Literature Tips
Developing Good Writing Skills
How Reading Can Help You Write
"If you want to write well. . . read, read, and then read some more. Read good writing. Read bad writing. Learn to know the difference. Note for simplicity of style: noun, verb, object; noun, verb, object. It worked for Hemingway, who often said that his ultimate goal was to create the perfect sentence. Read some Hemingway, and not just his novels, but some of his early newspaper writing. There's never been better news and feature writing, ever. When you read the works of these and other fine writers, notice the simplicity of their language and how they vary their sentence structure and length. Some sentences number two or three words; others run an entire paragraph. There are countless tips on writing well, but I leave you with this one: read first, then write."
Learn to Write Well
"Writing can be a drag . . . especially if you don't think you're very good at it. It's a skill, however, that you need to develop in order to be competitive in today's society. While you're a student, take the time to learn to write well. Take more than the required English and writing courses. I'd be willing to bet you'll find these classes to be quite valuable when you try to find and keep a job after graduation. And don't worry if you end up having trouble in these classes. You can always enlist the help of the good folks at the Writing Center. And one more thing . . . a good way to practice your writing without the stress of a grade hanging over your head, is to take part in extra-curricular activities that involve writing."
Writing a Paper or Researching an Assignment? Start Early
"Let's face it. We are all afraid of writing papers. We procrastinate until the night before that essay or research assignment is due. We then write as the night passes in the hope that some sort of last-minute inspiration will light down from the heavens, the clouds will dissipate and the sun will poke its head above the horizon, and the rivers will gush forth those wonderfully profound ideas that have hidden themselves in the darkness. Beautifully as all this sounds, it does not happen without a great deal of advance preparation.
How Reading Can Help You Write
"If you want to write well. . . read, read, and then read some more. Read good writing. Read bad writing. Learn to know the difference. Note for simplicity of style: noun, verb, object; noun, verb, object. It worked for Hemingway, who often said that his ultimate goal was to create the perfect sentence. Read some Hemingway, and not just his novels, but some of his early newspaper writing. There's never been better news and feature writing, ever. When you read the works of these and other fine writers, notice the simplicity of their language and how they vary their sentence structure and length. Some sentences number two or three words; others run an entire paragraph. There are countless tips on writing well, but I leave you with this one: read first, then write."
Learn to Write Well
"Writing can be a drag . . . especially if you don't think you're very good at it. It's a skill, however, that you need to develop in order to be competitive in today's society. While you're a student, take the time to learn to write well. Take more than the required English and writing courses. I'd be willing to bet you'll find these classes to be quite valuable when you try to find and keep a job after graduation. And don't worry if you end up having trouble in these classes. You can always enlist the help of the good folks at the Writing Center. And one more thing . . . a good way to practice your writing without the stress of a grade hanging over your head, is to take part in extra-curricular activities that involve writing."
Writing a Paper or Researching an Assignment? Start Early
"Let's face it. We are all afraid of writing papers. We procrastinate until the night before that essay or research assignment is due. We then write as the night passes in the hope that some sort of last-minute inspiration will light down from the heavens, the clouds will dissipate and the sun will poke its head above the horizon, and the rivers will gush forth those wonderfully profound ideas that have hidden themselves in the darkness. Beautifully as all this sounds, it does not happen without a great deal of advance preparation.
Establishing Good Study Habits
Efficient Use of Time
"I'm here to tell you what I think is a key to academic survival and success. The first and most important thing I feel, at least to survival and success in the classroom, is efficient use of your time outside the classroom. Remember, there are 24 hours in a day. Set aside two to three hours each day for studying. This will leave you with five to six hours -- after we subtract time for our classes, meals, and a good night's sleep -- to do those things that we like to do much more than studying. The next thing that I feel contributes to survival and success in the classroom is periodic review of your lecture notes and the appropriate chapters in your textbooks. Periodic review and beginning to study for your exams early will save you time in the long run and it will prevent cramming. That way you can be well rested and more motivated and less anxious on test day. The last thing you can do to help get good grades is take advantage of all the academic resources at your university. It can only help you."
The Power of Cooperation
"Education often looks like competition. We compete for interest in school, for grades when we're in school, and for jobs when we leave school. In such a climate it is easy to overlook the power of cooperation that is developed through study support groups. Study support groups feed you energy. People are social animals and we draw strength from groups. Aside from the comradery, the fellowship and the fun, support groups can assist you by elevating your spirit. There will be days when you just don't want to work on your education. Other members of the study group, however, can support you and encourage you. In addition to drawing strength from the group when you're down, you can give support to others yourself as they need it. A study support group is also a good place to build rewarding relationships with people. So remember your friends and classmates when you study."
Efficient Use of Time
"I'm here to tell you what I think is a key to academic survival and success. The first and most important thing I feel, at least to survival and success in the classroom, is efficient use of your time outside the classroom. Remember, there are 24 hours in a day. Set aside two to three hours each day for studying. This will leave you with five to six hours -- after we subtract time for our classes, meals, and a good night's sleep -- to do those things that we like to do much more than studying. The next thing that I feel contributes to survival and success in the classroom is periodic review of your lecture notes and the appropriate chapters in your textbooks. Periodic review and beginning to study for your exams early will save you time in the long run and it will prevent cramming. That way you can be well rested and more motivated and less anxious on test day. The last thing you can do to help get good grades is take advantage of all the academic resources at your university. It can only help you."
The Power of Cooperation
"Education often looks like competition. We compete for interest in school, for grades when we're in school, and for jobs when we leave school. In such a climate it is easy to overlook the power of cooperation that is developed through study support groups. Study support groups feed you energy. People are social animals and we draw strength from groups. Aside from the comradery, the fellowship and the fun, support groups can assist you by elevating your spirit. There will be days when you just don't want to work on your education. Other members of the study group, however, can support you and encourage you. In addition to drawing strength from the group when you're down, you can give support to others yourself as they need it. A study support group is also a good place to build rewarding relationships with people. So remember your friends and classmates when you study."
How to Think Critically
Making Wise Choices
"Was wondering how you might react to a student who would say to you, "The test questions in that class are taken right from the book. You're wasting your time by going to class." Often advice from your peers might be popular advice but not proper advice. It's very important that you be a thinking, self-directed person--an individual. As an individual, you must develop your own response to other people or their ideas. Don't carelessly accept the suggestions of others. Learn to be a critical thinker. That doesn't mean that you can never think like your friends. As long as you make wise choices, it doesn't matter how popular they are. Too often students make judgments based on first impressions, gut reactions, or the influence of their friends. Remember your actions have consequences. You could fail a class, have financial difficulty or even health problems associated with stress. Thinking students will practice restraint and control their feelings rather than being controlled by them. So my advice to you is, "think before you act"."
Critically Thinking While Writing a Paper
"You have a paper due in which you are to analyze an issue and explain your view. This requires critical thinking skills. Here are four steps from Becoming a Master Student that can help:
Making Wise Choices
"Was wondering how you might react to a student who would say to you, "The test questions in that class are taken right from the book. You're wasting your time by going to class." Often advice from your peers might be popular advice but not proper advice. It's very important that you be a thinking, self-directed person--an individual. As an individual, you must develop your own response to other people or their ideas. Don't carelessly accept the suggestions of others. Learn to be a critical thinker. That doesn't mean that you can never think like your friends. As long as you make wise choices, it doesn't matter how popular they are. Too often students make judgments based on first impressions, gut reactions, or the influence of their friends. Remember your actions have consequences. You could fail a class, have financial difficulty or even health problems associated with stress. Thinking students will practice restraint and control their feelings rather than being controlled by them. So my advice to you is, "think before you act"."
Critically Thinking While Writing a Paper
"You have a paper due in which you are to analyze an issue and explain your view. This requires critical thinking skills. Here are four steps from Becoming a Master Student that can help:
- Decide what you think and why you think it. Writing out your initial ideas will clarify your thoughts.
- Seek other views and more evidence. Make sure you examine all sides especially those that are contrary to your ideas. Talk to people who have expertise in the topic.
- Evaluate the various views. Construct a chart with points that are in agreement and disagreement. Then compare this with your initial view.
- Construct the most reasonable view. Your challenge is to develop a response you consider the most reasonable. Often times this will be a combination of the information you have researched and your initial ideas."
Improving Listening Skills
Becoming a More Effective Listener
"Effective listening begins with recognizing how poor we really are at listening, and with developing a determination to work hard to improve our listening skills. We need to develop an attitude that says, "I'm going to get something out of this lecture that I can use no matter what it takes." Here are a few suggestions that will help you improve your listening skills. First, work hard to keep your focus on the message and make a determined effort to return to focus when your mind begins to wonder. To help in maintaining focus, make mental summaries of the speaker's main ideas. Second, try to predict the speaker's next main idea. These two hints will help to keep you actively involved in what the speaker is saying. Listening is a very difficult and an active process. Listening is just plain hard work."
Becoming a More Effective Listener
"Effective listening begins with recognizing how poor we really are at listening, and with developing a determination to work hard to improve our listening skills. We need to develop an attitude that says, "I'm going to get something out of this lecture that I can use no matter what it takes." Here are a few suggestions that will help you improve your listening skills. First, work hard to keep your focus on the message and make a determined effort to return to focus when your mind begins to wonder. To help in maintaining focus, make mental summaries of the speaker's main ideas. Second, try to predict the speaker's next main idea. These two hints will help to keep you actively involved in what the speaker is saying. Listening is a very difficult and an active process. Listening is just plain hard work."
Preparing for an Essay Exam
- Get a sense for the type of essay exam the professor generally gives; e.g., short vs. long thought questions.
- Try to get some idea of the general area that will be covered; i.e., concepts, issues, theories, etc.
- Carefully review lecture notes to ascertain which broad areas have constituted central discussion topics.
- Carefully review text(s). Link and/or supplement major areas here with those in your notes.
- Mentally test yourself: What major concepts and relationships were covered? Now, what details support these?
- Be able to write a concise outline, covering the material.
- Remember: Present a sound generalization then prove it with appropriate detail.
- Be familiar with the terminology used in the course. Be able to understand concepts and use appropriate terms.
- Listen for any oral directions, if any.
- Read the questions carefully. What are they asking?
- Be sure you understand the question. What is the controlling idea? What are the key words? Underline them.
- How is the answer to be given? Is the question asking for fact? Opinion? Explanation? Comparison?
- If the question seems ambiguous:
a. Seek clarification from the professor;
b. if still not clear, state your interpretation of the question before attempting to answer it. Remember, essay questions are aimed at concepts and the emphasis in the course; so you must be able to conceptualize, succinctly respond, and support your generalization with sufficient details. - Define any vague terms; for example, some terms may have ambiguous implications if not clearly defined.
- Think through your answer. Then go back and reread the question to make sure that you are answering what is asked.
- Remember to take time to think, make notes, and prepare a rough outline before you begin to write the essay:
a. Develop the summary statement.
b. Support the statement with details. - Once you have your summary in outline form, expand upon it and write it in written form, tactfully and clearly.
- Budget your time so that you are not forced to rush through your final essay because you spend too much time on the earlier one(s).
- Allow a little time to proofread for grammar, spelling errors, omissions, etc.
Reading and Highlighting Tips
Pre-Reading Ideas
"Have you ever sat down to read a chapter and realized you either can't follow the chapter's ideas or can't remember what you've read previously? Set yourself up for success by following a few simple pre-reading tips. First, preview the chapter. Skim the text by reading the chapter introductory remarks, subtitles, italicized print, summary and questions. Second, from your preview ask yourself two very important questions:
What is the chapter about?
What do I already know about the subject of the chapter?
Third, jot down any ideas that you remember from your preview and questioning. These could be words, phrases, or sentences. In the five to ten minutes it takes to pre-read a chapter you've familiarized yourself with the text, made an information connection with what you already know about the subject, and set yourself up for success in comprehending a difficult subject."
Pre-Reading Ideas
"Have you ever sat down to read a chapter and realized you either can't follow the chapter's ideas or can't remember what you've read previously? Set yourself up for success by following a few simple pre-reading tips. First, preview the chapter. Skim the text by reading the chapter introductory remarks, subtitles, italicized print, summary and questions. Second, from your preview ask yourself two very important questions:
What is the chapter about?
What do I already know about the subject of the chapter?
Third, jot down any ideas that you remember from your preview and questioning. These could be words, phrases, or sentences. In the five to ten minutes it takes to pre-read a chapter you've familiarized yourself with the text, made an information connection with what you already know about the subject, and set yourself up for success in comprehending a difficult subject."
Tips for Foreign Language Learners
Write in Your Own Words
"I have a tip that has always worked for me and I think it will work for you. When you're studying, don't just "look over" the material. Instead, turn your mental activity into a motor activity and write, write, write. If you're trying to learn ideas or concepts, paraphrase what you're reading and then write it in your own words. And, if you're trying to learn dates, formulas, verb conjugations, or vocabulary words, write them down as you study them. Then give yourself a little test by covering the original material and writing it from memory. You'll find it much easier to remember factual and conceptual information because, most of the time, what you write is what you know."
Copying and Reading
"When learning a foreign language, write out as much in the language as you can. Copying out the foreign words often helps to learn them. Try reading aloud or to yourself all individual words and exercises, again in the target language. Use the language lab and listen to native speakers on tape, and film. Have tapes copied and play these at home or while driving your car. Think about a particular foreign language assignment before going to bed. Materials gone over three to five minutes before falling asleep will be absorbed by the subconscious mind during sleep and more easily learned. Get a pen pal and force yourself to write letters, however simply, initially in the foreign language. If you really want to take a step toward better global understanding, learn a second language."
Write in Your Own Words
"I have a tip that has always worked for me and I think it will work for you. When you're studying, don't just "look over" the material. Instead, turn your mental activity into a motor activity and write, write, write. If you're trying to learn ideas or concepts, paraphrase what you're reading and then write it in your own words. And, if you're trying to learn dates, formulas, verb conjugations, or vocabulary words, write them down as you study them. Then give yourself a little test by covering the original material and writing it from memory. You'll find it much easier to remember factual and conceptual information because, most of the time, what you write is what you know."
Copying and Reading
"When learning a foreign language, write out as much in the language as you can. Copying out the foreign words often helps to learn them. Try reading aloud or to yourself all individual words and exercises, again in the target language. Use the language lab and listen to native speakers on tape, and film. Have tapes copied and play these at home or while driving your car. Think about a particular foreign language assignment before going to bed. Materials gone over three to five minutes before falling asleep will be absorbed by the subconscious mind during sleep and more easily learned. Get a pen pal and force yourself to write letters, however simply, initially in the foreign language. If you really want to take a step toward better global understanding, learn a second language."