Eliminate as many distractions as possible prior to beginning a study session. Good lighting, comfortable seating and a quiet environment can significantly ease the process of reading and synthesizing difficult material. Remove or turn off electronic devices, including personal computers, cell phones and the television.
Store materials for note taking and active reading in a convenient, easily accessible location. Keeping writing utensils, a highlighting pen, note cards and pad of sticky tabs easily accessible can support good study habits.
Read the assigned material several times, always keeping a pen in hand to highlight important points. Underline unfamiliar concepts or phrases to be looked up in a dictionary. If the material cannot be marked with pen or pencil, use sticky notes to highlight pieces of the text.
Schedule a review of the reading notes. This can be critical to academic success, particularly when critical reading is evaluated with quizzes, exams and graded responses. Even the busiest students can find time to quickly look over note cards between classes or on lunch breaks. To prepare for a graded exam, consider organizing your notes by typing them into a single electronic document.