Contents

Introduction

Who Am I?

Who Is This Book For?

What Makes This Book Different from Other Study Aids?

Why Should You Want to Be a Better Student, Anyway?

Chapter 1: What’s My Motivation?

How Important Are Grades, Anyway?

You’ve Gotta Have Goals

What Motivates Top Students? (Hint: It’s Not Just Grades)

Do You Have to Be a Perfectionist to Be a Top Student?

Six Simple Ways to Stay Motivated

Exercises

Chapter 2: Time Management 101

Taking Control of Your Time

Preventing Procrastination

Chapter 3: The Mind-Body Connection

How to Use Sleep to Maximize Your Learning Potential

Caffeine: A Necessary Evil?

You Are What You Eat (and Drink)

Exercise for Your Brain

Exercises

Chapter 4: How to Play the Game (Navigating Academia)

Game Strategy 1: Be Smart about Your Schedule

Game Strategy 2: Get in Step with STEM

Game Strategy 3: Know Thy Class

Game Strategy 4: Know Thy Teacher

Game Strategy 5: Appeal a Grade

Chapter 5: In the Classroom

How to Take Killer Notes (Hint: Less Isn’t Always More)

Sample Lecture and Notes

Seven Common Excuses for Taking Bad Notes (and Why They’re Wrong)

Technology in the Classroom: Why Ditching Your Laptop May Be Good for Your Grades

Exercises

Chapter 6: Learning to Read (Again)

How to Be an Active Reader

Sample Text with Notes

Digital Books: Not Quite Ready for School?

When to Read: The Before or After Debate

How to Talk about Your Readings in Class

Exercise

Chapter 7: Honing Your Homework Skills

General Homework Tips

STEM Homework Strategies

Grappling with Group Projects

Chapter 8: How to Write a Paper

Step 1: Getting On Board with Guidelines

Step 2: Choosing a Topic

Step 3: Going on a Research Crusade

Step 4: Coming Up with a Thesis

Step 5: Getting Ready to Write

Step 6: Writing the Paper (Finally)

Step 7: Revise, Revise, Revise

How to Budget Your Time

Six Grammatical Mistakes You Should Never, Ever, Not in a Million, Billion Years, Make in Your Papers

Sample Paper

Exercise

Chapter 9: Getting Ready for the Test

What to Do When the Test Is in Sight

Put Your Brain to Work: The Art of Active Studying

Three Game-Changing Learning Techniques: Self-Testing, Interleaving, and Spacing

How to Become a Master of Memorization

Physical Tips for Studying

A Soundtrack for Studying?

Study Groups: Join with Caution

How Much Is Enough?

Exercise

Chapter 10: The Art of Taking Tests

The Countdown Begins

Taking Care of Business

Fifty Grade-A Test-Taking Tips

It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Endnotes