MEMORY TECHNIQUES

(Source: http://www.mindtools.com, http://studygs.net.  Author: B.Cisneros, Editor)

1. Use Acronyms and Acrostics
   An acronym is an “invented combination of letters.”¹ Each letter in an acronym cues an idea that you need to remember. “Example: BRASS is an acronym for how to shoot a rifle--Breath, Relax, Aim, Sight, Squeeze.” ¹
   An acrostic is an “invented sentence where the first letter of each word is a cue to an idea you need to remember.” ¹ “Example: EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FUN is an acrostic to remember the order of G-clef notes on sheet music--E, G, B, D, F.” ¹
   
   
2. The Keyword Method: (for foreign language vocabulary)

·         Considering the foreign word that you need to memorize.  Find a key word in English that sounds like the foreign word.

·         Invent an image in your mind, which describes the English word. When you see the (foreign language) word, the image should come to mind, and the definition of the (foreign-language) word should come to you.

3. The Image-Name Technique: (for remembering names)
   To remember the name of person, invent a relationship between the name and a unique physical characteristic/s of the person. For example, to remember the “Sandy’s” name, you may relate the complexion of her skin to the color of natural beach sand.  When you see Sandy again, the complexion of her skin will immediately remind you of her name, “Sandy.”
   
   
   
4. Chaining: (for ordered or unordered lists)
   To remember an numbered or unordered list of items, do the following. Make up an easy story that mentions the first letter or part of each item on the list.  For example, to remember the genetic nucleotide sequence combinations “ATGC,” you may remember: “All Timid Girls Cry during biology tests.”