Day 2

Piece:

Declaration of Independence, Preamble:

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

 --Thomas Jefferson

Method

We're going to use Mnemonics -- which uses objects/phrases that stand out to help you remember ordinary things. Repeat the Mnemonic to yourself aloud 5 until you can do it without looking at it. Than wait for 1 minute and see if you can repeat the Mnemonic without looking again. When you can, start adding the phrases one by one, and repeat each one until you can say it without looking. When you can repeat the whole preamble without looking, wait 2 minutes and try to repeat it to yourself again. You have memorized the preamble when you can repeat it without looking or reading it beforehand for at least two minutes.

Day 1

Piece:

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant---
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise
As Lightening to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind---

--Emily Dickinson

Method

Gradually remove all but the first letter of key words. As you continue, remove all but the first letter of key words, then take away those until you need no prompting. Once you achieve this goal, do something to take your mind off the poem for 2minutes. Then see if you can repeat the poem from memory without any hints. If you can't, start the process over until you can. If you can't manage it before your time is up, don't worry. If you can, try doing the same process with the poem A Narrow Fellow in the Grass.