Helpful Tips for HisTory Majors

Thinking about the future?

Thinking about the present?

Hints for a successful semester.You braved the lines and bought the books, you forced a reluctant computer to enroll you in the classes that you want, and you managed to make it to the first day of classes despite the broken alarm clock and having to park in the north lot after a roommate forgot to put gas in your car. You will deal with the roommate later; at the moment you want to know how to make this a successful semester. Here are some hints.

Bring your body, use your brainWe cannot stress enough the need to attend classes regularly. The work that professors and students perform in classes, lectures, discussions, and debates helps you become a historian. More important, it helps you do well on assignments and make the grades you will need to pursue future plans. Paying all that money to get C grades is like paying for front row tickets and then preferring to sit in the back row of the third deck. So, show up. Always. Or as close to always as you can get. Buy a calendar, put important dates on it, and consult it.

Be preparedComing to class unprepared can result in a feeling of helplessness and a sense of being completely at sea. It can also leave you outside the conversation. Prepare for your classes. Do the readings, complete the assignments, and check your notes. It’s just that simple. Make sure you bring the proper accoutrements to class. Want to take notes? Pencils and pens often prove handy. So does notebook paper. Have some questions about the reading? Bringing the book will help you pose your queries. Have lots of friends? We’re very happy for you. BUT TURN OFF THE CELL PHONE OR PAGER. Your friends will understand.

Get involved

Be an active member in class. Even if the professor gives a lecture, she will usually accept questions. And you should be taking notes. Copious notes. Lots of notes—in both lectures as well as in discussions. That sounds like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised. Always keep the course syllabus with you, maybe in a specific notebook where you will also keep your notes. Sometimes lectures are outlined for you, but sometimes they are not. Be prepared to organize the material presented in lecture for yourself. Not everything that is important is written down by the professor. Be an active participant in the organization of knowledge. If you don’t know how to spell a name or term, ask! If you need more description of a theme and want to be sure about how it relates to a particular issue, ask! If you have questions about the reading, have your book handy and refer to the part you want to talk about. If you attend a 50-minute class and take three sentences of notes, rethink your strategy. Bring your books and other readings, and be prepared to consult them. (You paid for them; this is how you get your money’s worth.)

Make a commitment to learningShow respect, to others and to the professor. Attending class means more than staring at the lecturer, or doodling in your notebook. It means working with all the class members to shape an environment in which everyone learns, because everyone is teaching everyone else. If you want your classes to work, then commit yourself to working as well. Attend regularly. Show up on time and stay until discussion ends. Whether you are talking or listening, show respect and consideration for your fellow class members. Get your assignments to your professor on time. Don’t like feeling lost in discussions? Read the book before class. Having problems because your slightly-less-committed fellow students would rather talk about something else? Let the professor know.