You know what else is offered online? Writing resources! Struggling with plot planning, sentence structure, and bibliographies? Here are a few easy-to-use websites for your writing needs.

EasyBib

Bibliography creator and paper checker at your service. EasyBib.com offers a simple way to craft citations. Just input the correct information (author, date, website URL, title, etc.) and the generator will help you automatically create a citation. The free version offers MLA formatting exclusively, but you can opt for the paid service (EasyBib Plus) which allows access to 7,000 citation styles, and also provides unlimited grammar checks and plagiarism scans.

Purdue OWL

Purdue University houses an online writing lab (OWL) for students around the globe. With a wide range of resources available, you’ll surely find what you need. Writing guides, English as a Second Language information, tutoring resources and more are offered at the Purdue OWL website. You can find tips on subject-specific writing, various citation styles, more! It’s all at your fingertips, for free.

Project Gutenberg

Who needs to walk into a library when you have Project Gutenberg? It’s an online library with over 60,000 eBooks that include free Kindle downloads, as well. Many of them are classic literature pieces, expired books, and historical documents. This is really something special. Example: You can find Frankenstein, Moby Dick, The Yellow Wallpaper, and The Importance of Being Earnest on the website for free.

Your College Writing Center

Although school campuses are shut down, many centers are also shifting to providing online services. Some tutors and teachers. Just look up your college’s main page, and head over to your writing service website to see what’s available.

Plot Generator

Need help creating a plot for a short story, or just getting a grasp or your next essay? Plot Generator has a menu for all of your needs: fairy tales, short stories, twist plots, headlines, and hooks. You just click on your preferred option, and up comes a Mad Lib-like webpage. Fill in the blanks for character, animals, forests, heroes, adjectives, etc. You’ll be writing in no time.

Evernote

One great organizational apps out there is Evernote. You can add notes, insert links and pictures, edit documents, set deadlines, and more, all within one app. If you want to write post-it notes, go for it. Add pictures to remember an integral point of your paper. Leave all of your best ideas in the app. Evernote provides one place for everything.

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Resources and features mentioned are subject to change. Please see the official websites for official details.

The post Online Writing Resources That Make Your Life Easier appeared first on EasyBib Blog.

For more on grammar visit the fun, comprehensive, and free EasyBib grammar guides! Explore conjunctions worksheets, prepositional phrase examples, and a list of determiners, too. Also, run your paper through an EasyBib grammar check — it’s a great way to catch easy-to-overlook errors.

What is the Oxford comma?

The Oxford comma is named after the Oxford University Press. It’s also known as the serial comma, and is the last comma in a list of things.

For example:

Laura wants to buy bananas, oranges, apples, and pears.

In this sentence, the Oxford comma lies between “apples” and “and.” It’s difficult to see what the big deal is here. With or without the comma it’s just a list of fruit. But in a famous class action suit, this tiny mark of punctuation changed everything.

A comma in court

In the state of Maine, a group of dairy truckers sued their employer for back overtime earned while delivering goods. At the time, the state law said:

“Workers are not entitled to overtime pay for: “The canning, processing, preserving, freezing, drying, marketing, storing, packing for shipment or distribution of: (1) Agricultural produce; (2) Meat and fish products; and (3) Perishable foods.”

One punctuation-loving lawyer took a look at this and argued that without a comma after the word shipment, it is only the “packaging for shipment” that isn’t eligible for overtime, not the distribution itself. Thanks to the missing comma, the truckers won their case.

Now an anti-Oxford comma supporter could argue that the contract was poorly written and that the meaning would be clear with a simple rearrangement of words. Can you see why this is such a hot topic?

Before you sign up for one team or another, here’s what else the yeas and nays have to say.

Yeas

Easy on the Eyes
The additional comma makes the sentence easier to read.

Clarity
Even in a poorly written sentence, the Oxford comma ensures that the meaning is clear.

The Big Guns
The Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), and Oxford University Press all support the Oxford comma.

Old Friends
Many love the Oxford comma because they were taught to use it growing up, and old habits die hard.

Compelling as this all is, you should hear what the other guys have to say.

Nays

American vs. British
Despite its name, the Oxford comma is less likely to be used by Brits.

Don’t Be So Lazy

There is a strong argument for taking the time to craft a sentence that is clear without extra punctuation.

Grammar Snobs
Some believe that the Oxford comma is a pretentious add-on used to make grammar nerds feel superior.

More Big Guns

Associated Press Style Book (AP), and the New York Times do not support the Oxford comma. Keep in mind, however, that newspapers are often pressed for space.

Tip: Some think it is a good idea to decide on a case by case basis, but may we suggest you save yourself some time and choose just one? Otherwise, you’ll have this argument with yourself every time the Oxford comma comes up.

Like the debate over vanilla vs. chocolate, there are no true winners or losers when it comes to the Oxford comma, it’s all about personal taste and that is completely up to you.

Works Cited

Bradley, Rachel. “Why We Need The Serial Comma: 10 Hilarious Real-World Examples.” Dictionary.com, 12 Apr. 2019, www.dictionary.com/e/s/serial-comma/#4.

Johnson, Carla, et al. “The Oxford Comma and Why We Argue Over Grammar.” Ann Handley, 4 Jan. 2019, annhandley.com/oxford-comma/.

“What Is the ‘Oxford Comma’?” Lexico, //www.lexico.com/en/explore/what-is-the-oxford-comma.

A question for you (with the Oxford comma): “It is strange to be known so universally and yet to be so lonely.” Which famous figure said this? Was it a Dr. Seuss quote, from our collection of Albert Einstein quotes, or a Marilyn Monroe movie line? Find out in the EasyBib topic guides!

The post Yeas and Nays of the Oxford Comma appeared first on EasyBib Blog.

Good citing tip: EasyBib citing tools can help you create an APA reference, MLA format works cited, Chicago style citation, and more! Find the style you need among our thousands of options. 

Choosing the right environment to work

This simple action will make the biggest difference in your paper-writing process. Take a minute to think about how you’re most productive. Do you like the energy of being around other people when you work? Grab your laptop and head over to a popular coffee shop or one of your school’s common buildings. Only able to work on your own with complete silence? Find a library on campus that has a specific quiet section or study rooms that you can reserve to work. If you love natural light, choose a sunny spot by the window. If you take a second to visualize and find your ideal work space, you’ll feel more comfortable and ready to kickstart your productivity. Unsure where is best for you? Try this quiz. 

Nab a pre-writing treat

Allow yourself a pre-writing treat to ease yourself into writing! Make yourself a mug of tea, grab a candy bar, put on your favorite album in the background, or any other little incentive you can think of to give yourself a boost to start writing. Yes, you need to write this paper, but you’re allowed to treat yourself while you do it! Once you debunk the myth for yourself that writing a paper needs to be stressful and hard, you might even catch yourself having fun. 

Visualize your post-writing reward

 In addition to your pre-writing treat, visualize your post-writing reward! Daydream for a few minutes to think about how your life will be a little easier or more fun once your paper is written. Will you get to go to bed an hour earlier? Meet up with a friend for fro-yo? Binge a few sitcom episodes? Mentally establishing what you’ll do after this paper is done and getting excited about it will charge your essay with some enthusiasm!  

Notice your strengths

Map or expand on your favorite part of the writing process first. Take a beat to think about what your standout strengths are and make an inventory of them. Are you naturally interested in the topic that you get to write about? Free write for a bit about what you love about your topic to get some quick inspiration. Good at making lists? Compile bullet points that you want to include in your paper, even if you’re not sure how to organize them yet. Talented at convincing others to favor your side of an issue? Brainstorm a few thesis statements that you think you’ll be able to work with.  

No matter what your strength is, there is a way to transfer it into the writing process. You’re already better equipped for writing than you think. Self-awareness and reflection of your strengths will take you a long way with your paper, and once you’ve used what you’re good at to lay the foundation of your essay, you can build the more tedious parts of the writing process around them. 

Now that you’ve set yourself up in an environment that suits your work style, treated yourself (and imagined how you’ll treat yourself later!), and used your strengths to find the most fun way to start, you’re ready to dive into your paper! If you need more tips on getting motivated before you start, check out this video from the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University (Purdue OWL). Happy writing!

Once you’re finished with your first draft, use the EasyBib grammar and plagiarism checker to spot errors before finalizing it. There are also free grammar guides to help you learn the various parts of speech.

The post Finding the Motivation to Write When You Have None appeared first on EasyBib Blog.

It’s the same way in education, and that’s where the strategy of modeling comes in. Modeling is when a teacher demonstrates a skill or concept, allowing students to learn by observing. It’s also one of the most powerful ways to teach writing. 

Why? Because many students learn best by example, and modeling writing also encourages students to share their work and to be receptive to feedback.  

Read on for suggested activities and tips that will help you make the most out of modeling.  

Looking for more help for your students? Visit EasyBib.com for resources on MLA format, APA format, and plagiarism.

Don’t be Shy: Write in Front of Your Students

When you assign writing or teach a new component of the writing process, write your own sample paragraph or sentences on the projector.  

As you write, verbalize your thought process to show students how to translate ideas into effective writing. It’s especially helpful if you can talk through any difficulties you encounter. This normalizes struggles and shows students how to overcome writer’s block and other issues. 

If you’re worried that students will simply copy your writing sample, choose a topic that’s similar to what your students are writing (but not exactly the same). 

However, even when students write something very similar to what you’ve written, they’re still learning how to write well. Perhaps next time, they’ll branch out and generate some new ideas of their own. 

Write With Students 

You can also write with your students when you assign a writing task. Often, seeing that you’re willing to do the same task you’ve assigned can motivate students. 

It also increases your credibility as a writing instructor. After all, if you’re going to teach effective writing, you should also be able to write effectively. 

For the same reason, it’s a great idea to write even outside of class. If you haven’t done much writing since college, it can be difficult to teach your students to be excellent writers. Continue honing your craft by writing with your students—both inside and outside of class.  

Show Students Your Writing 

You probably know from experience that most students dread sharing their writing with the class. Put them at ease by sharing your own writing first. 

For instance, if you write alongside your students, as suggested above, volunteer to read your work aloud when everyone is finished. You can also share what you write in your spare time or share older papers from your high school or college days.  

This way, you provide students with helpful examples of quality writing, and you encourage them to be more open about sharing their own work. 

Ask Students to Critique Your Writing 

Many students aren’t particularly receptive to feedback on their writing. Instead of viewing your critiques as an opportunity to grow as writers, many students simply view feedback as criticism. 

Sharing your writing can help students get over this fear as well. If you share high school or college papers with your students, also share some of the feedback you received and how you responded to it. If possible, show students a first draft with feedback, followed by a significantly improved final draft. 

Even better, you can allow students to critique your writing. When you read a piece of writing aloud, ask for feedback from your students. You may wish to draw their attention to certain aspects.  

For example, you might ask: 

• This sentence sounds a little awkward…any ideas how I can reword it? 
• I just can’t come up with a good title. Any suggestions? 
• What additional evidence could I add to this paragraph? 
• What’s a good transition I could use here? 

This exercise helps students start thinking like writers, and allowing them to critique your writing makes them more receptive to your critiques of their work. Emphasize that you’re not a perfect writer either and that you want to continue growing. Feedback isn’t criticism; it’s advice that can lead to improvement. 

Final Thoughts 

Model effective writing by writing in front of your students and alongside them. Think aloud about the writing process, discussing your struggles and how you overcome them.  

Share your work with students, even allowing them to provide feedback and constructive criticism.  

Your students will start to view feedback more positively and will develop a willingness to workshop their writing and learn from others. As a result, their writing skills and their confidence will grow.  

Aside from citation help, EasyBib also has free grammar guides and topic guides (on Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Seuss and others) for your students.

The post Teaching Insights: How to Model Effective Writing appeared first on EasyBib Blog.

Whether you’re new to the world of tutoring or a pro looking for ways to improve, here are five tips for English tutors:

Tip 1: Get clear on what your student needs

If possible, find out what your student’s main challenges are prior to your first meeting. That way, you can prepare ahead of time and are ready to tutor from the very start. Is he overwhelmed by the amount of required reading? Is she having a hard time organizing her thoughts when she needs to write a paper?

The key part of this tip is to get this information from your student directly. By listening to he or she talk about what they’re struggling with, you’ll develop a clearer idea of areas and skills to target. If you can’t find time to chat beforehand, carve out five minutes at the beginning of your lesson to identify challenges. By having your student articulate what’s hard directly to you, you can ensure you’re both on the same page.

Tip 2: Come up with a game plan…together!

This isn’t a one-sided partnership. You might be the recognized authority on the topic, but you need your student to be motivated and invested in your plan if you want to succeed together.

Once you know what’s challenging for your student, offer a few ideas of how can help him or her. From there, see if any of those ideas resonate with your student and try those out first. Use this time to also map out what you’ll cover during your lessons. That way, you’re both clear on what you can accomplish during your time together.

Tip 3: If Your student needs help with reading comprehension…

…find a way to help him or her become an active reader. Often times, students struggle with reading because they’ll passively read a sentence, not understand it, read it again, and then get frustrated. By having your student markup the text while reading, he or she will become more engaged with the text.

Most students are familiar with annotating in some shape or form. Sometimes it’s just matter of finding a note-taking or annotation strategy that works for them. Start by having your student underline main ideas and circle proper nouns, dates, and locations. From there, you can help your student develop an unique strategy.

Tip 4: If your student needs help with writing…

…find a way to help him or her get organized. The writing process can be overwhelming, and at times, that feeling of being overwhelmed cripples students from even getting started. By helping your student come up with an overall game plan, you can then help him or her with any specific steps that require extra attention.

For example, let’s say your student is more science or math-oriented. He or she might respond well to you providing writing strategies in a step-by-step manner. By breaking down the writing process into bite-size pieces like a researcher might when conducting an experiment, you can show how your student’s strengths can be applicable to a subject that might not seem like it would warrant such an approach.

Also helpful for students who write: an EasyBib Plus subscription. It comes with unlimited plagiarism and grammar checks, and premium citing features so you can confidently create an MLA format works cited, APA citation, or Chicago style citation.  

Tip 5: Take notes at the end of your lesson

It’s easy to get lazy and not jot down what you covered during a lesson, especially if you have a lot of students. To see your student’s progress, however, it’s essential to keep a log of what you’ve worked on together.

There are two ways you can do this:

1. Use your own internal spreadsheet to keep track of your lesson notes.
2. Email the student after each lesson with a recap of what you’ve covered and what to prep for next time. This method is also an awesome way to keep each other accountable. By having a record of your lesson in both of your inboxes, you can both refer to it when you need to remember what you did during your last meeting.

Thirsting for more knowledge? Visit the free EasyBib grammar guides for info on what is a verb, adjective types, adverb examples, and much more!

The post 5 Tips for English Tutors appeared first on EasyBib Blog.

There are thousands of words in the English language. Make sure your work uses those words correctly with an EasyBib Plus grammar check free for up to 5 grammar suggestions.

World champion

All of those old papers saved on your computer are actually contributing to a greater cause. More than 80% of information saved on all computers in the world is in English making it the clear hardware dominance winner.

It’s the climb

Climbing halfway up a mountain is better than staying on flat ground but it can’t compete with reaching the summit. So it is no surprise that the direct translation of the adjective mediocre is halfway up a mountain.

No small parts

Where would the English language be without the little dot above the “i”? It’s called a tittle. Go ahead and blush, no one is looking.

Unusual dream

Unique and beautiful like a being from another dimension, the past tense version of the verb dreamt holds the distinct honor of being the only word in English that ends in “mt”.

The classic

Some things are too good to ever go out of style. The noun town is the oldest word still used in the English language, but it never looks out of place.  

A sound plan

The “zip” in zip code actually means something. Zoning improvement plan is the acronym spelled out and we bet you’ll never forget it.

Lone wolves

The words silver, purple, orange and month do not rhyme with any other words, but that’s ok because they are awesome on their own.

Looking sleepy

Take a closer peek at the word bed and what do you see? If “b” is the headboard and “d” is the foot, “bed” may just be the coziest looking word of all.

Word of all trades

Set has 464 definitions in the Oxford dictionary making it the word with the most. Now that is what we call versatility.

Travel safely

We say it over the phone, on the street and so many other places, but you’ll never guess what it actually means. Goodbye is derived from an old English phrase that meant “god be with you”

Create references like the ones below using the EasyBib MLA format generator or APA citation maker.

Works Cited

“30 Fun Facts about the English Language.” Lingoda, 10 Apr. 2018, www.lingoda.com/en/blog/fun-facts-english-language.

By. “20 Titbits Of Word Trivia.” Every Word Counts, 28 Dec. 2017, www.everywordcounts.co.uk/20-titbits-word-trivia/.

“Interesting English Language Facts And Trivia.” English Express, 14 Dec. 2016, www.englishexpress.com.sg/articles/interesting-english-language-facts-trivia/.

Jones, Paul Anthony. “100 Random Facts About The English Language.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 8 Feb. 2015, www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-anthony-jones/100-random-language-facts_b_6272224.html.

For additional information related to a Works Cited MLA, how to do an annotated bibliography MLA, or an example of MLA format, explore our guides at www.EasyBib.com!

The post Word Trivia for English Language Lovers appeared first on EasyBib Blog.

What is a hyphen?

A mark of punctuation that joins words, or word parts, together.

Hyphen Examples: half-baked, non-violent, twenty-seven

Common Hyphen Uses

Numbers

Numbers written or typed from 21 to 99

Examples: 

twenty-one, ninety-nine

Fractions

Written fractions

Examples: 

two-thirds, nine-sixteenths

Connection

If an entire word cannot fit on a single line, a hyphen is used. This is often seen in newspapers or written work.

Examples:

We are planning an explo-

ration of the Amazon.

My English teacher took points off my bibli-

ography since it was not in MLA or APA format.

Compound Modifiers

Words that are joined together to describe the noun that follows.

Example:

kid-friendly restaurant, fashion-forward magazine, MLA in-text citation

Compound Nouns

Two or more words that have been combined to be understood as one.

Example:

six-year-old, daughter-in-law

Note: Compound modifiers  are usually only hyphenated when they come before the noun they describe.

Example:

We live in off-campus housing vs. We live off campus.

The rules for hyphenation are hotly debated and change often. For example, some words that used to be hyphenated, like “homeowners” and “email,” are now simple compound words. To be absolutely sure, use an up-to-date reference guide or dictionary.

Remember: A hyphen’s job is to join words together which means when typed, there should never be a space on either side.

What is a dash?

A mark of punctuation that indicates a range.

Example:

In my opinion 2012 –– 2014 were the best years yet.

A mark of punctuation that indicates a non-essential phrase in a sentence.

Example:

Jenny––who called herself my best friend––stole my boyfriend.

Dashes are longer than hyphens and they come in two types.

En dash

The en-dash is the shorter of the two. It is about as long as the letter “N.” The en-dash indicates range.

Example:

For tonight’s homework, read pages 35–50.

It can also be used to write sports scores.

Example:

Our team won 75–60.

Em dash

The em-dash is the longest of all. It is about the same length as the letter “M” and should never have spaces before or after. As the longest, it is used when you want to create great emphasis on a phrase.

Example:

After I baked the cakes—twelve in total—the client cancelled the order.

How to create hyphens and dashes in a document

One reason hyphens and dashes are confused is that only the hyphen has a designated key on the typical keyboard, but there is a way to create them all. The hyphen is simply the minus sign on your keyboard. Creating a dash is slightly more complicated and varies between word processing programs. For some, tapping the minus sign twice and hitting the space bar is enough, while others require a combination of the shift, control and option keys. A quick online search will help you find the right solution for your writing tools.

Hyphens and dashes may look similar, but if you can master their subtle differences you are well on your way to defining your own writing style.

Now that you have dashes and hyphens down, review your paper for other grammatical points with the EasyBib Plus essay checker! Check for spelling, subject-verb agreement, and other potential issues. We also have grammar guides to help you learn what is a prepositional phrase, how determiners work, how to use interjections, and other grammar basics.

The post What’s the Difference Between a Hyphen and a Dash? appeared first on EasyBib Blog.

Do you thirst for more grammar knowledge? Our EasyBib Plus grammar guides can help! Read about linking verbs, conjunctions, using a possessive adjective as a pronoun, and many other grammatical points.

⸮ Irony Punctuation

If you’ve ever wished that you could communicate sarcasm in text as well as you do in speech, then check out this obscure class of punctuation that’s been out of usage since the 17th century. The “percontation point” (⸮) is essentially a backwards question mark. It used to appear at the end of sentences to indicate that the preceding sentence should be read as a rhetorical question (that is, a question that does not require an answer or already has an answer implied by the context of asking).

A more specific alternative was proposed by the French poet Alcanter de Brahm in 1899. His “irony mark,” a mark that resembled a backwards question mark, was raised like superscript. Several other writers suggested punctuation marks that varied widely in appearance, but were intended to solve the same need. In theory, the mark would indicate that a sentence was meant to be understood on more than just a literal level.

~ Tilde

The tilde (~) is probably better known as “that squiggly line you use instead of a dash when you’re trying to be fancy signing an email.” In fact, the tilde is actually a useful punctuation mark when used properly. In English, a tilde often goes before a description of quantity or time to indicate an approximation, as in “~20 miles away.” In mathematics, it can also signify “similar to,” as in “x ~ y.”

In other languages, the tilde is used as a means of indicating a change in pronunciation. The most well-known instance of this is the Spanish letter ñ, a letter between “n” and “o” that makes its own specific consonant sound.

* Asterisk

In terms of history, the asterisk (*) has one of the longest runs of all punctuation marks. Over two thousand years ago, Aristarchus of Samothrace used an early asterisk to mark lines of Homeric poetry that were duplicated during the proofreading process. This usage—to denote something that needs editing or other attention—has persisted to this day.

On the flip side of things, asterisks have also grown into another usage: as a means of censoring content deemed inappropriate. The asterisk is used to soften expletives while still maintaining the integrity and understanding of a sentence by replacing letters in a given word with asterisks. In the digital age, this practice has spread to non-expletive words, with software sometimes replacing a letter or two in a word or name with asterisks in order to avoid detection by algorithms or by other users searching for that word or name.

‽ Interrobang

At some point, you’ve probably encountered a sentence (usually in informal writing) where the author needed to express excitement and a question at the same time. The typical option for this expression is to use a question mark followed by an exclamation point, like so: ?! While this makes perfect sense, it turns out there’s a singular punctuation mark that conveys the same meaning: the interrobang (‽).

The symbol is actually incredibly intuitive: its physical appearance is a question mark with the vertical line of an exclamation point going right down the middle before joining with the stem of the question mark. Imagine superimposing an exclamation point on top of a question mark and you get the idea. This one hasn’t been around as long as some of the others on this list—it was first invented by advertising executive Martin K. Speckter in 1962 as a means of making cleaner ad copy. It was popular during that decade, but faded in usage in subsequent years. However, some digital fonts still include the symbol.

When you start work on your next paper, use EasyBib Plus citing tools to build your MLA format works cited list, APA reference list, MLA in-text citations, and Chicago style format bibliography.

The post Mysterious Punctuation You Should Get To Know appeared first on EasyBib Blog.

The case for typing

Typing notes on the computer is increasingly common. After all, its potential for quick, efficient note-taking is incredibly high. For most of us, who have been typing from the time we were kids, typing on a computer keyboard is much faster than writing by hand. A related benefit? Notes quickly typed out are sure to still be legible when you go back to study them, while notes that were quickly written down by hand may not always be tidy enough to read back, especially if you know that you have less-than-impeccable handwriting.

If you’re using your computer to take notes, you also have the benefit of all the interactive features that digital notes can offer:

• You can link to sources or further reading and even prepare your citations right there ahead of time, whether in MLA format or APA format.
• It’s quick and easy to highlight corresponding notes or jot down a side note without making a mess of the page.
• Changes can easily be undone with the click of a button.

For convenience, you can’t beat typed notes. If you’re looking for a convenient grammar checker, there’s EasyBib Plus!

The case for writing

Handwritten notes are a classic for a reason. Remember when you were in elementary school and your teachers made you write out your vocab words over and over? That’s because there are proven benefits to the repetitive action—namely, its positive effect on memory. But handwritten notes aren’t just about having the memory of writing it down, it’s also about the physical act of writing itself.

Studies, such as this analysis from Scientific American, have shown that there is something about the action of writing that helps the brain more clearly remember what is written. For many people, this is just part of their learning style: just like some people learn best from visual cues or from listening to something, others learn best by interacting with the lessons in a tactile way. In this case, the action of forming the individual words with your own handwriting may be preferable to the interchangeable, repetitive motion of typing on a keyboard.

The best choice is…

You guessed it: the winner is writing notes by hand. While digital notes may be convenient, that’s pretty much their only advantage. Let’s explain.

When you’re taking notes by hand, chances are good that you’ll have little to distract you from the lecture in front of you. Using the computer, however good the intentions, is a lot likelier to lead to distraction. Think about it: how easy is it to give in to temptation and check your email or Facebook page for just a second, then look up fifteen minutes later without even realizing it? Handwriting notes, although there’s always that temptation to doodle, requires more concentration and has fewer opportunities to tune out of the lesson.

Taking notes on the computer may also allow for more speed, but that’s not necessarily a good thing, as a 2014 study by Pam A. Mueller and Daniel M. Oppenheimer demonstrated. When you’re taking fast notes by typing, what you’re actually doing—maybe without even realizing it—is more like transcription than note-taking. Because of this, students who use this method aren’t processing and synthesizing the information in the moment; they’re just making a record without really thinking about it. In contrast, the slower process of handwriting notes forces students to listen actively, prioritize and summarize information in the moment, and then rewrite it in a way they’ll understand later. This process allows them to figure out what’s important and how to convey it. In many ways, taking notes by hand is another layer of learning, which another study by Dung C. Bui, Joel Myerson, and Sandra Hale also showed.

Developing good note-taking skills will help you throughout your academic and professional careers. Be sure to find a style that works best for you!

Works Cited

Bui, Dung C., et al. “Note-Taking With Computers: Exploring Alternative Strategies for Improved Recall.” Journal of Educational Psychology, 2012.

May, Cindi. “A Learning Secret: Don’t Take Notes with a Laptop.” Scientifica American, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-laptop/

Mueller, Pam A., and Daniel M. Oppenheimer. “The Pen Is Mightier Than The Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand Over Keyboard Note Taking.” Psychological Science, vol. 25, no. 6, 2014, pp. 1159-1168.

Looking for quick notes on grammar? Check our EasyBib grammar guides and learn about these parts of speech: verb, noun, conjunction, determiner, and more!

The post Typing or Writing Notes: Which Is Best? appeared first on EasyBib Blog.

Write it down

Mark Murphy wrote in Forbes Magazine, “people who vividly describe or picture their goals are anywhere from 1.2 to 1.4 times more likely to successfully accomplish their goals.” This is one of the simplest tricks of all, but so many skip it. Don’t miss out, grab a pen and paper, or your favorite digital device, and learn to write down your goals with our next steps.

Writing a paper instead of goals? Take a look at the EasyBib grammar and plagiarism checker for help doing a final review of your paper. You can also read our grammar guides and learn about the basics of a verb, pronoun, noun, preposition, and other parts of speech.

Be specific

Write your goals in very specific terms. Instead of, “Get good grades,” specify when and how much you’d like to improve. There will be many hurdles and distractions on the way to your goal. When you make it specific, it is easier to stay on track.

Example Goal: Increase my GPA by one point by next term.

Create an action plan

Successful people pursue single steps, not their lofty results. One way to stay focused on small steps is to create an action plan. To do this, ask yourself, “What are the small daily tasks I need to accomplish to achieve my final goal?”

Example Action Plan for an Increased GPA:

• Calculate the minimum grade I need in each class to raise my GPA one point
• Speak to my teachers/instructors about my goal and why I want to achieve it
• Add three pieces of advice from my teachers to my action plan
• Read one article a week on studying until I find the best method for my mind
• Review my progress with my teachers ¼, ½, and ¾ through the semester

Bonus Tip: If an action plan isn’t working, change it! Just be sure to write the new plan down too.

Mantra

A great tool to help you succeed is a mantra. A mantra is a short phrase that you can repeat to yourself in order to stay focused. Goal setters find them useful when inevitable negative or discouraging thoughts emerge. A mantra should be short, easy to remember and the words ought to be a powerful argument against negative thoughts. If you are having trouble writing one of your own, here are some easy universal mantras you can try:

• “A little is better than nothing.”
• “Small steps make big change.”
• “I am the best at this.”

Rewards

The last part of your resolution should be your reward. Many people find this confusing because they believe that success is a reward in itself, but this reward serves another purpose. This reward is for showing up every day and doing the work no matter the outcome. The best type of reward is tied to your goal. As an example, if we want a higher GPA a reward could be $50 toward an app or program that makes studying easier.

Your final resolution should look something like this:

Increase My GPA by One Point by Next Term

Action Plan:

• Calculate the minimum grade I need in each class to raise my GPA one point
• Speak to my teachers/instructors about my goal and why I want to achieve it
• Add three pieces of advice from my teachers to my action plan
• Read one article a week on studying until I find the best method for my mind
• Review my progress with my teachers ¼, ½, and ¾ through the semester

Mantra:

“A little is better than nothing.”

Reward:

$50 toward an app or program that makes studying easier

Bonus tip: forgive yourself

You don’t need to be perfect every day to reach your goals. Many people fail because they make one mistake and end up scrapping it all. Even if you miss an entire week or even a month, true success is about finding the resolve to try again tomorrow and the day after that.

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Works Cited

Murphy, Mark. “Neuroscience Explains Why You Need To Write Down Your Goals If You Actually Want To Achieve Them.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 15 Apr. 2018, www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2018/04/15/neuroscience-explains-why-you-need-to-write-down-your-goals-if-you-actually-want-to-achieve-them/#37fe6aea7905.

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