Smart Study Philosophy

Chapter One: Introduction

The Smart Study Secrets

The diagram below describes the different Smart Study elements which are detailed within this guide. Each has its own unique part to play in a forceful and complete approach to study. The beginning chapters are devoted to preparing your mind and attitude for study so that you understand what the concept of study is and what is required of you mentally to succeed. The later chapters focus on the practical nature of study itself and how best to accomplish the marks that you desire. Combined they constitute the Smart Study Philosophy.

Diagram: The Smart Study Philosophy

I have always found that information is often most easily understood, remembered and put into practice when it is in a top 10 format. To this end I have tried to include a top 10 in each of the most important Smart Study areas in this guide. If nothing else it is these top 10 lists which you can most easily focus your mind on when applying the learning’s contained within this book.

Diagram: Smart Study Top 10 Tips

I have also included two reference lists:

• Common Essay Question Descriptors


• Useful Language for Essay Construction

You can use these two lists in an effort to improve upon your essay writing abilities.

I hope you find this Smart Study Guide useful in all your study endeavours. The following chapters are designed to help make your study skills second to none.

Hopes and Dreams

This aim of this book is to improve upon your understanding of what study is and how to harness your study time most effectively to maximise your hours spent learning. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in Primary School, Junior High, High School, College, University or some form of adult education, the lessons and observations contained within this book are designed to help you improve your approach to study and learning in general.

It has always struck me as strange that, while each of us is taught to read and write from a very young age, we are never really taught how to study. When I say study I am referring to one’s ability to learn, understand and analyse information so that you can put that knowledge to use, whether that be in a test, essay or assignment. Ideally, each of us would be exposed to a subject dedicated to the science of learning itself in our early years of schooling. Unfortunately, this is not the case and it is something that is left up to the individual student to work out for themselves. It’s with this in mind that I have decided to put in writing all the strategies, methodologies and Smart Study Secrets that have worked for me as a High School, Undergraduate and Postgraduate student.

One of this guide’s key learning’s is that it’s not necessarily how hard or how long you study but how smart you study. By applying the lessons contained within this guide you should be able to make your time count for more than you might have otherwise. Some students devote lots and lots of time and effort to their studies and do not always get the results that they deserve. This is simply because there are elements of their study strategy and methodology which could be improved upon.

Believe me, I have experienced the whole spectrum of study ups and downs. Whether you’re suffering from information overload, poor time management skills or simply not remembering the information, the unfortunate truth is that blind effort is not usually enough. This guide will give you some inside information on how to get smart about study and make your effort count for more.

The Nature of Study

It is now more important than ever for students of all disciplines and ages to understand how to study effectively. This is due to a number of reasons, including the fact that companies are demanding higher levels of education and more qualifications, our jobs are taking up more of our time and the global workforce is becoming more competitive with the rise of new economies such as China and India. These trends are set to continue and highlight the importance of a robust and knowledgeable approach to education and study in modern society.

The first thing to note is that the academic skills you master will have a powerful bearing upon your career which, in turn, determines how much money you can make. It has been proven that the more time spent in study the greater your earning potential. For example, a 2005 US Census showed that the average yearly earnings for someone on a Bachelor’s Degree are US$53,693, while for a Graduate Degree it is US$71,918. The difference is even more marked for those that don’t finish High School; they can expect just US$22,138 a year. The lessons are the same for Canada, Europe and Australia. With this in mind, if making money and career success is important to you, the need to master effective study skills becomes obvious.

The second thing to note is that more and more people are taking the path to higher education. For example, in the US the 2000 Census shows that 15.5% of people over 25 had a Bachelor’s Degree. Compare this with 17.2% in 2005. In just five years the number of people with a Bachelors Degree increased by 3,212,162. The difference is even more marked when you include those attaining qualifications higher than a Bachelors. This trend is due to continue with more and more people entering tertiary education every year. The result is that the requirements for success in the workforce are tougher than ever before.

The third and final thing to note is that we have less time than ever before. For many of us, study must go hand in hand with a full or part time job. We commute longer hours, take shorter breaks and generally have more competing pressures on our time. This is why developing skills devoted towards studying smarter instead of longer are so important.

Combine these three points and it paints a fairly serious and stressful picture. Yet, it is my belief that the mind’s ability to learn far outstrips the combined force of the three points described above. That brings me to the core teachings of this guide in which I detail all the Smart Study Secrets I have learned over the years in an effort to aid you in your approach to study and to maximise your time spent learning.

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