Currently a junior in high school and am in AP Language. Was reading The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers and had to do some reading quizzes on it. Failed every single one of them. My teacher asks very specific questions like “What did Mick do with the rock when she was alone listening to music” (the question is not as detailed as it is on the actually test) or “What did Blount say to Simms when they met up. I simply just don’t remember. Now we’re starting on Invisible Man and I don’t want the same thing to happen again of me failing every single reading quiz he has. I read spark notes and lit charts for better understanding of the text but that doesn’t help too much, my teachers questions are just that specific. Also when I read more often then not I don’t actually understand what is going on. Its like im reading but not at the same time. Please help
by Lavender750
3 Comments
These tips are very similar to how I did it in college over 25 years ago.
https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/taking-notes-while-reading/
Someone told me recently that listening to the e-book while reading at the same time can help you digest information better. Although this will take longer!
Most teachers don’t ask such specific questions”gotcha” questions, that sucks. Here’s some study tips: first, see what *she* pays attention to. If she mentions or covers a scene in class, highlight that and review it before the test. Most teachers at least hint at what they consider important.
Second, watch the movie or read the Wikipedia or a good summary *before* reading the book. You want to have a good understanding of the plot, the characters, and the themes before you start. You shouldn’t feel lost as you read, because you should be mentally fitting it into the framework you already have.
Third, use lots of page flags, underline, take notes, etc. When you’re done with a chapter write a little summary and try to fit it into the ongoing story. If you have a spark notes or smth that goes chapter by chapter, do it after each, not at the end. If your teacher is all about themes, note those as you go. If she’s more about details, note those.
These tips aren’t the best for maximizing reading pleasure, but they should improve your scores.