College, University, School & Life Study Tips and How-To

In order to truly be successful in college and throughout life, it is critical you understand your brain and learn how to use it to your advantage in studying.

This 100% Free Guide will show you everything you need to know to "Evolve Your Brain" in order to be more effective at studying. Navigate through it using the menu on the side. Enjoy!

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Daily Homework & Study Tips

About Homework / Study Tips

09/01/2010 05:13 AM

Protecting Your Work

What could be worse than finishing a major paper only to discover at the last moment that all of your hard work has just vanished?
As bad as it sounds, it happens to students all the time. Sometimes it's just a matter of accidentally saving your work into a "Temp" file, and when that's the case, you can find it again.
Sometimes we lose our work because we shut down without saving our changes. This is so easy to do! The solution to that one is simply getting into the habit of hitting the "Save" button frequently.
Another big problem is saving your work to a flash drive and then damaging or losing the drive. And it's way too easy to damage this little object when it's sticking out of the front of your computer unit. A small bump will do some serious damage! For this reason, you should always use the USB port located on the back of your unit, if you have one available.
Protecting Your Work originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 10:13:55.
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08/29/2010 07:27 PM

Your Vacation Essay

When classes get back into full swing, you may be required to write an essay about what you did during the break. This assignment is commonly called the "What I Did on My Vacation" essay. Ring a bell?

This type of assignment can seem really difficult or boring at first. But if you think about it, this "holiday" theme is just the sort of thing that many Hollywood movies have used quite successfully. And it's a great time to share crazy/funny stories about your family! How many films can you think of that center around trips and holidays? There are plenty!

One thing that makes these stories successful is that they usually give us the opportunity to peek into the wacky lives of others. There's often a certain person or event that stands out. Your challenge is to figure out what it was that made your vacation experience interesting or funny and capitalize on that. It could be a silly relative, an inconvenient weather-related event, or an unfortunate (but comical) event. These are the sorts of things that people like to read about.

Your Vacation Essay originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 00:27:44.
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08/28/2010 05:53 PM

Word Search for Memorization

If you need to memorize a list for any class, one method you could try for familiarizing yourself with terms is the word search puzzle. You can find lots of tools online for creating a word search puzzle. The act of searching for and circling the terms will reinforce the word in your memory. I've created a few word search puzzles to get you started, to include:

Notable Native Americans

U.S. Presidents

Interjections

South American Countries

Have fun while you memorize a list!
Word Search for Memorization originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 22:53:49.
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08/25/2010 02:24 PM

Your Peak Performance Time

Do you find yourself procrastinating when you should be doing your homework? There are many reasons why you might not get the most out of your study time, but one factor could be the time of day that you devote to studying.

We all have inner clocks that vary, performance-wise, as much as our outer appearances vary. Some of us are alert and clear-headed at 7:00 a.m. every day, while others can't think clearly until after 10:00.

Knowing this, it is logical that we determine when our brain is at peak performance and try to optimize our study time. You could start by keeping an "energy diary" to indicate when you feel the most alert and energetic each day. It won't take long to determine what time of day is your peak performance time.

You should be prepared to change your schedule so that you can study when your brain is working most efficiently. It might mean getting up earlier or eating dinner later, but it will be worth the effort!
Your Peak Performance Time originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 19:24:02.
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08/23/2010 03:17 AM

Losing Sleep?

Some students share rooms with others who keep them awake, and this can be disastrous on the night before a test! If you share a room with a snoring roommate, or a sister who insists on leaving the computer monitor on, you might need a sleeping aid.
But there are also students who sleep so soundly that they can't wake up in the morning--to the point that parental stress level increases and morning chaos ensues. This list of sleep solutions also contains a bed-shaking gadget that is guaranteed to get your attention!
Losing Sleep? originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 08:17:00.
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08/20/2010 07:01 PM

iPod Touch© for Students

There is a common trick that kids use when trying to persuade parents to buy gadgets and gizmos. "I can use it to help me with homework!" is a claim students make a lot when begging for a new phone or other popular technological tool.
I have good news for you. I'll vouch for the iPod Touch as a gadget that can make a big difference in your school performance.
In fact, the iPod Touch could be used exclusively as a homework tool (but that's not what you wanted to hear!). By purchasing only a few time management and tutoring applications, the iPod Touch could transform your academic life.
You'd can find applications to help you in any discipline, and schedulers to help you keep your life in order. Here's more good news: You can find a refurbished iPod Touch in the online Apple Store for a pretty good price. I think this technology is definitely worth the investment. It truly puts the world at your fingertips.

iPod Touch© for Students originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 00:01:06.
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08/18/2010 05:24 PM

Planting Calendar Prompts

One way to keep yourself on task this school year is to set up a series of calendar prompts. This is sort of like talking to your future self through your calendar.

First, set a goal that you would like to finish by a certain time. For example, you may set a goal of writing a short story in three months.

Pick a few logical dates and place questions and prompts, like:
Have you finished a list of characters?
Is the setting really working?
Did you develop an interesting plot twist?
How many pages have you written?

You'll be surprised how effective those little prompts can be! And you can use calendar prompts for any school project, research paper, or activity.

Planting Calendar Prompts originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 at 22:24:35.
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08/16/2010 02:10 AM

First Day Butterflies?

Some people get so nervous about the first day of classes that they feel like they might "lose it" -- literally! I know it sounds hard to believe, but those times in life that make you want to hurl are actually the very times you'll remember most fondly. These moments will come to represent times that have marked your growth.

And it might help to know that most everybody gets nervous--even famous people, teachers, and doctors struggle with nerves before speaking or performing. But famous and successful people all realize (eventually) that nerves are a good thing. In fact, Beyonce Knowles once said "I get nervous if I don't get nervous."

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't do something about your nerves. If you're worried about those first day introductions, or nervous meeting new people in general, you should tackle your fear with some nerve-settling preparation. With a little practice you can look completely poised and composed in front of your fellow students and teachers!
First Day Butterflies? originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Monday, August 16th, 2010 at 07:10:47.
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08/14/2010 07:11 AM

Tips for the First Week

Ever wonder what really makes the difference between "A" students and "C" students, but were afraid to ask? It's simple, really. Students who score well consistently have developed smart study habits. The biggest difference is great attendance! But what else makes a difference?

A+ students are organized

They use a planner

They don't forget assignments

And they know how to be on time

Take a look at this list of great habits and learn how to be smart when it comes to completing assignments on time and getting yourself organized.
Tips for the First Week originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Saturday, August 14th, 2010 at 12:11:01.
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08/10/2010 11:29 PM

Out the Door in the Morning

One of the biggest school-related challenges families face is getting everybody out the door in the morning, on time and fully clothed. Back to school time gives a whole new meaning to morning madness.

I rely on tools to keep me on track, and you can do the same to reduce the madness in your household. You just have to find the right tool, or the right combination of tools, to address the real problem areas--and those can be different from one household to another.

One simple tool is an egg timer (or homework timer), which can be handy if you know that a certain task always drags on too long. If you find that showers take up thirty minutes every day, set a time limit of fifteen minutes and stick to it.

A checklist is another good tool. Some families find that it's well worthwhile to spend a few seconds reading over a list every morning to make sure things like lunch money and special projects are in hand.

But a good time management toolkit can be as simple as a pack of sticky notes and a cereal box. In many households, the cereal box is the final focal point for kids in the morning, so it's a good place to put sticky notes the night before, with messages like "remember your band instrument."
Out the Door in the Morning originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 at 04:29:54.
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