Experience Iowa

My dear readers, I must be honest with you. This midterm season is off to a rough start, and it’s all my fault. I am a terrible studier, and for both of my exams so far, I have put off studying until the night before. Don’t be like me.

I am finally taking classes this semester that give exams! I’m in Intro to Environmental Science (my favorite class this semester so far) and Arts of Africa (also cool, and for my second major, Art History!!). I had my first environmental science midterm last week, and my first art history exam this week. I was allowed to make a study guide for the former and bring that into the exam, but I barely used it. It’s a great study method to make one, and required for that class, but most of the information was already stored in my brain from reviewing my notes, the lecture notes/slides, and the textbook while making my study guide. For my art history exam, my professor provided a study guide, but we were not allowed to bring it out during the exam.

In both study guides, I filled out a lot of vocabulary. In art history, however, the focus is more on the narratives and culture surrounding a particular object, in addition to its creator, name, and time period. When those facts didn’t come quickly to me when looking at a particular object, I added them to the study guide. Then, I went back through and wrote down what I was still unfamiliar with or did not understand a second time completely, in a different color. Finally, if something still wasn’t sticking in my head as well as I wanted it to, I rewrote or wrote over it in a third color. I couldn’t tell you why I did this or why it helped, but I felt pretty confident on the exam!

For Environmental Science, I went through my (handwritten!!) notes with a friend, and we decided what was important. This also allowed us to discuss concepts we weren’t confident about and make sure we both had everything in our personal notes. Then, I went back and wrote down everything I highlighted. Unfortunately, I did not read the rubric beforehand, and it was not as organized as my TA would have liked, which reflected in my grade. Unrelated to exams but related to rubrics, I didn’t read the rubric for a Rhetoric essay recently and came to class with a draft of a research paper for workshopping. Turns out, we needed to write a rhetorical analysis of our sources. I had to scrap all my work and rewrite an (excessively long) draft in two days. So, kids, read your rubrics.

Anyways…

Because I could use my environmental science study guide on the exam, I was less concerned with memorization than for my art history exam. Looking back now, though, my methods for both exams were quite similar. I handwrite my notes for both classes, which I think helps with retention off the bat. Then I reviewed and rewrote those notes at least once. Rewriting doesn’t have to take the form of a study guide, either. It can be flashcards and flow charts, too. Teaching a friend is also useful because they can ask questions and prompt more comprehensive answers. Studying with friends is definitely a recipe for distraction, though. When my friend and I went through my notes, we ran into some other friends, and we all probably chatted for an hour. The work did get done, but not very expeditiously😅

To wrap up this installation of my How To: series, which is not much of an installation at all because I am not good at studying, I want to say that it is important to give yourself time. This past week, I’ve either been staying up ridiculously late to finish my homework or not getting it done at all. I stayed up very late to study for my art history exam (which is why a homework assignment didn’t get done, whoops), and I procrastinated a scholarship so hard that I didn’t get it in until 8 minutes before the deadline. This has resulted in me being tired and hungry, which is a deadly combo to say the least. I make all my own meals, so if all my time is used to study, none is left to, y’know, feed myself. Being tired and hungry leads to bad moods, low motivation, and thus more exhaustion and hunger because I don’t want to do my homework or cook!! At some point, though, you just have to put your foot down and stop the cycle. So I went to bed at 9 pm last night. It was like magic. I woke up at 7:30 and made breakfast, lunch, and prepped soup ingredients for tomorrow. It’s also 50 degrees outside and sunny, and I feel ready to knock out all of my homework so that next week goes much, much better. 

At school, you will be much happier and healthier if you pace yourself and give yourself time to do your work. That’s what I’m going to be working on this semester, and if I figure out anything good, you all will be the first to know!

And with that, I bid you adieu 🙂

Kiah<3