COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
The Acronym An acronym is a popular mnemonic device using a combination of letters . Each letter is a cue to an idea you need to remember. For example, you recently learned how to use SQ3R be an active reader. SQ3R is also known as SQRRR, which is an acronym for Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Reflect. Whenever you see or think SQRRR it’s easy to recall the steps of active reading, and recall them in order. Acronyms are useful for all subjects—history, science, math, english etc. For example, FAMS helps you remember the names of the leaders of the women’s suffrage movement: Margaret F uller, Susan B. A nthony, Lucretia M ott and Elizabeth Cady S tanton. CHONPHS will remind you that living organisms are made of molecules consisting largely of c arbon, h ydrogen, o xygen, n itrogen, ph osphorus, and s ulfur. The Acrostic An acrostic is a sentence where the first letter of each word is a cue to an idea . Can you guess the message in “ R abid s kunks p refer g reen a pples ?” It’s an acrostic representing the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment: r eligion, s peech, p ress, g rievance redress, and a ssembly. Acrostics can be used for large chunks of information. Acrostics can be easier to create than acronyms, and are particularly helpful when you must recall information in chronological or other order. For example, “Normal angels pass long years talking sweet heavenly words” is an acrostic for the royal families of England in order of their rule: (Norman, Angevin, Plantagenet, Lancaster, York, Tudor, Stuart, Hanover, Windsor.) If you’re struggling to remember the names of the four slave states that remained in the Union during the American Civil War (Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri) and can’t come up with a memorable acronym with DMMK, how about Dancing Makes Kids Merry or Dela and Mary took Ken to Missouri? PRODUCT PREVIEW Here’s how to make an acrostic: Acrostic Instructions 1. List the meaningful phrases, words or process steps. (If it involves ordered steps or a chronology, make sure to list them in order.) 2. Circle or underline the first letter of each key word or phrase. 3. Write the first letter of each keyword on a line. 4. Using the first letter of each keyword, create a sentence. 5. Memorize the sentence
THE 21st CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO STUDY SKILLS 155
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software