Having trouble in my Physical Anthro class how can I better prep for the exams?

Question

I'm having trouble in my Physical Anthropology class. I am taking the class online, so there is no teacher lecturing the info. I basically have to read 3 chapters in two weeks and soak up the info as best as I can.

This subject is proving to be very difficult for me. The first test I got a D, the second C/B. On the second exam I made flash cards and studied them and read all the chapters I was supposed to read(although I will admit skiming through the last chapter).

The flash cards seem to help a little, though.

What are good ways to prepare myself for this class? Hard sciences are NOT my strongest subjects. How can I study better? I'm willing to do hard work, but it's frustrating when I do put in work and it doesn't really effect my grade.

Help!

Answer 1

First, physical anthropology is NOT hard science!! Second, labgirl, had a good idea. You need a biology or anatomy ( for the osteo. ) major to tutor you. The science in physical anthropology would not get a p**s ant around the inside of a cheerio, so study hard and I further suggest you take the course in person.

Answer 2

To sustain and achieve anything and everything only mantra is...

Curiosity

Interest

Importance

Add value

At any cost

Develop interest for the subject.

Answer 3

This is going to sound like entirely too much work, but it helps me so much with remembering important terms and concepts... (Religious Studies/Anthropology double major, a lot of reading and memorization)...

Make outlines of each chapter as you read. Write key terms and their definitions. Summarize main concepts into a sentence or two. You might want to read the chapter first, then go back through and read it a second time, outlining as you make that 2nd trip through the material. It doesn't help some people, but I know it helps me. Maybe it'll help you, too.

Answer 4

Physical anthropology is 80% vocabulary and 20% understanding the diagrams in your book.

Flashcards, but also coming up with your own examples of terms, will help you.

If you're stuck on things like mendellian genetics, ask any bio major- they are drawing punnet squares in their sleep.

If you're stuck on things like the names of bones, you need to make photocopies of the diagrams in the text, then erase the names of the bones on the diagrams and fill them in. Start with using a "pile" of terms, the bones' names on a different paper, then go to doing it cold. Repeat as necessary.

Also, see if your college has an EOP program. If it does, they generally provide tutoring for students OUTSIDE of the eop program as well.

Also, go over the tests you've already taken and make sure the answers you didn't get right you understand why your answer is wrong....

And the diagrams. It costs a lot of money to add a diagram to a textbook, so few of them are there to look pretty. If you MUST skim a chapter (I don't recommend it) make sure you understand absolutely, 100%, EVERYTHING that is in every diagram and illustration of the chapter you missed. Ask yourself "what is this here for? What is it explaining?" Drawing your own version sometimes helps, too.

Answer 5

Here are some suggestions for the three chapters. Regardless of the length of the chapters do not give yourself more that forty minutes to read each chapter. Take a break of five minutes during each of the forty minutes sessions.

However, before you you do the above exercise do the following.

ask yourself what are your objectives in reading these three chapters. Is it to get ideas?

                  Is it to get the facts associated with these topics?

                 Is it to understand or get new vocabulary, such as scientific terms.

                 Without looking at the three chapters or any other written material spend at least five minutes trying to answer the above three questions.

                 If you are faced with a blank bit of paper, them brain storm, and speculate just what are the objects or purposes of these three chapters.. Why are they important, what are the most important fifteen ideas in each of these chapters, or what might be the most important fifteen ideas in these chapters?

                 If you have managed to answer the above questions to any degree, flick through each page of the three chapters as you would a telephone directory. If any one page

just might answer any of your questions, then note down the page and move on. do not read anything at this stage.

                Then skim the chapters, reading the first line of each paragraph, read any headings,  and study and diagrams.However, do not read all the text.

               Close the book and then ask yourself what are the main themes in these three chapters. If you are still not sure then write down your hunch and guess. If you are not sure or cannot recall, pose a question. Why is that important,

what proof does the author offer for this?

          When you have plenty of questions read the chapters, without stopping , but make sure you give yourself only a maximum of 40 minutes. If you find yourself running out of time , resume skimming the chapter.

          Then take a bit of paper and try to answer the questions you had prior to reading each chapter. Do not refer back to the chapters to carry out this step.

           When you have finished writing for all three chapters, leave the notes for 24 hours and reread what you have written. Is there anything wrong? add anything you think needs to be added, then and only then reopen the book and check your work against the three chapters. Note down anything that you have left out.

           Review your notes in about five days . A good book with plenty of ideas; is by a Mr Buzzan ,called "Use Your Head". It is also available as a one and a half hour audio book. Its worth getting on audio and you could listen to it several times until the message gets though. Apply the principles in "Use Your Head" and you will soon be an all A student with a lot less effort.

Answer 6

I am social cultural doctoral student and I had to take a required Physical Class and this is what I needed to do because like YOU I was struggling. I first got a C on my test and then improved to A's on my quizzes.  I got this advice directly from the Bio professor and it helped so much. My class had a lecture component though and that helped.  For me in the end, it wasn't about the grade. I just tried to learn for my level and tried my best.

Three Chapter Advice:

1) First you need to read each chapter 3X's

2) The first time you read it (for content) and highlight and underline all the important facts.

3) The second time read ONLY the highlighted parts (for facts)

3) The third time you read all of it again.

It is imperative that you email the professor and ask what he/she is focusing on the test which will help.

Then you form a study group of one or two people and just "talk" about all the different chapters. Ask each other questions and if there is a discussion board in your class; ask your fellow students. Trust me you are NOT alone in struggling. Good Luck