Study Tips for Literature Classes
Read the Assignment
It may seem common sense, but many assignments are going to be too obscure to find reliable summaries online, and sometimes it will end up taking longer to find a detailed plot summary online than it takes to read the actual assignment. Several professors use pop quizzes to make sure that you read, and it pays to be prepared.
Read Plot Summaries, Too
Although sites like Sparknotes do not provide detailed enough information to be your sole study aid, they can help to make sense of pieces that are difficult to understand. When searching for study aids online, try to make sure that the site is reputable. Avoid sites that do not look professionally made unless they have a .edu or .org suffix.
Write Practice Outlines
For many essay tests, your professors will give you the questions ahead of time. Even if they haven't, practice writing short outlines for possible questions that have to do with the subject matter. This will better prepare you for situations when you have to write under pressure
See a Tutor
Writing Center tutors are not only qualified to help revise papers. Most writing tutors are English or English Education majors, and would be happy to help you unpack texts so that you better understand them. It is OK to request tutoring for a test in an English class even if there is no paper involved. Tutors can also help provide further resources to help you prepare for exams.
Use Wikipedia (Sort of)
Wikipedia is a resource that can easily be edited by anyone, and therefore information found there cannot be considered reliable. Many times, however, the bottom of a Wikipedia page will have several links that will take you to credible Internet resources that you can use.
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