The Number/Rhyme Mnemonic
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
The Number/Rhyme technique is a very simple way of remembering lists in order.
It is an example of a peg system using – a
system where information is 'pegged' to a known sequence (here the
numbers one to ten) to create pegwords. By doing this you ensure
that you do not forget any facts, as gaps in information are
immediately obvious. It also makes remembering images easier as
you always know part of the mnemonic images.
At a simple level you can use it to remember
things such as a list of English Kings or American Presidents in
their precise order. At a more advanced level it can be used, for
example, to code lists of experiments to be recalled in a science
exam.
How to Use the Tool
The technique works by helping you to build up
pictures in your mind, in which you represent numbers by things
that rhyme with the number. You can then link these pictures to
images of the things to be remembered.
The usual rhyming scheme is:
Bun
Shoe
Tree
Paw
Hive
Bricks
Heaven
Gate
Line
Hen
If you find that these images do not attract you or stick in your
mind, then change them for something more meaningful.
Link these images to ones representing the things to be
remembered. Often, the sillier the compound image, the more
effectively you will remember it – see the introduction to this
chapter to see how you can improve the image to help it stay
clearly in your mind.
Example
For example, you could remember a list of ten Greek philosophers as:
Parmenides – a BUN topped with grated yellow PARMEsan cheese.
Heraclitus – a SHOE worn by HERACLes (Greek Hercules) glowing with a bright LIghT.
Empedocles – a TREE from which the M-shaped McDonalds arches hang hooking up a bicycle PEDal.
Democritus – a PAW print on the voting form of a DEMOCRaTic election.
Protagoras – a bee HIVE being hit by an atomic PROTon.
Socrates – BRICKS falling onto a SOCk (with a foot inside!) from a CRATe.
Plato – a plate with angel's wings flapping around a white cloud.
Aristotle – a GATE being jumped by a bewigged French ARISTOcrat carrying a botTLE.
Zeno – a LINE of ZEN Buddhists meditating.
Epicurus – a flying HEN carrying an EPIdemic's CURe.
Try either visualizing these images as suggested, or if you do not
like them, come up with images of your own. Once you have done
this, try writing down the names of the philosophers on a piece of
paper. You should be able to do this by thinking of the number,
then the part of the image associated with the number, and then
the whole image. Finally you can decode the image to give you the
name of the philosopher.
If the mnemonic has worked, you should not only recall the names
of all the philosophers in the correct order, but should also be
able to spot where you have left them out of the sequence. Try it
– it's easier than it sounds.
You can use a peg system like this as a basis for knowledge in an
entire area. The example above could form the basis for knowledge
of ancient philosophy. You could now associate images representing
the projects, systems and theories of each philosopher with the
images coding the philosophers' names.
Key Points
The Number/Rhyme technique is a very effective method of
remembering lists. It works by 'pegging' the things to be
remembered to images rhyming with the numbers 0 – 9. By driving
the associations with numbers you have a good starting point in
reconstructing the images, you are aware if information is
missing, and you can pick up and continue the sequence from
anywhere within the list.
Tags:
Learning Skills, Skills
It is an example of a peg system using – a
system where information is 'pegged' to a known sequence (here the
numbers one to ten) to create pegwords. By doing this you ensure
that you do not forget any facts, as gaps in information are
immediately obvious. It also makes remembering images easier as
you always know part of the mnemonic images.
At a simple level you can use it to remember
things such as a list of English Kings or American Presidents in
their precise order. At a more advanced level it can be used, for
example, to code lists of experiments to be recalled in a science
exam.
How to Use the Tool
The technique works by helping you to build up
pictures in your mind, in which you represent numbers by things
that rhyme with the number. You can then link these pictures to
images of the things to be remembered.
The usual rhyming scheme is:
Bun
Shoe
Tree
Paw
Hive
Bricks
Heaven
Gate
Line
Hen
If you find that these images do not attract you or stick in your
mind, then change them for something more meaningful.
Link these images to ones representing the things to be
remembered. Often, the sillier the compound image, the more
effectively you will remember it – see the introduction to this
chapter to see how you can improve the image to help it stay
clearly in your mind.
Example
For example, you could remember a list of ten Greek philosophers as:
Parmenides – a BUN topped with grated yellow PARMEsan cheese.
Heraclitus – a SHOE worn by HERACLes (Greek Hercules) glowing with a bright LIghT.
Empedocles – a TREE from which the M-shaped McDonalds arches hang hooking up a bicycle PEDal.
Democritus – a PAW print on the voting form of a DEMOCRaTic election.
Protagoras – a bee HIVE being hit by an atomic PROTon.
Socrates – BRICKS falling onto a SOCk (with a foot inside!) from a CRATe.
Plato – a plate with angel's wings flapping around a white cloud.
Aristotle – a GATE being jumped by a bewigged French ARISTOcrat carrying a botTLE.
Zeno – a LINE of ZEN Buddhists meditating.
Epicurus – a flying HEN carrying an EPIdemic's CURe.
Try either visualizing these images as suggested, or if you do not
like them, come up with images of your own. Once you have done
this, try writing down the names of the philosophers on a piece of
paper. You should be able to do this by thinking of the number,
then the part of the image associated with the number, and then
the whole image. Finally you can decode the image to give you the
name of the philosopher.
If the mnemonic has worked, you should not only recall the names
of all the philosophers in the correct order, but should also be
able to spot where you have left them out of the sequence. Try it
– it's easier than it sounds.
You can use a peg system like this as a basis for knowledge in an
entire area. The example above could form the basis for knowledge
of ancient philosophy. You could now associate images representing
the projects, systems and theories of each philosopher with the
images coding the philosophers' names.
Key Points
The Number/Rhyme technique is a very effective method of
remembering lists. It works by 'pegging' the things to be
remembered to images rhyming with the numbers 0 – 9. By driving
the associations with numbers you have a good starting point in
reconstructing the images, you are aware if information is
missing, and you can pick up and continue the sequence from
anywhere within the list.
