Sunday, December 15, 2013

Take Better Notes

By Franklin Skribbit


One of the most challenging tasks for students of any discipline is to write a term paper or other important form of paper when it is assigned with a seemingly far off due date. Some may think this an odd statement, but the truth is that there are many people who do their best work when they know they have a deadline to beat and are under the gun to get it done.

What is interesting is that most citation errors have nothing to do with the citation, but the grammar contained within the body of the work. Let's review some common mistakes and help you learn what to be on the lookout for.

Still, however, the common thread among college students and returning college students of business in National City is that with a far off due date there are many that struggle to stay on task with the assignment. Writing with a distant due date can be managed by understanding a few tips on how to successfully complete a paper without a deadline attached.

When you are working on citations, refer back frequently to your handbook to make sure you are using the correct format and style for citing. Your citations in-text and in the bibliography are important and even missing a simple thing like a period can cause you to miss points if your professor is feeling particularly pernicious. Be detailed in your study of the citation style noting things like line spacing, margins, page numbering, and font size.

Effective note taking requires some preparation. If you haven't done the homework or the previous night's reading assignment, understanding your professor becomes much harder. Familiarize yourself with the material and arrive a few minutes early to class so that you can review the material again before class begins. Also, remove or turn off distractions like your phone and the internet so that you can focus on what is being taught.

The outline of the paper will become the roadmap that the student can use to guild them through their paper. By having an outline, a student will be able to break up their paper into workable sections with each section being a specific idea or piece of information that they can present.

By breaking up the paper with an outline containing specific sections, a student can write out a schedule as to when they will write each section or broken down piece of the paper. For example, a page or so may be dedicated to a specific point that can be written one week with another part of the paper written the next week.

As you work to learn these rules and others, you will find yourself able to implement them without thinking about it rather than having to pour over some handbook to make sure you are following the rules. Persistence pays off and the professors at your college in National City will be pleased with your progress.




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