So this evening I have started Business Law.  This class is somewhat of a milestone because once I complete it I am officially 1/3 of the way through my degree.  Okay, I know that really sounds about as stupid as a 3 month anniversary when dating someone but it's the little celebrations that help keep the fire lit.  Speaking of fire, this book is so sticking huge I'm sure I could use it as kindling for 15 or maybe even 16 long Maine winters.  I'm serious, it's the first 1,600+ page book I have ever had and this is not a small (short) book, think encyclopedia and you're getting close.  Heck given that the appendices are a solid 1/8^th of the book I am being conservative on my estimate I think.  And just what do you think my first reading assignment is?  If you guessed 150 pages of legal mumbo jumbo with the cherry on top of having to read the entire Appendix A, approximately 50+ pages then you would be right.  Who seriously reads 200 pages in 3 to 4 days right?  Plus I still have my Marketing class with its reading assignments. 

So this brings me to a good idea for a topic:

The top 7 ways of completing those ridiculous reading assignments in a stupid amount of time:

• 1.) Scan, be selective, don't read everything you see. Go for the chapter highlights. Sometimes you will find a chapter summary at the end of a chapter, think of these as Cliff Notes for that chapter.
• 2.) Read the glossary and understand the definitions. Sometimes understanding a topic is just learning the language. If you have a chapter glossary or key terms, understand them.
• 3.) Look at the chapter outlines. Often they give you a hint like "points covered" or "learning objectives" etc.
• 4.) Skip the examples and get to the concept. Read the examples if you have a hard time understanding the concepts the examples are supposed to teach. In other words, cut the fat, get to the meat of the matter. You often find these in the first couple of paragraphs under a given subtitle or section. Often they are repeated in the last couple of paragraphs, so read both.
• 5.) Learn to read fast. Take frequent and short breaks.
• 6.) Carry your books everywhere you go and read them at every given opportunity. Every time you sit down and wait for something, have a free 5 minutes or so, be reading. Turn into a Poindexter if you have to but get used to reading all the time. If you wife/husband doesn't tell you to put the book down at least once a week you are slacking off my friend.
• 7.) Last but not least, if you already know a concept or are familiar with it, move on. Why do I need to relearn the 4^th Amendment when I have already learned it in undergrad school and had it crammed down my throat in police academy? Just say "oh, I know this" and move on.

Hope this helps

---Cajun (the tired)

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