Archive for the ‘Practice tools and materials’ Category

How To Overcome Writer’s Block

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

All students have problems with writer’s block at some point in their academic careers. There are innumerable causes, ranging from anxiety to lack of sleep to fear of not writing well. Fortunately there are strategies to help get back on track.

Get your pencil moving

The most difficult part of writing is the start. The worst thing to do is stare at the blank paper and do nothing. It is better to write a mediocre sentence than nothing at all, so turn your critical brain off when starting and get ideas down on the paper. There is always time to edit later.

Outline

Start by listing general ideas related to your topic. This short “brain purge” is meant to get all ideas on the page without being too critical or selective. Once you have a collection of content to work with, start marking up the page by circling, highlighting, and crossing out words. The goal of this is to draw draw parallels between ideas and brainstorm more specific examples. These details will be the essence of your writing.

Think out loud

For novice and expert writers alike, one of the most challenging aspects of writing is the process of  transferring thoughts to page. Record yourself speaking your thoughts, then play back the recording to find key themes.

Write don’t type

A cold, ominous computer screen can hinder your creativity.  Switch to pen and paper for a while and physically write out your ideas.

Get inspired

Take a break and read other material to get inspired. Read blogs, magazines, newspapers, or other enjoyable sources, and let your mind run free until you have gathered new ideas.

Sleep on it

Students often get stuck on an assignment because they are too tired to stay focused. If you find yourself in this situation, go to sleep and wake up early to write. Sleeping recharges the mind and elucidates previously confusing subject matter.

Mix it up

Prevent boredom by switching between multiple assignments. For example, if you are working on three assignments, devote one hour per day to each, rather than trying to complete them individually. This will prevent burnout and allow for your creative ideas to spill over to other projects.

 

Blake Hudelson is an instructor and tutor for Revolution Prep. Blake attended Cal Poly –SLO as an undergrad and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Architecture at California College of the Arts.

 

About Revolution Prep: Revolution Prep offers ACT and SAT test prep group courses,  a hybrid course which includes test prep tutoring,  SAT / ACT software, ACT / SAT test prep tutoring and academic tutoring for finals, SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams, and more.  Revolution was named one of the fastest growing private companies nationwide on the 2010 Inc. 5000 list and was also recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the fastest growing private companies in Los Angeles.

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8 Strategies for Reading Difficult Material

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

We have all had to read painfully challenging material. Whether you are reading a short article on avant-garde scientific methods or a tome on medieval literature, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Fortunately there are strategies that make it easier to comprehend complicated reading material.

Scan

Before reading the material, it is necessary to learn some general information on the subject at hand. This can be done by looking for headings and subtitles or diagrams, graphs, or charts inside the passage. This information will not be a comprehensive guide to the material, but it will provide background information and help you warm up to the dense material.

Repeat

For shorter reading assignments, try reading the material once and then sleep on it. The second re-read will yield new discoveries that were skipped on the first pass.

Summarize

While reading, it is important to monitor your level of comprehension. Periodically stop and ask yourself, “what have I learned?” Pause after reading each paragraph and identify the main idea before moving on to the next. Highlight, underline, and make notes in the margins as you read. This will keep you focused and will help if you need to revisit key concepts in the future.

Use Other Senses

Comprehension can be improved by using senses other than visual while reading. One way is to read aloud or listen to recordings of the text to engage your auditory senses.

Get Active

Work with a classmate and take turns summarizing chapters of text. Make it fun by teaching each other the more difficult concepts and relating the material to personal experiences.

Review

If reading from a textbook, answer the review questions at the end of each chapter. If questions are not available create your own by converting the chapter or section headings into questions.

Look Up

Write down all unfamiliar words and record their definitions. If reading from a textbook, consult the glossary for technical definitions. Use a dictionary to look up non-technical words. Bookmark the glossary pages for quick access in the future.

Extra Help

Seek out additional resources to help understand the reading material. These resources could include introductory textbooks, study guides, or online blogs. Solicit the help of tutors, classmates, or professors if you are really struggling to understand the material.

Blake Hudelson is an instructor and tutor for Revolution Prep. Blake attended Cal Poly –SLO as an undergrad and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Architecture at California College of the Arts.

About Revolution Prep: Revolution Prep offers ACT and SAT test prep group courses,  a hybrid course which includes test prep tutoring,  SAT / ACT software, ACT / SAT test prep tutoring and academic tutoring for finals, SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams, and more.  Revolution was named one of the fastest growing private companies nationwide on the 2010 Inc. 5000 list and was also recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the fastest growing private companies in Los Angeles.

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Finding Your Learning Style

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Students often discover certain methods of learning that work best for them. These learning styles can include verbal, visual, tactile, logical, social, or solitary.  It is also possible for students to respond well to a combination of styles or develop some of their own.  As you read, think about where you fit in and why identifying these methods could be helpful to your overall learning style.       

Verbal

Verbal learners think in words rather than pictures. They successfully retain information presented in lectures and audio recordings, and their skills include speaking, writing, and debating. Possible career interests include journalism, teaching, law, politics, and linguistics.

Visual

Visual learners tend to think in pictures and need to create vivid mental images to retain information. These learners frequently draw pictures and diagrams when trying to comprehend a subject. Their skills include sketching, painting, constructing, and interpreting visual images. Possible career interests include engineering, art, architecture, and mechanics.

Tactile

Tactile, or kinesthetic learners, retain information through hands-on participation. These learners express themselves through movement and their skills include dancing, sports, and building. Possible career paths include acting, teaching, and firefighting.

Logical/Mathematical

Those who excel at math and possess strong reasoning skills are usually logical learners. These learners are perpetually curious about the world, enjoy performing experiments, and ask a lot of questions. Scientists, engineers, computer programmers, and accountants often associate themselves with this learning style.

Social

Most social learners have superior written and verbal communication skills. They often have an uncanny ability to sense feelings, intentions, and motivations. Their skills include listening, counseling, facilitating teamwork, communicating both verbally and non-verbally, and peaceful conflict resolution. Possible career paths include sales, counseling, politics, and business.

Solitary

Solitary learners prefer to work alone and excel at pragmatic reasoning. However, since solitary learners prefer to work alone, it is possible for them to waste time on difficult problems before seeking assistance. Possible career paths include philosophy, theory, and writing.

To get the most out of your time studying, it is helpful to identify your personal learning style. Knowing this will help when signing up for classes and preparing for exams. Moreover, it is vital to be familiar with your learning style when making life decisions such as selecting a college major or future career.

Blake Hudelson is an instructor and tutor for Revolution Prep. Blake attended Cal Poly –SLO as an undergrad and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Architecture at California College of the Arts.

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The Basics of Writing Well – Part 2

Monday, February 7th, 2011

Good writing does not come from complicated word choice or dazzling literary technique. Simple and precise writing with rich, original examples will excite your audience and entice them to come back for more. The ability to write simply is the a common trait that all of our favorite writers share. The following tips will help you develop the skills necessary to succeed as a student of any subject; because, “If you cannot write well, you cannot think well, and if you cannot think well, others will do your thinking for you.” – George Orwell

Eliminate unnecessary words that don’t need to be there

If you’re not sure whether your writing is simple enough, try this exercise: highlight all the words in your essay that are not absolutely essential to each sentence (i.e. I think, quite, very, a bit, etc). Go back and read each sentence without the highlighted words. If your sentences now sound more clear and concise, then permanently delete the highlighted words. Use this simple acronym to help you remember: KISS (Keep it Short & Simple).

President Lincoln’s famous Second Inaugural Address consisted of only 700 words. About 500 of the 700 words contained only one syllable. Of the remaining 200 words, 120 of them contained only two syllables. Lincoln’s address proves that one can communicate effectively with simple prose.

Practice

Keeping a daily journal is a great way to improve your writing. The more you write, the better you will get at expressing yourself on paper. Daily writing refines your skills and helps make the process of writing become second nature — something that really helps especially on timed test such as the SAT or ACT where you are already under pressure. A daily practice also stimulates your creative mind and will provide ideas for your future writing.

Read

The best way to improve your writing is to read the works of others. Studies show that students who read more have better writing skills. You need not limit yourself to textbooks or tedious novels. Make it fun by reading magazines, newspapers, short stories, and blogs. All will provide new ideas for your writing.

Avoid hyperbole

Novice writers are notorious for overstating something in order to appear more convincing. Overstatement, however, does not equal proof. For example, “John Johnson was the greatest astronaut that ever lived.” Not only is this statement unprovable, but the hyperbole itself fails to indicate why the author would assert such a thing. If your essay relies on hyperbole instead of proof, it is a weak essay.

Avoid colloquialisms

Colloquial expressions should not be employed in formal writing because they sound too conversational. Using “well” to begin a sentence is one example. “Very” and “really” are also somewhat colloquial and often redundant, particularly when doubled, like so, “The history exam was really, really hard.”

Importance of a good vocabulary

Regardless of what you are writing, you should have a vocabulary that will provide clear communication of your ideas. It is critical to know the reading level of your audience and to adjust your vocabulary accordingly. Students of all ages should constantly work at improving their knowledge of words.

Paying attention to words used around you is the best way to increase your working vocabulary. Rote memorization of vocabulary words is not as effective as taking your time and writing down new words you read or hear. Word games with friends are also a great and entertaining way to broaden your lexicon.

A good vocabulary does not necessarily mean knowing many long or difficult words. Instead, it means knowing how to use the right words to clearly express yourself to your reader.

Blake H. is an instructor and tutor for Revolution Prep. Blake attended Cal Poly –SLO as an undergrad and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Architecture at California College of the Arts.

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Why SAT vocabulary lists aren’t everything

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

Plenty of SAT prep resources promise that you can achieve a higher Critical Reading score simply by memorizing hundreds – if not thousands – of words.  While being exposed to a greater array of words can make a difference, it’s not the be-all-and-end-all to success on the test.  If you want proof that just memorizing every word in the dictionary is not the key to success, try watching the National Spelling Bee. (Fun fact: yours truly was a competitor many years ago.) Sure, the best spellers know many words.  Yet even they don’t memorize the half million or so words in an unabridged dictionary. They can’t. What they rely on instead is pattern and process.

Spellers use patterns by learning language rules for a variety of languages. For SAT students, it’s even simpler.  Use your current knowledge of English to recognize familiar letter groupings in unfamiliar English words.  Spot prefixes (like un- and re-) and suffixes (like -ly and -ive).  Use your knowledge of word parts to distinguish negative words (usually those starting with un- or non- or dis- or de-) from positive words.  Group words in lists or stacks of flashcards that include all the words that communicate the same general idea.  Teach yourself to analyze and understand new words in the context of what you already know about the English language.

Along with pattern recognition, top spellers also use process to their advantage – that is, they approach a word, familiar or not, the same way every time.  The “detective work” of checking definition, language of origin, sentence placement, and so on, can even lead a student to correctly spell a word he or she hasn’t seen.  Likewise, an SAT student can use consistent process to great advantage. Structure your learning of each new word the same way.  Don’t blindly memorize definitions – learn how the words are actually used and practice using them in context.  When you get to the actual SAT, repeating this word-analysis approach will serve you well, even on the toughest questions. In fact, high scorers systematically use both context and word-analysis to eliminate wrong answers.

So the next time someone shoves a list of 5000 words in your direction, you’ll know that big list is only a small piece of the puzzle.  Maximize your vocabulary study time with a strategy that combines exposure to new words, pattern recognition, and a consistent word-analysis process.  This will help you achieve a higher score on the SAT Critical Reading section – and make you a better reader overall.

Shane is an Instructor and Tutor with Revolution Prep in New York, NY. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Business Law and Negotiation at Brooklyn College and the current Kauffman Legal Research Fellow at the New York University School of Law. From 2000-2005, Shane was an Alumni Schools Committee Interviewer for his Alma mater, Yale University.

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