Book SummaryHow to Become a Straight-A Student, by Cal Newport

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of How to Become a Straight-A Student

Getting good grades in college opens up your world: It can help you get into better graduate schools and even get better jobs. But how do you do well in college? Most students assume they must study endlessly to do well. However, in How to Become a Straight-A Student, professor and productivity expert Cal Newport argues that there's a better way: With the right study techniques, you can ace your college courses with just a few hours of studying each day.

How is this possible? Newport explains that the key is focusing intently. According to him, most students aren’t intensely focused when they study; rather, their attention wanders towards other things—like the cute girl in the library or the TV in the background. However, if you focus intently on your studies, you get much more done and can finish...

How to Become a Straight-A Student Summary How to Take Control of Your Schedule

It’s easy to say you’ll focus; it’s a lot harder to do it when you’re constantly fighting the temptation to not study and play video games instead. In this section, you’ll first learn how to plan your day effectively so you can fit in all your studying. Then, you’ll learn Newport’s tips for overcoming procrastination so you actually study when you say you will.

How to Plan Your Day

Newport contends that if you want to do well in college, you must plan your day effectively. Why does this matter? If you don't have a plan, your brain is constantly distracted by incomplete tasks so you can't give your assignments your full attention. In contrast, when you have a plan, you forget about these other tasks and can concentrate on the task at hand—whether that’s editing your paper or enjoying lunch with a friend.

(Shortform note: In The Art of Thinking Clearly, Rolf Dobelli explains why planning your tasks frees up the brainpower you need to focus. You’re subject to the Zeigarnik effect: Your brain keeps incomplete tasks at the forefront of your memory because it deems them important. By [creating a...

How to Become a Straight-A Student Summary How to Ace Your Tests

You’ve learned when to study, but how should you study? Specifically, how do you ensure that you do well on every quiz and test? In this section, you’ll learn what to do—both outside of and during exam periods—to get the best grades possible on all your exams.

How to Study Outside of Exam Periods

Newport contends that if you want to get good grades, you must go to all your classes throughout the school year—not just when you have an exam. By doing so, you’ll gain a better understanding of the material and thus spend less time outside of class studying for your tests. (Shortform note: Despite Newport’s contention that attending lectures helps you learn, many students skip class because they don’t think the lectures are helpful.)

Moreover, you need to work on your assignments every day—moving ahead on the syllabus if necessary—so you avoid exhausting yourself on a single day because you have too much work to do. (Shortform note: Spacing out your assignments may also help you master the material better due to [the spacing...

How to Become a Straight-A Student Summary How to Write Good Essays

In addition to exams, essays often make up a large portion of your grades in college. So how do you write an essay that’s thoughtful and engaging—without spending days suffering in the library? In this section, we’ll first explore Newport’s strategies for essays that require original research. Then, we’ll discuss how to apply these steps to writing what he calls critical analysis essays.

How to Write a Research Paper

According to Newport, the first step to writing an essay that requires original research is to select an area of interest that you’d like to learn more about. Start looking for this as soon as you know about the paper by paying attention to small asides from your professor or in your texts that pique your curiosity. Once you have an idea, ask your professor about the topic; she should be able to suggest texts you can look at to learn more.

(Shortform note: Talking to your professor will also help ensure that you’re clear on the assignment so you don’t spend hours researching an irrelevant topic. But if you struggle to select an area of interest even after your clarifying conversation, try...

Shortform Exercise: Reflect on Your Current Scheduling System

Now that you’ve learned the importance of planning your day in college, consider your current scheduling system and how well it works for you.

What scheduling system do you currently use, if any? For example, you might have a paper planner or sync your phone calendar to your computer.