Habits for Following Directions (A cookbook approach for following directions)
1. Read ALL the instructions completely through. If there are words you don't fully understand, ask or look them up in a dictionary. 2. Figure out what you are to accomplish; that is, what the end result should be. 3. Look at the information you have to work with. Read it just to familiarize yourself with it. 4. Go back and reread the instructions. Try to connectin your mind each part of the instructions with something in the problem statement or something you must do. You may need to go back and read sections of the problem. (Keep track of where you are in the instructions by placing your finger or pencil point at that spot.) 5. Do not be overly alarmed if you don’t understand why an instruction is given. Sometimes that may not become clear until after you have done everything. Sometimes it will never be clear as to why you should do that instruction. That is likely the fault of the person who wrote the instruction, nevertheless, DON’T IGNORE IT. THE SAFEST THING IS TO DO THAT INSTRUCTION! 6. Remember that instructions are usually written in the sequence in which you should do them. Try this:
Read the 1st instruction and do it.
Read the 2nd instruction and do it.
Read the 3rd instruction and do it.
Etc.
7. Start to solve the problem or to do the work. Keep in mind what the end result should be. 8. Go back and forth between the exercise and the instructions as needed to clarify what to do. (Don’t try to do the instructions from memory! You are likely to shoot yourself in the foot!) 9. Reread the instructions from beginning to end. Check off each part that you have done. If you forgot some part, do it now and then repeat the item above. 10. When you have finished, pretend to be the teacher. Proofread your work looking for errors, incompleteness, poor English, or lack of clarity. 11. Take pride in your work: clean up anything that is done poorly. It will also help your grade! 12. Sit back and feel good about yourself!
(A cookbook approach for following directions)
1. Read ALL the instructions completely through. If there are words you don't fully understand, ask or look them up in a dictionary.
2. Figure out what you are to accomplish; that is, what the end result should be.
3. Look at the information you have to work with. Read it just to familiarize yourself with it.
4. Go back and reread the instructions. Try to connect in your mind each part of the instructions with something in the problem statement or something you must do. You may need to go back and read sections of the problem. (Keep track of where you are in the instructions by placing your finger or pencil point at that spot.)
5. Do not be overly alarmed if you don’t understand why an instruction is given. Sometimes that may not become clear until after you have done everything. Sometimes it will never be clear as to why you should do that instruction. That is likely the fault of the person who wrote the instruction, nevertheless, DON’T IGNORE IT. THE SAFEST THING IS TO DO THAT INSTRUCTION!
6. Remember that instructions are usually written in the sequence in which you should do them. Try this:
7. Start to solve the problem or to do the work. Keep in mind what the end result should be.
8. Go back and forth between the exercise and the instructions as needed to clarify what to do. (Don’t try to do the instructions from memory! You are likely to shoot yourself in the foot!)
9. Reread the instructions from beginning to end. Check off each part that you have done. If you forgot some part, do it now and then repeat the item above.
10. When you have finished, pretend to be the teacher. Proofread your work looking for errors, incompleteness, poor English, or lack of clarity.
11. Take pride in your work: clean up anything that is done poorly. It will also help your grade!
12. Sit back and feel good about yourself!