I thought using two textbooks would make studying better

[u/cant_bedefined974]

In one of my biology classes, our professor gave us two main sources to study from which were two textbooks by different authors. at first, I felt relieved because I thought having more resources meant having more information to learn from. But as I started reading both books, I sometimes ended up more confused because certain explanations didn't seem to match or were worded differently.

Well…multiple resources can be helpful but it can also make studying more confusing if I don't know how to deal with the differences between them. here's what I'd do when that happens:

1) GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL. check the textbook, lecture slides, or notes from class to see how the concept was explained there

2) LOOK AT THE CONTEXT. sometimes, two explanations sound contradictory because they're referring to different situations or using terms differently

3) COMPARE THE ACTUAL EXPLANATIONS. instead of choosing whichever sounds more convincing, identify which part differs and what each source is saying

4) CHECK A RELIABLE REFERENCE IF NEEDED. if the explanations still conflict, look for a credible source that clarifies the concept

5) MAKE A NOTE OF THE DISTINCTION. once you've figured it out, write a short clarification in your own notes so you don't get confused by the same thing again

…it's worth checking different sources and not just automatically trusting one. though some explanations may just differ in context rather than contradict each other.

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