Lectures contain arguments. Generally, an argument consists of a problem and a solution to the problem. A question, moreover, is at the heart of the problem. Good lecturers tell you why the problem is important. Hence, as you listen to a lecture, try to identify the problem, the problem's importance, and the problem's solution. In class:

1. Don't listen only for the facts. Facts only have meaning when they are used in arguments. By keeping yourself attuned to the big question, you can then begin to identify the speaker's main points. Hence, organize the facts around the questions. Start by listening for the questions:

• What is the speaker trying to explain?

• Is the speaker explaining how something works?

• Is the speaker arguing that author X is right and author Y is wrong?

2. Don't attempt to write everything down. You can't. Speakers speak faster than we can write. Use the questions to organize your notes. Use words such as what and how when you take notes (What did x mean? What did x say? How does x work?) Write down the major pieces of evidence used to answer each question.

3. Don't let your mind wander. While speakers speak faster than we can write, they speak slower than we can listen. Therefore, you need to keep your mind focused. You can use this time to make sure that you're following the argument. Try to anticipate the next point in the argument. If you guess correctly, the speaker confirms that you see the essence of the argument. If you guess wrong, you'll need to think about what you're not seeing in the development of the argument.

4. If you're confused or you don't see the question being addressed, ask for clarification. Don't hesitate to ask questions. Odds are that you are not the only person in the class confused. Don't worry about what others might thing about you. Raise your hand and ask for help.

5. As Dr. Mom (Kerry S. Kilburn) advises, "Laugh at the teacher's jokes.  Always.  Just be sure they're jokes." To see some of her more serious tips for college success, consult her website at http://www.lions.odu.edu/~kkilburn/dr_mom_home.htm

To learn more note taking and listening strategies, consult the following websites:

• http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/success/notes.html

• http://www.arc.sbc.edu/notes.html

The Healthy Lives Tip of the Week: Roommate Conflicts

Is your roommate driving you crazy? Is she playing video games all day long? Does he talk incessantly on his cell phone? Is she always studying in your room? Does he have no respect for your personal possessions and your personal space? Is she always inviting her friends into the room? Does he play obnoxious music or the television all the time? Is she always sleeping? Does he always forget to rinse his toothpaste out of the sink in the bathroom? Does she leave her trash and smelly clothes around the room?

Living with somebody new is not always an easy transition especially when you share a living space that might be smaller than your parents' master bathroom. Adjusting to living with a person you have never met before and making it work can be summed up in one word: COMMUNICATION. You cannot resolve roommate conflicts if you never talk to each other or you just IM each other. Even though members of the Truman community are smart, most of us are not telepathic. We won't always notice when our habits bother you unless you tell us. Actually telling somebody what you need from the other is part of learning to understand each others' needs.

Try talking about your frustrations with your roommate. Sitting in the same room and talking face to face is the best remedy for resolving conflicts. If you have difficulty talking face to face with each other, your Student Advisor is trained to help facilitate face to face conversations. Student Advisors can also help you use a "Roommate Contract" to help each of you list out and agree to expectations of each other. Talking sooner is better than waiting until you are at your wits' end. You will find that while the conversation is difficult, it will help you develop communication skills that will benefit you in the future. You might just discover that you really can live with your roommate.

The following resources from other schools provide additional suggestions for resolving roommate conflicts:

• http://www.canisius.edu/jff/roommateconflict.asp

• http://www.marietta.edu/student/residence/tips.html

• http://www.css.edu/depts/StAffairs/StudentHandbook/ResidentialLife/ConflictResolution.shtml

Are you struggling with writing assignments for class? Do you know that you can get help with your writing at the Writing Center?  The Writing Center provides all writers on the Truman State University campus with a comfortable environment for conversations about writing.  Peer writing consultants (Truman students) can work with writers at all levels of competence, from all disciplines, at any stage of the writing process--generating ideas, drafting, revising, and editing--or for sharing ideas about writing strategies and techniques. 

Quote of the Week

"I believe in the pursuit of happiness. Not its attainment, nor its final definition, but its pursuit. I believe in the journey, not the arrival; in conversation, not monologues; in multiple questions rather than any single answer. I believe in the struggle to remake ourselves and challenge each other in the spirit of eternal forgiveness, in the awareness that none of us knows for sure what happiness truly is, but each of us knows the imperative to keep searching. I believe in the possibility of surprising joy, of serenity through pain, of homecoming through exile."