Final answer:
Mnemonic devices such as acronyms and acrostics are strategies to enhance memory by organizing and encoding information. Elaborative rehearsal and chunking are other techniques that assist in improving memory retention. These methods help to convert short-term memory into long-term memory and facilitate easier retrieval.
Step-by-step explanation:
A strategy that employs methods like keywords, acronyms, and acrostics to enhance memory is known as the use of mnemonic devices. These devices facilitate the organization and encoding of information, making it easier to retrieve when needed. For example, the acronym HOMES can be used to remember the names of the Great Lakes, and the acrostic “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” helps recall the order of operations in math.
These strategies are especially beneficial when attempting to memorize complex information, such as mathematical formulas or the order of planets in the solar system. The mnemonic “Mr. VEM J. SUN”, for instance, represents the order of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Beyond mnemonics, other effective memory-enhancing strategies include elaborative rehearsal, where new information is linked to existing knowledge, and chunking, where information is broken into manageable units. Additionally, techniques such as expressive writing, saying words aloud, or distributed practice over time help consolidate memories and improve recall.