How To Write an Essay

How To Write an Essay How to Improve your Essay Writing ChaptersHow to Write a Good EssayHow to Write an Essay PlanEssay StructureHow to Write an Introduction to an EssayHow to Conclude an EssayAdditional Tips for Essay WritingSome students have a really tough time planning and writing essays, and even a 1500-word thesis can get them in rather a state.It is a good idea to get yourself used to essay-writing before you attempt a significant paper, like a university dissertation. Although a dissertation is usually around 10000 words long, remember that it is no different to a shorter essay, it is just magnified and therefore more detail needs to go in it.Approaching essay writing can be very daunting as it is difficult to know where to start. Photo via Visual hunt CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4 .76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow to Write a Good EssayThe most important thing for students to know when they begin writing essays is that, although a ‘perfect’ essay might exist, planning the perfect essay is virtually impossible.Although each essay should be structured in a similar way, there is no prime number of paragraphs or points to be made, nor is there a predetermined checklist that teachers use to tick off requirements met for all essays across every subject. This is because no two essays are the same â€" essays are designed to allow ideas to flow freely and should display the writer’s personality and opinions.By trying to emulate yours and others’ idea of a perfect essay, you could be stifling your creativity so dispel the idea that you must write in a certain way and just get writing.As easy as that sounds, we understand why students are so caught up on the perfect piece of writing, as they are given unrealistic goals to reach. Websites and educational articles inundate pupils with details about perfect grades, perfect application forms for further education and, of course, how to write the perfect essay.If this holy grail of essays does exist then how come each and every one of them has slightly different ideas on how to perfect it? If a perfect essay does indeed exist, it is only because you have made it perfect in the way that you have approached your chosen subject and how you have made links to come up with your ultimate conclusion.If you were to ask a teacher if they could pick out one perfect essay from all of those they have ever seen, they would find it utterly impossible since every student has unique experiences  to draw from and distinguishes their analysis of texts completely differently to others.Furthermore, the emotions that are displayed in essays are what teachers want to see, and who is anyone to say that we should all feel the same thing when we read a book or write an essay?Writing an essay can be a daunting task. There are many pitfalls for the unwary, but don’t despair! The advice below should help you avoid some of the common mistakes…Understand the question.  Underline key points or words. Is it asking you to discuss, contrast, define or evaluate? Answer the question that’s actually on the page, not the question you wish was there.Do your research.  Make detailed notes from your sources (books, articles, films). Make sure you always write down the full details of where any quotes or ideas come from. Exercise caution  when using internet sources â€" Wikipedia, whilst a wonderful resource,  should not be quoted as a source.Plan your structure.  Start by just getting your ideas down with a spider diagram or a list. After you’ve done that, begin to re-arrange material into a more coherent structure, deciding on what to include in your introduction, your main points for each paragraph and how you will draw it all together in the conclusion.Use the active voice wherever possible.  The active voice occurs when  the subject of the sentence is also the ‘doer’: eg. ‘Hitler’s army invaded Poland’ rather than ‘Poland was invaded by Hitler’s army’. The first sentence is much more direct and snappy â€" the passive voice can easily sound waffly.Don’t make sweeping generalisations.  These can include sentences such as “Many people think that [insert opinion]”. Be specific â€" if you can’t say which people, and reference where they’ve said it, then it’s probably best to re-think what you’re writing.Be careful not to present other people’s ideas and opinions as your own.  It’s easily done, but it’s still plagiarism. If you’re putting forward an opinion that you’ve read on a particular subject, write: ‘[Dr X] wrote in her paper on [Y] that it’s possible that [Z]’.Most important, though, is to remember that your essay should be your chance to put across what   you  think and feel about a subject. If you can follow the advice above,  andput something of yourself into your essay, then  you’re onto something very good indeed.Find a Skype English teacher here.How to Write an Essay PlanMost students will be aware that an essay starts with an introductory paragraph, followed by a series of points divided into paragraphs or subtitles and then culminating in a summary of the points made and the resulting conclusion.Although some students are natural writers and can write an essay with minimal planning, most students need a plan or draft to work with. Whether you use a spider diagram, flow chart or just note down bullet points during this preparatory stage, you should try to visualise the paragraphs on the page and imagine how the entire piece will come together.Learn more writing tricks with this complete guide to writing!It does not matter how you plan your essay, but putting your ideas down on paper helps you to see how your essay will flow. Photo credit: drew.harry via Visual HuntIt is at this stage, when you are playing around with ideas and theories to discuss, that you should identify the order in which you will make your points. Good essays usually provide subtle links from one paragraph to the next, so do be sure to think in advance about which points lead smoothly onto the next.It is whilst planning your essay that you will do the most research, as you will effectively be writing down a summary of what you intend to cover in your text. As such, you might re-read sections or chapters of your workbooks, go over notes taken in class, look at resources offered by your exam board (whether that be AQA, OCR, WJEC, Edexcel, Eduqas or another) or surf the Internet to find interesting critiques or evaluations that you could look into as part of your investigation.Planning your essay and having the bones of your final piece in place can do a lot for your confidence, as you will have a clear direction and can feel positive t hat all you need to do from this point on is to expand on your initial thoughts. Knowing that you do not need to research and come up with a range of new avenues to follow can make it seem like the bulk of the work has already been done.Find GCSE English tutor here. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our t utors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsEssay StructureIf you try to write an essay in the order in which it is to be read, you are going to encounter some difficulties. This is because, despite having planned what you are going to investigate, you still need to allow yourself some freedom during the writing process, otherwise your essay could wind up becoming monotone and mund ane with little emotion to sway the reader with.How to Structure an EssayYou should start your writing task by filling out the body of text, which means working through the points in your essay plan and adding a certain level of detail, quotes and other evidence to back up your thoughts. At this point, if any new ideas pop into your mind, follow your instincts and see where this analysis takes you.So long as you do not allow yourself to get distracted from the point of the thesis, you can still get your essay back onto the course you had mapped out. You never know, it could be these spontaneous changes in direction which take your essay from a good one to a great one. You might even describe it as your perfect essay!The time it takes to write your essay is irrelevant. If you are a fast writer, then writing a 1500-word essay in the space of a couple of hours is not uncommon. Equally, spending two or three hours a night for a week on structuring your perfect essay could simply be the best system for you.Just because your peers spent more or less time on their essays than you did, does not mean that your work is any stronger or weaker. Find out how writing every day can help you improve your focus!If you're a beginner or trying to improve your English check out our guide for improving your writing skills. Or get help from an English tutor London, Birmingham, Newcastle or anywhere in the UK.How to Write an Introduction to an EssayA top essay writing tip is to always leave your introduction and conclusion until last, even though this goes against your instincts. The introduction of an essay, by nature, tells the reader what you plan to look at in the thesis and gives them an idea of where this essay might take them.Introductions should remain quite vague though, as do not forget that that you have not yet investigated your points at this stage and thus do not want to take anything away from your concluding paragraph. Introductions do not need to be smart, as they a re just the first in a number of stepping stones towards a final statement or revelation.Imagine your essay is like a series of stepping stones, with your introduction leading to a number of paragraphs towards the final conclusion. Photo credit: sharing user info with oath is wrong via VisualHunt.comHow to Conclude an EssayThe conclusion, meanwhile, summarises the key points made in the body of your text, fed by the various sources of information you have used to support these. The conclusive paragraph should ultimately answer the questions raised at the start of the piece and leave the readers with a lasting impression. It is here that you need to be smart and need to make it clear where your findings have come from and why it is that you feel this way in a concise manner.Remember that your essay’s introduction and conclusion are very closely linked and therefore you should be able to read them together and see very clearly,   acknowledgements in the latter to questions raised in the former. A clear narrative, reasoning and explanation are key!If your conclusion does not fit in with your introduction, you may need to start over and re-write your introduction to make the transition from beginning to end appear seamless.Additional Tips for Essay WritingTeachers and examiners would agree that a successful essay is the culmination of a list of things. Some of the things they will be looking for are: a strong introductory statement, an interesting interpretation of the topic, a revelation or conclusion to sum up the points discussed and, of course, a good display of spelling, grammar, vocabulary and punctuation.  Learn how to improve your spelling for better writing!Do not complete your essay and then cast it to one side. Although you may be glad to see the back of it, the finishing touches can play a huge part in the perception of your final piece. This means to revise and proofreading the text numerous times, initially to check for errors and typos and then at least once more to ensure it flows well. You might also like to ask a friend or parent to read it and provide you with unbiased feedback.Another thing to be aware of when editing your writing is tone and perspective (i.e. if you are writing in the first person as is most common in academic essays, be sure to stick to the pronoun ‘I’ throughout your piece when communicating your views).Become the best essay writer with the help of a private English tutor.Finally, you may find it useful to have a dictionary and thesaurus to hand when writing your essay, so that you can embellish the content a little.If your vocabulary is limited, use a thesaurus to experiment with new words that fit in with your tone and writing style, which can in turn help to expand your word stock and the power of your lexicon.If your essay is being marked as an original piece of work or, is a research paper of work for school or university, be sure to use citations, quotations and a bibliography to avoid plag iarism.What do you think about  the future of the English language lies?  Join the discussion: do British students need more help in English spelling?

Singing Tips 3 Physical Keys for Hitting High Notes

Singing Tips 3 Physical Keys for Hitting High Notes Sign up successful 2. Release Tension Another thing that often happens as a high note gets closer is for a singer to anticipate it. Similar to reaching, anticipation might involve a startled response in the body and/or stressful thoughts or feelings about singing the high note. When we are anticipating something challenging, we often tighten our muscles and hold our breath, like the video below says. If we can instead convince ourselves not to anticipate the high note, we can stay at ease in our bodies, calm in our breathing and open to interacting with the sound we are producing and the environment we are in. In this way, the higher notes can be supported by an open, expansive body with the appropriate (not excessive) muscular tone and engagement, which makes them far easier to produce than from a body that is tight, tense, and weak from an imbalance of tension and tone. To work with this idea, notice your thoughts and bodily sensations as you approach a high note. If you notice excessive tension or that youre holding or closing off your breath, pause and give yourself time to release whatever you don’t need. Then, begin singing again, staying aware of yourself. 3. Dont Force It In tandem to the above tips, another thing to keep in mind is not to push your voice to force out a high note. Forcing your voice only leads to more effort, which ultimately leads to fatigue and/or damage to your vocal cords. The best way to give your high notes sustaining power is to rely on the support down below the breath. Because the breathing mechanism is engaging to move the air out of the body, the movement of the air becomes a source of support for your voice. The air coming up and out of the torso is a source of support in motion. Instead of pushing, notice the connection of the front and back of your torso, and the ribs gently ‘releasing’ together. In addition to the ribs coming together, the diaphragm also naturally releases upward to push the air out, and the vocal folds come together to control the flow of air. Noticing how your body naturally moves the air out of your body as a source of support can allow you to let go of additional effort you are using to force the air and sound out. The key to finding a good balance in singing high notes is to use your awareness of your body and breath. It holds the key to releasing unnecessary tension, making use of your natural support, and letting go of unhelpful mental and bodily cues that are interfering with your production of high notes. As always, ask your voice teacher if you need additional help! For extra tips, check out this article about singing high notes from CoreSinging.org. Nadia B. teaches flute and piano in New York, NY, as well as through online lessons. She  acted as principal flutist of the orchestra and wind ensemble at  California State University, Sacramento, and then went on to receive her degree in Music Performance from New York University.  Learn more about Nadia here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  sarah

Find an Economics Tutor in Glasgow

Find an Economics Tutor in Glasgow Find Your Ideal Tutor in Glasgow ChaptersFinding Tutelage Through an AgencyInvestigate Possibilities OnlineThe Department of EconomicsWhat sort of tutor does a student of Economics need?Before you scoff â€" Pshaw! They would need an Economics tutor near me, of course!, let us think about the discipline that is vaguely titled economics.To a large measure, economics is a study of social policy, which in turn draws on psychology, geography, history and politics, among other subjects.And that's just the surface of things!The nuts and bolts of the discipline consist in large part of mathematics, statistical analysis and the ability to detect patterns, sometimes found in non-traditional indicators.Like these two economists in India who studied patterns of light captured from a satellite snapshot taken of their country, that seems to emphasise economic disparity.So, while it is true that an Economics student would benefit from a tutor devoted to the study of economics, couldn't we argue that s/he would be equally well serv ed by tutelage from a math instructor, a teacher of psychology or even a writing tutor?A writing tutor?Indeed! Being an economist involves more than just the ability to do calculus. You would also have to develop exemplary writing skills in order to detail your findings, always keeping in mind the eventual publication of your work.To say nothing of all the writing you would do as an undergraduate, composing your graduate thesis, and even publishing essays as a postgraduate student!Let us go now, to discover where students of Economics can find the academic support they need.Scholar Tutoring Agency comes very close.Not only do they have math tutors and tutors to help you write an essay successfully, but they boast a full Business Studies curriculum, which encompasses much of what an economics course might include:Enterprise and Marketing (microeconomics)Entrepreneurship (entrepreneurial economics)Staffing, recruitment, leadership and management (labour economics)Business ethics (a pa rt of the philosophy of economics)That last really came to the forefront in the 1990s, as more companies â€" both national and international pledged commitment to non-economic values.As a result of such, new areas of speciality in economics were born, among them: environmental economics, the branch that considers the impact of local resources on its regional economy.Happiness economics is another relatively new field of study, and a particularly challenging one, as happiness is not quantitative.Might you be interested in making this the topic of your thesis?If so, you might learn more about these fields, and how to write an authoritative paper through Glasgow's Scholar Tutoring Agency.What if you are not enthused by tutoring services?Investigate Possibilities OnlineAdmittedly, Economics is a rather narrow, topic-specific discipline that makes it difficult to find one on one tutoring... unless you look in the right place!You may think of the Internet as a wild bazaar, with all manner of information for sale or for free.Naturally, cyberspace's tutoring marketplace is vast and, upon asking the right question, you may get your Open, Sesame answer.That suggests that doing a search for economics tutors near me would yield tons of results, but how many of them are bona fide â€" in the sense that they are exactly what you need?Let Superprof narrow that field down a bit for you, starting with our own platform.Currently, there are 13 Superprof Economics tutors in the Glasgow area, every one of them qualified (and verified!), ready to meet you face to face or via webcam.All of them offer their first lesson for free; beyond that, the average price of a Superprof one to one tutor for Economics is £18 per hour.And still, there's more!If you have no qualms about studying with a tutor online, you are not geographically limited! You might engage a tutor in London, Leeds or anywhere else in the country (or the world, for that matter!).As long as you're confident of learning on line...Partaking of a MOOC can be done anywhere, at any time Source: Pixabay Credit: CunconConsider a MOOCMOOCs, or massive online open courses, are webinars addressing various aspects of academia.While you may groan inwardly at taking yet another course when your homework load is already so heavy, consider some of the benefits participating in such a venture could bring.1. They are of short duration, generally about 5 weeks.It's not like you would commit every night and weekend for an entire semester to extracurricular study.2. The large student body gives you plenty of opportunities to discuss and debate thorny issues related to your studies.Most often, getting a different perspective on a subject permits you to grasp it more clearly.For example, you would have a different school of thought on those migrants that just landed in Spain if you were a migrant yourself â€" either on that same boat or having experienced such a journey in the past.That is why entertaining different point s of view is vital to understanding economic theory.3. Most MOOCs are free!In fact, all of the ones offered through the University of Glasgow are free.Is that where you are studying economics? In the very institute that Adam Smith, the Father of modern economics, taught?Why don't we go there to help you find a tutor!The Department of EconomicsBefore we ride this pony to the finish line, let us first confess that this article is mainly targeted to the first- or second-year university student who might be struggling with the complex and overwhelming maths the discipline calls for.That doesn't mean that we are overlooking the sharp-minded pupil who is studying Economics for his/her Advanced Highers.While you are not necessarily at the theoretical level your college peers have achieved, rest assured that there is tutoring available to you, as well.In fact, you may seek out a college student for some private tutoring for your test prep!There is no law governing the qualifications of any private tutor in the UK, but a rule of thumb exists that the tutor must be at least one level higher than his pupil.That means you may feel free to check bulletin boards in the econ building; also at the library: you might find your ideal math tutor by pure happenstance!As for students already enrolled at university, or even at the Adam Smith Business School, you can also rest assured that there is plenty of tutelage for you.It is just a matter of finding it!If there is one particular class that is giving your fits, you may ask that teacher for help in finding a private tutor. No doubt s/he knows of some alumni who wouldn't mind working with your keen mind!If your instructor seems rather remote, perhaps you could ask the department's administrative staff. They might actually have a list of the best tutors, who have long experience in helping students just like you.What about the student union? Quite possibly, they know of someone who does home tutoring, either for homework help or f or mathematical comprehension.In fact, you may find there is an Econ discussion group that meets regularly!Do you need help understanding principles of macroeconomics or international economics? Perhaps a lively discussion with undergraduates such as yourself would be just the ticket.There is no better way to showcase your strengths than through debate, and just because you are an academic year or two behind others in the group, doesn't mean you can't dazzle!Finding a tutor through your college or through administrative channels attached to your institution would be the safest bet for scoring a quality appointment of a tutor.You too can join the market economy by advertising your need for a tutor Source: Pixabay Credit: GeraltAnother way to secure tuition would be to place an advert for yourself.Look into posting a flier all of the aforementioned locations: teaching building and library bulletin boards, in the student union office (or on its website), in the bookstore, even!Should y ou wish to cast a wider net, you might also consider advertising for a certified teacher of Econometrics in your local paper and/or online.Glasgow's Freeads will permit you to list your request for academic tutoring at no charge.So will Gumtree, a site which currently lists one advert for a home tutor in Economics. However, this site offers premium advert placing, which does cost a fee, and might cause your ad to go unnoticed.Freeads also lists a posting from an econ tutor, but he is in north London, hoping to teach via webcam.The consensus is: much better to check local resources for tutoring, such as Superprof or postgraduate students at your school who are looking for tutoring jobs.No matter which way you go, finding someone who can help you make sense of higher level maths and economic theory need not be a challenge.It is simply a matter of looking in the right places and then applying economic theories: which tutor would provide the greatest level of expertise for the lowest am ount of money?Happy searching to you!Looking for a tutor in the UK? Look no further...LondonManchesterLeedsBirmingham

What is it Like to Attend Florida State University

What is it Like to Attend Florida State University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Kelly is a Tampa tutor and 2013 graduate of Florida State University. She holds a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and tutors several subjects, including Elementary Math tutoring, Phonics tutoring, and Social Studies tutoring. Check out what Kelly had to say about her time at Florida State University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Kelly: Florida State Universitys campus is situated in the middle of Tallahassee, Florida, a few miles from the downtown and capitol buildings. The campus is large, but you can easily access all of it on foot. Florida State University has its own bus system that has stops both on and off campus, and there is also the city bus, which you can ride for free with a student ID. In addition, both Tallahassee and the campus are very bike- and skateboard-friendly. Cars make it more convenient to live, but they are definitely not necessary. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Kelly:The professors and teaching assistants are very accessible if you pay attention to their office hours. The accessibility of academic advisers depends on your major. Some majors have more advisers on staff than others. I always had a good experience when trying to meet with my advisers, but during certain times of the year, it is definitely a little more difficult. The library offers all sorts of free tutoring, and the Career Center is a good resource for help too. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Kelly:Dorm life is as you would expect. The sooner you sign up, the better your options. Some buildings are very nice, clean, and new. Others are very old and cramped. Regardless, it is a good bonding experience that allows you to make life-long friends early on. There are many dining options (including regular restaurants) on campus, and better food than you would expect in the dining halls. The food is leagues above high school cafeteria food. There are tons of clubs and groups to get involved in. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Kelly:Virtually any major that you would want to study is offered in some form. Our Math, Science, Engineering, English/Literature, Music, Theatre, and Art programs are very heavily supported. However, I know that they recently closed the Anthropology department. I changed my major several times, but I ended up studying Elementary Education because I have always been passionate about teaching and influencing young people for the better. Florida State University is renowned for its thorough Education program, and its graduates almost always find jobs right after graduation. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Kelly:It was very easy for me to meet people and make friends as a freshman, but it does require a certain amount of effort, as well as becoming more outgoing than you may have been in the past. Greek life is abundant at Florida State University, but I was not involved with it. I still had a great experience, and I was able to get involved with the community and with my friends. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Kelly:The Career Center is a huge help, and Florida State University allows you to access the Career Center even after you graduate. I personally have continued to visit the Career Center since graduating. Tons of reputable companies recruit on campus, and there are career fairs for specific majors. These are quite helpful. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Kelly:Study areas are usually available, but the more popular spots can get overcrowded when it is close to finals time. The study areas are spacious, but given the number of students who attend Florida State University, space is still an issue toward the end of every semester. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Kelly:The surrounding town seems to be nothing special at first glance. However, the longer you live in Tallahassee, the more you realize that there is always something to do. There are a large number of outdoor and nature-related activities in the city and in nearby towns. There is lots of history in Tallahassee to be explored, and no matter where you live in the city, there are parks nearby. In addition, there is a vibrant music and art scene. Since it is the capital of Florida, there are lots of political opportunities, and many festivals that occur annually. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Kelly:The student body is quite large. Most semesters have about 40,000 students enrolled including undergraduate and graduate programs, if I remember correctly. I had a great experience here, but if you are looking for a small school environment, this is not a good match for you. A few classes were larger than I would have liked. For example, my Biology and Chemistry classes were enormous, but once a week we met in small groups of 20 or less with a teaching assistant. That somewhat made up for the size. I would say about 75% of my classes were much smaller and more personal, with 10-50 students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Kelly:By the time I graduated, I had become very close with all of my Education professors and advisers. The week before graduation, one of them hosted a small afternoon barbecue with all of the graduating students and professors. This allowed us to have one final memory to share together before we left. We were able to discuss our future plans and our favorite memories of being in the program together. Check out Kellys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Matching Learning Styles to Study Tools

Matching Learning Styles to Study Tools As your child matures into an independent student, he or she will continue to refine those all-important study skills. Throughout school, students employ a variety of tools when studying, however, what works for one student may not for another. Help your child enhance his or her study sessions through the use of the right tools for his or her learning style. There are many different types of learning styles, but one common way to categorize learning preference is through the senses: visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Here are descriptions of each and the types of tools or devices that may aid such learners in their study sessions. Visual learners generally like to see or read what they learn. Students who learn visually often take detailed notes, watch people intently when they are speaking, have vivid imaginations and are good at remembering places or people. They also tend to understand concepts better when a teacher writes them on the board or draws them out. Study tools for visual learners: Visual aids, such as diagrams, pictures, maps, drawings and charts Flash cards and other visual memory devices A blank notebook or blank paper for drawing out ideas and concepts visually (in order to aid in the students comprehension) Written directions for assignments and projects To-do lists Day planners in which to record assignments, appointments and other tasks White boards Auditory learners learn best by listening and verbalizing concepts aloud. In class, these students may not necessarily need to watch the teacher to comprehend his or her lessons or lectures, provided the subject matter is being discussed in sufficient detail. They prefer to study by reading aloud and talking to themselves and they may be good at remembering the information they hear. Classroom lectures are a comfortable form of learning for these students and many auditory learners ask a lot of questions to reinforce their understanding of things. Study tools for auditory learners: Tape recorders for classroom lectures Handheld dictation machines to record and play back concepts and ideas Mnemonic devices to help with memorizing facts and information Audio books Study groups Text to speech software, such as NaturalReader (naturalreaders.com) Kinesthetic learners like to be active participants in the learning process, whether through hands-on activity or some other active endeavor. Such students learn best by doing and enjoy manipulating materials and objects as part of the learning process. In the classroom, these students may need to stand, move around or doodle while listening to lectures. Long periods of reading may make them fidgety and/or cause them to lose focus. Study tools for kinesthetic learners: Note taking Highlighters to highlight while reading or reviewing Stress ball or other ball (tennis ball or baseball) to play with while studying Interactive tools tied to studying, such as Quizlet, an online study software or Google SketchUp, a drawing and 3D modeling tool Standing desk Stationary bike or treadmill (to use while reading) Remember that a student might prefer a certain learning style for one task or subject and another style for a different task. Also, tools that work for one type of learner may also work well for another type, too. Its always good practice to try out different study approaches and tools and talk with your childs teachers for additional ideas and suggestions. Encourage your child to explore his or her own learning preferences through the use of different tools and techniques so that he or she make the most of every class and study session.

How to Get an A Before the End of the Term - TutorNerds

How to Get an A Before the End of the Term - TutorNerds How to Get an A Before the End of the Term: 4 Steps Many students find that they are just short of an A at the end of the semester. This is especially frustrating for students who worked extra hard in hopes of getting an A on their final grade report. Its also frustrating for parents who want their children to have excellent grades when applying to college. How can students push through these last couple weeks of the term in order to push that C to a B or that B to an A? 1. Schedule extra time with a tutor Tutors are generally the most busy the two weeks leading up to the end of the term and the two weeks leading up to a standardized test. Most students are advised to ask their Orange County academic tutor well in advance if they are available for extra study help. Its important for students to be organized in advance of their study time and tutors can often help determine how much time to allocate to particular subjects. For example, if a student has a 99% in French and 89% in calculus, the tutor can definitely point their student towards extra calculus study (READ: 3 Warning Signs of Senioritis). Tutors can also help students determine which assignments are worth a large amount of percentage points and which assignments are nominal. However, sometimes those nominal half percent assignments can push a B+ to an A-. Students should discuss with their tutor what their goals are and how much time they’re prepared to spend on self study leading up to finals week. 2.  Self-study Students who complete their homework assignments but dont necessarily spend a lot of time studying for tests and quizzes are advised to abandon that train of thought leading up to finals week. Students who do not participate in regular self-study will be much less likely to turn a B into an A (READ: 10 Study Tips from an Irvine History Tutor). In general, students who spend five hours per week on self-study should be prepared to spend seven or eight hours minimum during finals week. Students wishing to get an A will probably spend up to 20 hours a week outside of school preparing for their exams. This is, of course, a crazy amount of time to spend on studying but expectations for high-schoolers get crazier every year. 3. Academic socialization Students often complain that they dont have a chance to see friends the two weeks leading up to finals. This is a valid complaint however, students who over-socialize during this time will probably end up with a C+/B+ as opposed to the B-/ A- they were hoping for. A good solution is to participate in academic socialization. Students who meet their friends at a coffee shop to study can still enjoy spending time with their peers but also use the time as a productive educational tool. In high school, our friends are our cheerleaders and can provide us with both the self-esteem and the drive to work hard and pursue our goals. On the other hand, friends who lead us away from these goals should be avoided towards the end of term. 4. Open communication with the teacher Students who are between 1 and 3 percentage points away from receiving an A should definitely talk with their teacher after class. Many teachers would like to be able to give all of their students an A, but they need to be fair and make sure that each student is deserving of such a grade. Some teachers will offer extra credit to students who take the time to ask for it towards the end of term. Teachers appreciate that their students took the initiative to do well but will not reward students who dont ask in advance. The worst that can happen is the teacher says ‘no’. Almost every student, at some point in time, has been in a situation where they didnt quite make the grade (READ: College Application Decisions: Food for Thought). These are great learning experiences to help determine what we can do to improve in the next term. Its a good idea for college prep students to look towards the past and figure out what they can change to make that A grade in the future. Finals are just around the corner, good luck! All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by TutorNerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about.

2014 italki World Cup Language Challenge Prizes!

2014 italki World Cup Language Challenge Prizes! Throughout the 2014 italki World Cup Language Challenge we will be giving away prizes to challengers who promote us on social media! We have  awarded our first prize to @amhumphries  on Twitter, 250 USD in italki credits!!!   Thats enough to finish the Language Challenge for free! For all those who did not win this time, do not be discouraged because there are other prizes for you. To win  the next prize which will be  50 USD in italki credits well need you to show a little World Cup enthusiasm! (click here for more details)! Dont forget to check out the 2014 italki World Cup Language Challenge Official Page. We know you can do it! Keep it up! If you ever have questions, or need any help contact us at support@italki.com 2014 italki World Cup Language Challenge Prizes! Throughout the 2014 italki World Cup Language Challenge we will be giving away prizes to challengers who promote us on social media! We have  awarded our first prize to @amhumphries  on Twitter, 250 USD in italki credits!!!   Thats enough to finish the Language Challenge for free! For all those who did not win this time, do not be discouraged because there are other prizes for you. To win  the next prize which will be  50 USD in italki credits well need you to show a little World Cup enthusiasm! (click here for more details)! Dont forget to check out the 2014 italki World Cup Language Challenge Official Page. We know you can do it! Keep it up! If you ever have questions, or need any help contact us at support@italki.com

Alumni series Rynes Teach Away story [Video]

Alumni series Rynes Teach Away story [Video] Meet Ryne Holstrom. Ryne recently attended the Teach Away job fair in Atlanta, where both he and his wife Grace landed their dream jobs teaching in China. Ryne and family are all big into adventure and hiking - luckily, China happens to be the ideal teaching destination for outdoor enthusiasts! Growing up in a home of educators in Portland, Oregon, teaching is well and truly in Ryne’s blood. He and Grace met at Northern Arizona University, where Ryne was awarded a scholarship to play football and married in their senior year. They have since welcomed two adorable little boys (Reed, four years old and Everett, sixth months). Both he and Grace are currently in their sixth year of teaching - Ryne as a biology and chemistry teacher and Grace as a special education and elementary teacher. To say that Ryne is a pretty busy guy right now is a bit of an understatement. Not only is he juggling a full-time teaching job while taking care of his two little boys with Grace, he’s also studying for his master's degree in educationadministration. And if he wasn’t already busy enough, over the next few months, he will also be doing some blogging on Teach Away, sharing why his family decided to relocate abroad, how their job hunt went, their experience making the big move overseas and offering lots of how-to advice for other aspiring international educators. So get ready for a great mix of personal reflection and practical tips - oh, and maybe a few photos of their family adventures in China, too!