Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ PhotoReading, Memory Optimizer Technical Reading Tips

I have been experimenting with several different techniques for using this system for technical reading, particularly in the study of law.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was having trouble with the amount of studying vs. mindmapping. Additionally, I was not getting as much comprehension as I wanted. For what it's worth, my tips are below:

* My mindmapping was exactly how Tony Buzan's book, The Mind Map Book, said not to mindmap. (1996, p. 12). A mindmap is not just a series of connected circles. To correct this, I have (1) begun adding drawings and more colors to my mindmaps, but more significantly, (2) have made multiple, smaller mindmaps for the each topic instead of relying on one large mindmap. (I still have a general outline mindmap, but it only serves to give an overview and doesn't go into much detail.) The information in the mindmaps, of course, varies depending on the purpose.

* For added comprehension, I found that I needed to (1) articulate a more clear purpose; and (2) actually write down questions, beginning from broad questions and ending in more specific questions, based on my initial survey & trigger words. There is just too much information for me to try to remember without writing it down. I then base my mindmap off of the answers to the questions I have, and I also have a handy set of questions that I can use in class or at work as ready references. If I ask the right questions, they will be the same ones that the professor or client will ask. These questions lead to others, and my mind continues to be active.

[For example, here are a few questions that I had from one chapter (130 pages, entitled Habeas Corpus) of my textbook from the first survey. Note the questions' move from general to specific:

• What is Habeas Corpus?
• What authority entitles a person to file a writ of Habeas Corpus?
• Who is entitled to file a writ of Habeas Corpus?
• Under what circumstances would a person normally invoke Habeas Corpus?
• In which court would a person file a writ of Habeas Corpus? (Venue)
• Which courts (state & federal) have jurisdiction to hear writs of Habeas Corpus?
• At what point is a writ of Habeas Corpus timely?
• What type of review does a court conduct on a writ of Habeas Corpus?
• What, if any, difference exists in the way a court reviews a writ of Habeas Corpus from an inmate that has committed a capital offense versus that of an ordinary felony or misdemeanant?
• What role do state proceedings play in invoking Habeas Corpus?
• What effect, if any, did the referenced 1996 legislation have on the Habeas Corpus statute?
• Must an inmate plead not guilty or maintain his innocence in order to file an effective writ of Habeas Corpus?
• What Constitutional rights are often implicated in the Habeas Corpus proceedings? Specifically, which right or rights would an inmate typically allege that a prosecutor (or the defense counsel) violated?
• What are the main cases involving Habeas Corpus, and what are their holdings and facts?
• What role does harmless error play in the Habeas Corpus determinations?]

* As I activate, my mind guides me to other words and concepts in the text that I either missed when I first surveyed the book or couldn't understand because they built upon concepts that I had not yet uncovered. As long as I keep writing down the trigger words and formulating and writing questions at the end of one activiation session in preparation for the next one, my mind remains active and my desire to continue to activate stays with me. These methods require more time, but my comprehension is getting to be at a comfortable level.

I'm sure there are a lot of different ways to master technical reading. This just happens to be mine for what it's worth. Any comments?

It seems like it is overkill on the questions. Is it possible you could have less questions. Regarding your purpose how are you going to use habeas corpus?What situations is habeas corpus used in and why was habeas corpus created.
Photoread4me

Thanks for the comment, Photoread4me. I don't think I can ask less questions, however, because it seems like less questions means less comprehension. If you've ever been through a law school class, you know that you don't get tested or asked about general knowledge; it's the specifics that count, and you have to know them. For example, tonight in class, the professor asked me about the material I had studied,

"Suppose an inmate, convicted of capital murder, files a writ of Habeas Corpus with the federal district court where he committed the crime. This court is in a different district than the federal prision in which the inmate is housed. He alleges fourth amendment violations and insufficiency of counsel at the trial level. He filed a similar petition with the appropriate state court, and was denied. Discuss." This question mplicated several of the questions I had formulated below.

My purpose throughout activation was (generally) to understand the concept of Habeas Corpus, particularly the procedural and substantive requirements. This would help me to discuss it in class and apply it when I begin to practice law.

Essentially, I am looking for a very, very high percentage of reading comprehension. I do not know any other way to obtain this while reading this dense material. If I don't ask a lot of questions, (1) I get bored ; but (2) it seems like spontaneous activation is the only other way to get the material that I need. I am open to suggestions, however, and am always looking to improve my study habits...maybe I'm missing something fundamental in my PR process...

Tdo; Try this;
Photoread the preceding chapter before the chapter on habeas corpus photoread the chapter on habeas corpus & photoread the chapter after the chapter on habeas corpus.Do this photoreading on these 3 chapters 3 to 5 times a day.

Do a superread & dip on the chapter on habeas corpus. Tdo; your timer for this 130 page chapter on habeas corpus should be 20 minutes. Yes you heard me correctly i want you to spend only 20 minutes on this 130 page chapter. Your trigger word is habeas corpus formulate 3 questions for habeas
corpus according to what your purpose is.Look for the answers to these 3 questions when you superread and dip and it is ok to do multiple dips. I want you to think what is the most important thing you need to know about habeas corpus and these 3 questions should be related to what is the most important thing you need to know about habeas corpus and i want you to do multiple 20 minute superread & dip passes over this chapter. In fact i want you to do 6 twenty minutes superread & dips activation sessions over this chapter.After each superread and dip add your info to your mind map and each time after you complete your 20 minute superread & dip activation add to your mind map then take a 5 to 10 minute break go for walk,do something else just get completely away from your studies. Then after your break do another superread and dip pass over the chapter. Let me know how this works out for you.
Photoread4me

I'd like to offer a hint... Don't plan all your questions at the beginning. it gives you tunnel vision. Yes go from broad... once you have some information from the general questions form more specific questions.

The problem with planning a lot of questions at the beginning, in detail, is you could be focusing too narrowly and miss some important information. Build both your knowledge and level of detail by adding more questions with each activation pass until it has fully gelled for you. Remember the information you get from an activation would lead to other question that pertains to your purpose. If you already have an a large list of questions you might cross of the question as redundant because you are already consciously aware of relating informatin though the previous activation. And neglegt to replace them with fresh questions from imformation you discovered but only touched on.

Alex

I believe in a strong purpose which encapsulates as much of the topic as possible.

For example I wanted to learn Java programming.I could have asked many many questions about all sorts of details.I decided to declare my purpose as:

"My purpose for photoreading this book is so that I can design java programs and make a java based website"

Now whilst that purpose does not specifically include asking many detailed specific quesitons, the fact is that the details are kept at mere details, but they are included in answering my overall purpose, ie:

- I have to know what "classes" are in order to work with java.
- I have to understand what "objects" are in order to design java programs.
- I have to understand security issues in order to build a java website.

You see that I didn't ask those things from the start.Like Alex says, the questions just naturally arise as you start to do it.But if you start out with specific questions then it is all too easy to lose track of why you're actually doing what you're doing.

To me starting out with all of those questions goes against the essence of what photoreading is about.It seems more like laborious traditional reading to me.

A technique I use as well is "virtual reality." In my mind I imagine myself doing what I am learning about.For you it may be standing in a courtroom.Really know that you know what you're doing and that you have all the knowledge you need in order to complete the job.Basically I just 'become' the person I wish to be, simple as that.I constantly think that I am already an expert and then the details just fit in.Besides we already know how to do most things, it's just that are conscious doesn't want to believe it.

A last example of why I'm not keen on you're many questions style.
When we are going to cross the road, our purpose is crystal clear:

"get to the other side safely"

Now let's see how many thigns happen when crossing a road.

- Put one foot in front of the other (walk)
- Look left
- Look right
- Listen for cars
- Find a clear space to cross where there are no parked cars
- Look
- Be aware
- Caluculate how long it will take to cross the road so that we don't get hit by a car

...and many many more intricacies, many of which are automatic and do not take much or any conscious effort.

Now imagine you came to a crossing an you're purpose was:

- Look right

Well that's nice but how far would it get you.You'd be stood there all day until you thought about looking left.Then you might think to yourself: "ok I think I'll listen now."
It just doesn't work.They're steps without any overall purpose.

"What is Habeas Corpus?"

is like asking.....

"what is crossing the road?"

Personally I think it is far better to say:

"I want to cross this road!"

and....

"I want to be a top lawyer in *this field*"

Remember! that the rest will follow as naturally as the steps taken when crossing the road.
Get that feeling of crossing the road and how you feel when you're listening for cars, looking and being aware.And then spare no more effort when becoming a lawyer as you would crossing the road.This example may seem stupid to some, but honestly, it's actually pretty much the same thing.

That is what it's about man, it's not really that complicated.Seriously over the few years I have been into this learning stuff the one main thing I have come to appreciate and to affirm to myself is that:

I gave things too much respect.

This is especially true with technical material.We think that "it must be hard otherwise it wouldn't be worth doing."

"Habeas Corpus" may be perceived as beign difficult because it's an uncommon phrase, but you know what: "it's just a word with a meaning" just like any other word, and we all know many words.

There are boundless possibilities out there, so don't get bogged down letting little details stand in your way.Life is far too short to sit in awe of what are in essence just words and meanings.Walk over them like you walk over the tarmac on the road.

Good luck!

Cheers!

Good idea Flex. Let me see if I captured the essence of what you were saying...

You mean that the purpose will have more meaning for you, if it pertains more to WHY you are photoreading the book? Because it's of a more personal nature?

Bill
"What is Habeas Corpus?"

is like asking.....

"what is crossing the road?"

Personally I think it is far better to say:

"I want to cross this road!"

and....

"I want to be a top lawyer in *this field*"

These are really great suggestions. I will try them over the weekend and see what happens...