Social Studies 11

Index

How to Explore an Issue Efficiently

- 10 Tips for Exploring Lessons Fast and Well

- 10 Tips for Exploring Assignments Fast and Well

- 7 Tips for Exploring Projects Fast and Well

- 7 steps to Acing the Tests

1. Notice that almost all the lessons have the same structure. Once you learn how to study a lesson efficiently, you can apply the skill to almost every lesson.

2. You will find that you will learn well if you work quickly. Make up your mind to stay focussed on the chapter and lesson—for about 15 minutes.

3. Decide to check off each direction in the lesson as soon as you have done the task. It's an easy way to keep motivated.

4. Notice the structure of the first page of each lesson. It consists of the three essential steps in effective learning:
   • Prepare to learn.

   • Acquire the learning.

   • Recall what you have learned.

5. Notice how you prepare to learn. You read the chapter's "Focussing on the Issue" and ask yourself questions, including the question at the end of "Focussing on the Issue." In the short term, that will help you to do well in the lesson. In the longer term, it will help you to do well on tests.

6. Notice how you acquire the learning. You read to fill out the bit of knowledge you picked up in "Focussing on the Issue" and to answer the question. It's best to read fairly quickly but without skipping any content. What you can skip is the questions in the textbook chapter, since you will be doing only the questions in the course lesson. You may want to look up some of the glossary words in the glossary at the back of the book. It can also be useful to have a dictionary and a globe or world map available for reference.

7. Notice how you recall what you have learned. The matching quiz in which you fill in the blanks is actually an interactive recitation. It is a fast way to go over the main points of the chapter. While you are doing it, you will usually answer the "Focussing on the Issue" question. You will then review by checking your answers in the Answer Key in the module guidebook (unless you are sure you have them all right). Finally, it's a good idea to answer the "Focussing on the Issue" question again in your mind—in a minute or less.

8. Notice the structure of Activity 2 in each lesson. It's a fast-moving way to develop skills. You may not always see how it fits into the big picture, but the course was planned in such a way that all those activities together cover the required "skills and processes" outcomes for Social Studies 11. Together, they give you a basic set of skills for exploring issues with clear thinking. Together, they also prepare you for success in the assignments, projects, and tests—and beyond. In Activity 2, be fast but not sloppy, and do take enough time to think about the advice in the Answer Key.

9. Notice the "Taking It Further" suggestions. They are not requirements, and you won't have time to do them within the fifteen minutes for the lesson. They are good starting points for Issues Log entries and/or Issues Discussion.

10. At the end of each lesson, do a quick evaluation of your study. Notice what you are doing well. That way, you will soon be doing everything well.