M: Mr. Brown's lectures are so boring.
W: Yes, he is not a very exciting speaker. But the subject is interesting.
M: During every one of his lectures, I try to listen. I really try, but after about ten minutes, my mind begins to wander and I lose concentration. But I see that you seem to be OK. How do you stay focused through the entire hour?
W: Well, what I do is keep my pen moving.
M: What do you mean?
W: It's a method of active concentration I read about. One of the most effective ways to concentrate is to write things down. But it has to be done by hand, not typing on a keyboard. You see, writing by hand forces you to actually engage with what you are learning in a more physical way.
M: Do you review your notes afterwards then?
W: Sometimes, but that's not important. My notes may or may not be useful. But the point is that by writing down what Mr. Brown says, I can follow his line of thinking more easily. In fact, sometimes I draw a little too.
M: You draw in class? And that helps you pay attention?
W: Yes, honestly, it works for me. I just draw little lines and nonsense really. It was also in that article I read. It can keep the mind active, prevent getting bored and help to concentrate. Again, the point is to listen hard while keeping the pen moving. If I'm at home and I need to study, what I do is read out loud. It has a similar effect to writing by hand. It helps memorize information in a physical way.