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Using Microsoft OneNote© for Research Projects

2010-02-08T07:01:19Z

Microsoft OneNote© is a program for organizing big projects--and that includes big research papers. The program utilizes a familiar design scheme for students--the school notebook. To get started in OneNote, you should think of your project as a "notebook" that will contain separate tabs. The notebook is your main topic, and your tabs serve as your subtopics.

The one drawback to OneNote's overall design is that it is easy to get lost--the program does so many things in so many ways, that it can be overwhelming to jump in and start. The best way to get your feet wet is to use a tutorial to outline a research paper. Then play around. You can't really go wrong--everything you place in your notebook will stay there until you move it.

Using Microsoft OneNote© for Research Projects originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 07:01:19.

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In Support of Study Abroad

2010-02-06T08:55:45Z

A few years ago, I endorsed study abroad in the most meaningful way possible: I let my own child have the experience when she asked to go to Ireland for a semester. I knew that the benefits of traveling while studying are so enormous that it was worth the cost in cash and parental stress.

I knew from my own study abroad experience that the opportunity was too valuable to pass up. There is no substitute for seeing da Vinci's art in person, or touching the intricate carving of a 500 year-old door in England. Aside from the expanded cultural awareness you experience, there is a new and greater self-awareness that comes from being in a foreign land. Students who study abroad quickly discover the need to budget and exercise self-discipline--or get very hungry. It's hard to learn that in the comfort zone of one's own neighborhood.

But I had a secret reason for letting my own child go. I suspected that, once she got a taste of the world, she would want more. In wanting more, she would have a reason to work hard in school, finish college, and excel in her studies--because that would be the only way she'd be able to continue exploring this vast world. And it worked!

But it's not enough to know you should study abroad. You should also know that you can do it, if you really want to:

In Support of Study Abroad originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 08:55:45.

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Why Do I Freeze Up?

2010-02-04T09:17:59Z

Do you ever feel like a deer in the headlights when the teacher calls your name in class? It's a very common feeling, but one that might be avoidable.

First of all, the most common reason for the classroom freeze-up is failure to read the homework assignment! Teachers do test us occasionally to see if we have actually prepared for class. A simple solution to the freeze-up is to review class notes and readings at night before bed or in the moments before class begins.

Sometimes the freeze-up is more complicated, and it stems from a particular learning style. Global or relational learners tend to hesitate when called upon out of the blue, because fresh information takes time to sink in. They simply process and sort information more gradually than analytic learners. This can sometimes explain why you feel the urge to panic if the teacher asks you a question in the middle of a lecture.

If you feel as though you are thoroughly prepared for class, but you still freeze up when called upon, the problem may be rooted in your brain type. If this is the case, you can avoid discomfort by predicting the questions that may arise in class and jotting down some prepared answers.

Why Do I Freeze Up? originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 09:17:59.

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Can a Right-Brain Dominant Student Be a Scientist?

2010-02-01T09:05:01Z

Short answer: definitely! It is important for every student to explore his or her own learning styles and strengths with a few assessment tools, but it is also important to know that your brain type and learning styles don't exclude you from any field of study.

We all have natural strengths, weaknesses, and tastes--and that's the great thing about people! No matter what we choose to do in life, we will bring something nobody else has done or said before. Although we think of right-brain dominant students as more artistic, creative, and intuitive, that doesn't mean these qualities are bad for science. Where would science be without free thinkers? Or without great illustrations?

Your learning styles are simply reflections of your strengths. You can be anything you want to be!

Can a Right-Brain Dominant Student Be a Scientist? originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 09:05:01.

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Exploring Symbolism

2010-01-30T09:23:38Z

Do you dream? Do you ever wonder why your dreams seem so crazy sometimes? In fact, your dreams are filled with messages that your brain sends you in the form of symbolism. It can be a lot of fun to read through a list of symbols that appear in our dreams and interpret what sort of message our brain is sending us.

While it is not a perfect science, dream analysis can be fun and thought-provoking. The act of falling in a dream, for example, is said to represent a failure to meet a goal. If you've dreamed of falling off a cliff lately, you might need to think about whether you've wandered off track when it comes to your goals!

Art and literature contain symbolism, as well. At some point, you will be required to interpret a painting, sculpture, book, or poem for deeper meaning. When you do this, you will look for features or objects that stand out or reoccur and ask yourself why the feature is there and what deeper meaning the feature could represent. Just for practice, you could browse through a dictionary of symbolism to explore objects and acts that represent themes in our lives.

Exploring Symbolism originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Saturday, January 30th, 2010 at 09:23:38.

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Wasting Your Time?

2010-01-27T08:54:58Z

If you've ever wondered how much time you really spend on your studies, or how much time you spend wasting time on activities that aren't really productive, you can create an effective, visual tool to show you.

You can use any spreadsheet program to make a simple tracking chart. Just fill in a few rows of information, highlight, and click. It's that easy!

Wasting Your Time? originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 08:54:58.

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How to Pick a Prompt Under Pressure

2010-01-24T08:55:33Z

What do you do when you don't like any of the essay prompts you're given? One thing you cannot do is freeze up or spend too much time deciding. Sometimes--like when you are being timed--you just have to pick a prompt and go with it, and quickly.

One reason we find it difficult to pick a prompt under pressure is that we are forced to pick a side on a topic that we don't really care about or even know much about.

To score high points or to really persuade someone in an argument essay, you don't have to know everything about a topic. You just have to know a little about each side, and pick the one you can argue most effectively. You will want to pick the side you can argue with facts and examples, so your first task is to see if you can jot down examples for each side.

If you're preparing for a standardized exam or you're thinking of joining a debate team, you may want to read over these instructions for picking a side to argue or debate. Learn how to assess the strengths of each side of a topic and pick the one that will enable you to score the most points.

How to Pick a Prompt Under Pressure originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Sunday, January 24th, 2010 at 08:55:33.

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Celebrate National Handwriting Day

2010-01-23T10:00:00Z

It's true, there is a holiday for nearly everything. But I think this one is worth mentioning. January 23 is recognized by some people as National Handwriting Day. Like many holidays, it was apparently invented for marketing reasons, but it's a good cause! So why January 23? It's the birthday (New Style date) of the most famous penman in America--John Hancock, whose gigantic signature graces the Declaration of Independence.

Here are a few ideas for celebrating National Handwriting Day:

Write a handwritten note to somebody you care about.
Practice creative writing skills with a handwritten essay.
Improve your handwriting with a penmanship exercise.
Find a pen pal.

Happy holiday!

Celebrate National Handwriting Day originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 10:00:00.

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Parallelism

2010-01-20T22:37:37Z

Are you confused about parallelism? It sounds worse than it really is. Just take a moment to picture a little red wagon with one wheel that is slightly bigger than the other three. Envision this wagon rolling down the sidewalk. It isn't rolling very smoothly, is it? It wobbles back and forth as it moves along. Not a very comfortable ride!

We get the same wobbly feeling when we read a sentence that isn't parallel. A nonparallel sentence contains a structural imbalance when it comes to words, phrases, or clauses in a list or series. It sounds "wobbly" because one item is different in structure or type. A few examples:

My favorite pastimes are swimming, hiking, and to sing.
All she ever did was complain, moan, and lots of griping.
I'd like to buy a car that has soft seats and is roomy.

Notice how awkward these sentences sound? How about this:

My favorite pastimes are swimming, hiking, and singing.
All she ever did was complain, moan, and gripe.
I'd like to buy a car that has soft seats and lots of space.

If you're still confused, you can read more on the topic.

Parallelism originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 at 22:37:37.

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Finding a Thesis for Your Essay

2010-01-18T08:46:54Z

When a teacher asks you to come up with a thesis for your essay, he/she is actually teaching you how to narrow your focus on a particular idea, and this process begins with a question. If your essay assignment is to write about the person you admire most, for example, you might readily identify a person--but that is the easy part. You will identify your thesis when you identify why you've chosen this person.

Let's look at the process of finding a thesis, which comes easily when we start with the word because. We can do this with a few examples.

Example 1: My aunt is my role model because:

she always treats people with respect.
she has shown through example that anything is possible if we try.
she has accomplished great things in her life.

Example 2: My favorite city in the world is London because:

it is so rich in history.
it is the home of beautiful and important architecture.
my family history begins there.

Once you find the thesis of your essay using "because" as a prompt, you will find that you have come up with a claim that can be supported with three or four facts (which turn into topic sentences for body paragraphs).

Finding a Thesis for Your Essay originally appeared on About.com Homework / Study Tips on Monday, January 18th, 2010 at 08:46:54.

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