HOW TO BECOME A STRAIGHT A STUDENT: THE UNCONVENTIONAL STRATEGIES REAL

COLLEGE STUDENTS USE TO SCORE HIGH WHILE STUDYING LESS

By: Cal Newport (2017) Start Reading: June 14, 2020
Published By: Broadway Books Finish Reading: June 24, 2020

“If new techniques work, keep them. If they fail, replace them with something else.”
-How to Become a Straight A Student (pg. 16)
PART 1: STUDY BASICS
Pseudo-worker – someone who feels or looks like someone is working hard; someone who places
himself at a distracting environment and expects to get the work done; someone
who thinks they are at work - it’s how you do it and your friends do it.
Work accomplished = time spent x intensity of focus
Pseudo-worker work accomplished = long time spent x low intensity of focus
Straight A Student work accomplished = short time spent x high intensity of focus
Basic skills necessary:

 Time management
 Dealing with procrastination
 Managing distractions

STEP 1: MANAGE YOUR TIME IN FIVE MINUTES A DAY

What you need:
 Digital Calendar
 List (any paper)
System:
(1) Jot down the new tasks and assignments on your list. BE PESSIMISTIC.
(2) Transfer what you wrote in your calendar. Manage your day
(a) Write the deadlines on appropriate dates. what you
(b) Write to-do’s on the days you want to complete the task. realistically can
(c) Move your undone task to a new date on your calendar. finish.
(3) Junk your yesterday list.
(4) Take a couple of minutes to plan your day
(a) Label each of your to-do’s with a specific time period to complete it.
(b) Group many light tasks into one big block.
(c) Leave plenty of time for breaks.
(d) End your day at appropriate hour.
Sample Format:
Today’s Schedule
Tuesday – 1/24/06

Today’s Schedule Things to Remember

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STEP 2: DECLARE WAR ON PROCRASTINATION TRUST THEM.
How to sidestep this unavoidable urge to procrastinate. Put them into
practice. Make
Five Anti – Procrastination Battle Plans them into a habit.

1. Keep a work progress journal

What you need:
 Cheap Spiral notebook
System:
(1) Jot down the date and the important tasks needed to get done.
(2) At the end of the day, write what you accomplished and not, if not, tell the reason why.
Your ego won’t like this truth, so it will lack-start your motivation in an effort to avoid it.

2. Feed the machine

Treat your brain like a machine, feed it for energy. Low energy tingles you to procrastinate.
Rules to maximize your mental energy:
 Drink water constantly
 Monitor your caffeine intake
 Treat food as source of energy, not satisfaction
 Eat vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, proteins, peanuts or natural granola bars
 Don’t skip meals

3. Make an event out of the worst tasks

System:
(1) Find an out-of-the-way restaurant, coffee shop or bookstore café. Make it long distance
from your campus.
(2) Tell your friends that you will be gone at a specific time and how horrible you are and you
are working with.
The more people who know, the harder it is to cancel.

4. Build a routine
System:
(1) Identify an hour-free on your weekdays.
To build a routine in which you use the same reserved time slot each week to do the same
thing. Transforming these slices of work into a habit.
(2) Schedule a task that you will do every time for a week.

5. Choose your hard days

System:
(1) Plan what is seemingly a hard days in advance.
(2) Try adding non-academic activities before and after these days.
(3) Prepare yourself mentally, tell your friends about hard days, and unable to communicate
to you that days.

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 BE EFFICIENT.
STEP 3: CHOOSE WHEN, WHERE AND HOW LONG
Become a ghost
 When should you study? during the day – like
 Where should you go to study? an Academic Ninja.
 How long should you study?

When is the best time to study? Early.

Night time is not the best time to study:
 Not as long as you think.
 Not as free as you think.
 Your body wants to wind down.

Where should you study? In isolation.

Have a multiple study spots:
 To know nearby study spots
 Prevents you from burning out.

How long should you study? Half to an hour.

No more than one hour at a time without break. Study for an hour, then take 5 to 10 minutes
break, then go back studying.

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PART 2: QUIZZES AND EXAMS
“A study system is only as useful as your ability to adapt it to your unique situation.”

Reject rote review – reading and rereading of assignments and notes as many time as possible.

Quizzes vs. Exams

Worth less than 15% worth more than 15%
5% or less of your grades more than 5% of your grades

STEP 1: TAKE SMART NOTES

Always attend classes.

Gathering the Right Materials

What you need:
 Laptop
 Pen and paper
 Folder – have it each class. This will serve as your storage for assignments, quizzes, exams,
activities and reading excerpts. Make sure that papers are labelled with dates.

Taking Smart Notes in Nontechnical Course (What’s the Big Idea?)

Nontechnical course – courses/subjects that does not use mathematical formulas and computer
codes – English, Philosophy, Social Science etc.

Key idea: Identify the big ideas.

Format your Notes Aggressively “Your notes are for you

 Date your notes and put the title. and for you alone.”
 Make it readable. -Lee
 Highlight the word if defining.
 Use shortcuts (ex., etc., ff.)

Key: It will easily help you identify the important concepts.

Capture Big Ideas by Using the Question/Evidence/Conclusion Structure

 Do not write what the professor says word by word
 Follow:
Question
Evidence
Conclusion
 Record conclusions, clarify the questions and add illustrative formatting
to pieces of evidences.

Taking Smart Notes in Technical Courses (Where’s the Problem?)

Technical courses – courses/subjects that uses mathematical formulas and computer codes

Idea: Record as many sample problems as possible.

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 Don’t Read your Assignments, but do keep them Handy
 Take your assigned readings at class.

Prioritize your Note-Taking

1. Record the question statement and answers.
2. Question the following.
3. Record the steps of the sample problem. Focus in the beginning sample.
4. Annotate the steps.

STEP 2: DEMOTE YOUR ASSIGNMENTS

Work Constantly
 Don’t do assignments before the deadline.
 Break your assignments into chunks.
 If you have spare time, start getting ahead.

Don’t Read Everything

 Don’t do all of your reading, as possible.
 Always read the assignments from favoured sources.
 Which readings to review, skip or skim:
o Readings that make an argument and more important than;
o Readings that describe an event of person, which are more important than;
o Readings that only provide contexts

Confirming your Decision

Take Smart Notes on your Favoured Reading Assignments

 Use question/evidence/conclusion
 Try taking notes on lectures by your computer
 Carefully read the beginning of the assignment. Question is different from the thesis
statement.
 Look for the author’s conclusion (the thesis statement)
o Check the first few paragraphs and final few paragraphs
 Skim the entire reading and don’t make notes
Mark solid examples that supports the author’s conclusions, as the answer to the question.
 Go back to your check marks (done when skimming) record a concise summary of the
points on your notes. Label these points of evidences with page numbers.

Don’t Work Alone on Problem Sets

 Divide your problem set to chunks.
 Work with groups:
o With the same level of skills
o Meet with them two-to-three days before the deadline
 Use available resources to get unstuck.

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Solve Problems on the Go
1) Familiarize yourself with sample problems.
 Make sure you understand what is being asked.
 Review your notes
2) Solve the problem in the most obvious way
 If you fail, at least you know what makes it hard.
3) Counterintuitive
 Think the problem in between other activities – taking a shower, waiting in
dining hall or walking
4) If you come across a solution schedule more time to go back to problem set.

Write Solutions Right the First Time

 Record the solutions clearly the first time you write them down

STEP 3: MARSHAL YOUR RESOURCES

 If you’re studying hard, then you have done something wrong.
 Organize your material intelligently.
 Perform a targeted review of this material.

Define the Challenge

 To define the scope of the exam:
o Which lectures and reading assignments (or problem sets) are fair game?
o What type of questions will there be, and how many of each?
o Is the exam open note or open book?
o Will formulas be provided or not?
o How much time will be available?
 Ask your professor about the details of the exam.

Build a Study Guide (Nontechnical Course)

1) Print out your notes and pages covered.
2) Separate your notes and pages covered into a general topic.
3) Review.

Construct a Mega-Problem Set (Technical Course)

 Keep your problem assignments.
 Supplement each problem with sample problems:
1) Match the lecture to the problem set that covers the same material.
2) Copy the sample problems from these lecture notes onto a blank sheet of paper. Copy
the question and answer only.
3) Label the blank sheet of paper with the date of the lecture.
4) Fasten the sheet to the pr0blem set you matched it to in step 1.
 Augment your mega-problem sets with technical explanation of the equations.
Purpose: To identify if you understand the technicality of the topic or not.
 Print out sample review exams by the professor.

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Prepare Memorization Aids
 Make flashcards, as much as possible, one week from your target review schedule.

Schedule your Organization Wisely

 Separate the organization time and review of materials.

STEP 4: CONQUER THE MATERIAL

Trust the Quiz-and-Recall Method

 Review your notes/lesson
 Try to explain it using your own words
 Repetitive reading is not effective.

Using the Quiz-and-recall Method for Nontechnical Courses

1) Construct a practice quiz for each chapters in your study guide.
 For each questions, articulate the matching conclusion and provide some
highlights in your supporting evidence.
 Create a summary.
o Speak it out loud.
o Write your answer on physical paper.
2) Put a little check marks on your questions that you had trouble.
3) Take a break.
4) Repeat the step 1, review only the check marks.

Key: Efficiency. Less amount to concepts understood, more amount to troubled concepts.

Using the Quiz-and-Recall Method for Technical Courses

1) Create a technical explanation questions – the general concepts.
2) Put a little check marks on items you do not understand.
3) Take a break.
4) Run through the process (these with little check marks only).
5) Explain it by your own words.
6) Solve the sample problems.
7) Explain how you got the answers.

Memorize Over Time

 Separate the task of memorizing from your other review.
 Memorize for only an hour or two hours a day.

STEP 5: INVEST IN “ACADEMIC DISASTER INSURANCE”

Academic Disaster – unable to answer a question and you’re starting to loss time and panic
creeps in during exam.
Don’t believe that academic disaster is unavoidable.

Eliminate your Question Marks

 Have attention to your question marks.

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  Knock-off the question mark as soon as they come.

Key: Eliminate the question marks by starting this process before the exams.

(a) Ask question during class

 The more question marks you eliminate on the spot, the less work you will have
to do later.
(b) Develop the habit of talking to your professor briefly after class
 You are not brownnosers- students who talk about the part of the subject they
find interesting or “brilliant” thought.
(c) Ask classmates.
(d) Come prepared to exam review sessions (if offered).

Goal: To eliminate all question marks without adding any study time. To reduce the topic you do
not understand before the studying begins.

STEP 6: PROVIDE “A” ANSWERS Neatness doesn’t

Potential pitfalls during exams: count on exams; it is
(1) Running out of time; the content that
(2) Providing answers that don’t fully understand the question matters.

FIVE-KEY STRATEGIES:

1. Review First, Answer Questions Later

 Read through the exam first.
o Familiarize you with the length
o Difficulty of what is ahead
 It will help you relax and break the tension.

2. Build a Time Budget

How:
(1) Subtract ten minutes to the allotted time.
(2) Divide the amount by the number of questions.

3. Proceed from Easy to Hard

 It focuses your energy on the questions you know the most about.
 It, also, gives you a better chance of conquering the more difficult one.

4. Outline Essays
 Jot down a quick outline:
(1) Reread the question carefully.
(2) Underline the mini-questions from the essay question.
(3) Jot down the points you recall that answer the questions.
(4) Number the points in order that you want to present them.

5. Check your Work

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PART 3: ESSAYS AND PAPERS

Research Papers vs. Critical Analysis Essays

It requires you to choose a topic It requires you to analyse
within provided parameters and one or more of your
then devise an original thesis class reading assignments.
relevant to your topic.

STEP 1: TARGET A TITILLATING TOPIC

Topic is not equivalent to thesis statement.

Topic vs. Thesis statement

Describes an interesting subject Presents an interesting specific argument
or an area of observation. about that subject of observation.

Choosing A Research Paper Topic

 Take note of reading assignment or interesting question that grabs your interest, that
is, open area of research.
 If you have trouble choosing a topic:
1) Approach your professor and ask for recommended readings.
2) Read your primary resources carefully.

Key: The more you care you take during this first step, the easier the rest of the paper writing
process will be.

STEP 2: CONDUCT A THESIS-HUNTING EXPEDITION A great thesis

characteristics:
Critical analysis essay “…provocative, nuances,
 Review both the reading sets and lecture notes direct and inclusive…”
Smart Student’s Goals:
(1) Find an interesting thesis that can be supported within the scope of the assignments.
(2) Minimize the time required to conduct this search.

Start General, Then Move One Layer Deep

1) Begin with basic sources

2) Examine the list of books and articles cited in the relevant sections of your general
sources.
Small observations can lead to large interesting discussions.

STEP 3: SEEK A SECOND OPINION

 Talk to your professor and discuss your targeted thesis, or ask the followings:
1) Is your idea appropriate for the assignment?
2) Does it cover too much?
3) Is it too simple?

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STEP 4: RESEARCH LIKE A MACHINE

Find Sources
Two types of sources:
 General – overview of your topic
 Specific – specific arguments

How to Find Specific Sources

1) Start from general view of the topic (i.e. Bibliographies)

 Make use of library
2) Search the specific sources from your general sources.

Search Tactic #1: Break up your query into general chunks.

Search Tactic #2: Use journal databases
 Consider “article database researches (like JSTOR) on the specific topic.
Search Tactic #3: When in doubt, Google
 Do not cite web sites.
Search Tactic #4: Ask a librarian

Make A Personal Copies of All Sources

 Make a photocopy or printout of all relevant material.
 Create your own personal hard copy of all sources.
Advantages of having hard copy:
1) It is portable.
2) The information is more accessible.
Note:
1. Label each photocopy with the name of the book, the author(s), the publisher and its
location, and the copyright date.
2. Photocopy the source’s bibliography.

Annotate the Material

 Annotate your sources with a concise description of the important information they
contain.
 Skim your resources.
 Jot down relevant topic, definition, idea or opinion with page number and a quick
description.

Decide if you’re Done

 The Research Termination Determination procedure:
(1) List the topics (specific questions, facts, or accounts from your research) that are crucial
to support your thesis.
(2) List the topics that might help you support your thesis.
(3) Have two good sources for each of the topics from #1 and one good source from #2.
 Construct your list of “crucial” and “might help” topics.

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STEP 5: CRAFT A POWERFUL STORY

Formulate your Argument

1) Draw from previous work on the same topic to define the context for the discussion.
2) Introduce a thesis and carefully spell out how it relates to the existing work on similar
issues.
3) Support the thesis with careful reasoning and references to existing arguments, evidences
and primary sources.
4) Introduce some final prognostications about extending the argument and its potential
impact on the field as a whole.

Tips to Formulate your Argument:

1. Put yourself in the right mindset.
2. Grab your source material from previous steps.
3. Take a break.

Constructing an Outline
Create a topic skeleton.
Two common mistakes:
 Under-outlining - lacking enough detail
 Over-outlining

Filling in the Details of your Topic Outline

By this time, you finish your topic skeleton and find sources for all of the unsupported topic. The
only thing to do is filling in the supporting details.
Separate the different components of paper construction.

STEP 6: CONSULT YOUR EXPERT PANEL

Choosing your Expert Panel

 Essays – Yourself alone.
 Medium-size critical essay – you need at least two people.
 Major term paper – Half a dozen.

Who should sit on your panel?

 Professor
 Smart friends

STEP 7: WRITE WITHOUT THE AGONY

 Put your words on paper.

Separate your Writing from the Steps that Come Before and After

Write in Quiet Isolation

Key: Writing is the most demanding intellectual activity you do.

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Follow your Outline and Move Slowly
 Use your outline to direct your writing, setting up, copying and pasting quotes directly
onto your paper when needed.

STEP 8: FIX, DON’T FIXATE

The Argument Adjustment Pass

 Take one paragraph at a time.
 Clarify the awkward sentences.
 Cut the repeating explanation.
 Add transition, if it lacks any.

The Out Loud Pass

1) Print-out your paper.
2) Read your paper out-loud, as if having a speech.

Key: To catch typos or strange wording.

The Sanity Pass

The goal is two-fold:
1. Catches stray mistakes.
2. Provides closure on your paper.

Notes by:
Kim Simbrano

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