The following are examples of techniques you can use to memorize important
information.
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When to Use It:
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Technique:
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Example:
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For information involving key words
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Acronym - an invented combination of letters with each
letter acting as a cue to an idea you need to remember.
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BRASS is an acronym for how to
shoot a rifle-- Breath, Relax, Aim, Sight, Squeeze. |
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For information involving key words
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Acrostic - an invented sentence where the first letter
of each word is a cue to an idea you need to remember.
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EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FUN is an acrostic to remember
the order of the G-clef notes on sheet music-- E,G,B,D,F.
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| For ordered or unordered lists |
Rhyme-Keys - a 2-step memory process:
- Memorize key words that can be associated with numbers (one-bun);
- Create an image of the items you need to remember with key words.
(A bun with cheese on it will remind me of dairy products.)
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Food groups:
- Dairy products: one-bun-cheese on a bun.
- Meat, fish, and poultry: two-shoe-livestock with shoes.
- Grains: three-tree-sack of grain hanging from tree.
- Fruit and vegetables: four-door- opening a door and walking
into a room stocked with fruits and vegetables.
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| For approximately twenty items |
Loci Method- Imagine placing the items you want to remember
in specific locations in a room with which you are familiar.
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To remember presidents:
Place a
dollar bill (George Washington) on the door. Walk into the room and
see Jefferson reclining on a sofa and Nixon eating out of the refrigerator. |
| For foreign language vocabulary |
Keyword Method- Select the foreign words you need to remember,
then identify an English word that sounds like the foreign one.
Now imagine an image that involves the key word with the English
meaning of the foreign word.
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In Spanish, the word "cabina"
means phone booth. Invent an image of a cab trying to fit in a phone
booth. When you see the word "cabina," you should be able
to recall this image and thereby retrieve the meaning "phone
booth." |
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For remembering names
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Image-Name Technique- invent a relationship between the
name and the physical characteristics of the person.
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Shirley Temple - her curly (rhymes
with "Shirley") hair around her temples. |
| For ordered or unordered lists |
Chaining- Create a story where each word or idea you have
to remember will cue the next idea you need to recall.
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Napoleon, ear, door, Germany
Story:
Napoleon had his ear to the door to listen to
the Germans in his beer cellar. |
