Books & Study @studyandsparkle - Tumblr Blog

I need tips on taking textbook notes please! I always get bored reading and then I end up just writing down bolded words with no context (which is really bad I know) any tips to help take more efficient textbook notes without having to spend hours (because I have 3 content heavy classes that I need to take notes for)

Hi there! I know this post may feel basic, but I feel like you’re struggling with basic skills like summarising a topic and writing things in your own words, so I tried my best to explain things in a step-by-step action-oriented list so that you can stand on your own ‘feet’ when you’re studying :)

The Basics of Studying From a Textbook

1. The textbook may be boring, but you’ve still got to read it.

Unfortunately, high school and university isn’t a walk in the park :( I know, some days it’s hard, but you’ve still got to put in at least a modicum of hard work if you want to do well.

Sometimes, the studyblr community perpetuates the idea that there’s some sort of “secret” to being a straight-As, 4.0GPA, HD WAM student, but there’s only studying techniques to make things easier. You’re still going to need a basic level of motivation, discipline, time management, organisation and study in order to do well.

So even though the textbook is boring, you’re either going to have to convince yourself that the topic is interesting, or pull up your socks, buckle down, and actually read it.

2. Reading speed is a limiting factor on how fast you can take notes.

Try reading the textbook without taking any notes and time how long it takes you. That’s going to be the minimum time it takes, so if doing all the reading for 3 content heavy courses takes at least an hour or two, then reading and taking notes is going to be much more than that (roughly more than double the time), so you can’t speed it up any faster than your base reading speed.

I recommend trying speed reading techniques, but that would take a whole separate post, so I won’t go into that here.

3. Learn how to summarise a topic.

At the moment it seems like you’re struggling and not really understanding how to summarise topics, and just relying on the textbook to tell you what’s important.

To summarise something, you’ll need to write down the key points (the most important information) from something that you read in the fewest number of words reasonable. I’m sure you already knew that, but you must not be putting it into practice because of what you’re telling me in your ask.

4. Write things in your own words.

Again, once you learn how to summarise, writing it in your own words will solidify that information in your brain. Explain the topic in layman’s terms to a family member, which forces you to use your own words. If you live alone, try a stuffed toy or rubber duck.

5. Start off by annotating your class notes.

I think initially you should start off with annotating just until you learn what information is important and what’s not. Class notes usually have 80% of the important information in brief points, and the textbook colours in the rest.

6. Use the “gummy bears” method.

I know it’s elementary, but you seemed to be having trouble with discipline and boredom, so place gummy bears on every paragraph as a crutch to get yourself to finish reading everything. Once you train yourself to do things that you don’t want to do, then you won’t have to use any cheap tricks, as you’ll be disciplined enough to read pages and pages without needing constant “carrot on a stick” rewards.

Once you’ve done those, here are my masterposts for content heavy courses:

Studying Content Heavy Courses

Use my Unique Automated Study Planner Printable which uses spaced repetition to make you remember more strategically!

Content Heavy Courses Study Guide - biology used as an example

Self Studying Advice - when you have to study a lot by yourself

Staying Productive No Matter How Much Time You Have

The Blank Paper Method - for rote learning lots of information

Part 11 Adapting to Uni Study - university basically mandates studying a large amount of info in a short period, so you’ll find this post useful for balancing 6 heavy courses!

Part 12 How to Study From Textbooks in Uni

Hope that helps!!

Follow optomstudies for daily original posts and study masterposts! Links: all originals + langblr posts + 15-part college 101 series + web directory!

edu-psych

If you’re dreading finals as much as I am then use this trick to help motivate yourself! Blow up some balloons and write your classes on them. Once you take that final you can pop the balloon and let go of all that stress the class is giving you! I started doing this last semester and I have to say it’s a lot of fun and really drives me to study more so I can feel proud once I pop a balloon.

emmastudies

love this idea!

barelyfunctioningangel

PSA for everyone writing term research papers right now

Mendeley is the greatest program ever

I want to weep with joy every time I use it

Just click a button when you pull up an article and it will automatically save it to your library

And cite it for you

And you can use it on your mobile devices

And it’s free

Just download it and you won’t have so many urges to kill everyone in sight while writing a research paper

dynastylnoire

Thank you so much!

anthrocentric

Guys, I cannot stress how amazing this program is.

You can use it to highlight, write notes, mark up, etc. What I do is I highlight all the important jazz, use the comments to write notes on the document, and on the side bar, I write an annotated bib for it for future me. It save everything you write on it forever for you and you can put the articles in folders and organize it.

But that’s not the best part, the best part is that you can access your articles ANYWHERE. Literally anywhere. Forgot your laptop and at a public library? No worries! You can go to the Mendeley website and ACCESS ALL YOUR ARTICLES WITH YOUR NOTES ONLINE. You don’t even have to download the program to access it! It is a life saver and I suggest everyone in academia use it!

reallymadscientist

The bookmark tool is the best ever. If you find an article you want to cite, you can click a button on your toolbar and it will automatically find the metadata, allow you to select which library to save it to, and allow you to add notes or save the full PDF directly to the citation in your library. Also, you can import libraries from endnote or whatever program you currently use. I love this program.

eternalacademic

Also, if you use Word make sure you connect it with Mendeley. Hit alt-M and cite while you write!

somewhatscholarly

YES MENDELEY IS THE BEST

cheyale-deactivated20170803

Pulling off all-nighters or cramming is no stranger to us. However, these study styles aren’t actually efficient in eating those chunks of information we need to pass our tests.

1. Distributed practice. Or basically have planned study sessions in chunks. Studies show that you best encode information in repeated short training sessions. This is because repeated short training sessions, spaced in time, engage multiple sets of synapses. It’s as if your brain is working at full power. So yes, if you want to become a successful student then you need to learn to be consistent in your studies and to have regular, yet shorter, study periods.

2. Use flashcards. Flashcards engage in “active recall”. In other words, you are attempting to remember the concept from scratch rather than simply staring at the passage in your textbook or recognizing it on a multiple choice quiz.

3. Sleep. While drinking and eating is an indispensable requisite, sleeping is just as important. Even a brief nap may boost learning, memory, and creative problem solving. Though napping isn’t a shortcut to success, it can help improve your memory and solve problems. Sleeping well at night, and long enough, is associated with good health.

4. Teach what you’ve learned. When you teach what you’ve learned, your brain organizes the information and lets you recall the materials you’ve read. If you can’t find someone to teach, then imagine yourself teaching someone. You can even use a stuffed toy if you have no one to teach.

5. Practice testing. Practice testing helps you prepare yourself from questions that may or may not appear on the test. Furthermore, it helps you remember the materials you’ve read while practicing.

6. Have a study spot. Make sure your designated study spot has everything you need: books, notebooks, highlighters, and pens. This helps you prime your brain for study sessions.

jem-studies

#studymethods #tips

barelyfunctioningangel

PSA for everyone writing term research papers right now

Mendeley is the greatest program ever

I want to weep with joy every time I use it

Just click a button when you pull up an article and it will automatically save it to your library

And cite it for you

And you can use it on your mobile devices

And it’s free

Just download it and you won’t have so many urges to kill everyone in sight while writing a research paper

dynastylnoire

Thank you so much!

anthrocentric

Guys, I cannot stress how amazing this program is.

reallymadscientist

eternalacademic

Also, if you use Word make sure you connect it with Mendeley. Hit alt-M and cite while you write!

barelyfunctioningangel

PSA for everyone writing term research papers right now

Mendeley is the greatest program ever

I want to weep with joy every time I use it

Just click a button when you pull up an article and it will automatically save it to your library

And cite it for you

And you can use it on your mobile devices

And it’s free

Just download it and you won’t have so many urges to kill everyone in sight while writing a research paper

dynastylnoire

Thank you so much!

anthrocentric

Guys, I cannot stress how amazing this program is.

reallymadscientist

eternalacademic

Also, if you use Word make sure you connect it with Mendeley. Hit alt-M and cite while you write!

eintsein

A MIND MAP ABOUT MIND-MAPPING

If you know me, you’d know that I am a highly visual person. I love learning from images and layouts, and my spatial intelligence is probably my strongest type of intelligence. Because of this, I often use mind maps to study, and so do a lot of other people. However, there are people who don’t really know how to make and utilize a mind map effectively. That’s what this post is for! Here’s how you can make your mind maps more effective and thus enable you to retain more information. (P.S. you might wanna zoom in)

By no means am I an expert in mind-mapping; these are just some habits I have when making a mind map that successfully does its job of helping me remember the topics I’m studying.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop an ask!

xx jo

aescademic

→ i get asked very often about bullet journals, so i put together a masterpost; happy journalling..!! —tia ♪ [+++] more masterposts | all | studygram

i. PURPOSE

official website

official set up video

official bullet journal store

bullet journals vs. planners | what is a bullet journal

five reasons why you should keep a planner

ii. STARTING A BULLET JOURNAL

how to start keeping a journal

keeping up with your journal

how to start your bujo (photos)

intro to bullet journalling | + getting started

two planner system for journalling

bullet journals for beginners | how to bullet journal

contents of a bullet journal

complete illustrated guide to bullet journalling

comprehensive guide to bullet journals

set ups: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

inspiration tags:

simple + useful layout

beautifully illustrated!!

cute fonts & use of pictures

v creative n artsy journal

cute & colourful !

pretty + practical spreads

so artistic and innovative

washi tape & calligraphy

soft n pastel layouts

organized and neat layouts

beautifully arranged + stylish !!

clean and adorable style

tasteful and cutesy

pictures + highlighters

v innovative spreads & layouts

simplistic + muted colours !

iii. SUPPLIES

notebooks:

consider your needs:

squared | lined | dotted | blank?

bound | disk | coil | midori style | reporter?

hardcover | softcover? + colours?

popular choice: official ‘bullet journal’ | moleskine | leuchtturm 1917

more journals: cheaper moleskine alternative | grid essentials journal | piccadilly notebook | rhodia notepads | traveler’s journal

pens:

popular choice: zebra mildliners | staedtler triplus fineliners | stabilo point 88 fineliners | muji gel ink pens | pilot frixion

+ alternatives: pilot g-2 | monami aqua plus | pilot hi-tecpoint v5 | star diamond gel | candy colour ballpoint

more studyblr stationery | best school supplies

favourites + alternatives to popular stationery | even more

highlighters: koyuko 3-way highlighter | uni propus window | dong-A twinliner | stabilo boss | staedtler textsurfer highlighters

brush pens: pilot fude-makase | faber-castell | tombow

+ places to purchase stationery

a quick stationery crash course

iv. PAGES

types: daily | weekly | monthly | yearly * denotes i use it myself

front: key | table of contents | year at a glance | goals for this year

monthly: calendar* | goals / deadlines | expenses

weekly: weekly view* | food + habits | exercise | upcoming dates+events

daily: quote / song of the day | the weather | was this a productive day?*

back + other: tv show tracker | books to read* | inspirations page

+ masterpost of more page ideas | another | seasonal spreads

miscellaneous page ideas | more page & journal tips | spread ideas

“how-to” → types of pages

daily:

setting up daily spreads

daily spread layout ideas

+ more layout ideas

spread headers [daily]

5 daily logs + their uses

daily spread inspiration

weekly:

weekly spread layout ideas

+ more weekly layout formats

25 spreads and their uses

cute spread tutorial

inspiration for weeklys!! | + more insp

how to draw out a weekly spread

bullet journal weekly spread video

monthly:

visual monthly bullet journal guide

layout examples

more monthly layouts + uses

5 creative monthly spreads

bullet journal monthly spread video

monthly goals + spreads tut

spread examples:

daily: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

weekly: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

monthly: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

cute yearly spread

movie watchlist !

monthly memories

year at a glance

another one

ideas + to dos

work/acad/life layout

financial planning

artsy weekview

goals + wishes

v. STYLING YOUR JOURNAL

handwriting & calligraphy:

cursive handwriting | 2 | 3 | 4 | tutorial

tips to neaten writing: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | + for adults | video

fonts to try | the ‘outline’ font | shadow font | + tag

highlighter + pen headers | mildliner headers

formatting headers | title ideas

quotes:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

people: leonardo da vinci | shakespeare | slyvia path

who said it? quotes

quotes that will make you shudder (2)

find more: goodreads | brainyquote | quotationspage | quoteland

get a daily quote & image in your email | +5 more websites

doodles:

reference: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | + tag

types: plants | floral + more flowers | clouds | seasonal | coffee

illustrate your notes: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

drawing ribbons | 2 | 3 | 4 | gif tutorial

visual notetaking tutorial + fundamentals

tips on visual journal/diary spreads

+ more ways to be creative with your spreads

sketchnotes:

first time guide to sketchnotes | video

about + how to add them

basic sketchnotes reference + another

reference: 1 | 2 | 3

sketchnotearmy.com

other:

journalling cards

printing on sticky notes

page flag planning

add a chronodex?

study schedules

+35 things to add

vi. ALTERNATIVES

filofax

hobonichi planner

visual journals

fragment journalling

10 types of planners

3 minute journal

gratitude journal

reading journal

apps: 24me | wunderlist | any.Do | 30/30 | iStudiez

websites & extensions: getplan.co | evernote | timetune.center

vanesastudies

How I Use OneNote for University

Hey, all! I thought I’d share how I use OneNote, for any students who might want to use it for school organization. I have used this since the beginning of my university career and have found a method that works for me, after nearly three years.

I provide templates for what I use as .one files that can be imported into OneNote, and you’re free to use & modify them however you wish.

Semester Calendar Template: Download

Customized Syllabus Template: Download

Cornell Outline Template: Download + Outline inspired by How to Use Cornell Cornell Note-Taking Method on OneNote by @strive-for-da-best

As a student with learning disabilities, I found that using a computer, rather than writing everything out, is the best method for me to learn. I type up notes in class so as to not worry about keeping up with a professor, handwriting, or neatness. OneNote is my favourite note-taking application for this, because it’s essentially an upgraded version of Word that’s free and syncs automatically across devices. When my computer crashed, I was still able to access my notes online.

OneNote isn’t all typing. You can use it on a tablet or use a drawing tablet, in my case, to handwrite notes for a more natural feel. A very efficient way of taking notes is to import the lectures slides in OneNote and to write directly on them. I found that very useful in math-heavy courses, such as statistics and chemistry. The equation tool, while nifty, isn’t efficient.

By no means whatsoever is this the only way to use OneNote! In fact, I’d recommend you find a way that works for you, because while this may be highly organized, it takes a bit of set-up time and is tailored specifically to my needs. You can use my example as inspiration, but play around with it! The beauty of OneNote is that it can be used in a variety of different ways.

Download OneNote for Windows | Download OneNote for Mac

smartstudy

boringangel

if i’d seen this before going into college right after a diagnosis of a life-long illness & mental issues because of it i would’ve cried to know all this. rb-ing for the physically AND! mentally chronically ill students: u have rights; know that!! know it well

curiousmin-d

What topics do you have to learn? Write them down

How comprehensive are those topics? Add that to your topics e.g. with +/o/- (- -> not comprehensive, + -> very comprehensive)

How many days do you have till you exam? You might consider about a week as balance for the things you don’t get done in time

How much time do you have on which days? Write down the days of the week and mark (e.g. with +/o/-) whether you have much time to study on this day, a little bit of time or no time at all. Also keep in mind that you have to do other stuff for school/university at the same time.

Make a time table from the day you start studying to the day of the exam.

Now you fill in what to study on which day. Consider your notes. Maybe on Monday you have much time so you fill in a topic which is more comprehensive. On Wednesday you have no time at all so you don’t fill anything in. On Friday you have a little bit of time so you fill in a topic, which is less comprehensive. You can split very comprehensive topics on different days of course. Try to be realistic.

thestudyspace

DISCLAIMER: This post is not sponsored by any company. I’ve just found some websites and information that can be used for students. Please research them thoroughly before buying/applying/signing up to anything please! If you use something that is great, please let me know so I can add it to the list!

MYUNIDAYS - Verify your student status and get discounts to lots of shops and restaurants, as well as offers and deals, including half price Apple Music student account, and 10% Asos discount. UNIDAYS can also be used in many different countries including the UK and the US. They also have an app which you can be useful when using certain discounts in shops and restaurants (some can only be used online and vice versa).

NUS - Similar to UNIDAYS, but you have to pay for an NUS card/membership. They have some pretty good discounts for various things. Again, there is an NUS app.

SAVE THE STUDENT - everything you want to know about student life, summed up in one website! Information on student finance, budgeting and saving money. Great for if you’re living at university.

STUDENT BEANS - Similar to UNIDAYS and NUS. Again, lots of discounts and you can register free. They also advertise jobs, work experience, etc.

THE STUDENT ROOM - Forums for students, which also offers lots of advice on various topics such as student finance and applying to university.

THIS IS MONEY - Some helpful student budgeting tips.

BRIGHT KNOWLEDGE - Lots of information about different subjects and careers.

SORTED FOOD - Cheap but delicious recipe ideas!

SAVE THE GRADUATE - Helpful website for graduate students, with information about jobs and further study.

BBC GOOD FOOD - More cheap recipe ideas for students.

APPLE EDUCATION - Buy Apple products using your student information.

SUPER COOK - Find recipes using what ever you have in your cupboard!

STUDENT PRICE CARD - For students in Canada, you can get discounts (10 - 15% usually) on shops, when you pay for a card/membership.

BUDGET BYTES - Delicious recipes on a budget!

This is not a complete list, but I’ll try to add to it through out the year!

thestudyspace

Reblogging for this years university students

studiyng

we’ve all been in this situation for different reasons, anxiety, procrastination, work, way too many assignments in a week. but fear not my friends, hopefully, this masterpost will help you get A’s and organize your study schedule.

also please don’t do this every time you need to study for a test, cramming is not good for learning and pulling all-nighters frequently isn’t healthy.

study tips

cramming

how to cram for a big test by @studyign how to cram efficiently by @study-studymore-studyhard test and cramming tips how to cram the night before a test and pass 10 ways to cram successfully

all-nighters (the last resort)

how to pull an all-nighter and pass your exam all-nighter survival tips by @rookiemag how to pull and effective all-nighter stay all night without feeling sleepy: pt1 / pt2 expert-approved guide to pulling an all-nighter pull the most efficient all-nighter how to pull an all-nighter how to pull and all-nighter : from the special forces do’s and don’ts of pulling an all-nighter

really do them if it’s absolutely necessary:

is it bad for you to pull and all-nighter why you should never pull and all-nighter

the night before the exam

study the night before by @renaissence study the day before by @getstudyblr night owl study tips by @lawjournalsandwine the night before the exam by @studyspoinspo how to study the night before a test the night before the exam tips top tips for the night before and the morning of the exam how to pass an exam if you forgot to study the night before study the day before the exam 10 things you should do the night before a test 7 mistakes you make on the night before an exam you’ll never make again

i have less than a week to study

five day study plan by @brandi-studies how to study for an upcoming exam by @noteblr how to remember everything for a test in 3 days by @getstudyblr when you have a test really soon study well in short time study for exams in limited time ace an exam that’s around the corner

tips

25 study tips by @studyign how to study more efficiently fastest way to memorize by @studyign common study mistakes by @studyign tips on study last minute by @milkystudies how to get things done by @lattenotlate study smart not hard 10 tips to study smart and save time useful tips to study in short time how to study for an exam effectively prepare for a exam in a really short time study for an approaching exam the secrets to study effectively in short time nice time management advice how to study in groups how to stay focused by @elkstudies finals week masterpost 22 science based tips to study for an exam 20 study hacks to imporve your memory

exam tips

tips for during the exam

15 tips to boost your exam performance

how to answer exam questions

7 last-minute exam tips

28 top tips for exams and tests

top 10 tips for taking exams

last minute revision tips

exam prep

how to mentally prepare for a test by @eruditicn

anti procrastination masterpost by @elkstudies

beat anxiety and stress in 1 hour and start studying!

how to stop procrastination

deal with exam anxiety by @attackonstudying

scientifically the best ways to prepare for an exam

motivation

how to get motivated

my motivation tag

more masterposts

app masterpost

DIY masterpost

food masterpost

how to: group work

printable masterpost

language masterpost

music masterpost

my study methods masterpost

noirdork

i need this— actually we both need this @that-duck-in-paris

exmellivorinae

OH MY GOD whyyyy did no one tell me you’re supposed to send thank-yous after interviews?? Why would I do that???

“Thank you for this incredibly stressful 30 minutes that I have had to re-structure my entire day around and which will give me anxiety poos for the next 24 hours.”

I HATE ETIQUETTE IT’S THE MOST IMPOSSIBLE THING FOR ME TO LEARN WITHOUT SOMEONE DIRECTLY TELLING ME THIS SHIT

a-windsor

NO ONE TOLD YOU???? WTF! I HAVE FAILED YOU. Also: Dear ______: Thank you so much for the opportunity to sit down with you (&________) to discuss the [insert job position]. I am grateful to be considered for the position. I think I will be a great fit at [company name], especially given my experience in __________. [insert possible reference to something you talked about, something that excited you.] I look forward to hearing from you [and if you are feeling super confident: and working together in the future]. Sincerely, @mellivorinae

exmellivorinae

THIS IS A LIFESAVING TEMPLATE

a-windsor

YOU ARE WELCOME

ambienne

Dear internet,

Please give me all the advice you have on writing cover letters. Like, the closer you can get to literally just writing a cover letter for me, the better. Ok bye.

emilysidhe

This is how I did the one for my librarian position. I hope it helps.

Dear Person Hiring for this Job,

I am writing to ask you to consider me for X position. This is a paragraph about why I want to do X position in general. It includes at least one personal detail and at least one job skill I consider a particular strength. It argues that I am passionate about this career. It is not long.

I have had the opportunity to gain experience in this job by - paragraph about my work or study experience. It should go from most recent experience back. Include some details about your responsibilities/achievements in your most recent or most important positions. If you have mostly study experience, give more detail about what exactly you studied. If you shadowed people, mention that. If your work experience is largely unrelated, try to shoehorn some of it in (e.g. I gained experience working with people by). You can supplement with relevant hobbies. (But if you do have recent, relevant work experience, you should largely be detailing that. Only embroider the other stuff if you need to flesh it out.) This should be the longest paragraph.

I hope you will consider allowing me to do X thing at your company. This is a few sentences about why I want to work at your company in particular and what I think I could bring. Try to mention at least one detail from the company website, so they know you visited it. This is a short paragraph that parallels the first one.

Thank you very much for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Person You Would Be a Fool Not to At Least Interview

walkingoutintherain

oh my god thank you this is relevant to current interests

magpieandwhale

Two other points, to challenge what’s being said above a little:

1) Remember that the person reading this cover letter wants to know how you can contribute to the company. Not how excited you are about the position: it’s all about what they gain. Try framing the whole thing in that sense – “You would gain my X awesome skill that would help you Y with your mission.” “Here’s why I’m awesome and a great fit for making your company go better.”

2) At the end, ask for the interview. “I am available at PHONE NUMBER at your convenience. I look forward to speaking with you about this great opportunity soon.” Maybe even say you’ll be following up at a specific time and date. Ask for the job. People respond to that, and it’s a good way to fake confidence until you make it. Ask for the job.

Okay, three points. People reading cover letters get SO BORED going through them. Think about starting off with a story that relates to why you’re interested in the job, or that demonstrates a skill or a strong interest that would make you a good candidate. Be memorable – people remember stories, even (maybe especially) very little ones.

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

moody-poet-deactivated20180227

How I Got Straight A’s in My First Year of University

I was so proud of myself when I received firsts (that’s A’s for those not attending uni in the UK) on all of my assessments in my first year at university. Here are some tips for y’all to try at any point in university. They may be specific at times to my experience—my degree is in the social sciences and humanities, and I’m studying in the UK—but I did try to make them more generally applicable, and hopefully they should be helpful to someone out there.

Part One: Everyday Study Routine

Before the start of the academic year, try to get in a little bit of preparation. See if there are any syllabi or reading lists posted online. You don’t have to pour over them, of course, but do attempt to do something, and have a basic grasp on what will be covered in your classes.

Go to all your lectures and seminars. Unless you absolutely have to miss class because you are ill or have an important obligation to take care of, it’s really important to attend your lectures every day. (Note: if you are struggling with mental or chronic illness or a disability, don’t beat yourself up if you keep missing class. Please take care of yourself.) You may be tempted to just look at the PowerPoint presentation online, but it’s much more effective to be there in person. Often the lecturer may include information or extra explanations which are not included in the presentation. It will also allow you to process the information aurally as well as visually, and you will have the added benefit of taking notes too. You may also be able to ask questions.

Do all the pre-reading for lectures. I know it’s tempting to put it off, but try to work it into your daily routine (because you will have reading to do every day). Inevitably, there will be times where you slip up and don’t have time to finish. If this happens, make sure you catch up on it at some point, because it’s very important to solidifying the concepts you are learning about. Also, the more you read in general, the better you will become at reading (and also writing).

Take diligent notes (for both your lectures and pre-reading), and keep them organized. I prefer to handwrite in a notebook, as it helps me synthesize information rather than just typing it out verbatim—but it is totally up to you. If you do use a notebook, make a table of contents on the first page, where you write the date, topic, class, and page numbers of each set of notes you take. I think it’s a great idea to include your own thoughts and opinions in notes, or linking concepts you are learning to concepts you already know about.

If you have the time, make sure to be reading books/essays/articles and engaging with ideas outside of your regular syllabus. This is one of the most important techniques (in my experience, at least) when it comes to writing essays and answering exam questions. Evidence of wider reading around a topic is a great way to boost the credibility of your argument. It also does wonders to solidify and broaden your conceptualization of certain ideas you may have covered in your classes.

Where possible, try to contribute (as much as you feel comfortable) in seminars. If you are very quiet and reserved, that is totally okay too. I’m with you. But it has helped me tremendously in the past year to push myself to speak up more often in seminars. Talking in seminars allows you to clarify concepts and engage more deeply with the material being discussed (and it might impress your seminar tutor too, though this is secondary to the learning in my opinion).

If you have some nerdy-ass friends, talk with them about your ideas and what you’re both learning in your courses. I can’t tell you the number of essays I’ve written which actually have blossomed out of conversations I’ve had with friends, where they’ve exposed me to topics I’d never heard of before or broadened my view of a concept. Learning from each other in a casual and fun setting is amazing!

Part Two: Assessment Time

When you are given notice about big assignments coming up, such as essays or group projects, try to start working on them ASAP. Trust me, I know how hard it is. This is coming from someone who has dealt for years with chronic procrastination issues and nearly didn’t graduate from high school because of it. But you must start planning as soon as you possibly can, because the due date will come screaming up and before you know it, it’ll be the night before the deadline and you won’t have a clue what you’re writing about. Work it into your daily schedule if you have to. One great tip is to write down the deadline as being earlier (say, a week earlier) than what it actually is. This will prompt you to start earlier than you normally would have.

Do a shitload of reading, widely, from multiple sources. Read everything you can on the topic you are doing your assignment on. For a basic literature review, this means looking through at least 20+ sources. That doesn’t mean carefully perusing each one front to back; it means looking through all the relevant literature to find a few great sources which will really give you a coherent argument and a big picture of the topic at hand.

Keep your sources organized. I use Paperpile, which is a Chrome extension that allows you to save and organize academic sources. I make a folder for each assessment I am working on, and anything I find relevant to my topic, I save it to the folder. This will be a life saver for you when you actually go to plan your paper and also do the referencing.

Content is important, but perhaps even more important is your argument and structure. This mostly applies to essays, but you can apply it to other types of assessments too. Try not to structure your argument in terms of blocks of content—e.g. Paragraph 1 is about Topic A, Paragraph 2 is about Topic B—but rather in terms of how you are laying out your argument. Make sure each part of your essay flows into the next, so that you are, for example, setting up a kind of dialogue or narrative between the different sources you’re using. Also ensure that any point you are making clearly relates back to your main thesis.

If you’re a perfectionist like me: train yourself to remember that there is no such thing as perfect. Try to imagine what the perfect essay would be like. Can you imagine it? It’s probably pretty difficult, right? That’s because there is no such thing as a perfect assignment. Remind yourself of this, constantly. Tell yourself that you will be okay with just doing your very best. If you think about it logically: handing in something that is perhaps not your best ever, but handing it in on time and doing pretty well, is infinitely better than attempting to have a “perfect” essay but handing it in late and failing the assignment.

I hope this helped some of you! Best of luck and happy studying this year—go knock ‘em out! xo

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