Following Directions

Many students only skim through, or skip over altogether, the directions for an assignment. 

This can obviously cause you some problems: you may do the work incorrectly and need to re-do it, you may do too much work and be wasting your time, or you may not do all of the work that is required. 

There are a few strategies, however, that you can use to make sure you're paying close attention to all parts of directions, and following them correctly. Those strategies include:

1. Reading the directions twice before starting. Then, re-read the directions when you think you're done, to make sure you followed them correctly.

2. Asking yourself, "How would I explain these directions to someone else, using my own words?" If you're not able to do that, it may mean you don't truly understand the directions. So, ask for help or try another strategy.

3. Highlighting or underlining key words in the directions.

• Pay close attention to words like: 
• (English/ History/ Science) Read, underline, circle, summarize, explain, provide details, write in complete sentences, brainstorm, analyze, compare, contrast, prove, describe, annotate, mark up, support...
• (Foreign Language) Translate, summarize, explain, write in complete sentences, describe...
• (Math) Find the product/ sum/ quotient/ remainder, simplify, show your work, diagram, demonstrate...

Sometimes, teachers will make bold, underline, or italicize the most important words in directions, so pay close attention to those signals too!

4. Highlighting, underlining, or circling signs and symbols (x, -, +, =,  ÷) in math problems. If you treat something like an addition problem when it's really a multiplication problem, you're obviously not going to get the correct answer. Color-coding signs for addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division, can be another cue to pay close attention to the signs.

5. If there is more than one step to the directions, you should identify each different step you should take. For example, in the following directions, you're being asked to do three things:

Identify three inventions of the industrial revolution, explain how each invention changed the way people lived, and summarize what life would be like today if these inventions did not exist. 

By highlighting or numbering each step, you're going to be more likely to follow each of the three sub-directions and produce a more complete answer.
Identify three inventions of the industrial revolution, explain how each invention changed the way people lived, and summarize what life would be like today if these inventions did not exist. 

Try out one or more of these strategies if you often hear from teachers that you need to pay close attention to the directions, or if you see that your errors are not really reflective of what you actually understand. 

If you have other ideas or strategies for following directions, please leave a comment to share!