Sunday, July 26, 2015

Study Skills: Following Directions

Study Skills: Following Directions


What’s the most important part of doing your assignments, taking tests, taking prescription medicine, paying your taxes, filling out job applications and putting together furniture? Following directions!


Many of us like to just “wing it”-- start in on something without reading the instructions. For some things, this is a great approach. BUT for other things, the difference between following the directions and not can be life and death.


Don’t risk it! Practice reading all the directions now!


So how do you read directions well?


Start by looking at the big picture. Notice all of the writing on a text. Is there a title? Is there fine print? Is there a list? Is there a front and a back?


Then, BEFORE YOU START, READ EVERYTHING.


Then, read it again, CAREFULLY. Make sure you understand exactly what it is you need to do.


If you’re reading a prescription bottle, don’t take the medicine until you’ve read all the directions. If you’re taking a test, don’t answer the test question until you’ve read all the answers.


So that’s it! That’s the key! Learn to follow directions by
  • looking at the big picture
  • read everything first
  • read the directions again carefully before beginning.


Go take the quiz to make sure you know how to follow directions.

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