📮 what i learnt in first semester of my master's degree in english literature 📮
friendo, here is what you need to remember for the upcoming months! (also this is applicable to literally any degree you're doing, ive just written it down recently)
put in work. put a lot of effort from your side and it'll be worth it. it'll show, I promise
ask for feedback!!!! ASK FOR FEEDBACK!! it's OK if the profs tear you part (they generally won't!) but keep asking: what could I have done better?
do more grunt work in the beginning: summaries, about the authors, about the eras — it'll save you a lot of time
write practice or mock tests and study using previous year question papers too. write the answers down.
buy/borrow/print all the books you need. ALL OF THEM!!
doing is the most difficult part. the act of actually studying and reading and writing is the most difficult part
but it'll also be the most fun part!
there are 2 kinds of uncomfortable: painful and non-painful. always choose the non-painful uncomfortable option!
when studying historical background, have some examples from the books of that Era as "proof"
doing my best = working towards retaining whatever you need to for how much ever long you need to (I.e for the exam) (didi gave me this definition and im so relieved)
it's not smart work OR hard work, it's smart work AND hard work
these are also things I struggled with. I struggled to define what im having trouble doing (point 6), what is "doing my best" (point 10), if all my studying/reading of books was me being a dumbass who doesn't know smart work (points 1 and 11)
I've literally copy-posted these from my notes because I thought this might help someone out? if nothing, here's my contribution to the studyblr lol