Now you have the books... how do you get started?
You have received the textbooks and the assignments instructions...
You are sitting at your desk and then, what?
- 1. Start reading "Text 1"
Read the assigned textbooks carefully, concentrating on the topics that require more thinking and understanding. Start reading the book listed as "Text 1" without concentrating too much on the details. Get a general idea of its contents, and then apply the reading and comprehension techniques explained in this guide (for instance, highlighting central ideas). At times, if you find a concept hard to understand, keep reading – your doubts will probably clear up on following pages.
- 2. Index of concepts / Table of contents
While you read, take notes on the ideas that catch your attention, on the relationships between different concepts and the way they correspond with your own opinions. Instead of memorizing the goal is to end your reading with a written index of the main concepts. This written record should not just summarize or sketch the book's main issues, but rather reflect the interaction between those concepts and your own thinking; in other words, a record of how you interpret the points of the book. As you read on and jot down your thoughts and opinions, consider how to match these key concepts to your own experience in order to improve the quality of your personal and professional life. Take a brief note of this as well.
- 3. Report draft writing of Text 1
Use the notes taken during step 2 and develop those key concepts in writing trying to explain them in a more coherent and organized style. Base your report on your notes and avoid opening the book as much as possible except for quick and specific reference or data (figures, dates, etc.) that you find hard to remember.
- 4. Review reading of Text 1.
Review Text 1 again, concentrating on the sections highlighted during the first reading. Contrast the explanations from your report draft with the explanations provided in the text. Analyze any differences found and sharpen your comprehension of each key point. Now you are ready to work out the final report and you have to decide what you will or will not include into it in order to meet the 20-35 pages limit.
- 5. Final report production for Text 1.
Each author has different goals when writing a book, thus each text is different. It is your task to decide what is important and what is secondary in each book. At times the text will only need to be summarized, while at other times it will require a more elaborated conceptualization. After reading a very long and information-packed chapter you might just end up with a few important ideas, whereas reading an apparently simple chapter might trigger an elaborate report full of personal comments and ideas. In conclusion, what matters are the concepts you decide to develop, not the all data contained in the textbook. This is precisely what must be clearly shown in your report, what BIU most values, and what will imprint the key concepts permanently in your mind.
- 6. Repeat this process with Text 2 and so on...
Continue with the succeeding texts and reports as they appear on the Academic Assignment Control Form. The established order is not open to discussion because each book complements the following one, and following this order, you will discard many of the doubts that might otherwise emerge along the way.
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