*Or At Least Do Better, But That’s Less Catchy.
Show Up!
The number one thing students can do to succeed in a history class is to actually show up. Professors seldom recite the material in the textbook. Instead, textbooks are usually to provide necessary background for the lecture or as a springboard for discussion. Both of these will be far more in-depth than the textbook. Every semester, I have students who attend for a class or two, only to reappear at the midterm. Like clockwork, they do poorly on the exam and then are left scrambling trying to salvage a passing grade in class. Don’t be one of those students. Make attending class a priority.
Do the Reading!
Attending class regularly leads to step two: do the reading. You’ll get a lot more out of class if you’re coming prepared. Doing the reading ahead of time will also highlight potential weaknesses in your understanding of the course material. If something in the reading doesn’t make sense to you, ask the teacher to explain it to you. You may learn that concept is hard for most students to grasp, so the teacher has prepared some extra activities or lecture time to help illuminate it. If nothing else, you’ll signal the teacher that you are interested in learning. Don’t see the connection between the reading and class? Ask! Your teacher chose the readings for a reason. If you’re missing the connection, you’re likely not understanding other pieces of the material too.
Ask Questions!
By now, you probably feel like you already know why asking questions during class is important. It helps you understand the presented information clearly and it helps the professor gauge how well the class as a whole is understanding. Questions from students can spark spontaneous discussions, which professors love because they provide opportunities for all sorts of good things that can be difficult to squeeze into lectures–multiple approaches to a subject that are equally valid, “real world” applications, rebuttals to common myths, and so on. Some students may be uncomfortable asking questions in front of the class. That’s okay. Ask the professor your questions before or after class, when others are unlikely to be listening. Still too anxiety-inducing? Email your questions to the professor or the TA. Just be sure to give them plenty of time to reply. Many professors give themselves 72 hours to respond to student emails, particularly if they are not urgent.
Take Notes!
The last step needed for success in a history class is to take notes. This does NOT mean writing down every word the teacher says or is written on a slide. You are not trying to produce the cliff notes version of the class. Rather, you should think of your notes as memory aids. Write down any answers to questions you ask. The question might pop back up when you’re reviewing later and you’ll want to remember the answer, not that the question was answered. Write down anything that the teacher or your classmates say that you think is especially helpful to understanding the subject matter. Is there a diagram showing connections between events? Write that down. Did you do an activity in class that involved writing on the board? Consider writing down the results along with the purpose of the activity. If you’re in college, you may be allowed to take pictures with your phone of the slides or board. That’s okay, but taking notes by hand is the best way to get your brain to retain information. (Really. Look it up.)
Bonus Step: Visit the TA or Prof During Office Hours!
Are you an overachiever? Or just an achiever? You’ll want to visit the TA or professor during office hours. These are special times set aside for meeting with students. Think of this as your chance to be tutored one-on-one by an expert! You can also get advice on how to do well in the class that is tailored to you personally. As a professor, I’ve counseled students how to best juggle work and school, school and kids, school and health issues, and pretty much everything else. Your professor can direct you to resources you may not know exist: writing centers, subject tutors, librarians, academic and career advisors, internship coordinators, mental health services, women’s services, services for POC or LGBT+ students, accommodations for students with disabilities, financial aid, even local food banks or housing services. A single fifteen-minute visit with your professor could turn out to be the difference between success and failure, so visit them!
How to Do History 