How many of you guys highlight your textbook?

[Redemption]

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Well, I have learned that taking notes from the book is very time consuming and in my opinion, inefficient. I am now considering highlighting the vital information in the textbook, but have not done so yet. So I need your guys' input.

What is your opinion on this? Is it better to read, take lecture notes, and "highlight"; or just read the material and only take notes during class lectures?

Thank you!


I am new to the forums by the way. Hello. =)

 

[Iso4ane]

Well, I have learned that taking notes from the book is very time consuming and in my opinion, inefficient. I am now considering highlighting the vital information read in the textbook, but have not done so yet. So I need your guys input.

What is your opinion on this? Is it better to read, take lecture notes, and "highlight"; or just read the material and only take notes during class lectures?

Thank you!


I am new to the forums by the way. Hello. =)

Highlighter? Textbook? What are those things..?

JK, for I believe that highlighting isn't enough. If it is absolutely required for you to read the text, cause in some classes all test material is lecture based, maybe could could highlight on your first pass through, but I like to rewrite, or at least in my head, reword the important parts in a way you can understand and easily memorize.

However, you could always just remember the major points, and from there be able to work out the smaller details. Sure you may not be able to recall info as quickly as other people, but you in the end you need to remember lot less stuff. For example, I took physics after calculus, and I and for a long time I would not know the position equation (x=(1/2)at^2+vt+x0), but I knew acceleration was constant, and after a little quick intergrating I could get it without memoriing it. I like to study this way, but it doesn't work for everyone.

 

[metallica81788]

I can't highlight my new books because I have some OCD about writing in books, especially new ones.

I do take lecture notes if I am paying attention. It really all depends on the class, since for many the book isn't necessary at all.

 

[twelvetigers]

I highlight if I'm reading for the first time, but plan to go back over the material and type/write a summary or outline - makes it easier to focus in on the key points. Otherwise, highlighting doesn't do much good IMO.

 

[FloatOn]

I can't highlight my new books because I have some OCD about writing in books, especially new ones.

I only highlight if the book is used AND I'll be using it for 2 semesters.

So I have found throughout my 3.5 glorious years of college that reading the textbook and taking notes from it are a waste of time...for any of my classes. I would say half the time you don't even need the textbook. Maybe it's because most of my classes are straight-up lecture: if you're conscious during class and jotting down the important points, that'll be enough to supplement the professor's notes.

 

[J ROD]

I just read my Powerpoints...

 

[Stewie32]

I am so uptight about the condition of my books. I don't highlight, write in, or bend the pages of the book (if I can help it). In addition, I don't think highlighting would be very useful for me because I would just highlight everything. I think writing/typing it out makes me focus on what is truly important in that particular passage.

 

[NickNaylor]

I can't highlight my new books because I have some OCD about writing in books, especially new ones.

I do take lecture notes if I am paying attention. It really all depends on the class, since for many the book isn't necessary at all.

👍

 

[oran berry]

You omitted quite a few poll options.

Personally highlighting and lectures do nothing for me. Instead, all I need to do is read it twice. Once to get digest the material, another time to solidify it. Then I have it memorized. Maaaaybe if it's a lot of material I will make a notepad file of important definitions and concepts.

 

[whimsical]

I highlight my books, take notes in class, and if necessary I annotate my lecture notes with tidbits from the book that are important.

I think taking notes from the book takes up too much time, but I also just can't stare at the words on the page and get anything from them. Hence the highlighting. Keeps me focused.

 

[whimsical]

I can't highlight my new books because I have some OCD about writing in books, especially new ones.

I can only highlight because I do it very neatly... Guess we're all a little neurotic in our own ways.

 

[apumic]

Everyone's needs are different. If I've learned anything from tutoring and teaching, it's that we all have different needs and what works for me probably won't for you (and vice versa). Personally, I take a few strategic notes each lecture (usually <1 pg) and read only if necessary for that course. Most people would not succeed if they followed my strategy unless they figured out the key to it -- understanding what the prof considers important and is will place on the test.

 

[Hoody]

I make notes from the book. Rarely do I attend lectures.



No highlighting for me (or very rarely).

 

[RevMD]

I make notes from the book. Rarely do I attend lectures.

No highlighting for me (or very rarely).

That makes two of us. Some classes just rehash stuff straight from the book without actually adding anything useful. So, I find it easier to skip lecture (saves time and lets me 😴 in) and just to read the book once to digest. One week before midterm, I simply hand-copy notes of all the lecture slides and skim the readings for reviewing major concepts. Then I am good to go.

Also, highlighting makes any book impossible to resell.

 

[Aljazera]

I don't study.

 

[Hoody]

I don't study.

You're one of those lucky ones aren't you. Damn you!

 

[jvesco22]

I can't highlight my new books because I have some OCD about writing in books, especially new ones.

I do take lecture notes if I am paying attention. It really all depends on the class, since for many the book isn't necessary at all.

I feel the same way.

 

[Narmerguy]

You omitted quite a few poll options.

Personally highlighting and lectures do nothing for me. Instead, all I need to do is read it twice. Once to get digest the material, another time to solidify it. Then I have it memorized. Maaaaybe if it's a lot of material I will make a notepad file of important definitions and concepts.

Exactly. Every single one of those options involves taking notes at lecture...which I don't do. I sit and listen during lecture but it's usually to condensed/redundant for the lectures to be useful. If something isn't good enough in the textbook, I will usually go to the professors office hours and ask him/her to explain it directly. However, I find that most textbooks are written well enough that I can learn directly from them. (with the GROSS exception of my math book from last section. Goodness that was one poorly written piece of slop)

 

[Redemption]

Exactly. Every single one of those options involves taking notes at lecture...which I don't do. I sit and listen during lecture but it's usually to condensed/redundant for the lectures to be useful. If something isn't good enough in the textbook, I will usually go to the professors office hours and ask him/her to explain it directly. However, I find that most textbooks are written well enough that I can learn directly from them. (with the GROSS exception of my math book from last section. Goodness that was one poorly written piece of slop)

Yes, I have noticed and I was in a rush. I should have left the "other" option just in case. I also realize option 2 and 4 are the same thing, heh...

I agree about refraining from taking notes during class, from experience taking notes during class was distracting; I was so busy deciding what to jot down that I wasn't paying attention or had the time to think about what she had to say. There's a reason why they have power points available to you online.

I also am still debating whether or not I should read and highlight then pay attention to the highlighted text, or just read,read,read.

 

[mechanictodr]

Highlighters... seriously! There should be a thread started about how many people really dislike the idea of highlighters and the types of people who use them.

 

[Redemption]

Highlighters... seriously! There should be a thread started about how many people really dislike the idea of highlighters and the types of people who use them.

Is it still the same "dislike" with underlining material with a pencil/pen?

 

[TehDoc]

I stare in class and highlight important details the same night. There's also power point but it's easier to remember when highlighting while reading and learning it for the first time.

 

[Practitioner]

Pay attention in class if I attend, which is rarely. Otherwise read carefully ensuring I "get the point".

Make quick bullet points on key ideas.

Then meet in study group and try to summarize ideas referencing the book.
Seek instructor help in office meeting on issues that confuse.

No highlighting. When I read key points the mental process isn't to actually memorize them as much as it is making a mental note where in the book or on the page I read about the key idea. coming back to it is a process of filtering my thoughts. Once I try to teach/summarize an idea and make a couple mistakes and try to make it make sense as I explain it, it'll stick quite well.

Teaching is the best way to learn imo. Always help your juniors cover material you've done before and study with peers to review material you're going through.

 

[Tolip]

I put as much color down in books and in syllabi as possible.

 

[mipp0]

Highlight? Oh man, who the heck reads their textbooks these days?

What? You kids can't NOT READ and NOT GO TO LECTURE and still pull off A's at top tier universities like I can?

 

[Hoody]

What? You kids can't NOT

No, no I can't not.

 

[Jorriss]

I can't highlight my new books because I have some OCD about writing in books, especially new ones.

This. I'm really paranoid at trying to keep new books in super good condition.

 

[twelvetigers]

It has to be yellow highlighter too, by the way. Those other colors are just too much. Also, if it bleeds through, THAT bothers me a lot, so I stop.

 

[JoshUNCW]

I barely read my non-computer science text books. Just go to the lectures and take notes there. Tests are generally from the lectures anyways.

 

[apumic]

I don't study.

Haha... I can pull that off and often do as well but I try not to admit it. Kinda makes other people hate you (assuming you still pull those A's anyway).

 

[Redemption]

bump

 

[Aljazera]

Seriously, if its not math based... you would be surprised what you retain from listening to the lecturer rather than writing/texting/highlighting like a fairy.

 

[AcademicTerror]

Yeah what Practioner said is pretty much true. When you can teach others info then that means you understand the stuff pretty well. I tutor/help kids in my class, take notes from the book+lecture and sometimes take notes in a book (like for english). Also I add notes that I take from the book onto my lecutre notes and vice versa= annotating

I think all you have to do is repeat and repeat and keep repeating if you wanna learn/remember something

 

[s1lver]

Not me. I rent all my books so I can't highlight anything (I put little check marks though 😀).

 

[Arjuna]

Well, I have learned that taking notes from the book is very time consuming and in my opinion, inefficient. I am now considering highlighting the vital information in the textbook, but have not done so yet. So I need your guys' input.

What is your opinion on this? Is it better to read, take lecture notes, and "highlight"; or just read the material and only take notes during class lectures?

Thank you!


I am new to the forums by the way. Hello. =)

Highlighting is a highly unproductive activity, that won't get you anywhere, except it might lower the resell value of your textbook, come the end of the semester. I also find it really funny how people highlight entire paragraphs or sometimes, entire pages (!). The point of it is to remember the important things, but why highlight when you can write it down? Plus, I think students who have a tendency to highlight, do so obsessively and highlight everything in sight. It defeats the purpose.

I find that in upper level classes, especially in science courses, the textbook is used less and less as an original source for taking notes, but rather as an additional source to expand upon things learned in lecture. If you take notes in lecture, and record them, you should be fine.

 

[chman]

(Lecture notes) + (Book notes) -(useless information) = Note cards