Help, need advice!! Memorization.

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skypilot

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Jan 10, 2003
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I havn't memorized anything since High School, and I wasn't very good at it then. Yesterday I was asked to memorize something, about a page long, and recite it verbatum at a get together on Saturday morning.

Boy do I regret saying OK. So far I have spent about three hours on it and only remember the opening line for about ten minutes. I would just say fuck it, but my doing this is important to a couple friends of mine.

Do any of you know any memory tricks or processes that would help im memorizing about six paragraphs of monologue? I don't want to disappoint my friends or make too much of a fool out of myself.
 
For me there are two ways I can memorize something, first way is to write it out repeatedly, second way is to sing it to the tune of a popular/catchy song.
I'm assuming you don't want to be singing this to the tune of 'sexy back' for your friends so it might work better for your purpose to write it out by hand (or typing - whatever works) a few times over then practising in front of a mirror or with a buddy.
 
Yes, write it out repeatedly. That works because you not only remember reading it, you also remember writing it. Both if which increase your chances of being able to recall from memory.

The other thing is to try and break it up into chunks. It's easier to remember them that way than as one long page of writing.
 
If you record yourself reading it and then put it on your iPod, you can have it playing all day while you drive, read, etc, and it will sink in.
 
All great ideas. The more senses that are brought in to play for a task the more effective you become at the task.
Read, write, listen. Use a combination of them all.
Sing along, or make a silly story, those might help as well.
 
There are a number of good sites if you google "memorization techniques".
Multiple modes of encoding into memory is good but remember that accuracy is improved if encoding matches retrieval. That is, you must read orally into memory to best retrieve it orally.
Don't look at the piece to be memorized as one whole piece to be memorized, but brek into "chunks". You say you have about 6 paragraphs, then you have 6 things to memorize. If that is still too large, then break each paragraph into more managable chunks. Try to associate each chunk with a mental image that characterizes what it is you are trying to say.
As you memorize each chunk, add another one to the exercise until you have all chunks into memory. Then try to recall the chunks individually, and increase the number of chunks as you succeed.
Pick one word out each chunk to act as a key to associate it to the rest of the chunk.
Check out the online stuff...it will help.
 
All good advice.
It helps if you know what kind of a learner you are. For instance, I am a visual learner. I need to see something, just hearing it doesn't work well for me. In university I did much better reading notes, articles etc. then just listening to a lecture. Others are auditory learners...hearing works well and they don't need to see the words.
So depending on the type of learner you are...certain of the above mentioned techniques will work better than others.
 
if someone want to tell you what to say............The should say it themself
 
Altho writing it may help, it is better to convert it into thought pictures. When I am speaking I take the piece and break it down like this...

6 paragraphs = 6 talking points so take a piece of paper and number it 1-6 with each talking point at the heading, leaving room below for the details below. Then take each point and break it down into a story with the details in point form. Visualize each talking point and the story in detail with your eyes closed. We remember what we see more than what we process when we read.

Next is the key for me. I link each numbered point with a finger visually. I start with my right hand thumb and then link the first talking point to it. If you need to write the talking point on the inside of your finger while you do this, that's ok. Once the talking point is anchored in your mind to the finger it triggers the story you have outlined to follow. Each consecutive finger is a different talking point with story and it will flow. It took me about 20 mins to master this, it's really simple. Don't try to do the entire thing at once, focus on one talking point at a time until you have it.

Start now and keep the talking points the focus. It works, but it does require a little effort. The only thing I can't seem to remember is names on a first meet, but then there are so many sweet things to call someone that are so much more interesting than a name!

Catherine
 
Thanks for all the help. What this is is for a memorial service for a writer. Several of her close friends will stand up and recite some of her writings. The organizers want it done from memory. I'm not about to argue.
 
skypilot said:
Thanks for all the help. What this is is for a memorial service for a writer. Several of her close friends will stand up and recite some of her writings. The organizers want it done from memory. I'm not about to argue.
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Hell she had to put it to paper................Honor her and read it from paper.
 
how is it coming so far? these are all effective ideas posted here.
 
I prefer the sentence by sentence or line by line method, I memorize the first part and repeat it til i have it down then i add in the next sentence and repeat both sentences til i have them memorize, then add the next sentence and keep repeating the process til i have it all down
 
Do bring cue cards just in case... probably better for you to have to refer to the cue card than botch it completely.
 
fuji said:
Do bring cue cards just in case... probably better for you to have to refer to the cue card than botch it completely.
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I agree with that. Even if memorized, sometimes the stress of public speaking can throw one for a loop.
 
Have your friend in the audience with it all written down, so they can follow along. Then if you get stuck, the friend can mouth the next words to you.
 
I use to have this very successful method for memorizing specific items I was to be tested on in school.

Its been so long since I was in school though, I can not recall the details of the method.
Damn
 
Well, I busted my ass trying to get the thing memorized. Found the line by line method worked best for me, then I would write it out to make sure I had the exact wording.
It was a very frustrating experience. I just didn't have the time to get it all done, so I typed it out in Word, using a large font and practiced reading it.
At the get together all those who were asked to do it by memory read their stuff except for the person who made the original request (and she fucked it up a little.)
All went well. Damn I hate memorization. Thanks to all for your suggestions. This experience makes me really appreciate theatre actors who memorize their lines and perform flawlessly.
 
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