Flashcard Studying

Hey, guys! I hope you are having a lovely pre-holiday season!

Today, I wanna address one of the very common studying methods - flashcards. Generally, flashcards are useful for certain things, such as vocabulary and diagrams, but actually, it can be used in some other ways as well. Here is everything I can suggest about flashcards:

1. Make Multiple Sets of Flashcards per Subject

As I said, they can be used to create diagrams and memorize vocabulary terms. Make sure you create these or any other possible sets for each of your subjects. This way your information will be very well organized while studying for a test or an exam.

2. Types of Things to Write on Flashcards:

- mind maps

- definitions
- equations
- question&answer
- colouring activity
- labelling activity

- timelines

3. Way of Writing

It should be short, clear, and in your own words. When you deal with the labelling or equations, or such, you don't have to think about the way you'd write it. However, if you are doing question/answer or definitions, make sure you you condense the information to a sentence or two, and rephrase it your own way. Rephrasing, by the way, is a wonderful study tool.

4. Little Techniques

- Often you may deal with lists of definitions that go under a certain topic; or you are doing labelling of a specific system. Since, let's say, diagrams is one set of my biology class flashcards, I should colour-code them, so that I won't be confused with the topic my diagrams go under. So, you either use the cards of different colours, or colour-code them yourself. There is a way to colour code that I prefer: colour the side of the flashcard, so that it would be recognisable as to which unit/topic it belongs to. Yellow ones, lets say are for the excretory system, and pink ones are for the circulatory:

- Highlight, or use different colours of pens to study from the flashcards. I would prefer highlight. Here is why: when you're making them, you develop and learn the information from the first time. When you study for a test, you learn it twice by highlighting whatever it is with a certain colour. Then, when it comes to the exam, you take a different colour of a highlighter and highlight everything left over to memorize. It dislike elimination of the info that you already know.
- You should try your best to make your cue cards aesthetically pleasing. This way, you'll enjoy the studying more :)

5. Being Organized: Accessories

- rings
- holders

- paperclips

6. Make Them Right Away

Some classes, like biology, might require a ridiculous amount of cue cards. But if you go home and do them after every class, it will only take you 10-15 minutes. You will be very thankful to yourself prior to the test, though, since all of your study tools will be prepared for use.

How to Ask a Question

Hey, guys! 

Today, I'd love to talk about how important it is to learn how to ask questions in the academic setting. Obviously, teachers are more accessible while you are at school, in comparison to their availability in the university/college, so you better know how to ask a specific, but a thorough question, which will fill in the gaps of your misunderstandings:

1. Make Sure you are Either Asking for a Favour of a Question

Often times, we say "I don't understand that" to the teacher. This is not a question. A more professional way to express that same idea is: "Could you explain this concept again, please"(favour) or to ask a specific question.

2. Figure Out What it is / Start From the Very Beginning

If you do not understand the material, you must figure out what exactly you're missing. Sometimes, something small can mess up your understanding of the entire concept. This is why it is crucial to start asking questions from the moment you understand that something is unclear. 

Also, if it is math/physics/other math-related subject, make sure to practice the problems you are uncomfortable with, to identify what's unclear on a more specific level.

3. Go Through the Material

In order to identify, which part of the information is confusing, go through that information again. It would be better if your will ask little questions to yourself while going through the material. 

4. Be Specific While Forming a Question

If you've identified the misunderstanding, come up with a question that will, you think, cover all of the answer. The question can be long, but let it not be confusing. 

In math-related subjects, it is very beneficial to ask for more examples, since it will help the teacher understand what is your problem. And then you could work together to solve it. 

5. What if I Don't Understand the ENTIRE THING?

Well, in this case, I suggest you start from the very beginning. Right after the problem arises, arrange a meeting with your teacher to discuss the material again. In the case of absolute misunderstanding, you won't get away with 1 question. During the meeting with your teacher, tell him/her that you are confused about the material and then ask "How/Where do I start?"; "What steps there are?"; "What should be my process of thinking?" etc. Ask something general, yet specific. 

Essay Writing

Good afternoon, sweeties.
I'm done with essays for the year, and according to my marks, I've done a good job mastering it. Today, I'd like to give you a few suggestions as to what to do with your essay to make sure it is professional. Consider doing an outline,a draft, and then the final copy, but here's what you have to follow:

1. Follow Structure

If you are given rubric, make sure you follow the structure of an essay the way your teacher wants it. Is it very strict on structure, or more/less free-flow? How many pages the teacher wants? What portion of an essay or criteria is graded the highest? 
Also, know your professor: learn if he/she wants you to have indents in the beginning of each paragraph, and learn if there's anything specific he/she likes/dislikes seeing in an essay. 

2. Quote as a Hook

The first sentence of an essay is called the hook. Its job is to intrigue the reader with the purpose of your essay. Even if your essay must be very formal, a very good idea would be to include a short, general quote outlining what your essay is about.

3. Formal, Persuasive Language with Proper Grammar

Obviously, no nouns in the formal essay. The persuasive language should exist though, clearly outlining your opinion.When using persuasion, avoid  words like "might, most likely, probably etc". These words are used if a person is unsure about his/her argument.You must be very confident when you are trying to convince the reader, as well as grammatically correct. Make sure you're not including any short forms, such as "there's" or "it's". 
If you like the transition words, such as "ultimately; additionally; similarly, etc", go ahead and use them. Don't overuse through, since they must not seem like the best thing in your essay! 

4. Short, but Thorough Sentences

If you are writing an essay, you have to imagine that you are trying to explain something to somebody. It has to be very clear. Each sentence you write has to be short, but thorough. Thus, it has to contain the answers to what, how and why.
Especially if you're writing a thesis, your sentence will be longer than usual, but it can't be run on. In thesis you start from a general idea and end with specific one outlining your arguments in a certain order. Your thesis also should contain the name of an author and the title of the book (most likely in italics) if you are working with some sort of creative piece. 

5. Quotes

You, obviously must try to tie a certain quote with your argument, but keep in mind that you can totally manipulate your quotes. You can either paraphrase them, or you could insert quote fragments into your point in order to explain your point better and to show that you actually know the text.  

6. Refer to Thesis and Explain in Analysis

When you're analysing your examples or quotes, you must refer them back to your thesis statement. This is done in order to show that the quote/example you chose actually represents what you're saying.
Using the quote fragments, analyse your quote very thoroughly. Potentially, think off some theories or just general life principles that fit the example to explain it better. If in class, for instance, you've learned a theory recently, try to see if the example somehow fits into its description.
Analysis should fundamentally answer questions such as what, how and why very thoroughly. 

6. Creative or Formal Title

Depending on the essay, make sure you satisfy the same format in your title. Your title shouldn't be long, although it must still contain the information on what you're writing about. 

6. Works Cited and MLA formatting 

The formatting, I figured, is huge in an essay. But, looking at it from a different perspective - it is easy marks. As long as you follow the MLA format and make a legitimate works cited page, you will keep a lot of those easy marks.

7. Reread and Edit

There's a lot to focus on while you're rereading. Not only you must check your formal writing techniques (no short forms, no nouns etc.), you also must go through the rubric and make sure you have everything it's asking for. Obviously, check spelling and grammar. 
If your professor or a tutor is willing to edit your essay, never lose that chance. You will learn a lot, as well as you will be pointed at your mistakes, what will make it easier to correct them. 
If it is not an option, I recommend waiting a day or two after you're done with your essay, and then going back and editing it. It will give you a fresh and objective look at your work!