Smart Reading Tips for Your Online Criminal Justice Classes

This post is for everyone taking Criminal Justice classes online and who want to learn reading smarter. The underlying concept is simple, yet takes precious time to master. Time you may not have especially with super-accelerated online courses. The smart reading tips may help, but first…

So the time comes when you have to turn in your assignment. You haven’t read any of your assigned readings and you’re a few days away from the deadline. Then it narrows to one day, and then… you have two hours left to conjure a masterpiece without a clue. What went wrong?

You got too comfortable

I went through this very destructive phase in my online courses. I often had a week’s notice on a homework assignment which I knew I can complete fast if I read the assigned chapters, but I didn’t. I begged for an extension and drowned in a self-made pool of stress. I learned fast that if I gotta read chapter 3, 4, & 7 I better do so as soon as possible.

Don’t even ask me what happens when you don’t read them. Since many online courses are only six to nine weeks long it is academic suicide to postpone your reading and thus a timely turn-in of your assignment. In most criminal justice courses, and others I’ve taken, I had 6 weeks to basically read the whole book, grasp the concepts, and transfer them on paper, discussion forums, and online exams. Six weeks flies by very quick so Tip #1 is: pace yourself.

Get that deleterious sense of comfort out of your system

That alone will make you a better reader in your criminal justice classes. Sure, but how are you supposed to do that?

Tip #2: spread your reading down into sections. If you have at least several days notice make sure to complete your reading by taking even a full day to read one chapter. Do so the next, and the next, until you’re done. With just a few, or even one day away, you are armed with knowledge which will make your assignment writing much easier.

If you only have two days left for chapter 2, 3, and 7, your decision making for the next couple days may include calling in to work, or making sure that you find a quiet place to cram. This predicament could have been avoided, and you know that.

“I have only today to do this”

Well, I know how you feel, and even though life throws curve balls straight in our face, you have to learn to pick up your teeth. Tip #3: if you know that you will most likely fail turning in your assignment call your student liaison and hope you’ll get an extension.

If you skipped the reading, the depth of your assignment is going to be limited, and unless you are knowledgeable on the subject matter, you should not turn in an assignment that lacks well supported information. Therefore, even if you are knowledgeable, you still have to support your assignment with references. Moral of the story, don’t skip your reading.

You burned your extension limit – what then?

If you are the chronic postponer, online education may not be the best fit for you. You’re not going to hear me saying that you should read the chapter summaries to make up for your mishaps.

Final Tip: learn to manage your time better. Taking your college education seriously, online or off, is important. You can start by better managing your time. If change makes you uncomfortable start slow at first, but keep your target in sight. Initially make small and attainable goals, then progress to the bigger ones.

Your ultimate goal is to complete your criminal justice degree online and making that commitment may ask you to rescind your other commitments.

Don’t forget, your personal well-being comes first. If you are over-stressed, sick, or in a proverbial “hole,” you should reconsider starting an online degree program or consider pausing it until you get back your mojo.

The truth is, online academics are not as easy as one may think. There are certain advantages to traditional learning as there are advantages to online learning. Where do you belong? I hope you’ll find that answer here.

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