Success in History Courses

Different Ways to Study History

Visual: Go back to your notes and use a highlighter to connect your terms. For example, highlight each term in one paragraph green and highlight terms from another paragraph yellow, etc.

Auditory: Find a recording device to record yourself as you read over each paragraph slowly. Listen to your recording several times.

Tactile: Make flashcards by putting all the terms on one side of a card and the entire paragraph on the flip side.

Repeat your study process until every term seems completely familiar to you. You will be ready to answer individual definitions, long and short answer questions, and essay questions!

Helpful Tips on How to Memorize Dates 

Dates are often difficult to remember because they seem so random and obscure unless we can relate them to something specific.

For instance, the American Civil War started in 1861, but unless you have a strong interest in the specific timeline of the war, there is nothing special about the starting date that separates that date from any other. What makes 1861 stand apart from 1863 or 1851?

When trying to memorize a date, students can really benefit from a mnemonic system (memory technique) to help them recall the right numbers in the right order.

For memorizing dates it might be helpful to borrow a practice from the London Cockneys.

A Cockney is an inhabitant of the East End of London, England. Cockneys have an old tradition of using rhyming slang as a secret language, of sorts. The tradition originated centuries ago, and it was used by London’s thieves, traders, entertainers, and other members from the lower stratums of society.

In Cockney slang:

Can you believe it? becomes Can you Adam and Eve it?

More examples:

• Whistle and flute = suit
• White mice = ice
• Tom Hanks = thanks
• Trouble and strife = wife

Remembering Dates

We can use the same method to remember dates. Simply think of a term that rhymes with your date. Make sure your rhyme is a little silly and that it paints a strong picture in your head.

You can leave off the century, so that 1861, the starting date for the Civil War, becomes 61.

Example:

• 61 = Sticky gun

Imagine a Civil War soldier struggling with a gun that’s been covered with honey. It may sound silly, but it works!

More examples:

1773 was the date of the date of the Boston Tea Party. To remember this, you could think:

• 73 = Heavenly tea

   

You can just picture protesters sipping lovely cups of tea right before tossing them in the water.

1783 marks the end of the Revolutionary War.

• 83 = Ladies’ bee

   

For this image, think of several women sitting around a quilt and celebrating by stitching a red, white & blue quilt.

The most important element of this method is to come up with a great, amusing image. The funnier it is, the more memorable it will be. If possible, come up with a little story to connect all your mental images.

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