College Students: Do any of you actually READ/USE your textbooks? (POLL)

[TripleAAA]

I'm starting to get sick and tired of buying books every term that I rarely ever use for a class. Around 90% of the classes I've taken require a textbook that you must purchase, yet you rarely ever use it during the term. Then, after the term is over, you get jack sh!t back for what you originally paid for them.

Don't you find it amusing how whenever you buy a used textbook, you usually see scribbled notes or highlighted paragraphs in like the first or second chapter of the book, then the rest of the book is in pristine condition? (ie. everyone stops reading the book after the first week of class).

What do you all think?

 

[hdeck]

i only read before a test. most of my professors have done an adequate job going over the things on the test, so most of what i need i in my notes.

i wouldn't ever not buy a book, though. i'm sure the semester i did that everything would come straight from it. and waiting to buy books until a week before the test isn't an option since most books become sold out pretty quickly.

 

[ElFenix]

i bought them, rarely cracked any of them. i don't know why i bought them. lots of them look interesting.

 

[TripleAAA]

I think most professors feel pressured or are literally forced to offer a textbook and promote it for a particular class even if they don't plan on actually using it.

 

[Anubis]

sometimes but it depends on teh class. im a physics/math major so i dont "Read" my books. i use them to help with HW and stuff

 

[Reliant]

I open my books to get my homework problems out of them.

 

[Luhny]

i hate when you have to buy a book written by the teacher. I find that in all general ed classes you can probably get by without the book

 

[Reel]

only before tests (and not always) and to refer to if i need an example on hw but i feel like most of mine have been really bad.

 

[Martin]

depends on the course. Some courses I don't buy the TBs at all. Others I read everything and still others I only read a bit before a test/exam.

 

[slikmunks]

most courses are just for the test

 

[Zenmervolt]

My profs all assign homework from the books, so it's convenient to have them. I usually only read through the chapters assigned on the day before a test.

ZV

 

[dethman]

when i was in college, i never bought the books they told us to. most of the time there was no point to.

 

[McPhreak]

I think the purpose of textbooks is to supplement the lectures as a reference. If there's something you don't understand in lecture, crack open the book. If you still don't understand, go talk to the professor.

 

[notfred]

I don't buy the book until there's actually an assignment that requires it.

 

[Dragnov]

Depends. Most of the classes you can make do w/o reading the book. Most of the tests are based on lecture, not the text.

 

[Electric Amish]

I use textbooks strictly for reference.

amish

 

[Citation]

Hey it is better then going to class!

-Cit

 

[Mallow]

Every class is different and you have to make a judgement decision on whether or not you should spend the time to read the book. For a biochem or cell biology class the book is usually a reference material to reenforce lecture. However, an english class or psychology class reading the book is often imparative to making a good grade.

 

[FuZoR]

Last Semester

Art History Book $70.
Open it once!!!!! and what did the school ofer me? $25 :|

English Book $40
Used it for about 7-10 short stories and this book had like 100. School didnt want it back cause there was a new eiditon.

American History Two books used $100.
I actully used this book because we had a quiz every week.

Sociogly Book $30
Did'nt open it at all, well maybe once to see whats in it. I just used the class notes the TA posted and study those before an exam.

ARRG

 

[Rainsford]

Normally I don't like buying text books, but this semester I have a class where we don't have a text book (it's introduction to microcontrollers) and I wish we did. The professor is awful, the notes posted on the website (also written by the professor) are confusing as hell. So everything I'm learning in the class I am learning in the lab. Which isn't so bad, except the lab is only 2 hours per week. Let's just say that there are some instances where a book would certainly be nice

 

[shopbruin]

depends on the class. i actually go to every lecture, and i find that most professors tend to lecture from books, therefore if i pay attention in lecture, then i don't need to read the books.

what i've been trying to do is get the used versions of books that aren't badly marked up, take them to work, photocopy, and then return them before the end of second week. *whistles* the only books i can't do this with are course readers but i can save a decent amount of money.

history profs are the worst at this in upper division - they'll assign you all these books meant to "supplement" your reading but no one ever does it. you just need to read the one "text" book and attend lecture and you're good, unless you have a paper due on one of the extra books.

 

[Sephy]

Originally posted by: TripleAAA

Don't you find it amusing how whenever you buy a used textbook, you usually see scribbled notes or highlighted paragraphs in like the first or second chapter of the book, then the rest of the book is in pristine condition? (ie. everyone stops reading the book after the first week of class).

What do you all think?

I find that funny too. But in past semesters, I've just waited until before tests to use it, because I hadn't really picked a major, but now that I'm trying to zero in, I have been reading and trying to soak in more(in 3 of my classes anyway, those are all that matters).

 

[TripleAAA]

It's one thing to pay a lot for books in the first place, but to be offered practically nothing for a book you paid $100 bucks for is ridiculous. I think they should implement some law that requires the bookstores to purchase the books back for at least 50% of the original prices. I mean, I bought a $75 book which was brand new, brand new edition, etc. The bookstore said something like "We don't have an order in for it, so here's $10" It's ridiculous....

 

[Dacalo]

i havent even used any of the textbooks in my classes this quarter and I am still getting straight As :Q

 

[Evadman]

For the 3 semesters I went to ISU I bought exactly 5 text books, 4 for math, one for physics. I would have bought another, but they did not have it. Big supprise.