ideas, personal reactions, etc. Interact with the book the way you'd interact with a person. Your texts provide a valuable resource during and after your academic career. You can even take class notes and insert them into the part of your text whether they should reside.
TAKE A TIP FROM US:
IF you absolutely KNOW that you are going to return your book when your course ends,
then use post-its for the notes you need to take and the parts your want to highlight.