Mnemonic Devices

When you absolutely must memorize a list of facts, try a mnemonic device to hack the limits of your brain power!

Here are our top 5 mnemonic devices:

1. Acrostics are good for memorizing a list of facts especially when the order matters.

• Take the first letter of each word and choose a new word for that letter to make a cohesive sentence. 

• Aim for silliness! The more bizarre the sentence is, the more memorable it is!

• Ex: for memorizing the planets in their order from the sun

  • Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

  • My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles.

2. Acrostics are good for memorizing a list of facts whether or not the order matters.

• Take the first letter of each concept to make up one word. If the order doesn't matter, you can rearrange the letters.

• The word can be real or made up!

• Ex: for memorizing the Great Lakes

  • Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, & Ontario

  • HOMES

3.  Story Linking is great for when the information is just too long to learn all at once.

• Break the information up into smaller chunks (3 at a time is recommended) and link these facts into a story.

• The associations you make between the fact and the story is up to you! You're the only one that needs to understand the connection.

• Ex: to learn the names of the first ten Presidents 

  • When Washington cut down the cherry tree, he also cut his Adams apple. Blood gushed all over his Son, Jeff. Jeff was Mad (Madison) at the Money (Monroe) fixing another Adams (another Adams) apple would cost.  Along came the nicer Son, Jack to help, but his Van Burned (Van Buren) while Hurrying (Harrison) to the hospital. So they just temporarily Tied (Tyler) a bandage around the wound.

Stop by the MAC to practice, ask questions, or learn even more mnemonic devices!