Best Ways to Study Theory Subjects

We have all been there sitting through a history or civics class, starting at a page full of dates and dynasty names, wondering what we’re actually supposed to remember. 

Well, this blog is for you.

History and Civics and other theory are subjects that get called "just memorizing stuff." But here is the secret: The kids who are really good at these subjects are not the kids who stay awake till 3 AM in the morning, they are the kids who know how to sort things out & how to make the material count: to relate it to something, to visualize it, to apply it.

This is a detailed guide which elaborates on some of the tried and tested, working methods which will help you in better understanding of history, civics, and other subjects, be it while preparing for board exams, competitive or weekly tests series at school.

Understand It Like a Story, Not a Syllabus

In theory subjects like history, Civics, Geography, English students  memorize the  words and lines but without understanding them. Here most of the students make mistakes. If you see, it’s like singing a song of a different language by just remembering the words' sounds without understanding the meaning of the song. Often in India we memorize an English song and just sing in the way the singer is singing without understanding its meaning.

Now take Indian independence as an example. Rather than memorising a list of isolated dates, try to answer a series of questions: What made Indians angry enough to protest? Who took the lead in opposing British rule, and why? What response did the British provide to Indian protests? Finally, what was the tipping point for Indian independence? These four dates (1857, 1919, 1942 and 1947) will cease to be mere numbers; rather, they will become chapters in the story.

This change is the best change any student can make. Ensure you know the material before you begin memorising it.
 

Build a Timeline on Your Wall

The most effective and simplest method of learning is a physical timeline (either on paper or on your wall with sticky notes). Mark the main periods and place events in the order of their occurrence.

Visually organising history shows the order of events like no amount of reading will ever show you. In addition, it will help you see many patterns; wars happen during times of economic stress, and reform occurs after the public has gone through the roof. Once you can see those patterns, you know you can stop guessing and start reasoning.
 

Use Mnemonics and Memory Tricks

Your brain does not store information that is dry or boring; it stores memories of things that are humorous, strange, or emotional.

The way mnemonics use memory is by attaching a memorable event to something you cannot remember. This will help you remember your Fundamental Rights from the Indian Constitution, as an example, with an absurd sentence formed with the initial letter of each word you need to remember.

Another example could be - forming nouns by putting them into an easy rhyme to remember the order of each Mughal leader. The memory aid does not need to be smart; it just has to stick.
 

Write, Don't Just Read

When you read something, you’re just passively taking in information. When you write about that same thing, you’re asking your brain to actually take that information and reorganize it so that it’s in your own words. It’s this extra step that gives you an opportunity to learn more than you would if you had only read the text.

After you’ve read a chapter, close the book and write down everything you can remember. Once you’ve done that, go back and compare your notes to the contents of the book. What did you forget? What did you miss altogether? This exercise, known as retrieval practice, is one of the most well-studied and effective methods of studying available to you. The retrieval process will feel more difficult than simply re-reading the text, and that’s precisely the reason for this method’s effectiveness. If you put effort into recalling the information, it will lodge itself firmly in your memory.
 

Connect Civics to the News Around You

Unlike most subjects, civics is not simply a study of the past; rather, it concerns the contemporary. Present-day events include Parliament sitting, decisions being rendered in court, and local elections being held. Each of those activities can easily be tied back to something in your civics textbook.

When you’re reading about the three branches of government, think of a recent article or news story that is related to Parliament or the Supreme Court. When you are studying the Preamble of the Constitution, reflect on what justice or equality might look like in your particular city or state. These connections between abstract ideas and real-life events will help you remember the information you are trying to learn much more easily.
 

Space Out Your Revision

Studying the night before an exam is one of the least effective methods, especially for content-heavy subjects like History; your brain needs time to understand the information and build on it. You literally need to sleep on it.

An alternative, more effective way to study for a History exam is to spread out your revisions over several days. For example, after finishing the first topic, you would then study the same topic after 2 days, and study the same topic again after 1 week. This is called spaced repetition, and there is a great deal of supporting research that demonstrates its effectiveness. While this requires more planning, it creates much greater retention of the material.

Teach It to Someone Else

If you are able to teach a subject to someone who has never been taught that before, then you understand the subject/content;At first, when you try to teach the material, you stumble or forget, that is a gap in your knowledge, which has value before you go and take your exam.

You can teach your sibling, friend, or parent. Teach it to them as a teacher would; not just saying, "Study this and you will be successful," answer their questions, and provide extra help as needed. If no one is around, you can even talk to yourself, which may sound strange, but will enhance your learning capacity.

Final Thoughts

The subjects of History and Civics fill students with curiosity, as well as effort. When you move beyond just defining History (i.e., what happened) and Civics (i.e., the rules of society), and start to think about how these two subjects connect to each other and to your own life, you start to understand these subjects in a new way.

There is no one magical method; each method has some benefits, and when combined together, they develop a significant impact. Instead of memorising history and civics facts, develop your foundational understanding of the key concepts before attempting to memorise specific details. Utilisation of timelines and retrieval practice (creating questions and quiz banks) as well as spaced revision will help to identify patterns of behaviour in Civics and History. Ensure that you dedicate only enough time at home, but more than just sufficient time at night before an exam.