how to blurt (using science)

Summary

In this video, the speaker explains the concept of 'blurting' as a revision technique, highlighting that most people unknowingly use it while writing essays. He critiques common blurting methods seen online, such as excessive speed-writing and over-complicating the process with neatness and color coding. The speaker provides a step-by-step guide to effective blurting: choosing a subtopic, highlighting key information, and then writing down everything you can remember in a logical order. The goal is to recall information quickly and effectively, without getting bogged down in unnecessary details or random organization.

Takeaways

• 😀 Blurting is a technique everyone has used, whether they realize it or not, especially during essay writing.
• 😀 90% of people have never consciously practiced blurting, but they’ve all done it in some form, like during exam revision.
• 😀 Most current blurting methods taught online are wrong because they focus on speed or neatness, rather than efficiency and retention.
• 😀 A common mistake in blurting is writing everything too quickly or organizing it unnecessarily, such as with color-coded notes or mind maps.
• 😀 The key to effective blurting is finding the right balance between speed and neatness—not focusing solely on speed or on making things perfect.
• 😀 Blurting should be done by choosing small subtopics, not trying to write everything about a broad subject like biology at once.
• 😀 When blurting, focus on the most important information within a subtopic, ensuring that you highlight key points before attempting to blurt them out.
• 😀 It's crucial to blur information in chronological order rather than randomly, to make sure the process flows logically and makes sense.
• 😀 Avoid random or unnecessary details in blurting—focus on what is important to the topic at hand and avoid irrelevant information.
• 😀 The proper blurting method improves retention and understanding, especially when used effectively in preparation for exams or revision.

Q & A

What is the basic idea behind the technique of 'blurting'?

Blurting is the process of writing down everything you can remember about a specific topic, as quickly as possible, to force active recall. It’s a method to help you retrieve and reinforce information during revision.

Why does the speaker argue that most people are doing blurting incorrectly?

The speaker claims that most people misunderstand blurting because they either focus too much on speed or neatness, or they write irrelevant details. This results in ineffective learning and recall.

What are the three main tools the speaker introduces for effective blurting?

The three tools are: 1) Find the right speed – balance between writing too fast and too slow; 2) The blur method – choose a small subtopic, highlight key information, and write what you remember in chronological order; 3) Structure – ensure your blurting follows a logical, organized order.

What is the problem with scribbling too quickly while blurting?

When you scribble too quickly, you prioritize speed over the quality of information. This approach leads to haphazard recall and often results in irrelevant or incorrect details being written down.

Why is it important not to make notes too neat when blurting?

Making notes too neat distracts from the purpose of blurting, which is to recall information quickly and efficiently. Neatness takes time and energy that should instead be focused on active memory retrieval.

What does the speaker mean by 'chronological order' in blurting?

Chronological order means recalling and writing down information in the logical sequence in which it occurs. This is important to make sure the information is accurate and flows correctly, such as in processes or systems.

How does the speaker suggest you should choose a subtopic for blurting?

The speaker recommends choosing a small subtopic instead of a broad one. This allows you to focus on specific details without being overwhelmed. For example, instead of blurting about an entire subject like biology, focus on a narrow topic like stem cells.

What is the significance of reading and highlighting essential information before blurting?

Reading and highlighting the essential information ensures that you focus on the most important and relevant details during the blurting process, avoiding random or unnecessary information.

What is the key mistake made by people who color code or draw mind maps when blurting?

The main issue is that people focus on organizing and making their blurting visually appealing through color coding or diagrams, which detracts from the main goal of blurting: quickly recalling and writing down information from memory.

How can you improve your blurting technique for exams, according to the speaker?

To improve blurting for exams, focus on small, manageable subtopics, highlight essential information, and blurting in a logical, chronological order. Avoid distractions like excessive neatness or irrelevant details and concentrate on active recall.