Study Prof

If you’re like me you probably see writing as something you are assigned by sadistic, work-happy profs, but writing is actually a powerful thinking tool. It will help you focus, recall, and understand! Whether you’re trying to get a bead on Charlemagne’s leadership genius, the weaknesses of multi-variate regressions, or the in’s and out’s of stoichiometry, writing can give you the mental boost you need.

How it works

Taking a doughy, unshaped thought and turning it into a well-constructed, logically-articulated sentence forces you to process at a higher level. You’ve got to take the info-mulch roiling around between your ears and verbally pin it down into neat little rows, like butterflies in a display case. That translates to better recall and understanding.

Easy Technique

Write an imaginary email to an eighth-grader* who has asked your expert opinion on whatever you’re studying. You’ll need to define your terms, explain key concepts, and provide examples, to make the topic clear to them. Go for simple sentences and vocabulary; avoid jargon or technical terms. And most people will lose interest if you’re too wordy, so prune your response down to a paragraph or two. *It obviously doesn’t have to be an eighth-grader. Write to someone who’s intelligent but doesn’t really know much about what you’re talking about.

Example

Dear Mufasa,

My 8th grade science teacher said you know a lot about feline distemper. Can you explain it to me?

Yours,

Simba

________________________

Hi Simba,

Feline distemper (scientists call it feline panleukopenia) is like the flu for cats. It’s caused by a virus (called feline parvovirus), and cats can catch it much like you would catch a cold; coming into contact with another infected animal or an infected animal’s body fluids or maybe by being touched by an owner or vet who’s recently petted an infected cat. It makes cats feel really terrible–fever, tiredness, diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration–and can even kill them if it isn’t treated. In fact, out of every ten cats that catch it, as many as six to nine will die from it. ETC.

You might assume that the person you’re writing to has some basic knowledge so you don’t have to explain every single term. The point is to clearly explain, evaluate, and clarify, your topic using well-chosen words, phrases, and examples.

Use this technique sparingly at first. It definitely takes some effort on your part, but that effort directly correlates to a more powerful memory and understanding of the topic.

A simple way to make this technique even more effective Please log in or sign up to read the rest of this content. Find out more.

BONUS: Practice makes perfect. People who write a lot become better writers. That will help you out in most courses, on standardized tests such as the SAT and GRE, and in your career!

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