Acrostic: n. a mnemonic device that consists of a verse, whereby the first letter in each word stands for something else
An acrostic is a type of mnemonic device or a technique used to improve memory. It consists of a phrase in which the one of the letters (usually the first) in each of the words represents another word. The words that each of these letters represent are related to a similar concept. For example, an acrostic for the colors of the rainbow could be: Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain, which stands for Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.
Acrostics work particularly well for memorizing items in a series. Like many other mnemonic devices, acrostics work because they provide a structure for learning a new concept, they are distinctive, and they provide cues for easy retrieval.
For some popular acrostics, visit this page. For more on the basic principles of mnemonics, click here.
References:
Photo Credit:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c2Hs7S0qF9k/UOMiTAvOjoI/AAAAAAAAD8w/luGjXTEOMRw/s1600/Cake+Boss2.jpg
Acrostics work particularly well for memorizing items in a series. Like many other mnemonic devices, acrostics work because they provide a structure for learning a new concept, they are distinctive, and they provide cues for easy retrieval.
For some popular acrostics, visit this page. For more on the basic principles of mnemonics, click here.
References:
- Nevid, J.S. (2009). Psychology: Concepts and Applications. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.
- Sternberg, R.J. & Sternberg, K. (2011). Cognitive Psychology. Wadsworth Publishing.
- University of Salford Manchester. (2011, April 12). Memory Techniques - Acrostics. Retrieved February 11, 2013, from University of Salford Manchester's Study Skills Blog: http://salfordstudyskills.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/memory-techniques-acrostics/.
Photo Credit:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c2Hs7S0qF9k/UOMiTAvOjoI/AAAAAAAAD8w/luGjXTEOMRw/s1600/Cake+Boss2.jpg