chloe

chloe / 15 / year 11 / gcse / trying to pull it together before it's too late / hufflepuff

[lilpeachstudies-blog]

helpful essay phrases for spanish  (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

a juzgar por - judging by

mientras que - whereas

al contrario - on the contrary

la verdad lisa y llana es - the plain truth of the matter is

según una encuesta - according to a survey

que yo sepa - as far as i know

dado que - given that

debido a esto - due to this

con tal de que - provided that

el tema - theme

no obstante - however

por lo tanto - therefore

debería subrayar que - it should be underlined that

cabe destacar - it is worth pointing out

se nota que - it can be noted that

se ve - it is seen

nos hace creer - it makes us believe

se podría decir que - it could be said that

segundo - secondly

en primer lugar - first of all

primero - firstly

por eso - therefore/that’s why

en todo caso - in any case

en resumen - to sum up

en breve - in short

de todos modos - at any rate

de todas formas - anyway

a la vez - at the same time

ya que - since (seeing that)

a pesar de que - in spite of

[studytom]

how i learn japanese

i wanted to share my way of studying japanese, because people often query if it’s hard/easy/expensive to learn. i’m not fluent in japanese, but these tips have helped me progress so much.

my teacher

i, personally, do not like being taught stuff and very rarely learn from classes in something. i self study instead and i feel it’s far more effective.

the apps i use are:

duolingo (website and app, i use both)

shirabe jisho (app on ios, not sure about android)

kanji study (ios and android (?))

tae kim’s guide to learning japanese

the textbooks and workbooks that are very useful are the genki series:

when you’re finished with genki 1, buy genki 2 etc

they’re roughly £30-£60 ($40-$80) 

pricey BUT they contain around 150 pages and when you’re done with 1 you should learn around 400 new words and around 50 kanji (?), i’m not sure about 2.

make sure you have a notebook so you can write down your newly learnt information in, so u can go back and revise it for when your memory goes.

my top tips

before u do anything, learn hiragana and katakana. they’re the most important bits of japanese, and in fact the easiest to learn compared to kanji. hiragana took me about a day to learn and katakana about 2 days because i was less familiarized with it. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LEARN THEM BOTH IN 1-2 DAYS. take your time if you need to. i’m just saying, learn them first as they are very important and you won’t be able to progress if you don’t.

do not study from romaji. you probably know what romaji is already, but if you don’t, it’s pretty much using the english alphabet to spell out japanese words to make it easier to read. do not learn from it, memorize the hiragana and katakana so that you can read written japanese, never read the english spellings as it will mess up the way you say words!! plus, it’ll make you forget what the ‘symbols’ look like.

please, please do not rush learning kanji. kanji are pretty much chinese characters implemented into the japanese language, and they’re traditional chinese characters, so they’re harder to write and learn. i’m not gonna go into detail about kanji because again i assume you already know what it is (chinese characters used in japanese to give words a profound meaning.) if you want to remember kanji for life, you need to keep on and on practicing, it’s not something u can just DO or learn as u might say. write it down, read it over and over, write it over and over etc. learn all of the necessary kanji at beginner stage. the app kanji study i mentioned, helps so much with learning how to write kanji and memorize it.

my method

the way that i learn japanese sounds easier said than done (lmao)

i have a specific notebook for writing down my japanese in and using it to learn with, buy one or find one if u do not have a spare a4/a5 notebook lying around.

i use the apps that i mentioned up there ^ when i am studying. they’re extremely helpful and really do aid me when i’m learning.

i have 3 highlighters for my learning. green = hiragana, blue = katakana, pink = kanji. if there’s hiragana on the page, i draw a green line at the top. katakana, blue line. kanji, pink line. very good for navigating through my notepad.

now all i do is study. write vocab etc etc.

i hope this was somewhat helpful!! i just wanted to share the way i study and how i think it’s very effective!! bye now ^^!

[studyingtobeeducated]

Just a lil side note: i almost failed maths in grade 5-8. Now, I’m doing 2 Maths subjects (straight A+’s) and ranked the third highest in my class for the harder maths subject (out of 20 students). You can do anything if you set your mind to it. Be persistent. Happy studying! :)

1. Keep up do date with the class

Even if the teacher doesn’t set homework, there is always an expectation that whatever excercise isn’t finished in class, you do at home! My maths class moves very fast (we do about 3 concepts/excercises each class) and so its crucial that the first thing I do when I get home, is finish off my maths questions! This is particularly important in the learning process, because if you understand it when you learn it, you will be far ahead of anyone else in an upcoming test- all you will need to do is revise!

This means:

- don’t sit next to anyone distracting

- work efficiently in class

- the time that your waste in class, is the time you will have to spend at home

2.  Do ALL the practice questions in your textbook

In my harder maths class, there are about 20 questions per excercise/concept (100+ per chapter) and so we might only get told to do about half of that. But, I strongly reccommend doing all of the questions! It is great practice and really consolidates your learning! 

ALSO, as the questions go on, they tend to get harder. DON’T GIVE UP IF THEY’RE TOO HARD. Ask the teacher’s help, persevere, or look for a video on YouTube. These are the questions that will most likely be in your tests/exams.

If you can do the hardest question, you can most likely do all the questions!

If you get a question wrong, do AT LEAST 5 more of the same style, make sure you know it well!

3. Practice is everything

You cant really study for maths the same way that you might study for science. There is nothing to memorise (apart from formulas, but the best way to remember them is to practice). Studying for maths IS doing practice questions. That’s all there is to it.   

 - listen to some tunes (music with lyrics is fine for maths!)   

 - put on a movie ( just try to not get too distracted)    

- find a comfy space   

 - just start studying.

4. How to study for maths when you’re sick of it all

Humans are creatures of habit. We like routines and we stick to them. BUT, studying maths can become tedious if you are constantly doing the same thing every time.

CHANGE IT UP Y'ALL:

    - ditch the notebook and pencil. Buy some non-permanent glass markers and do some maths on your windows or mirrors! I do this ALL THE TIME! It’s actually really fun and it makes me feel like Russell Crowe from ‘A Beautiful Mind’ (haha). Alternatively, you could also use a whiteboard if you have one!   

    - study in the library or another part of your house! 

    - buy some different stationery (this is always so fun)

5. For an upcoming test…

do all the chapter review questions in your textbook. These tend to be a compilation of all the most important questions you will need to know. Take your time, don’t give up.

Seek external resources for questions. I own other revision books for maths that isn’t part of my school’s recommended material. These really help when you need more questions to test yourself on.

Do practice papers. THESE ARE CRUCIAL. Most of the time, the material that they test you on will be from past papers, the questions are the same, but they change the numbers!

Take a deep breath. Drink some water. Focus. Time management is the issue for most people (including me :)), so when you feel like a question is too challenging, move on, come back to it when you finish with a fresh mind!

Cover photo credit: @littlestudyblrblog

[wordsnstuff]

Resources For Creating Characters

Physical Appearance

Face Shapes

Hair Types

Hair Colors

Hair Styles

Facial Hair

Eyebrows

Eye Shapes

Eye Colors

Lip Shapes

Skin Colors

Skin Types

Height Comparison

Types Of Piercings

Body Types

More Specific Words For Body Types

Nose Shapes

Voices

Speech Patterns

Speech Impediments

Distinguishable Facial Features

Fashion Styles

Personality

Hobbies

Archetypes

Secrets

Quirks

Mannerisms

Bad Habits

Fears

Religions

Mental Disorders

Pet Peeves

Strengths

Weaknesses

Flaws

Talents & Skills

Character Motivations

Miscellaneous

Character Building Chart

Character Name Generator

Basic Character Appearance Generator

Character Detail Generators

Backstory & Origin Generators

Outfit, Costume, Clothing, & Wardrobe Generators

Basic Character Premise Generator

Character Cast Generator

Alternative Character Cast Generator

Zombie Generator

Vampire Generator

Teen Generator

Pirate Generator

Music Band Generator

Murder Mystery Victim Generator

Merperson Generator

Fairy Generator

Fantasy & Sci-Fi Race Generator

Elemental Person Generator

Deity Generator

Villain Generator

Other Resources From Wordsnstuff

Resources For Describing Physical Things

Resources For Describing Characters

Resources For Describing Emotions

Resources For Writing Sketchy Topics

Useful Writing Resources

Useful Writing Resources II

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Tag What You Want Me To See With #wordsnstuff!

Participate in monthly writing challenges!

[sophrosille-deactivated20170422]

Ultimate Studyblr FAQ

TAGS:

studyblr (=smartblr) - study blog

studyspo  (=smartspo) - study inspiration (e.g., quotes, pictures of studying or stationery…)

appblr - university (college) applications blog

archblr - architecture studyblr

artblr - art studyblr

astroblr - astronomy studyblr

bioblr - biology studyblr

businessblr - business studyblr

chemblr - chemistry studyblr

engblr - engineering studyblr

historyblr - history studyblr

langblr - languages studyblr

lawblr - law studyblr

litblr - literature studyblr

mathblr - mathematics studyblr

medblr - medicine studyblr

musicblr - music studyblr

philoblr - philosophy studyblr

physicsblr - physics studyblr

psychblr - psychology studyblr

stemblr - science, technology, engineering, maths studyblr

APPLICATIONS/ EXTENTIONS/ WEBSITES:

(If there’s no price written next to something, that thing is for free)

- Forest  android | iOS ($0.99) | Windows Phone (€0.99) | Chrome | Firefox (FocusNow - a similar free version for iOS)

- Momentum Chrome

- Fliqlo Mac/Windows | iOS ($0.99)

- Habitica website | android

- Duolingo website | android | iOS

- Khan Academy website | youtube | android | iOS

- Cold Turkey (program that blocks websites) website

- Todoist website | android | iOS | Chrome

- Quizlet website | android | iOS

- My Study Life website | android | iOS | Windows Phone | Chrome

- Lanes website | chrome

STATIONERY:

TESTS/ PROGRAMMES/ CERTIFICATES, ETC:

GSCE -  General Certificate of Secondary Education is a two-year programme in a specific subject taken by school students in UK. Students start GCSEs at age 14 in year 10 and then they take the public examinations at age 16 in year 11. A level -  a qualification in a specific subject typically taken by school students aged 16–18 in UK (after GCSEs). A Levels are worked towards over two years and split into two parts, with one part studied in each year:

A1 Level or AS Level - the first part of the A level.

A2 Level - the second part of the A level.

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the USA and Canada, which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities often grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores on the examinations.

International Baccalaureate (IB) can refer to the international educational foundation, any of the 4 programmes it offers, or the diploma or certificates awarded at the end of the programme.

IELTS -  International English Language Testing System is an international standardised test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers.

TOEFL - Test Of English as a Foreign Language is a standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in American universities. Though, it is accepted by many English-speaking academic and professional institutions.

ACT - American College Testing is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in USA. 

SAT -  Scholastic Assessment Test  is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in USA.

EDUCATION STAGES/ DEGREES:

Major - is the academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits in USA and Canada. A student who successfully completes the courses prescribed in an academic major qualifies for an undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degree.

Double major -  a student who declares two academic majors is said to have a double major.

Undergrad student - a student taking up undergraduate education.  

Undergraduate education - is a level of education between secondary education and a master’s degree. When a student completes an undergraduate education they get a Bachelor’s degree.

Grad student - a student taking up graduate or postgraduate education.

Graduate education - is a level of education taken up after getting a Bachelor’s degree. When a student complete a graduate education they either get a Master’s or Doctorate degrees.

It goes something like this:

Beware, things vary from country to country and from subject to subject.

(Click here for the updated version of this post)

[studyblrmasterposts]

Oh YES! 

[apricot-studies]

thank you omg

[geographic-blog1]

🌙Small Habits You Can Try For The New Year🌙

As the year is coming to a close, I thought I would share some useful habits that I took up over 2017. They weren’t New Year’s Resolutions for me, just a few routines I picked up after deciding I wanted to better myself. I truly believe they’ve made an impact on my mental health and overall confidence in myself, so I hope that they work for you too.

Reply to that text you’ve been ignoring. If you didn’t have the emotional strength to do it before, or couldn’t reply for whatever reason, explain and apologise. Whatever happens is better than the anxiety it’s been giving you.

Delete that conversation with the toxic “friend” that ended months ago.

Get yourself a planner and actually write things down. You know you won’t remember.

Take pictures. It doesn’t matter what you use; if it made you smile, then take a picture.

Take clothing risks. Remember those shoes, or that shirt that you saw in the store, but swore you couldn’t pull off? Get them. I found my favourite pair of shoes this way.

Take care of a plant. Get a little herb garden in a jute bag, or some strawberries, or even a succulent. Whatever works for you. I got a few strawberry plants and herbs over the summer, and taking care of them, watching them grow because of my efforts was so mentally rewarding.

Learn a small fact every day. It could be about the new planet that’s been discovered, or how to spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. If you find anything that interests you, learn something about it every day.

Learn how to cook. Trust me on this one.

Stop watching that TV show you hate.

Delete the social media accounts that don’t make you feel good, and take a little detox from the ones you kept, once in a while.

Compliment people. Tell your friend that their jacket looks nice, or let your teacher know that you enjoyed their lesson.

Take out the trash. Seriously.

Take a power nap for no more than 15 minutes every day.

Smile when you look in the mirror. You look banging.

Join a debate club or any club that involves being outgoing.

Turn off the snooze button.

Make yourself a feel-good playlist. Play it when you need a pick-me-up, play it when you’re dancing around in the house, you can play it no matter your mood at the moment.

Start a dream journal. It doesn’t have to be a fancy notebook, just write down anything you remember from your dreams. 

And most of all, treat yourself. It’s what you deserve.

[studywithinspo]

HOW TO BE PRODUCTIVE ON THE WEEKENDS

Hi study buddies it is Saturday night and I’m home alone and one thing I hate about being alone is that I really never get anything done. I’m either cooking or I’m in my bed and I just hate doing that because I’m so unproductive. I know a lot of us just hate studying especially during our “down time” and we also have other priorities we need to do during the daytime. So today I’m going over some tips on how you can make your weekend a little but more productive and studious. 

there are 60 hours between the end of Friday after getting out of school and the end of Sunday, substracting let’s say seven hours of sleep every day you have about 39 hours of free time.

That is plenty of time to relax, do all the activities you need to do and also be productive to work on assignments. The first thing you need to do is plan out your weekend and make a schedule.

if you don’t want to read everything, i made a video explaining the same exact productivity tips on my youtube channel {link}

STUDY EARLY + PLAN A SCHEDULE

Weekends are a time for you to relax, but if you can, try to start working early in the morning because you’re going to be more productive and your brain can actually function properly. 

By 12-1 AM at night is the time where the majority of people including me cannot be productive so just try to avoid working during that time period because it’s just not a good time to be trying to memorize math functions and write a week pieced essay. I know that every time I try to study during 1 AM or 2 AM I always end up being so slow at retaining information, it just becomes counter productive. 

Start your assignments on Saturday night or the afternoon and try to finish it during Sunday morning. (recommended)

if you have the motivation to start your homework during Friday obviously do your homework during Friday, that is the best thing to do, but for the majority of us I know we would like to relax for a little bit.

So just try to plan a routine and schedule that matches your weekend

FIND A STUDY PARTNER

So now that you have created a routine or something or you can follow. I’m going to go over some tips on how you can be more focused and concentrated on doing the stuff that you need to do.

find a study buddy or just a friend that you know can keep you company. 

go to your local coffee shop or someone’s house and work there because if you have someone nearby, they can keep you accountable for actually doing your work  (obviously find a friend that will not distract you).

 If you can’t meet them in person Skype them I know a lot of people go on Skype chats with your friends and do homework. I think that is a really good idea I’ve done it a few times myself and I’ve been pretty productive during them. So try to have someone nearby that can keep you on track so you don’t spiral down into a YouTube and Netflix day.

NO MORE DISTRACTIONS

Another thing you can do is actually download some applications  that can keep you off sites like Netflix, YouTube, and Facebook.

I talked about this in my how to be productive after school video and basically just download this app called “self control” {link}

what it does is that a blocks you from using sites that you would normally get distracted on.

So you can and manually put in sites like Facebook.com and Netflix.com The app will block you from using it for certain amount of time that you put in, so usually when I’m studying I block myself from using YouTube for about 30 minutes to an hour limit.

FIND A STUDY SPACE

Experiment with where you’re studying because I know I cannot concentrate for my life In my bedroom.

The majority of the times where I’m the most productive is in my kitchen

experiment with where you’re studying and find out if you were the most productive in your bedroom or if you’re the most productive sitting on a couch or on a dining table.

TO-DO LIST

My fourth tip is to have a to-do list of all the things you need to do.

 having a written down to do list is really important because sometimes you just forget about tasks and you might end up not doing some of them.

having a physical piece of paper saying that you need to do all these things by the end of it this day will help you to keep you on track.

LISTEN TO MUSIC (or not, it depends)

Another thing you can do is actually play some music

music helps a lot of people, including me, study more efficiently because it blocks out all the distractions from the outside world and keeps you focused inside your little bubble so you can work on your assignments

note that music isn’t always the best thing to listen to while studying especially for classes like history or english but I do really recommend it if you’re doing some math problems because it can be quite relaxing

And if you don’t know what to listen to I really recommend checking out my study playlist which is study & chill  {link}

study session playlist - instrumental music, piano solos, soundtracks from movies {link}

Now that you have done all these things, You are for sure ready to be productive and focus on finishing all those assignments you need to do. GOOD LUCK!

[creatingsomeshit]

26 Reminders for Going to School Like a Badass

1. Your attitude dictates your experience, so start finding things to get psyched about.

2. Stock up on healthy snacks in your house!!! You’ll be glad you did when the study-munchies roll around (and they always do).

3. Invest in a good planner. Especially if you take part in multiple extra-curriculars, I can’t stress how helpful it is having a place to check back on deadlines and big events.

4. Write down all your teachers’ names and emails as soon as you get them, so you’re not searching for them when you’re absent.

5. No one is having as much fun as their snapchat story makes it seem.

6. Don’t believe what your peers tell you about tests they take before you, study how much YOU need to.

7. Be nice to your math teacher. Partial credit on math problems might save your grade.

8. Don’t throw out syllabuses/first day handouts!!!! Theres a good chance they have information on the late policy and a gazillion other helpful things.

9. In fact, try to hold on to as many papers as you can for when finals inevitably attack.

10. No one knows you wore those jeans yesterday.

11. Be conscious of how you smell. Don’t be B.O. kid, but also try not to suffocate your lab partner with the scent of artificial fruit/flowers.

12. That cookie in the cafeteria is probably not worth 95 cents. Pack snacks from home to resist overpriced school treats.

13. If you’re carrying around a travel mug of coffee, people will usually leave you alone. 

14. Don’t spend more time planning your study schedule than actually studying. Just get your books out and do it.

15. Never underestimate the amount of motivation you can get from watching Legally Blonde (movie or musical). 

16. Try to attend at least one school sporting event per season, even if thats not really your scene. Some teachers even offer extra credit for going to big games!

17. Don’t be that kid that asks the teacher when you’re getting your tests back. They have like a gazillion to grade. You’ll get them when they’re done.

18. Have a pump-up playlist for the ride to school and the walk to your first class. Nothing feels more badass than walking through crowded hallways while listening to Halsey’s “New Americana”.

19. Set up a back-up study zone for when you need a change of pace.

20. Don’t put off creative projects because you think they’ll be less time consuming. There’s nothing worse than glitter gluing a scale model of the U.S. Senate at 3 AM because you thought it would be quick and easy.

21. That extra 10 minutes of sleep is not worth the risk of oversleeping completely. Get up, splash your face with some cold water, and get this show on the road.

22. Find a school inspiration, whether it be a really hardworking friend or a studyblr you follow. Check their progress whenever you need motivation.

23. If someone only ever talks to you when they need to copy the homework, they’re using. Don’t indulge them.

24. Doing your own work is so SO important. Plagiarism can destroy careers.

25. Creative outlets can be so refreshing, like a diary, a private tumblr, a sketchbook, whatever floats your boat.

26. When all else fails, remember how lucky you are to be getting an education. School isn’t a punishment, its an opportunity for you to create a kick-ass foundation for the rest of your life. 

[einstetic]

EUROPEAN STUDYBLRS PLEASE REBLOG THIS POST

i follow too many americans lol

[scholarlysquad-blog]

hey guys!!!

so this entire past month has been extremely, extremely stressful for me because i had so many exams and i only realised how hideously unprepared i was for them on the day before the exam, which was really really awful. so in the middle of september i created a studyblr to keep myself motivated + get some helpful tips from the studyblr community on how to go abt studying for tests. the results proved to be super helpful and ive resolved to keep running this blog for as long as i can, because it really helps me stay motivated and i’ve already learned so many things from the community, despite the fact that i’ve only been here for around a month.

but anyways, i decided to create this masterpost in order to help others stay motivated + keep studying not only well but also properly i.e. not necessarily studying for exams but life in general, if that makes sense.

~ staying motivated + focused

coffitivity

download the forest app

chrome site blocker

self control app

try the pomodoro technique

pomodoro printable

getting back on track

guide to staying motivated

an excellent post full of great advice

lots of great advice from an a levels student

masterpost full of motivational quotes

how to avoid procrastinating

100 reasons to study

how to study like a harvard student

motivational movies/shows

types of learners [what method of learning works for u]

motivation for harvard students [and basically all other students]

~ staying organized

5 habits of organized students

set up a bullet journal [1][2][3]

keeping school notes organized

use dropbox to store important files

masterpost on organizing schoolwork

a super awesome n helpful video tutorial

how to organize ur desk

how to study space

study space guide

study space tips and guidance

guide to study guides

atracker - track ur time and stop procrastinating [mobile app]

minimalist organization

masterpost on time management

time management tips

how to be productive

how to use a planner

effective planning system

~ note-taking

notability [ios app - best note-taking app imo]

note taking overview

cornell method

summary foldables

fastest way to take notes

simple, creative note-taking

how to make ur notes look pretty [infographic]

how to make ur notes look pretty [video]

taking notes from textbooks

taking notes during lectures

for: maths [1]

for: history

how to make mind maps

great supplies and stationery u could use to keep notes pretty and organized

what is visual note-taking?

how to: visual note-taking

what are sketchnotes?

how to: sketchnotes

masterpost on note taking methods

~ research techniques

how to google effectively

use google scholar as an alternative to google

one of the best websites for research [esp. while doing science projects at the last minute…i would know]

alternative to wikipedia

find books in nearby libraries

openlibrary [ebook library]

online journal search engine [find scientific publications]

~ essay writing

guide to writing a great essay

HUGE general writing masterpost [including essays]

a huuuge essay writing masterpost

how to write a university-level essay

how to connect ur points and ideas: transition words

editing checklist

advice: college application essays

improve ur vocabulary 

check the readibility of ur essay

website which grades ur papers and essays

~ free online resources & courses

openculture 

mit opencourseware 

the open university 

coursera 

khanacademy

codecademy [how to code]

memrise

study geography

online calculator

maths masterpost

amazing maths + general knowledge site [u must check this out!!!]

maths cheat sheets

mathway [solves any maths equation]

website that balances chemical reactions for u

study guides for many subjects

windows apps [not all study-related, but useful anyways]

more phone apps for productivity

list of great apps every student must have

crash course: psychology

crash course: world history + world history 2

crash course: anatomy and physiology

crash course: astronomy

crash course: big history

crash course: chemistry

crash course: biology

crash course: literature

crash course: us history

crash course: economics

crash course: us government and politics

crash course: intellectual property

crash course: ecology

free ebooks [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

masterpost of free ebooks

~ languages

memrise

duolingo [20+ languages - very fun and interactive]

lang-8

thesaurus

reverse dictionary [1]

learning vocabulary

how to learn any language

HUUUUUGE language masterpost [so many languages and resources]

literature masterpost [for english - reading something other than textbooks is important yo]

english literature for college students [masterpost]

english literature: sparknotes

english literature: cliffnotes

english literature: shmoop

english literature: crash course

english literature: novel guide

no fear shakespeare

self-studying languages

spanish: advice

spanish: getting started

spanish: vocab

spanish: grammar and spelling checker

french: advice

french: getting started

french: vocab

french: grammar and spelling checker

french: masterpost of amazing resources

japanese: getting started

korean: masterpost of amazing resources

~ survival tips + advice

how to study for ANY subject

10 mistakes when studying

101 study tips

studying for a test

general study tips

how to study

how to survive high school

how to survive college

college survival masterpost

things to avoid doing

college: applying for scholarships

giving presentations

improve ur handwriting

resume cheat sheet

productive + relaxing afterschool routine

productive study breaks

emergency life hack: send last minute assignments after the last minute without getting into too much trouble

~ mental/physical health

the thoughts room

the dawn room

the quiet place

it will be okay

international suicide hotlines

iphone feature [to use in case of emergency]

emergency chat [mobile app]

sleeping tips [1]

dealing w insomnia

bedtime calculator [1]

stress management

how to reduce stress

staying calm during exams

grief masterpost

list of happy things

motivation for when ur not feeling so good

~ stress reliefs

clear ur mind

healthy study snacks

mug cake masterpost

smoothie masterpost

salads masterpost

more study snacks to boost brain activity

creepy sites

taylor swift tumblr replies

draw cool neon things

musical sea creature

watch a cool dream

watch any tv show/movie

just shower thoughts

poptropica [so underrated, my favourite game site, it’s for kids but it’s so entertaining and so much fun]

plant personality quiz

cookie clicker

make cool colourful silk

make virtual sand art

fake tweet generator

fake text generator

listen to calming sounds

huge masterpost full of fun stuff

~ music

ghibli music

coffee shop blues

classical music masterpost

masterpost of studying music

classical vocal music masterpost

cute nostalgic piano music playlist

my favourite instrumental playlist of all time

my studying/instrumental playlist collection on 8tracks

i think that includes most of the best resources i could find!!! feel free to message me in case 1) any of the links are broken, 2) u want me to add on to something, 3) u have a suggestion for a masterpost [i would love that so go ahead and ask if u do] or if u just wanna talk! also, feel free to reblog and add ur own comments/resources. hope this helped!! 

- mli

[days-e]

|| Free to use with credit  || 

[colormecosmic]

。 《 colormecosmic’s ★彡  jan. 2k17 bujo/planner spread 》。  “I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. He taught me that if you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it at full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good.” ― Roald Dahl

[thelawgraduate]

Back to School: How to Get an A*/8 or 9 in an English Lit Essay!

Happy September, everyone!

As we all get our gears in motion to start a new year, I thought I would share my top tips for scoring the highest marks in English Literature essays. 

(P.S. Lots of these tips are applicable to other subjects too)

1. Don’t write about the character as if they are real

Unfortunately, this is a common error in English Lit essays. It is absolutely imperative to remember that a character is not a person, but is a construct of the writer in order to present an idea or theme. No matter the question, you should be linking your answer back to the writer’s ideas and theme of the text, even if it doesn’t seem obvious what the theme is on the first inspection of the question. Using the author’s name frequently in your essay will demonstrate that you recognise the character is not a real person - ‘Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as a tragic hero, as defined by Aristotle as…’

2. Don’t analyse the plot

Avoid analysing the plot or when things happen in the text. Don’t write ‘When X happens it makes us think Y’. Instead:

Analyse the writer’s use of language, structure and form to create meaning

Do a close language analysis of specific words/phrases, including a sound analysis (plosives, assonance, etc.)

Do a structural analysis of what happens when and why that’s important (Freytag’s pyramid)

Do an analysis of form (stage directions, dramatic monologue, etc.)

3. Keep your answer relevant throughout

You need to be explicitly answering the question - not going off on a tangent nor trying to change the question to suit an answer that you want to write. One way of avoiding this is by starting each paragraph with a topic sentence, summarising what that paragraph is going to be about and how it answers the question. Another method is simply by rewording the question into your answer at the start and end of every paragraph. At least. For greater impact, include synonyms of the word, which can also help with the readability of your answer.

4. Avoid PEE/PEEL/etc. where you can

Thousands of students are taught the same, basic Point-Evidence-Explain (or variant) analytical paragraph structure. If you want to stand out, show academic strength, and achieve the highest marks then you must break free from the chains of PEE! (This also applies for your introduction format. ‘In this essay, I will argue…’ gets pretty dull after reading it 100 times)

For my students, I will be teaching them to write What-How-Why paragraphs:

WHAT has the writer done?

HOW have they done it?

WHY have they done it/is it effective?

This way, your focus is always on why the writer has chosen to use that specific language/structure/form, but it allows you to be creative in crafting your response. Being able to discuss the ‘why’ of literature is the key to unlocking the highest grades. Reading through examiners’ reports this summer has made one thing clear - it is not enough to merely spot linguistic devices or structural features. You must explain why the writer has chosen them and why that is an effective choice (or not).

5. Avoid sweeping statements about context

The main advice here is to only include comments about the context of the text if it adds to the analytical point that you are making. They should not be a bolt-on sentence, but they should enhance your answer.

Further, sweeping claims like ‘All Jacobean women were oppressed by society’ is far too vague. On the other hand, a comment like ‘Lady Macbeth is a disturbing example of womanhood because she denies her gender at a time where the role of a woman was clear-cut, even patriarchal, in Jacobean society’ suggests that you have a greater understanding of how context can influence the writer’s choices.

6. A plan is your best friend

Always, always make time to plan your answer. A method I recommend is, first, circling the key words in the question (character/theme, what you are asked to do, where in the text you are asked to look, etc.). Secondly, write all of your ideas down onto the page, highlighting parts from the extract if you have that in front of you. Finally, select a judicious number of points that you are going to talk about (quality not quantity here) and number the order in which you are going to make them.

If you are writing a comparative essay, each paragraph must start and end with a comparative point about whatever it is you are comparing (characters/themes/etc.) I suggest the following format:

‘X is presented in both text A and text B. However, in A the author uses device 1 and 2 to demonstrate X. On the other hand, in B, the author demonstrates X via use of device 2 and 3.’ Then write one paragraph for each text. Repeat this again for another similarity. And again for a third - if you think that is appropriate.

Photo credit @eintsein 🌻

[teaandgcse]

I have a literature mock on Wednesday so this is so useful! I have been feeling very lost - thank you :)

[majesticstudying]

So here’s my quick guide to GCSE English Language! I did my GCSE last year, so I know the exam, and these tips are what got me through… so hopefully they help some of you!

I have simplified each question down, but hopefully this benefits some of you as a revision aide or set of quick reminders on each question. 

I’m happy to make seperate posts for each question in lot more detail, so if you’d like that, let me know!

- Olivia

[studyquill]

21/100 days of productivity ⋅ friday september 15 2017 black pen ⋅ brush pen ⋅ highlighter ⋅ paper ⋅ notebook

[capybarafields]

How To Rock Public Speaking (the socially awkward person edition)

Now, contrary to popular belief, great public speakers don’t necessarily have to be the extroverted hype-squad type of people. Introverts/socially awkward penguins/quiet/shy/reserved/serious people can be awesome and engaging speakers as well!

After going through a recent oral presentation assessment I thought I would compile my own personal list of tips on how rock a oral presentation/speech (even though your mind in telling you to run and wrap yourself into a blanket burrito). 

1. Practice. Practice. Practice.

Like every other studyblr related How-To-Guide out there, this one is going to be no different. Practicing your speech is essential to avoid you unravelling in a pit of nerves onstage and it is kind of the necessary evil to succeed in anything in life. Practicing in front of the mirror does help somewhat, however if you are speaking in front of a decent sized crowd (as I had to in my assessment) it really does help to practice in front of a group of people to simulate the same amount of “pressure” that will be on you during the actual thing. 

Recording yourself does help to notice any weird “ticks” you may have that people point out to you while you talk. For me, I apparently swayed my body a lot when I first started out, which was a habit I learnt to control by being self-aware when I watched back past recordings.

2. Hand Gestures! (…practice them) 

Going with the flow of the first tip, hand gestures can be either a great help or a great distraction depending on whether you practice how to use these gestures effectively. 

Choosing the normal default resting position for your hands to be placed at during the presentation is important. The hands will usually be held clasped, centred at around the lower portion of your diaphragm, and the elbows held at a relaxed 45 degree angle. For the placement of the hands it is really up to the individual to find a position you are comfortable with. Personally, I have come to favour having my right hand simply placed over my left in a loose hold. The default hand position is really something you have to develop yourself, as while mimicking other gestures may work to a certain extent, the default position is something you really have to just keep trying till you find one you feel natural with.

Personally I used hand gestures to either 1. draw attention to the screen or 2. emphasise a point. 

For instance if I wanted to emphasise the word “long” I would make a gesture that represented the word “long”, such as moving my hands away from each other to demonstrate a kind of distance between them. 

Find a set of gestures that you are comfortable with and practice your speech with them. This helps develop the muscle memory and overtime it will make your movements seem more natural even though they had been rehearsed and planned. 

3. Eye Contact (eye of the tigerrrrrrrr)

This is something I still struggle with and a lot of other socially-awkward people do as well. 

However, if you are doing a speech for an assessment where you are judged on your eye contact this is one helpful tip I learnt from a friend in debate: just stare till they look away first. 

This mainly works well if a teacher is grading you and one of the judging criteria is eye contact with not only the audience but also with the assessors themselves. Just maintain eye contact and usually most of them will break and eventually look away first.

Also if you know anyone in the audience, a great tip would be to arrange with them beforehand for them to just keep nodding and smiling whenever your eyes meet with theirs. Trust me, when you are alone onstage and you see that smiling and nodding face among the others it really does boost your morale a tiny bit more.  

4. SMILE :)

As corny as it is, smiling does help! Not only does it channel positivity and enthusiasm on your part, it also does help make you feel better psychologically than if you walked on stage sporting the classic a deer-in-the-headlights look. 

5. Tire yourself out beforehand

This is more of a personal tip but I realised that the reason why I always felt jittery and kept swaying and moving my body a lot when I presented was due to the buildup of excess nervous energy and adrenaline beforehand. 

Public speaking to humans is not exactly a “natural” sort of behaviour. In fact it goes against our own natural disposition because the idea of countless pairs of eyes staring and scrutinising your every move kicks in the body’s “fight or flight” mechanism which floods your blood with adrenaline. 

Before my own presentation assessment I did star jumps in the room in order to release all my excess energy and I was more stable during the period when I had to present. If you are presenting in formal wear and star jumps aren’t exactly an option, consider brisk walking or pacing in a quiet corner before going on stage. Anything to let that extra energy out and assume a calmer and steadier disposition on stage. 

[peachisty]

feel good things:

watch sunrises. somehow, this makes me feel like the beginning of something new, the birth of my better, stronger self. watch the way the sun rises, because just like that, you will rise and shine, too.

sing your heart out. dance until you’re exhausted. make art until you run out paint. write out your feelings. indulge in your passion and do it like you’re doing it to impress yourself.

relive your favorite, happiest memory. it is one easy guaranteed effective way to make your heart, your soul, and even your lips smile. no bias.

rewatch your favorite film. grab some chips or a bucket of popcorn and have a marathon of your most-watched flicks. don’t hesitate to replay your favorite scenes if you feel the need to.

aspire and try to be kind, always. being kind on a daily basis is possibly one of the most exhausting and draining thing to ever do but i promise at the end of the day, before you go to sleep you will realize: it is worth it. always.

take a shower. scrub off your creeping self-doubts, smell nice, and bask yourself with self-love. take your time to ponder about your life inside the tub. this is the best time to reevaluate and relax.

be spontaneous even just for one day. drive away from the city. get a haircut. go on a coffee shop hopping. sketch random places. let your heart and your thoughts wander. let your soul soar and be free.

treat yourself. it does not necessarily have to be something enormous or expensive. it could just be a new set of brushes or getting a thrifted second-hand book or buying yourself some bouquet of fresh flowers. it’s not about the tags, it’s about the thought.

rekindle your love for a forgotten passion. nothing beats falling in love with something the second time around. touch your dusty piano keys, change your rusty violin strings, and once again (just like the old days), let your ardor dance in harmony.

take a nap. because sometimes, the best way to temporarily solve something, is to do nothing. yes, it is only ethical to give yourself a break from the overwhelming society. and yes, taking a nap most of the time makes everything better.

if you want to or feel the need to, cry. there is nothing wrong with doing something that is inherent. this does not prove that you are weak, it only proves that you are a human being capable of feeling things. so really, do not ever plan to hinder yourself from crying. it’s often times therapeutic.

do something that you have never done before. no more excuses. just because there is nothing more empowering and satisfying than crossing something out of your bucketlist.