History can be an intimidating subject to learn; there are so many names and dates that you can easily get lost in it all. I used to find history to be tough and overwhelming, and I never saw myself continuing with history in high school. But, now that I know how interesting it can be, history is definitely one of my favorite subjects! These study skills helped me develop my passion and excel in my course.
Organization
In my experience, one of the hardest parts of studying history is actually remembering all of the events that happened. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s easy to get caught up in all of the information being presented to you. That’s why I like to organize my information in a couple different ways:
1. General Notes
This is usually my first step whenever I approach a topic. Using whatever resources I have, I’ll gather all the information into one document. For example, let’s say I’m studying the Pacific theatre in World War 2. In my general notes, I’ll include statistics about Japan’s navy, dates of specific battles, the mentality of Japanese soldiers, etc. Basically, anything I can find, I’ll include here. That way, this can serve as your “master doc,” and it’s a great way to first learn about your topic. Usually, I’ll annotate the document using the comments function on Google Docs, as well as highlight information I think is really important.
2. Timelines
Sometimes, your general notes might be a lot to sort through. Making a timeline is a great way to organize all of the events in your topic in the order that they actually happened. Just include the dates, brief descriptions of what happened, and you’re done! Seeing all of the information in a chronological order makes it a whole lot easier to draw connections. Also, timelines are definitely the superior tool when it comes to memorizing dates!
3. “One-Sheets”
This method was introduced to me in my Gr. 11 history class. After creating my general notes, I like to create a file where I try and fit all the information I can onto one piece of paper. That way, I practice concisely explaining my topic without all of the irrelevant riff-raff that might be included in my general notes.
Videos
Let’s face it, sometimes, you’re just too drained to pull out your notes and do some dedicated studying. Whenever I’m feeling too tired to open up a textbook, I like to go to Youtube and put on a video essay about whatever topic I’m looking into. Some of the channels I love for this method of semi-studying are OverSimplified, The Armchair Historian, and Overly Sarcastic Productions. All of these are great resources for a wide range of history topics, ranging from the World Wars, to ancient Greece, and even niche topics such as the Great Emu War (if that’s something you’re covering in class). These videos are perfect for putting on during meals, or playing in the background as you do some mindless task like cleaning your room. Entertaining and educational!
Oversimplified The Armchair Historian Overly Sarcastic Productions
Help From Peers
I find that talking with friends about a topic in history can really help solidify information in your brain. The amount of times I’ve remembered a fact because of a conversation I had with a friend is astounding. I recommend going to a friend or two in your history class to talk about your topic and ask each other questions! Your friends might be able to provide information you might have missed in your research.
Outside of just regular conversation, a great way to format your discussion is by debating each other. It doesn’t have to be anything formal, just pick a stance on a topic and chatter away! Bring up statistics, ideologies, anything and everything you can think of to support your points, and try to do it on the spot. It’s an effective way to consider different perspectives in history, as well as hammer facts into your brain. Also, you get to talk with friends while studying; a win-win!
Although all of these strategies are useful tools and have worked well for me, the most important thing is that it works for you. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different studying methods until you find one that suits your learning style. Maybe instead of videos, listen to podcasts, or instead of talking to a peer, use online quizzes to ask yourself questions. What matters is that ultimately, you’re able to list out important events, their dates, and all other relevant information. With that, good luck and happy studying!
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