How to Read a Physics Textbook and Take Effective Notes – Physics Study Guide

How to take notes in physics and read the textbook

How to read (learn from the book) the textbook:

1. Treat the book like a sandwich and start with bread. I.e., the front and the back.
2. Read every single F*****g word! Top to bottom – left to right – corner to corner!
   1. If you don’t like to read as I don’t, I use the computer program, Siri, to read out loud for me. There are many applications that can do this. Do this before you start Chapter 1. You need to know where everything in the book is. You are in a research degree and the textbook is designed to get you to do research.
   2. In the back of the book and the front of the book, there are formulae, equations, cheat sheets, measurements, appendix, tips, answer, guidance, … .
   3. You need to know were everything is before you begin learning.
3. Now, you start at chapter 1 (or review) and you begin at paragraph 1. You do not move to paragraph 2 until you understand paragraph 1 in its entirety. Once you fully understand paragraph 1, you move to paragraph 2. Then repeat. Do the same for the worked examples.
   1. The homework question is not likely to be on the exam but the “Worked Examples” within the section, are almost always on the exam. The professors laugh their booty’s off because no one can answer the questions because they never read the book. Do not waste unnecessary time on homework when your primary grade is based on the exam, and the exam questions come from the worked examples, the questions solved during lecture, and previous practice exams—in general (statistical average).
   2. When it comes to homework problems, just focus on the medium level questions and make sure to administer a practice weekly to prepare for exams. The context of the practice is irrelevant. The important thing is to mimic the environment of stress and no resources. If you practice doing homework, you will get really get good at doing homework, which is not exam. If you practice doing exams, you will likely get good at doing exams. If your grade is something like 90% exams, 5% quiz, 5% homework, don’t waste 90% of your time on 10% of your grade.
   3. If you get As on all exams and Fs on all homework and quizzes, you will get an A in the course. If you get 100s on all homework and quizzes and Cs on all exams, you will get a C in the course. Do you understand?

NOTE* A lot of formulae and equations will be found in the question bank. They are hidden like easter eggs. E.g., Say you are doing problem 18 from chapter 4, and in chapter 3, problem 87 has a pre-derived formula related to your question. You likely won’t have the skills to derive this yourself, so you will need the ready-to-go formula that is hidden in another question, in another chapter. This is called “RESEARCH,” which is a primary purpose of your degree. No one is here to chew up this data and regurgitate it into your throat like a helpless bird. You need to take ownership of your education and do research. A lecture is where you learn to communicate scientific data professional and to ensure you are on track—that is, it is not where you learn anything.