tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19325204831387695882024-02-20T17:48:19.549-08:00Study, Tutor, SuccessA resource designed to give my students helpful tips to get them through tough classes successfully.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932520483138769588.post-16251279253822067332009-01-28T11:01:00.001-08:002009-01-28T11:01:46.572-08:00CHEM 106I have quite a few CHEM 106 students.<br /><br />Do any of you want to try a study group and get tutoring together?Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932520483138769588.post-57040826858836714992009-01-28T10:59:00.000-08:002009-01-28T11:00:10.893-08:00Open HoursI have drop in hours in which I will never have appts. on Monday Wednesday and Friday from 10-2. I will handle this first come first serve.<br /><br />If you have any questions, let me know.<br /><br />BrookeBrookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932520483138769588.post-51065171943516682112009-01-26T11:12:00.000-08:002009-01-26T11:13:50.228-08:00Helpful Study HintsStudying isn't just doing your homework. <br /><br />It includes:<br /><br /><strong>*taking notes in class</strong><br />(take careful notes and ASK questions if <br />you missed something or didn't understand<br />something the teacher said)<br /><br /><strong>*studying those notes</strong><br />(study those notes AT HOME, not just the<br />night before the test, but study the <br />notes a few minutes EACH night)<br /><br /><strong>*find a study buddy </strong>in your class and find<br />ways to help each other learn the <br />material<br /><strong><br />*100% attention</strong> during classtime and studyBrookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932520483138769588.post-86086364326383584012009-01-23T13:59:00.000-08:002009-01-23T14:01:52.993-08:00MATH TUTORINGIf you need Math tutoring and your class requires use of course compass, please let me know. The lab computers do not support course compass, so we will need to either use your laptop or (if you dont have one), get a laptop to use. It isnt a big deal to get you up and running, we just need to know ahead of time.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932520483138769588.post-91789272972654020782009-01-21T17:32:00.000-08:002009-01-21T18:07:09.038-08:00Procrastination - One of My Personal Favorite PracticesThe art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair.<br />—Mary Heaton Vorse<br /><br />Everyone procrastinates. It is one I my personal favorite practices. We put things off because we don't want to do them or because we we are simply busy with other things. Putting things off (big or small)is part of being human. If you are reading this, however, it is likely that your procrastination is troubling you. You suspect that you could be a much better writer if only you didn't put off writing projects until the last minute. You find that just when you have really gotten going on a paper, it's time to turn it in, so you never really have time to revise or proofread carefully and you (and your body) are getting tired of pulling all-nighters.<br /><br />You can tell whether or not you need to do something about your procrastination by examining its consequences. Procrastination can have external consequences (you get a zero on the paper because you never turned it in) or internal consequences (you feel anxious much of the time, even when you are doing something that you enjoy). If you put off washing the dishes, but the dishes don't bother you, who cares? When your procrastination leaves you feeling discouraged and overburdened, however, it is time to take action.<br /><br /><strong>Is there hope?</strong><br />If you think you are a hopeless procrastinator, you are wrong. No one is beyond help. The fact that you procrastinate does not mean that you are inherently lazy or inefficient. Your procrastination is not an untamable beast. It is a habit that has some specific origin, and it is a habit that you can overcome. For most procrastinators, there are no quick fixes. You aren't going to wake up tomorrow and never procrastinate again, but you might wake up tomorrow and do one or two simple things that will help you finish that draft a little earlier or with less stress. <br /><br />You may not be surprised to learn that procrastinators tend to be self-critical. As you consider your procrastination and struggle to develop different work habits, try to be nice to yourself. Punishing yourself every time you realize you have put something off won't help you change. Rewarding yourself when you make progress will. <br /><br />If you don't care why you procrastinate (you just want to know what to do about it)then you might as well skip the next section and go right to the section labeled "<strong>What to do about it</strong>." If you skip directly to the strategies, you may only end up more frustrated. Taking the time to learn about why you procrastinate may help you avoid the cycle whereby you swear up and down that you will never procrastinate again, only to find that the next time you have a paper due, you are up until 3 a.m. trying to complete the first (and only) draft without knowing why or how you got there.<br /><br /><strong>Why we do it</strong><br />In order to stop putting off your writing assignments, it is important to understand why you tend to do so in the first place. Some of the reasons that people procrastinate include the following:<br /><br /><em>Because we are afraid.</em><br />Fear of failure: If you are scared that a particular piece of writing isn't going to turn out well, then you may avoid working on it in order to avoid feeling the fear.<br /><br /><br /><em>Fear of success</em>: <br />Some procrastinators fear that if they start working at their full capacity, they will turn into workaholics. Since we procrastinate compulsively, we assume that we will also write compulsively; we envision ourselves locked in a library carrel, hunched over the computer, barely eating and sleeping and never seeing friends or going out. The procrastinator who fears success may also assume that if they work too hard, they will become mean and cold to the people around them, thus losing their capacity to be friendly and to have fun. This type of procrastinator may think that if they stop procrastinating, then they will start writing better, which will increase other people's expectations, thus ultimately increasing the amount of pressure they experience. <br /><br /><br /><em>Fear of losing autonomy</em>: <br />Some people delay writing projects as a way of maintaining their independence. When they receive a writing assignment, they procrastinate as a way of saying, "You can't make me do this. I am my own person." Procrastinating helps them feel more in control of situations (such as college) in which they believe that other people have authority. <br /><br /><br /><em>Fear of being alone</em>: <br />Other writers procrastinate because they want to feel constantly connected to other people. For instance, you may procrastinate until you are in such a bind that someone has to come and rescue you. Procrastination therefore ensures that other people will be involved in your life. You may also put off writing because you don't want to be alone, and writing is oftentimes a solitary activity. In its worst form, procrastination itself can become a companion, constantly reminding you of all that you have to do. <br /><br /><br /><em>Fear of attachment</em>: <br />Rather than fearing separation, some people procrastinate in order to create a barrier between themselves and others. They may delay in order to create chaos in their lives, believing that the chaos will keep other people away. <br />Whether these fears appear in our conscious or subconscious minds, they paralyze us and keep us from taking action, until discomfort and anxiety overwhelms us and forces us to either a) get the piece of writing done or b) give up. <br /><br /><em>Because we expect ourselves to be perfect.</em><br />Procrastination and perfectionism often go hand in hand. Perfectionists tend to procrastinate because they expect so much of themselves, and they are scared about whether or not they can meet those high standards. Perfectionists sometimes think that it is better to give a half-hearted effort and maintain the belief that they could have written a great paper than to give a full effort and risk writing a mediocre paper. Procrastinating guarantees failure, but it helps perfectionists maintain their belief that they could have excelled if they had tried harder. Another pitfall for perfectionists is that they tend to ignore progress toward a goal. As long as the writing project is incomplete, they feel as though they aren't getting anywhere rather than recognizing that each paragraph moves them closer to a finished product (I have this problem). <br /><br /><em>Because we don't like our writing.</em><br />You may procrastinate on writing because you don't like to re-read what you have written; you hate writing a first draft and then being forced to evaluate it, in all its imperfection. By procrastinating, you ensure that you don't have time to read over your work, thus avoiding that uncomfortable moment. <br /><br /><em>Because we're too busy.</em><br />Practical concerns: jobs, other classes, etc. <br /><br /><em>Because it works.</em><br />Unfortunately, procrastination helps reinforce itself. When we avoid doing something we dread (like writing) by doing something we enjoy (such as watching TV, hanging out with friends, etc.), we escape the dreaded task. Given such a choice, it's no wonder that many of us choose to procrastinate. When we write a paper at the last minute and still manage to get a good grade, we feel all the more compelled to procrastinate next time around. This is another one of my problems.<br /><strong><br />What to do about it</strong><br />Now that you know a little bit about why you may have procrastinated in the past, let's explore some of the strategies you might use to combat your procrastination tendencies, now and in the future. Experiment with whichever of these strategies appeals to you; if you try something and it doesn't work, try something else! Be patient; improvement will come with practice. <br /><em><br />Take an inventory.</em><br />Figuring out exactly when and how you procrastinate can help you stop the behavior. It can be difficult to tell when you are procrastinating. Think about the clues that tell you that's what you're doing: for example, a nagging voice in your head, a visual image of what you are avoiding or the consequences of not doing it, physical ailments (stomach tightness, headaches, muscle tension), inability to concentrate, inability to enjoy what you are doing. <br /><br /><em>How do you procrastinate?</em><br />Try to ignore the task, hoping against hope that it will go away?<br /><br /><br />Over- or under-estimate the degree of difficulty that the task involves? <br /><br /><br />Minimize the impact that your performance now may have on your future? <br /><br /><br />Substitute something important for something really important? (For example, cleaning instead of writing your paper.)<br /><br /><br />Let a short break become a long one, or an evening in which you do no work at all? (For example, claiming that you are going to watch TV for ½ hour, then watch it all night.)<br /><br /><br />Focus on one part of the task at the expense of the rest? (For example, keep working on the introduction, while putting off writing the body and conclusion).<br /><br /><br />Spend too much time researching or choosing a topic<br /><br />Once you better understand how you procrastinate, you will be better able to catch yourself doing it. Too often, we don't even realize that we are procrastinating until it's too late. <br /><br /><em>Create a productive environment.</em><br />If you have made the decision to stop delaying on a particular writing project, it is critical that you find a place to work where you have at least half a chance of actually getting some writing done. Your dorm room may not be the place where you are most productive. Ditto the computer lab. If you have a laptop computer, try going someplace where you can't connect to the Internet (e-mail and the Web are the bane of the procrastinator's existence—trust me I know). If you are a procrastinator, then chances are you are already pretty exasperated; don't risk frustrating yourself even more by trying to write in an environment that doesn't meet your needs. <br /><br />[CAUTION: The most skilled procrastinators will be tempted to take this suggestion too far, spending an inordinate amount of time "creating a productive environment" (cleaning, filing, etc.) and not nearly enough time actually writing. Don't fall into that trap! While cleaning and filing are indeed worthy and necessary activities, if you only do this when you have an approaching writing deadline, then you are procrastinating.]<br /><br />While you are thinking about where to write, consider also when you will write. When are you most alert? Is it at 8 a.m., mid-morning, mid-afternoon, early evening, or late at night? Try to schedule writing time when you know you will be at your best. Don't worry about when you "should" be able to write; just focus on when you are able to write. <br /><br /><em>Challenge your myths.</em><br />In order to break the procrastination habit, we need to get past the idea that in order to write, we must have all the information pertaining to the topic, and we must have optimal writing conditions. In reality, writers never have all the information, and conditions are never optimal. <br /><br />Think of a writing project that you are currently putting off. On one side of a piece of paper, write down all the reasons for your delay. On the other side, argue (as convincingly as possible!) against the delay. <br /><br /><br /><em><strong>Myth #1: "I can't function in a messy environment. I can't possibly write this paper until I have cleaned my apartment." </strong></em><br /><br />Challenge: There are no conditions that are necessary in order for you to write, save two: 1) You must have a writing implement (e.g., a keyboard or a pen) and 2) you must have someplace for writing to go, such as into a computer or onto a piece of paper. If, when faced with a writing project, you start piling up prerequisites for all the things you must do before you can possibly start writing, consider whether you might in fact be making excuses—in other words, procrastinating. <br /><br /><strong><em>Myth #2: "I know it's time for me to start writing, but I just haven't done enough research yet. I'll spend one more night at the library, and then I'll start writing my paper."</em></strong> <br /><br />Challenge: Truth be told, you will never collect all the information you possibly could for your paper. Better to write a tightly-crafted argument with the information you have <strong>NOW, AT THIS VERY MOMENT</strong>, than to keep doing research and risk throwing your paper together at the last minute. <br /><br /><em><strong>Myth #3: "I do my best work under pressure." </strong></em><br /><br />Challenge: There are lots of other ways to create pressure for yourself, besides waiting until the night before the paper is due to start writing it. You can set a time limit for yourself—for example, "I will write this paragraph in ½ hour"—or you can pretend that the paper is a timed essay exam. If you do this a week or two before the paper is due, you'll have a draft in plenty of time to revise and edit it. <br /><br /><em><strong>Myth #4: "In order to work on my paper, I must have six uninterrupted hours."</strong></em> <br /><br />Challenge: You can and should work on a paper in one hour blocks (or shorter). This will help you break the writing task down into smaller pieces, thereby making it seem more manageable. If you know that you can work on one part of the paper for one hour, then it won't seem so daunting, and you will be less likely to procrastinate.<br /><br />Some writers find, however, that they do need longer blocks of time in order to really produce anything. Therefore, like all of the strategies outlined here, if this one doesn't work for you, throw it out and try something else. You might still find, however, that you are more productive when you plan to write "all morning" rather than "all day." <br /><br /><em><strong>Myth #5: "What I write has to be perfect, " AND/OR "I can't write anything until I have a perfect thesis statement/intro." </strong></em><br /><br />Challenge: A first draft (or a second, or a third, or even—egad!—the final product) does not have to be perfect. When we write an early draft, we need to turn off our internal critic and just get some words down on the page. The great thing about starting early on a writing project is that it leaves us plenty of time for revision, editing, and proofreading; so, we can set ourselves free to just let our writing flow, without worrying about sentence-level concerns such as grammar, punctuation, and style. You'll find some other thoughts on editing in our handouts on proofreading and revision. <br /><br /><em>Break it down.</em><br />The day you get the paper assignment (ideally), or shortly thereafter, break the writing assignment up into the smallest possible chunks. By doing this, the paper never has a chance to take on gargantuan proportions in your mind. You can say to yourself, "Right now, I'm going to write the introduction. That's all, just the introduction!" And you may be more likely to sit down and do that, than you will to sit down and "write the paper." <br /><br /><em>Get a new attitude.</em><br />We shoot ourselves in the foot, to begin with, by telling ourselves how horrible a particular writing assignment is. Changing our attitude toward the task, when possible, may go a long way toward keeping us from procrastinating. Tell yourself that the task isn't so bad or difficult, that you either know how to do it, or that you can learn how while you're doing it. You may find, too, that if you start early on a particular assignment, your attitude never has a chance to get very negative in the first place! Simply starting to write can often help us feel more positive about writing. <br /><br /><em>Ask for help.</em><br />Get an anti-procrastination coach (I can do this for you if you need it!). If you are really determined not to procrastinate, then get help from the supportive people in your life. Tell someone about your writing goal and timeline, and ask them to help you determine whether or not your plan is realistic. Once or twice a week, email with a friend, relative, or mentor, in order to report (admit?) on your progress, and declare your promise for the next week (or few days). If, despite your very good intentions, you start procrastinating again, do not think, "All is lost!" Instead, talk to someone about it. They may be able to help you put your slip into perspective and get back on track. <br /><br /><br />Get a buddy. See if you can find a friend to work alongside you. They don't have to be writing a paper; in fact, they can be playing Solitaire, for all you care. What matters is that you arrange to meet them at the library (or wherever you have decided to write) at a particular time and stay there for a specific period of time, thus creating <strong>accountability</strong>. <br /><br /><br /><em>Get help with your writing.</em><br />If you are procrastinating because you think you are a weak writer, then ask someone (a tutor, a current or former professor or teaching assistant, a friend) to help you improve. <br /><br /><br /><em>Form a writing group.</em> <br />A writing group is a great way for undergraduate and more advanced writers alike to create accountability, get feedback, and simply get reminded that you are not alone in the struggle to produce and to improve your writing. If you need help finding people to write with, I can help you out.<br /><br /><em>Get unblocked.</em><br />Sometimes, we procrastinate because we feel stuck on a particular essay or section of an essay. If this happens, you have several options:<br /><br /><em>Turn off the screen</em>. Type with a dark screen, so you can't see what you've written, decide you don't like it, and delete it immediately. Sometimes procrastination stems from insecurity about what to say, or whether we have anything to say. The important thing, in that case, is to get started and KEEP GOING. Turning off the screen may help lessen your fear and turn off your internal critic. When you turn it back on (or print out what you've written), you may find that you do have something to say. <br /><br /><br /><em>Write about writing</em>. Take 15 minutes and write a letter to yourself about why you don't want to write this. This lets you vent your frustrations and anxieties. Then, Take 15 minutes and write about what you could do to get unstuck. You can also try writing about what you're going to write, making an initial assessment of the assignment. You won't have the pressure of writing an actually draft, but you will be able to get something down on paper. <br /><br /><br /><em>Write the easiest part first</em>. You don't have to start at the beginning. Whatever section you can do, do it! If you think that's wimpy, and you would rather do the hardest part first so that you can get it out of the way, that's fine—whatever works for you. If you start writing and you get stuck, write about why you're stuck.<br /><br /><br /><em>Talk it out</em>. Try tape-recording yourself speaking the ideas you want to include in the paper and then transcribe the tape. <br /><br /><em>Make yourself accountable.</em><br />Set a writing deadline (other than the paper's due date) for yourself by telling your me that you're going to give them a draft on such-and-such a date and setting up an appointment to go over it. If you make your appointment several days before the paper is due, then you may be motivated to have a draft finished, in order to make the appointment worthwhile. <br /><br /><em>Leave your work out.</em><br />Keeping your work (books, notes, articles, etc.) physically out, in full view, gives you a reminder that you are in the middle of the paper, or that you need to start. Also, if you write in more than one shift, it can be helpful to leave off in the middle of a paragraph and leave your 'tools' where they are. When you return to the paper, you'll be able to "warm up" by finishing that paragraph. Starting a new section cold may be more difficult. <strong>(Don't forget to SAVE)</strong><br /><br /><em>Work on improving your writing when you don't have a deadline.</em><br />Investigate your writing process. First of all, you may not think you have a thing called a "writing process," But everyone does. Describe your writing process in detail.<br /><br />Ask yourself:<br /><br />When do I usually start on a paper?<br /><br /><br />What tools do I need (or think I need) in order to write? <br /><br /><br />Where do I write? <br /><br /><br />Do I like quiet or noise when I write?<br /><br /><br />How long a block of time do I need? <br /><br /><br />What do I do before I start? <br /><br /><br />What do I do at the end? <br /><br /><br />How do I feel at the end (after I have turned it in)?<br /><br />Then ask yourself: <br /><br />What do I like about my writing process?<br /><br /><br />What do I want to change? <br /><br />Once you can see your writing process, then you can make a decision to change it. But take it easy with this and only work on one part at a time. Otherwise, you'll get overwhelmed and frustrated and we all know where that leads, straight down the procrastination road. <br /><br /><em>Evaluate your writing's strengths and weaknesses.</em><br />If you aren't ready to evaluate your writing process completely (and it's okay if you aren't), then you could try just listing your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. For instance, perhaps you are great at creating thesis statements, but you have trouble developing arguments. Or, your papers are very well-organized, but your thesis and argument tend to fall a little flat. Identifying these issues will help you do two things: 1) When you write, you can play to your strength; and 2) You can choose one weakness and do something about it when you DON'T have a deadline. <br /><br />Now, doing anything when you don't have a deadline may sound strange to a procrastinator, but bear with me. Let's say you've decided that your writing is too wordy, and you want to work on being more concise. So, some time when you don't have a paper, but you do have a free hour, you come see me and tell me, "Hey, I want learn how to write more clearly." You confer, and you come away with some simple strategies for eliminating wordiness. <br /><br />Here is why this may make a difference the next time you write a paper, regardless or whether or not you have procrastinated (again!): You print out your draft. It's 1 a.m. You go to bed. The next morning, you read over your paper (it's due at noon). You say to yourself, "Hmmm, I notice I'm being too wordy." Rather than concluding, "Oh, well, it's too late, there isn't anything I can do about that," (as you may have in the past), you can choose to employ some of what you learned (previously, when you weren't under the gun) to make your writing more concise. You edit the paper accordingly. You turn it in. <br /><br />When your instructor hands the papers back the following week, there are far fewer instances of "awkward," "unclear," etc. in the margins. Voila! You've made a positive change in your writing process! <br /><br />What does this have to do with procrastination? Well, making one small change in your writing process creates momentum. You begin to feel more positive about your writing. You begin to be less intimidated by writing assignments. And you eventually start them earlier, because they just aren't as big a deal as they used to be. <br /><br />Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses in your writing gives you a sense of control. Your writing problems are solvable problems. Working on your writing when you don't have a deadline helps you gain insight and momentum. Soon, writing becomes something that, while you may not look forward to it, you don't dread quite as much. Thus, you don't procrastinate quite as much. <br /><br /><br /><em>Hone your proofreading and editing skills.</em><br />If you procrastinate on writing because you don't like to re-read what you have written, then here's the good news: you can learn specific proofreading, revising, and editing strategies. If you finish your paper ahead of time, and you re-read it, and you don't like it, you have options. Writing a first draft that you don't like doesn't mean you're a terrible writer. Many writers, in fact, I would venture to say most, hate their first drafts. Neither Leo Tolstoy nor Toni Morrison produce(d) brilliant prose the first time around. In fact, Morrison (a big fan of revision) said recently, "You don't have to love it just because you wrote it!" If you practice some revision and editing strategies, you may feel more comfortable with the idea of re-reading your papers. You'll know that if you find weaknesses in the draft (and you will), you can do something to improve those areas. <br /><br /><em>Learn how to tell time.</em><br />One of the best ways to combat procrastination is to develop a more realistic understanding of time. Procrastinators' views of time tend to be fairly unrealistic. "This paper is only going to take me about five hours to write," you think. "Therefore, I don't need to start on it until the night before." What you may be forgetting, however, is that our time is often filled with more activities than we realize. On the night in question, for instance, let's say you go to the gym at 4:45 p.m. You work out (1 hour), take a shower and dress (30 minutes), eat dinner (45 minutes), and go to a sorority meeting (1 hour). By the time you get back to your dorm room to begin work on the paper, it is already 8:00 p.m. But now you need to check your email and return a couple of phone calls. It's 8:30 p.m. before you finally sit down to write the paper. If the paper does indeed take five hours to write, you will be up until 1:30 in the morning and that doesn't include the time that you will inevitably spend watching TV.<br /><br />And, as it turns out, it takes about five hours to write a first draft of the essay. You have forgotten to allow time for revision, editing, and proofreading. You get the paper done and turn it in the next morning. You know it isn't your best work, and you are pretty tired from the late night, and so you make yourself a promise: "Next time, I'll start early!" <br /><br /><em>Make an unschedule.</em><br />The next time you have a writing deadline, try using an un-schedule to outline a realistic plan for when you will write. An un-schedule is a weekly calendar of all the ways in which your time is already accounted for. When you make an un-schedule, you consider not only your timed commitments such as classes and meetings, but also your untimed activities such as meals, exercise, errands, laundry, time with friends and family, and the like. It is not a list of what you should do in a given week; rather it is an outline of the time that you will necessarily spend doing other things besides writing. <br /><br />Once you have made your un-schedule, take a look at the blank spaces. These represent the maximum number of hours that you could potentially spend writing. By starting with these blank spaces as a guide, you will be able to more accurately predict how much time you will be able to write on any given day. You may be able to see, for instance, that you really don't have five hours to spend writing on the night before the paper is due. By planning accordingly, you will not only get a better night's sleep, you may also end up with a better paper!<br /><br />The un-schedule might also be a good way to get started on a larger writing project, such as a term paper or an honors thesis. You may think that you have "all semester" to get the writing done, but if you really sit down and map out how much time you have available to write on a daily and weekly basis, you will see that you need to get started sooner, rather than later. In addition, the unschedule may reveal especially busy weeks or months, which will help you budget time for long-term projects. <br /><br />Perhaps most importantly, the un-schedule can help you examine how you spend your time. You may be surprised at how much (or how little) time you spend watching television, and decide to make a change. It's especially important that you build time for fun activities into your un-schedule. Otherwise, you will procrastinate in order to steal time for relaxation. <br /><br />You can also use the un-schedule to record your progress towards your goal. Each time you work on your paper, for example, mark it on the un-schedule. One of the most important things you can do to kick the procrastination habit is to reward yourself when you write something, even if (especially if) that writing is only a little piece of the whole. Seeing your success on paper will help reinforce the productive behavior, and you will feel more motivated to write later in the day or week. <br /><br /><em>Set a time limit.</em><br />Okay, so maybe one of the reasons you procrastinate on writing projects is that you just plain hate writing! You would rather be at the dentist than sitting in front of your computer with a blank Microsoft Word document staring you in the face. In that case, it may be helpful to set limits on how much time you will spend writing before you do something else. While the notation "Must work on Hemingway essay all weekend" may not inspire you to sit down and write, "Worked on Hemingway essay for ½ hour" just might. Or, if you tell yourself that you will write "all weekend," for instance, the sheer agony of the thought may keep you from doing any writing at all. If, however, you say that you will write for two hours on Saturday afternoon, you may actually accomplish something. The important thing here is to keep your commitment to yourself. Even if, at the end of the two hours, you think you could keep going, stop. Go outside and enjoy the weather. Your procrastinating self needs to be able to trust your new non-procrastinating self the next time you say you will only write for a certain amount of time. If you go overboard this time, then the next time you say, "I'll write for two hours and then stop," the procrastinator within will respond, "Yeah, right! I'm going shopping!" <br /><br />On the other hand, it may work better for you to trick yourself into working on your paper by telling yourself you're only going to write for two hours, but then continuing to work if you're feeling inspired. Experiment with both approaches and see which one seems to work best for you. <br /><br /><em>Be realistic about how long it takes you to write.</em><br />Procrastinators tend to be heroic about time; they estimate that it will take them two hours to complete a task that would take most people four. Once you have determined that procrastination is hurting your writing, begin taking notice of how long it actually takes you to write. Many students have a "page an hour" rule. Perhaps you can write a page in an hour if you are totally rested, fed, and focused, your roommate isn't home, and the wind is blowing just right, but what if the phone rings, what if you are tired, or what if you have to go to the bathroom? When you estimate how long it will take you to write something, expect that there will be interruptions along the way. <br /><br /><br /><strong><br />Parting thoughts</strong><br />As you explore why you procrastinate and experiment with strategies for working differently, don't expect overnight transformation. You developed the procrastination habit over a long period of time; you aren't going to stop magically. But you can change the behavior, bit by bit. If you stop punishing yourself when you procrastinate and start rewarding yourself for your small successes, you will eventually develop new writing habits. And you will get a lot more sleep. <br /><br />Trust me, this advice is for me, just as much as it is for you.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932520483138769588.post-60004854833529317402009-01-21T16:24:00.000-08:002009-01-21T17:12:04.835-08:00My Schedule This TermI have been asked to have some open hours where I will always be around this term (kind of like office hours). I thought this was a good idea, so I have established some. I will always be available from 10 am until 4 pm on Monday and Friday. You can schedule yourself with me durin these times or work with me on other times, but I will also be around for a drop in. If you are able, please schedule appts ahead with me. I may be busy when you drop in and have to take first come first serve unless you have a scheduled appt.<br /><br />I am also able to do groups of students in the same classes too if you like group tutoring. If you are interested in trying to get a group set up, let me know. I will work out the details and find people if you like group studying.<br /><br />I have embedded my schedule on the bottom of my blog...it looks kind of funny, but hey, I am a scientist, not a techno geek! If any of you techies can help me fix it, let me know.<br /><br />If you thought you scheduled tutoring with me and you don't see it on the schedule, let me know ASAP!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932520483138769588.post-45072175853372943712008-11-22T14:22:00.001-08:002008-11-22T14:32:17.636-08:00Think Like A Genius<em>"The first and last thing demanded of genius is the love of truth."</em><br /><strong>Goethe, German 1749 - 1832</strong><br /><br />Someone called me a genius today. It made me laugh. I am not a genius, but I strive to think like one. <br /><br />Even if you're not a genius, you can use the same strategies as Aristotle and Einstein to harness the power of your creative mind and better manage your future.<br /><br />The following strategies encourage you to think productively, rather than reproductively, in order to arrive at solutions to problems. These strategies are common to the thinking styles of creative geniuses in science, art, and industry throughout history.<br /><br /><br /><strong>1. Look at problems in many different ways.</strong><br /><strong>Find new perspectives that no one else has taken (or no one else has publicized!)<br /><br /></strong><strong></strong>Leonardo da Vinci believed that, to gain knowledge about the form of a problem, you begin by learning how to restructure it in many different ways. He felt that the first way he looked at a problem was too biased. Often, the problem itself is reconstructed and becomes a new one.<br /><br /><strong>2. Visualize!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />When Einstein thought through a problem, he always found it necessary to formulate his subject in as many different ways as possible, including using diagrams. He visualized solutions, and believed that words and numbers as such did not play a significant role in his thinking process. <strong>(See Josh, you work like Einstein!)</strong><br /><br /><strong>3. Produce! </strong><br /><strong>A distinguishing characteristic of genius is productivity.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Thomas Edison held 1,093 patents. He guaranteed productivity by giving himself and his assistants idea quotas. In a study of 2,036 scientists throughout history, Dean Keith Simonton of the University of California at Davis found that the most respected scientists produced not only great works, but also many "bad" ones. They weren't afraid to fail, or to produce mediocre in order to arrive at excellence.<br /><br /><strong>4. Make Novel Combinations.</strong><br /><strong>Combine, and recombine, ideas, images, and thoughts into different combinations no matter how incongruent or unusual.</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong>The laws of heredity on which the modern science of genetics is based came from the Austrian monk Grego Mendel, who combined mathematics and biology to create a new science.<br /><br /><strong>5. Form relationships.</strong><br /><strong>Make connections between dissimilar subjects.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Da Vinci forced a relationship between the sound of a bell and a stone hitting water. This enabled him to make the connection that sound travels in waves. Samuel Morse invented relay stations for telegraphic signals when observing relay stations for horses.<br /><br /><strong>6. Think in opposites.</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong>Physicist Niels Bohr believed, that if you held opposites together, then you suspend your thought, and your mind moves to a new level. His ability to imagine light as both a particle and a wave led to his conception of the principle of complementarity. Suspending thought (logic) may allow your mind to create a new form.<br /><br /><strong>7. Think metaphorically.</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong>Aristotle considered metaphor a sign of genius, and believed that the individual who had the capacity to perceive resemblances between two separate areas of existence and link them together was a person of special gifts.<br /><br /><strong>8. Prepare yourself for chance.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Whenever we attempt to do something and fail, we end up doing something else. That is the first principle of creative accident. Failure can be productive only if we do not focus on it as an unproductive result. Instead: analyze the process, its components, and how you can change them, to arrive at other results. Do not ask the question "Why have I failed?", but rather "What have I done?"<br /><br /><strong>9. Have patience.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Paul Cézanne (1839 – 1906) is recognized as one of the 19th century's greatest painters, and is often called the father of modern art, an avant garde bridge between the impressionists and the cubists. During his life he only had a few exhibitions though his influence on subsequent artists was great as an innovator with shape and form. His genius, however, was not evident until late in life. He was refused admission to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts at age 22 and his first solo exhibition was at age 56. His genius was the product of many years' practice and experimental innovation.<br /><br /><strong>10. Believe in Yourself!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />I believe in you.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932520483138769588.post-75947023415346071022008-11-21T14:46:00.000-08:002008-11-21T14:49:23.642-08:00CrammingMany of you have gotten my lecture about cramming. I never study the night before a test, and you should work until you are at a point where you are prepared for your tests and don't need to cram. But if you must:<br /><br />Cramming is not the best way to study for a test, but sometimes it is unavoidable. If you have to cram, use some strategies that you know will work for you, but plan to be ready to study for your next test. Cramming is not the way to get through college. If you cram too much, you will increase your anxiety level, and you will not do as well in your classes. Cram when you must, but develop tried and true study strategies to study throughout the semester.<br /><br />When cramming, it is a good idea to look over the material that has to be learned in a general way. Look at each chapter for the main topics or most important ideas. Read over the captions under the pictures, look at lists, read text boxes, study graphs and diagrams. These visual strategies usually signal what is important within a chapter.Try to concentrate and review all the main ideas, topics and points. Be selective about what you read. Don’t look over material that you will not be able to review. When reading over the material, identify some key concepts and define these concepts so that you remember them. Check your definition against the one given in your textbook or notes. Now is the time to edit or redo your notes. Put down the correct answers. Study these correct answers. Look over them and review them in the ways that you know you best understand.<br /><br />Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many concepts. Pick out what you think is the most important and know them well. By doing this, you will be assured that you are familiar with several key concepts.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932520483138769588.post-4950505555329845672008-11-21T11:04:00.000-08:002008-11-21T13:01:20.557-08:00Tutoring and its BenefitsThe purpose of tutoring is to help students help themselves and to assist or guide them to the point at which they become independent, successful learners.<br /><br /><strong>How do you know if you need tutoring?<br /></strong><br />There are many possible reasons why you might need tutoring. Here are some of the most important reasons.<br /><br />Professor or counselor recommends tutoring<br />Grades are dropping<br />Homework seems increasingly difficult<br />Extreme anxiety before tests<br />Self-esteem is dropping<br />Loss of interest in learning<br />Feelings of wanting to give up<br />Resistance to doing schoolwork<br />Reluctance to go to class<br /><br /><strong>What are the benefits of tutoring?</strong><br /><br />Tutoring can be beneficial in many ways. Here are some of the benefits:<br /><br />Provides personalized attention<br />Improves grades<br />Increases knowledge and understanding of subjects<br />Increases motivation to succeed<br />Provides intensive practice<br />Allows progress at own pace<br />Leads to better use of study time<br />Improves self-esteem and confidence<br />Encourages higher levels of learning<br />Encourages self-directed learning<br />Reduces competition<br />Provides praise, feedback, and encouragement<br />Provides review of skills not mastered but no longer taught<br /><br /><br />Don't ever be shy or embarrassed about tutoring; tutoring can make a great contribution to success.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932520483138769588.post-30303954383345359902008-11-21T10:55:00.000-08:002008-11-21T11:02:25.485-08:00Test Anxiety<strong>WHAT IS TEST ANXIETY?</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong>Too much anxiety about a test is commonly referred to as test anxiety. It is perfectly natural to feel some anxiety when preparing for and taking a test. In fact, a little anxiety can jump start your studying and keep you motivated. However, too much anxiety can interfere with your studying. You may have difficulty learning and remembering what you need to know for the test and too much anxiety may block your performance during the test.<br /><br /><strong>HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE TEST ANXIETY?</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />You probably have test anxiety if you answer YES to four or more of the following:<br /><br />I have a hard time getting started studying for a test.<br />When studying for a test, I find many things that distract me.<br />I expect to do poorly on a test no matter how much or how hard I study.<br />When taking a test, I experience physical discomfort such as sweaty palms, an upset stomach, a headache, difficulty breathing, and tension in my muscles.<br />When taking a test, I find it difficult to understand the directions and questions.<br />When taking a test, I have difficulty organizing my thoughts.<br />When taking a test, I often “draw a blank.”<br />When taking a test, I find my mind wandering to other things.<br />I usually score lower on a test than I do on assignments and papers.<br />After a test, I remember information I couldn’t recall during the test.<br /><br /><strong>WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT TEST ANXIETY?</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Here are some things you can do before, during, and after a test to reduce your test anxiety.<br />Use good study techniques to gain cognitive mastery of the material that will be covered on the test. This mastery will help you to approach the test with confidence rather than have excessive anxiety. If you need some study habit tips, let me know.<br /><br />Maintain a positive attitude as you study. Think about doing well, not failing. Think of the test as an opportunity to show how much you have learned.<br /><br />Go into the test well rested and well fed. Get enough sleep the night before the test. Eat a light and nutritious meal before the test. Stay away from junk foods. I personally try to never study for a test the day before the test.<br /><br />Stay relaxed during the test. Taking slow, deep breaths can help. Focus on positive self-statements such as “I can do this.”<br /><br />Follow a plan for taking the test such as the DETER strategy. Let me know if you want to learn more about DETER.<br /><br />Don’t worry about other students finishing the test before you do. Take the time that you need to do your best.<br /><br />Once you finish the test and hand it in, forget about it temporarily. There is nothing more you can do until the graded test is returned to you. Turn your attention and effort to new assignments and tests.<br /><br />When the graded test is returned to you, analyze it to see how you could have done better. Learn from your mistakes and from what you did well. Apply this knowledge when you take the next test.<br /><br />You have to know the material to do well on a test. You have to control test anxiety to show what you know.<br /><br />If you have serious test anxiety, consider talking to the counseling center about different strategies (like testing by yourself) that they may be able to hook you up with.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932520483138769588.post-20454778582943612872008-11-20T14:58:00.000-08:002008-11-20T15:07:14.399-08:00Organize Yourself and Your TimeThere is so much going on at WSU and in your classes; how can you fit it all in?<br /><br /><strong>The key is to get your time under control.</strong><br /><br />To manage your time successfully, you need to get informed about:<br />1. What you have to do (e.g. assignments, seminar reading, paid work)<br />2. When they have to be done (e.g. deadlines, lecture & seminar times)<br />3. How to fit them into the time you have (dividing up available time)<br /><br />Remember that I only know about assignment deadlines for the courses I help you with It’s up to you to manage your work for all your different classes, so you are able to meet all your deadlines.<br /><br /><em><strong>Top tip…<br /></strong>Much of the information you need will also be accessible online, on Blackboard or via your course website. If you can’t find information about deadlines, referencing etc, ask your instructor or TA. Don’t guess – guessing wrong could hurt your grade.</em><br /><br /><a name="Planning_to_meet_your_deadlines"><strong>Planning to meet your deadlines</strong></a><br /><br />The key to good time planning is to have systems to keep everything under control, and to make them simple so that you’ll actually use them.<br />· Diaries are good for carrying with you to write in dates as you get them – but they don’t give you an overview of how your term looks. <br />· Electronic reminders on your watch, mobile or laptop are easy to set up – but also easy to cancel when they go off.<br />The simplest way to get a clear visual overview of the time you have and the tasks you need to fit into it is to make a paper term plan that you can fix up somewhere you will see it every day (e.g. above your desk). If you would like a template to help you with that, let me know. I can help you.<br /><br />Ø Start by entering deadlines for your assignments so you can see when your busy times will be. Include seminars and presentations you need to prepare for.<br /><br />Ø In the ‘Remember’ column, add any events which you need to take into account when planning, e.g. family birthdays, social events, sports fixtures etc.<br /><br />Ø Decide on the major tasks you need to complete for each of your deadlines, and roughly how long you need to spend on each.<br /><br />Ø Fit them into the ‘Targets’ column, working back from the deadline.<br />So the plan for one essay might look like this:<br /><br />Deadlines<br />Targets<br />Remember<br /><br />Wk 8<br /><br />Brainstorm and plan research by Friday (30 mins)<br /><br />Wk 9<br /><br />Start research (3 x 2 hrs)<br />Mum’s birthday – go home Friday, leave at 3<br /><br />Wk 10<br />Essay due Friday<br />Write first draft Monday afternoon (3 hrs)<br />Edit, proof &check refs Thurs morning (2 hrs)<br /><br />REMEMBER that this is only for one essay - you will need to fit all your work in. So you may need to set artificial deadlines so you’re not trying to finish all your essays at the same time.<br /><br /><a name="Making_a_study_timetable"><strong>Making a study timetable</strong></a><br />If you schedule your study times in advance, you won’t be wasting time each day deciding whether and when to study. Book study times into your timetable with lectures and seminars, as academic commitments.<br />Make a week plan with columns for each day of the week, and rows for ‘Morning’, ‘Afternoon’ and ‘Evening’.<br />Ø Enter lectures, seminars and other fixed academic commitments.<br />Ø Add regular commitments like paid work, club meetings, sports fixtures and training.<br />Ø Mark up times which you are going to commit to as study sessions. A good target to aim at is five two hour sessions a week.<br />Ø Plan to be flexible – if something else comes up, you can trade a study session with a free session.<br />You will have busy weeks when you need to add more sessions, and quiet weeks when you can claim time back.<br /><br />Choose your best times to study – most people have a time of day when they are more focused (often in the mornings), and a time when they find it hard to concentrate (often after lunch). Trying to process or write a complicated text when your brain isn’t working well is a waste of time, and can be depressing and discouraging. Work out your best thinking times, and use them for tasks that need more concentration.<br /><br />"Timetables don’t work for me". You may find it works better for you if you keep an overall tally of the hours you spend studying in a week. add more study times, or give yourself more free time as necessary.<br /><br /><strong>How many hours should I study?</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />The University’s view is that studying is a significant occupation, like full-time work. So if you are a full-time student, you should be spending about 35 hours a week on academic activities including independent study, lectures, seminars, tutorials and lab work. The more effective your studying is, the less time you will spend on studying.<br /><br /><a name="Getting_a_work/life_balance_"><strong>Getting a work/life balance</strong> </a><br />Defining study times also means defining times when you won’t be studying. Being at university is about taking part in a wide range of activities, including sports and socializing; you shouldn’t feel that you have to study all the time. If you can take your study times seriously, you won’t need to feel guilty when you do something else at other times. I find that if I do not have a social life, then studying because quite difficult for me.<br /><br /><a name="Getting_organised_and_informed_"><strong>Getting organized and informed</strong></a><br />If you’ve taken the trouble to plan your time, you won’t want to waste it because you can’t find the things or information you need.<br /><br />Have a simple filing system – if it’s complicated, you won’t use it. One way is to use a box file for each module to keep lecture notes, handouts, notes from reading, photocopies, even small books. Stick lecture/seminar times, rooms, and deadlines inside the lid.<br /><br />Decide on your spaces for study just as you decided on times for study. Find a place that works well for you. If you can, keep it as a space just for studying, so you can have all the necessary things close at hand. If it’s somewhere where other people might interrupt, it helps to have a way to let them know that you are working now but will be free later.<br /><br />Finally - remember that things usually take longer than you think! If you find you don’t need all the time you’ve alloted, it’s extra free time.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932520483138769588.post-50017256830529317922008-11-20T14:54:00.000-08:002008-11-20T14:55:35.387-08:00My contact informationTo schedule tutoring, you can either email me or call me. The best route is email, but either will work.<br /><br />My email is:<br /><a href="mailto:brooke_knutzen@wsu.edu">brooke_knutzen@wsu.edu</a><br /><br />or call me at:<br />208-301-8476Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932520483138769588.post-60554809364367379582008-11-20T14:50:00.001-08:002008-11-20T14:54:24.947-08:00Welcome to my tutoring blog!I noticed that many of you have similar problems to include text anxiety, etc. I thought I might post a few things on here that might help you get through school. I bet you probably dont believe this, but I was quite the fun loving fool in college. I also pulled out exceptional grades too. I was able to play, work full time, and take 20 credits successfully. I was able to do this, because I had a system and learned how to prioritize my studying and really make it worth it. I want to help all of you be able to do this too!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783258994924247830noreply@blogger.com0