is it worth bothering with chapter summaries?

[Paulrus]

hey, long time lurker, first time poster
my teacher suggested that we write up a summary of chapter 4 of the grivas textbook as part of our revision for a sac on the nervous systems in the second week of term
the problem is the chapter is almost 60 pages long, and that's after all the stuff that's been taken out of the study design is excluded. 
would it be worth writing out the summary, or would i be better off finding another way to revise? should i be using checkpoints to revise for sacs?

[Scooby]

Writing up chapter summaries always really helped me remember everything. I guess it depends how you learn though. If you think it'll help and you've got the time, give it a go 

[brenden]

I kept a glossary book of all the definitions that were bolded or italicised. I didn't just list the definitions, either. I drew mnemonics, wrote things out for understanding, and sometimes some questions that I got wrong. I'd read over that book for revision. Also had stuff from Psych Notes in there etc.
I think a summary is a neat idea. REALLY summarise it though. If you get yourself to understand it enough that you can condense it a lot, you're on the right track.

[Limista]

* write a summary of those 60 pages

* do checkpoints as well

Write the summary first, to make sure you know everything. And then do the checkpoint questions, and treat these questions like they are your SAC. So pretty much the same as what Scooby and Pi_3.14 said.

[vashappenin]

Definitey do summaries!! They are so useful, especially come exam time, which will be at the end of the year now so you'll just have a little summary to refer to in orer to refresh your mind rather than wasting your time skimming through that fat textbook, which some people do.
Make sure they're concise and do them based on the study design to ensure you've covered everything you need. Honestly, it makes life so much easier in the end for the exam, which is what matters most anyway

Then again dont spend so much time on notes that you sacrifice doing practice questions
 Allocate time for that too!

[aaackk]

summaries are good, but dont bother with the Grivas chapter review questions theyre a waste of time and life.

[Paulrus]

thanks guys! i'll keep going with it it, and hopefully my hand won't fall off 

[vashappenin]

Have you considered typing?

[Paulrus]

i've heard that handwriting helps you retain the information a lot better than if you type it
that might be a load of crap though

[brenden]

i've heard that handwriting helps you retain the information a lot better than if you type it
that might be a load of crap though

I've heard that from my Philosophy tutor at uni (who I think is on the level) and found it to be true anecdotally.


Edit: So, all my notes were handwritten. It is less efficient as far as time and effort goes, though. Analyse cost and benefit for you.

[vashappenin]

i've heard that handwriting helps you retain the information a lot better than if you type it
that might be a load of crap though

Nah honestly it doesnt really matter.. i handwrote all.my unit 3 notes last year and then for unit 4 I typed. My performance on sacs and even the exam was tonnes better cos typing gave me more time, which meant more revisimg and more practice qns. I also had a more functional hand by exam time for unit 4 than unit 3

[aislinm]

I found that making chapter summaries really helped me when it came to SACs and I bet it will save me a lot of trouble at the end of the year when it comes to revising!