(09-10-2013, 04:50 PM)crazysam23 Wrote: History classes, to me anyway, are a lot of reading at the college level. One thing that helps is to make up your own study guides for tests and then use the book (and any powerpoint slides or notes from the class) to fill out the study guide. That way, you're well prepared for tests.
If you pay attention to the lectures, then there's zero need for the book, as in my experience, most teachers don't actually use the book and it's more of a "background reading" sort of deal, and none of them really reference the book in the exams. I've also had classes that never had a textbook. So if by paying attention to the lectures and take good notes, then you won't need the book.
Though you're also talking to someone who gets A's in history classes and never took notes.