INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you don't have your own, make sure to have a copy of the notes from someone who you trust. Re-reading your notes is important, but it is not enough. Go over and highlight key words and concepts or use post-its to signify important sections.  Try writing summaries of your notes for each chapter or major concept.  Write them in the simplest terms on a separate piece of paper. These summaries can help guide your study day. Read your notes out of order as you review them. This will allow you to make sure you know each piece of information on its own, rather than part of a series. Make sure you are saying the information out loud as you review it. It will be easier to remember if your brain is hearing and pronouncing and not merely reading the information.  Try teaching a chapter or concept to an imaginary student.  This will force you to fully articulate the subject. It will be clear whether or not you have a handle on the material if you try to explain it to someone else. You can also do this with a study group or partner. As you prepare lots of last-minute memorization, it will be helpful if you use some memorization techniques.  Re-writing information over and over again may help it stick in your brain. Make sure to copy the fact or idea at least three times for this method to work. Use mnemonic devices. Mnemonic devices are techniques that help your brain retain information. Creating rhymes, acronyms, and songs that you can associate with the material will help you recall it. Write terms and their full definitions on a set of notecards or cue cards. This will allow you to test yourself throughout the day. They are also useful on the day of the test, as you can review them on the bus, or in line for lunch. Simply re-reading your textbook will not help you retain information, especially when you only have one day to study. Look for chapter summaries and bolded keywords as you review and pay attention to chapter introductions and conclusions, as they usually contain essential summarizing information. Look for review questions at the end of chapters, or in the back of your textbook. It is important to be testing yourself whenever possible to better gauge what you still need to work on. A study guide is an effective way to force you to review all your material. It can also be useful to look over the day of the test for a quick refresher. Type out a list of all the material you need to cover, including key terms, dates, and concepts. Next, go back and fill in each area using your notes, either typed or handwritten. Putting these ideas into your own words and writing them out will really help cement them in your mind. A friend or classmate may have created their own study guide which you might be tempted to borrow when you are short on time. However, the act of creating your own study guide will force you to put the information into your own words and copying out the material will help it stick in your mind. Even with a time crunch, you need to make sure you prepare properly for the test depending on the format that it takes. Refer to the syllabus or your class notes to establish what format the test will take. If you are unsure, be sure to contact a classmate so you are studying for the right thing.  For multiple choice tests, questions will usually be geared towards smaller details and facts, as well as vocabulary and definitions. There may also be questions about sequences and steps. Questions that ask about the similarities and differences between things are also common on multiple choice tests. While it may be difficult to memorize all the tiny details with a limited amount of time, focus on specific areas rather than attempting to conquer the entire subject.   For essay or short answer tests, you will be asked to have a good understanding of wide themes and ideas. Try preparing a few sample questions based on the textbook and syllabus. Time yourself for 15 minutes and write out a detailed outline for each question, as if you were going to turn it into a full essay. Be sure to memorize some key terms and examples that you can use for support in your essay questions during the actual test.

SUMMARY: Review your notes. Say it out loud. Use memorization tricks. Make flash cards. Use your textbook effectively. Create a study guide. Study for the test you are taking.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Look at the incision, but do not touch it. A healing wound should be dry, with no seepage of fluid from the incision. As part of the healing process, the wound edges may swell slightly which helps to push them together. Be vigilant for signs of heat, swelling, or discharge from the wound. Contact the vet immediately if there is any blood or pus leaking from the incision. Most often the blood comes from a small blood vessel leaking out into the fat layer beneath the skin, rather than major internal hemorrhage, but call your vet regardless to make sure it is nothing serious. Likewise, pus is usually a sign of a superficial infection at or just beneath the skin, rather than an infection tracking out of the abdomen. However, your dog may need antibiotics to settle the infection so that it doesn't delay the healing of the wound. Unless advised to do so by your veterinarian, do not touch the incision. However, if your dog goes outside and gets a muddy tummy, then it is acceptable to gently wash dirt from the incision. To do this: Create a saltwater solution (a teaspoon (5 mL) of salt mixed into a pint (0.5 L) of water that has been boiled, then cooled to a skin-safe temperature). Dip cotton balls into the solution, and then gently dab them over the wound to remove any dirt or grime from the incision. If the wound is undressed and exposed to the air, make sure your dog sleeps on clean, dry bedding so that the wound doesn't get contaminated.

SUMMARY: Check the incision every morning and evening. Look for signs of infection. Wash the incision only if it gets dirty. Make sure your dog’s bedding is clean.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: One of the easiest ways to meet new girls is by hanging out with your existing friends and building relationships with their friends. When you get together for social situations, encourage your friends to bring their female friends along. You can ask your friends to introduce you to their friends before the social gathering if you're nervous. Talk to girls in your classes and make it a point to try to group up with them for class assignments. If you are out of school or don't go to school, sign up for a class at a local community center in a subject that interests you. Start by talking about class oriented things before moving onto more personal conversation. Say something like, "Jeez, this homework is the most intense stuff ever. Are you getting it?" Meeting girls at work will give you something common to talk about and will be less stressful than introducing yourself to a stranger. Go out of your way to talk to the girls at work that you like. Once you build up a friendship, ask them if they would want to chill outside of work.  Talk about work by saying something like, "Seriously? Three double shifts this week! Don't you wish that the scheduling was a little more organized?" Ask her to hang out by saying something like, "Yo, I think you're really chill. Would you want to hang outside of work sometime?" Or you could get more specific and say something like, "What are you doing this Friday? Want to go to happy hour with me?" A bookstore is a great place to meet new girls and gives you a good topic to strike up an initial conversation. If you see a girl checking out a book you enjoyed, introduce yourself and strike up a conversation about the book. You can say something like, "The second book in that series is one of my favorites. Are you a fan of Bukowski?" If you feel intimidated by the bar or club, bring along a couple of your friends. Try to make eye contact with girls that you see at the bar and walk up and introduce yourself to them.  If you want to talk to the girl, make sure you go to a bar or club that isn't too loud. You can say something like, "Hey I saw you on the other side of the bar. My name's Gerald, what's your name?" Or you could say "Your sneakers are really cool, are they the new Air Max Goraths? I was thinking about getting a pair of them myself."

SUMMARY:
Meet girls by hanging out with your friends. Introduce yourself to girls in your classes. Meet new girls at work. Go to a bookstore to meet girls. Meet new girls at the bar or club.