a-studying-narwhal

[a-studying-narwhal]

Snacks for studying

my favorite healthy snacks while i’m studying 

popcorn 

trail mix 

nuts 

veggies or pretzel chips with hummus 

fruit 

just veggies 

granola 

hard boiled eggs 

cheese,  meat and crackers 

[a-studying-narwhal]

my backpack essentials

everything i keep in my backpack for college that is not school supplies 

Electronics

phone charger  

portable charger  

laptop charger  

headphones 

being a good human 

reusable water bottle 

reusable straws 

reusable utensils 

reusable coffee cup 

hair necessities 

hair ties 

scrunchies 

mini elastics 

bobby pins 

mini hair bush 

just in case 

pads/tampons 

lotion 

tide to go stick 

nail clipper/ nail file 

gum/mints 

chap-stick 

umbrella 

snacks 

band aids 

ibuprofen

tissues 

eye glass cleaner 

[a-studying-narwhal]

10 small tips to improve your productivity

Who can resist reading another little post full of tips to help you get more work done? Here is a few things that I find useful when trying to get myself motivated.

Clear desk, clear mind - I like to organise things before I start working. If things are messy, I get a little preoccupied and procrastinate even more. My suggestion is clear your desk, sort everything you’ll need to study and get on!

The two minute rule - If a task that needs to be done takes less than two minutes, just do it. My dad has often suggested that this is a great way to sort out your priorities and so far it has worked for me. Things like check my emails, cross off events from my planner, file something away don’t take long but get you in the mood for productivity. As they say “object in motion, stay in motion”.

Break your time up - Schedule your study time and any breaks you need to take. This helps structure your day and acts as a motivation to get things done. Especially if you can reward yourself at the end!

Leave your phone alone - Like most people I use my phone constantly but when I’m trying to work, it is best to leave it alone. Out of sight, out of mind. Try leaving it on silent and behind you so you aren’t tempted to pick it up after every beep. Use your break times to check it.

Find your top three to five priorities - Seeing a long list of things to do is usually, for some people, kind of counterproductive. Figure out the main things that need to be done and work on those. If you’re able to complete those main things, you’ll feel like you’ve accomplished the days necessities and may even want to complete some more.

Try using a mindmap instead of a to do list - Apparently using a mindmap layout instead of a traditional list can help boost productivity. It is a little more funky way to see all your outstanding tasks and might not look as overwhelming as a super long list.

Wear headphones - You don’t have to always listen to things but it can help block out any noise that can distract you. If you’re someone that likes some music, try songs with little or no words. This is a great playlist by Spotify.

Don’t multitask - As much as you think you can do it, trying to multitask usually ends up in a confused mess and takes twice the time. Stick to one task at a time. If you think of something you need to do, write it down and do it later.

Change things up - Doing the same things in the same place can get boring. Make the effort every now and then to change where you’re studying or how you’re studying. This can include moving your studying from the desk to the kitchen table for a change of scenery, or making flash cards instead of annotating your notes. Studying with a family member or friends is a fun way to get some work done!

Be positive - Most people have times when they just don’t want to study or anything, it is natural. However it is not worth sitting staring at your books in an unmotivated mood just waiting to feel inspired. If you’re not feeling it, do something else for a while. Come back to it a bit later and have another go. Usually walking away and coming back is all you need to feel more productive.

I hope these few tips are useful! These are the kind of things that work for me, so give them a shot and let me know if they help. Best of luck with your studies x

[a-studying-narwhal]

a small guide on how i battle my essays! (click on an image to view it clearer) 

(keep in mind: i’m an english major so a majority of my essays are literature-focused!)

these are just some of the methods i want to share that work for me when i write my innumerable amount of essays! i’m definitely a huge planner so it’s no secret that i spend a lot of time on an essay. if you’re a deadline fighter, these tips might not necessarily be helpful (especially the handwriting one). but i hope this gives you an insight on how i write my essays! 🌈

[a-studying-narwhal]

Just completed and submitted the final version of my Extended Essay !!! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖° 

So I compiled lists of words that I found super super useful in making it easier for me to finish any essay !! Here is a masterpost of some sort with transition words + key vocabs grouped together for easy access as well as an IB IOC ‘cheat sheet’ I used for my english LAL orals last year (though most commentaries follow a similar structure so its generalisable) ~

Good luck with your essays !!!

… oops just realised I forgot to bullet point one of the lists 

[a-studying-narwhal]

Synonyms For Very

This masterlist is a masterlist of words that you may use alongside the word very, very being one of the most common words that are used when writing. I hope this helps you as much as it helps me in our writing seem more sophisticated and unique. 

A:

Very accurate - exact Very afraid - fearful Very angry - furious Very annoying - exasperating

B:

Very bad - atrocious Very beautiful - exquisite Very big - immense Very boring - dull Very bright - luminous Very busy - swamped

C:

Very calm - serene Very careful - cautious Very cheap - stingy Very clean - spotless Very clear - obvious Very clever - intelligent Very cold - freezing Very colourful - vibrant Very competitive - cutthroat Very complete - comprehensive Very confused - perplexed Very conventional - conservative Very creative - innovative Very crowded - bustling Very cute - adorable

D:

Very dangerous - perilous Very dear - cherished Very deep - profound Very depressed - despondent Very detailed - meticulous Very different - disparate Very difficult - arduous Very dirty - filthy Very dry - arid Very dull - tedious

E:

Very eager - keen Very easy - effortless Very empty - desolate Very excited - thrilled Very exciting - exhilarating Very expensive - costly

F:

Very fancy - lavish Very fast - swift Very fat - obese Very friendly - amiable Very frightened - alarmed Very frightening - terrifying Very funny - hilarious

G:

Very glad - overjoyed Very good - excellent Very great - terrific

H:

Very happy - ecstatic Very hard - difficult Very hard-to-find - rare Very heavy - leaden Very high - soaring Very hot - sweltering Very huge - colossal Very hungry - ravenous Very hurt - battered

I:

Very important - crucial Very intelligent - brilliant Very interesting - captivating

J:

K:

L:

Very large - huge Very lazy - indolent Very little - tiny Very lively - vivacious Very long - extensive Very long-term - enduring Very loose - slack Very loud - thunderous Very loved - adored

M:

Very mean - cruel Very messy - slovenly

N:

Very neat - immaculate Very necessary - essential Very nervous - apprehensive Very nice - kind Very noisy - deafening

O:

Very often - frequently Very old - ancient Very old-fashioned - archaic Very open - transparent

P:

Very painful - excruciating Very pale - ashen Very perfect - flawless Very poor - destitute Very powerful - compelling Very pretty - beautiful

Q:

Very quick - rapid Very quiet - hushed

R:

Very rainy - pouring Very rich - wealthy

S:

Very sad - sorrowful Very scared - petrified Very scary - chilling Very serious - grave Very sharp - keen Very shiny - gleaming Very short - brief Very shy - timid Very simple - basic Very skinny - skeletal Very slow - sluggish Very small - petite Very smart - intelligent Very smelly - pungent Very smooth - sleek Very soft - downy Very sorry - apologetic Very special - exceptional Very strong - forceful Very stupid - idiotic Very sure - certain Very sweet - thoughtful

T:

Very talented - gifted Very tall - towering Very tasty - delicious Very thirsty - parched Very tight - constricting Very tiny - minuscule Very tired - exhausted

U:

Very ugly - hideous Very unhappy - miserable Very upset - distraught

V:

W:

Very warm - hot Very weak - frail Very well-to-do - wealthy Very wet - soaked Very wide - expansive Very willing - eager Very windy - blustery Very wise - sage Very worried - distressed

X:

Y:

Z:

A/N: If you know of anymore words I can add please message me.

[a-studying-narwhal]

10 Angry College Tips For Incoming Freshmen

(I finished my freshman year this spring with a 4.0 GPA, an off-campus research internship, and three professors contacting me suggesting that I apply for a fulbright scholarship.  These tips aren’t coming out of my ass.) 

1. LISTEN TO ME WHEN I SAY THIS: YOU DO NOT NEED TO “GET INVOLVED” IN STUPID CLUBS IF YOU DON’T ENJOY THEM.  Hear “get involved! :)” for the 1000th time and just barf in your mouth a little and move on.  If you work hard and get good grades, and socialize with people on campus when you have free time (it comes more naturally than you think) YOU WILL.  BE.  FINE.  Actually better than fine.  You’ll have time to get a real job/internship, which by the way, is what the real world wants to see you prioritizing.  Moral of the story: Only join clubs if they help your personality thrive and feel healthy.  Don’t do them because you feel pressured.  

2. DON’T TAKE SHIT FROM A N Y O N E. I know you’re trying to fit in and take the stance of trying to make everyone happy to make sure you’ll have plenty of friends.  But you have to realize that you literally just met these people, and they just met you.  If they create an uncomfortable environment for you that makes college harder to cope with, get them the fuck out of your life. Ain’t nobody got time for people’s high school-ass drama.  

3. SKIP YOUR CLASSES SOMETIMES.  If you really have your shit together, it won’t matter.  Your school will say the amount of skips you can get away with before it harms your grade.  Use. Them.

4. BECOME THE MASTER OF WRITING ESSAYS IN ONE NIGHT.  You will have to.  I’m telling you right the fuck now.  And you can get an A, if you work your lil ass off. I’ve done it many times.  

5. DON’T CARE FOR EVEN 1 SECOND WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK OF YOU.  If you wanna wear sweats and no makeup, do it.  If you want to dress up and take time to put on makeup, do it.  If you want to stay away from partying, do it.  If you want to party, have a good ass time.  If anyone has enough time to judge you, they need to be studying harder or getting a hobby.  Make yourself comfortable and happy as fuck and enjoy your time in college worry-free. 

6. BE THE ASSHOLE WITH A TABLET OR LAPTOP IN LECTURE.  You won’t have time to copy it all down.  You’ll be miserable.  Just trust me.  I know studies say its more effective to write stuff down for memory, but, write them out later or something.  Learned that one the hard way.

7. DON’T REWRITE YOUR NOTES IF IT DOESN’T HELP YOU STUDY.  If you know doing that doesn’t help you memorize, don’t do it, period.  Or, if you have a collossal asston of notes (like I did) it isn’t even worth rewriting them all in the first place. I’ve fallen down that hole and lost motivation and time.  Just reread them or make flashcards or whatever.  Study for effectiveness, not aesthetic.

8. BE PREPARED FOR LAB TO GO THE “WHOLE TIME.”  Yah, you’re gonna see 3 hours on that brand-shiny-new schedule of yours and be like there’s no way it’ll go that long, right? LOL about that.  Just mentally brace yourself.  Eat and drink beforehand for the love of god we don’t need hangry people handling chemicals.  

9. COMMUTING DOESN’T MAKE YOU A LONER.  Just.  No. If you live close to campus, are comfortable with commuting, and know you’ll save yourself MAJOR debt by doing it, do it and don’t feel a fucking ounce of guilt about it.  It’ll be some early mornings, but your fresh out of college broke ass will thank you, and you’ll use your time more effectively.  (Plus you get a non grimy shower like??)

10. LOVE YOUR NEW FINE ASS SELF.  College is a fresh start.  Put energy into who you have always wanted to be.  And don’t compromise that out of social anxiety and embarrassment.  You’ll be happy and thank yourself if you step out of your comfort zone to be the person you’ve always had in mind.  

[a-studying-narwhal]

Good luck to everyone taking AP tests this month!

We’re here to help you review.

Chemistry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtPHzzYuWy6fYEaX9mQQ8oGr

Psychology: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOPRKzVLY0jJY-uHOH9KVU6

Physics: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtN0ge7yDk_UA0ldZJdhwkoV

Literature: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOeEc9ME62zTfqc0h6Pe8vb

U.S. Government and Politics: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOfse2ncvffeelTrqvhrz8H

U.S. History: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMwmepBjTSG593eG7ObzO7s

Computer Science: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtNlUrzyH5r6jN9ulIgZBpdo

Biology: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3EED4C1D684D3ADF

World History: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9; https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtNjasccl-WajpONGX3zoY4M

Statistics: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtNM_Y-bUAhblSAdWRnmBUcr

Economics: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtPNZwz5_o_5uirJ8gQXnhEO

[a-studying-narwhal]

It’s that dreaded time of the year again! I probably should’ve done this way earlier but here’s a masterpost to help you guys study for all the AP exams there are. The subjects are listed in order of the schedule and I combined the similar ones together. If any of the links is not working please kindly inform me. Good luck to everyone taking the AP exams!!

AP Chemistry Chemistry Resources by @study-well AP Chemistry by @etudiance The Ultimate List of AP Chemistry Tips SparkNotes Chemistry AP Chemistry Notes

AP Environmental Science AP Environmental Science by @apbymichelle The Ultimate List of AP Environmental Science Tips APES Review Sheet APES Math Tips APES Exam Tips

AP Psychology Masterpost of Psych Notes by @fuckyeapsychology AP Psychology by @studyign AP Psychology Vocab Flashcards The Ultimate List of AP Psychology Tips AP Psychology Test Tips

AP Computer Science AP Computer Science Masterpost by @theapresource AP Computer Science by @studyblu Computer Science/Engineering Masterpost by @algorhythmn The Ultimate List of AP Computer Science Tips Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam

AP Spanish AP Spanish Resources by @intellectus AP Spanish Language & Culture by @howtopolyglot AP Spanish Tips by @rocketeercody The Ultimate List of AP Spanish Tips Ultimate Guide to the AP Spanish Literature and Culture Exam

AP Art History @aparthistoryreview-blog AP Art History Tips by @cavetocanvas How to Study for AP Art History Writing Tips and Strategies Khan Academy AP Art History

AP Physics How to Study for AP Physics by @365text AP Physics Tips by @sootudying Tips and Strategies for the AP Physics I Exam The Ultimate List of AP Physics 1 & 2 Tips How to Study for AP Physics C: Mechanics

AP English Essays Basics for AP English Lang & Lit by @novanovelist AP English Rhetorical Analysis Strong & Weak Verbs by @gryfhindor AP Literature Analysis, Terms, and Tips by @ap-madness   The Ultimate List of AP English Language Tips AP English Language and Composition

AP Japanese @japanese-tips-and-lessons Japanese Resources by @somestudy Japanese Masterpost by @elkstudies Japanese Resources by @mujistudies Guide to AP Japanese Language

AP US Government AP US Government and Politics Review Masterpost by @scholasticwhimsy AP US Gov Advice & Resources by @intellectus The Ultimate List of AP US Government Tips AP US Government Concepts The Ultimate Student’s Guide to AP US Government

AP Chinese Mandarin Chinese Resource Masterpost by @floernce Tips on Learning Chinese by @tiantianxuexi Mandarin Resources by @languageoclock Guide to the AP Chinese Exam AP Chinese Language and Culture Course and Exam

AP Seminar AP Capstone by @pixelated-dong How to Craft a Strong Research Question AP Seminar Presentation Tips AP Seminar Last Minute Tips AP Seminar Links

AP Studio Art How to Survive AP Studio Art by @shadowtravel Samples of AP Studio Art Successful Concentration Ideas AP Studio Art Tips from a Student Who Got a Six Ultimate Guide to the AP Studio Arts Portfolio

AP German German Resources by @athenastudying Learning: German by @languageramblings How to Study for AP German Langauge AP German Flashcards How to Score a Five on the AP German Exam

AP US History @apushresources AP US History Masterpost by @theapresource APUSH DBQ Tips by @abelstudies AP History Multiple Choice Strategy The Ultimate List of AP US History Tips

AP Biology AP Bio Masterpost by @studnt Biology Resources by @study-well Biology Resources The Ultimate List of AP Biology Tips AP Biology Free Response Writing Tips

AP Music Theory AP Music Theory Exam Strategies AP Music Theory CourseNotes AP Music Theory Online Resources AP Music Theory Flashcards AP Music Theory Resources

AP Calculus Study Tips for Calculus by @studyforyourself Remember for the AB Calc FRQs by @octanakin How to Study Calculus The Ultimate List of AP Calculus Tips Study Guide for Calculus AB

AP French French Verb Masterpost by @studypuddles French Masterpost by @areistotle A French Masterpost by @organisaticns The Ultimate List of AP French Language Tips AP French Study Tips

AP Italian Italian Masterpost by @studybowie Italian Essay Transition Words & Phrases by @langsandlit Italian Masterpost by @shelbys-advice-blog Italian Resources Masterpost by @graphis AP Italian Flashcards

AP Macro + Microeconomics AP Economics by @apbymichelle Macroeconomics Cram Packet Microeconomics Exam Study Guide The Ultimate List of AP Macroeconomics Tips The Ultimate List of AP Microeconomics Tips

AP Comparative Government and Politics The Ultimate List of AP Comparative Government Tips AP Comparative Government Exam Strategies Review for the AP Comparative Exam AP Comparative Government Flashcards AP Comparative Wikispaces

AP World History AP World History by @studyign AP World History Review by @scholasticwhimsy AP World History Essay Tips by @ohbrilliant-notes AP World History Cram Packets and Review Sheets The Ultimate List of AP World History Tips

AP Statistics AP Statistics Tips  by @sootudying AP Statistics by @apbymichelle AP Statistics Cram Packet AP Statistics CourseNotes The Ultimate List of AP Statistics Tips

AP Human Geography AP Human Geography Notes by @ohbrilliant-notes AP Human Geography Masterpost by @academla The Ultimate List of AP Human Geography Tips AP Human Geography CourseNotes The Complete Guide to AP Human Geography FRQs

AP European History AP European History Masterpost by @theapresource AP European History Resources by @fuckyeahapeuro AP European History Masterpost by @easyeuro The Ultimate List of AP European History Tips AP European History Essay Writing Guide

AP Latin Learning Latin by @learnal Latin Resources by @wonderful-language-sounds Learning Latin by @studyplants   How to Study Latin AP Latin Flashcards

[a-studying-narwhal]

here’s just a small list of study tips and tricks that i learned over the course of attempting to take six ap classes all at once (don’t do that to urself pls):

take notes - take all the notes! it doesn’t matter what way you take notes (cornell, etc.) it’s just a really nice way to make sure the material really sticks in your brain

revise said notes - it’s all about beating the curve of forgetting; as long as your keep on revising and re-annotating your notes, you won’t need to super cram on test day. in addition to that, don’t highlight a dense block of text; underline, colour-code, and add notes to the margins. instead, if you just highlight like crazy, you won’t know what to focus on revising. not saying that highlighting is bad, just saying that overhighlighting is bad

actually read the textbook - a lot of teachers assign pages of textbooks but i recommend reading the entirety of the textbooks and working through the examples. sure, it’s a little bit more work, but you end up with a well-rounded view of the topic/subject you’re studying (and i also find that a lot of teachers will skip important topics in the interest of time, so be sure to read the textbook so you don’t miss out)

do all ya homework - so important! do the homework!!!!! you will not succeed if you don’t put in any effort and don’t do any of your work!!!!!!!!!

if you have time do extra problems in your textbook - just for revision/practice!

redo old hw assignments - this helps in revision, esp. in topics like math where you have to physically work out problems to understand concepts; you don’t get math by just reading the textbook, you have to physically DO problems

maybe invest in a review book - it helps some people, but don’t completely rely on it; you still should read the textbook

flashcards are the bomb - they help solidify learning and because of awesome apps like quizLIT (hehe) you can learn/revise on the go

ask questions - the teacher wont bit your head off- they’ll be grateful that at least SOMEONE was paying attention in class

pay attention to the teacher - if your teacher seems to repeat some terms over and over again take that as a hint to revise that, lots of teachers have really effective lectures too and its just a good thing to show respect to others too

make metaphors/analogies for EVERYTHING - for example, think of the declaration of independence as a breakup letter or try to string together events like the revolutionary war together in a narrative style; this helps with memorization of factually-dense topics like the ones in APUSH

study grps are aMAZING - very helpful 10/10 recommend and check out my post on this too

call a friend - don’t be afraid to ask for help. seriously. we all suck at things and its our job to get better

relax once in awhile - you don’t need to study 24/7 to succeed. study smarter, not harder and TREAT YO’ SELF

on the subject of music - listen to music if it helps you, but if you find yourself drifting off or enthusiastically singing to BTS’s new comeback, you gotta stop girl

sleep - don’t pull all-nighters unless you need to; studies show that sleep helps in the consolidation of memories, etc. so get that sleep! that way you’ll be happier and more in the mood to study - its a marathon, not a sprint

find textbook companion sites - very helpful, they usually contain self-quizzes and generally if your teacher uses the chapter tests provided, you can better tell what types of questions will be asked

revise your mistakes - don’t just discard that test with the 94%, make sure you understand what you got wrong so you don’t make the same mistake again

actively hoard your papers - old papers/tests/hw are the best review fodder so don’t loose it!

track your grades - be on top of it always! if you have a missing assignment or if a teacher put in the wrong grade DON’T HESITATE TO EMAIL THEM

find other resources when your teacher sucks at teaching - khanacademy is amazing. enough said

YOUR GRADES DO NOT DETERMINE YOUR SELF WORTH! repeat after me: GRADES DO NOT DETERMINE SELF WORTH!

self-care is important - if your sad tired or angry, YOU WONT GET ANYTHING DONE so do yourself a favor and take a nap or watch a movie, idk

figure out what works for you - i like the pomodoro technique but other people do different things so just do what works

you’re fantastic and you got this

[a-studying-narwhal]

so i searched for a good masterpost of resources for chemistry and i guess i didn’t find one that fit my needs; thus, i have compiled for you a list of said resources! [ pretty much all of these are useful for normal chemistry too ]

general stuff

collegeboard website

printable periodic tables

periodic table of videos

web elements periodic table

the 9 best scientific study tips

online textbooks!! ( x , x , x , x , x , x )

videos

crash course

khanacademy

Tyler DeWitt

bozeman science

learn AP chemistry

chemguy

educreations

chemcollective

trivedichemistry

preparatory chemistry

online notes & more

ChemTeam

chemtutor

sparknotes

101 Science

science geek

chemcollective

course-notes

chemwiki

chemfiesta

gavirtuallearning

AP chemistry NMSI

studystack (flashcards)

chemmybear (+ flashcards)

general chemistry online

lab resources

sparknotes lab techniques

dartmouth college lab resources & info

analytical chemistry techniques

virtual chemistry experiments

subject specific

unit conversions

math skills

significant figures

stoichiometry

balancing equations

tumblr stuff

compound chem (x)

ap chemistry yo

study-well’s masterpost

litearature’s masterpost

more masterposts!

precalculus

algebra

AP world history

the pomodoro method

how to use sticky notes

how to use flashcards

the Everything Book

studyblr-ing

welcome to high school

what’s in a pencil case

tiny study spaces

 hope this was of help to you! keep shining like the star that you are, and remember to be awesome today!!!

-Aza

[a-studying-narwhal]

Distinctions are A's or B's :). My friend and I do group studying in the school but we keep cracking our minds when it gets to Chemistry :/. What's your advice on studying/revising Chemistry? I also heard something about mind maps but I'm not really understanding how to get one done.

Oh right I see! 

Ahh chemistry! Chemistry requires a lot of hard work, memorisation, and practice. 

Mind maps are a good idea for any subject really, especially for summarising big topics. My sis joolshallie has a post of how to do them here, and has some examples here  :) Hope that helps!

For chemistry, make sure you make good notes and that you understand what you’re writing as you do it. Chemistry is a lot easier if you get the concepts clear in your head!

Print off the specification and tick off things as you go along. Although chemistry’s hard, the exams should go ok as long as you know and understand everything that’s on there.

For balancing chemical equations and things like that - PRACTISE. It’s like maths, you learn from doing. Do past papers (but save most of them for near the exam) and the questions in the books, find questions online if you have to.

For the annoying little things to remember, like the colours of different chemicals in flames etc, I would recommend making flashcards. Make them pretty and colourful too, especially if you feel you are quite a visual learner. Flashcards are so good for quickly reviewing things and testing yourself. x

[a-studying-narwhal]

Ok so I’ve finally gotten around to doing this highly requested post based off this post and I’m sorry to all those who had been waiting for ages for it to come out but here it is!!!

How to Annotate a Novel Efficiently

Look I’m actually doing the play Medea at the moment so this can be used for other texts apart from novels too!

Like I’ve said before, I know lots of people don’t want to taint their texts with writing and highlighting, but to me, it is so so satisfying when I finish with a fully annotated book with tabs flying out of every page and all that, plus it acts as a sweet resource once it’s done.

((Hopefully by the time you’ve gotten around to this level of annotating, you’ve read through your text already and maybe even put down some initial thoughts in the margins.))

To put it simply, I have three levels of coordination when it comes to annotating a novel: words, tabs and sticky notes.

1. Sticky notes

Use for big chunks of text you can’t fit in the margins of your book, such as summaries of characters, themes, etc

They can also get those big chunks of info to stand out from the rest of the novel

 If you’re reading a larger text with chapters, it’s quite handy to use big sticky notes to summarise each section. 

2. Tabs (and highlighting)

Yep so these are the tabs I have sticking out of my book and they’re used for quick references, where I can easily search up a type of quote quickly in the novel without having to flip through every page.

The colours of the tabs I use are the same colours as my highlighters, so it is easy to see where the quote is and which tab it corresponds to.

ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHT the specific quote rather than leaving a tab there by itself, for future reference when you need a specific quote, but if you’ve got a massive chunk that is just too important to pick out a small quote, use a square bracket on the inside margin. Smaller quotes are better.

Have a tab for broad topics such as characters, themes, literary devices, plot developments, context, etc. If you have more colours, you can always make your categories more specific (for me, the character of Medea is separate to the rest of the characters)

I write the main idea on the tab itself, a.k.a. the reason why I highlighted or tabbed that quote there.

Which quotes to highlight depends on

a)     What we go through in class

b)     What is written as an important quote in the text guide we are given/the internet suggests

c)     What I think is important. If you’re not sure, ask yourself WHY is that quote important and if you can answer that, highlight it!!!

 3. Words

The further explanation of quotes is written on the actual pages, and often right under a tab to elaborate.

I recommend using a thin pen as in 0.38 to really fit in as much as possible.

This step as well as tabbing is so so important, because you can highlight as much as you want, but it really won’t mean anything until you’ve written down its significance, and even if you have an amazing memory, this is vital ok. Even a few words along the margin explaining the quote can mean the difference between good writing and great writing in your upcoming essay.

What do I actually write? If it’s a literary device, I’ll name it (e.g. Metaphor) and explain its symbolism, or the author’s intention for putting that in. If it’s a theme related quote, I’ll explain the message that the author is trying to convey through that quote. If it’s a character related quote, I’ll explain how that quote adds to their character, maybe finding contrasts, etc.

Supplies that I used were:

- Mildliners (pink, orange, yellow, blue, aqua; gotta get that colour coding)

- Pilot Frixion Point

- Uni-ball Signo TSI (erasable like the frixion pen so that if I’m not too sure about what I’ve written as an annotation, I can check with the teacher and erase if need be)

- A set of 1000 tabs in total, divided among pink, orange, yellow, green and blue

- Pastel square sticky notes

As an optional step, I highly recommend making use of the back cover or spare pages in the book. I use them for writing definitions of recurring words, good vocabulary to use in the future when writing the essay and also character maps, explaining the relationship between each character.

I hope you all find this helpful!

((disclaimer: this is just how I do it so don’t shank me pls))

Kate xx

[a-studying-narwhal]

I’m reviewing empirical formulas before starting notes on molecular formulas…I reallyyyyy can’t wait for winter break!

[a-studying-narwhal]

08.03.16  //  What’s In My Pencil Case?

Image 1— All of My Writing Supplies

Pilot Juice Gel Pens 0.38mm 12-pack

Staedtler Triplus Fineliners 10-pack

Muji Pencil Case 1: mix of my extra Pilot Juice Gel Pens and Muji Pens

Muji Pencil Case 2: Muji Capped Gel Ink Pens 0.38mm

Zebra Mildliners

Large Pencil Case (holds usually everything I bring to class besides my Muji pens

Images 2-5— My Every Day Pencil Case

This is the pencil case that’s ALWAYS in my backpack and bring to class every day. 

Muji Large White Eraser

Muji Rubber Grip Polycarbonate Mechanical Pencils

Bic Sparkle Mechanical Pencils

Pilot G-2 0.38mm Extra Fine Pont Pen

Pilot G-2 0.7mm Fine Point Pens (colors)

Stablio Boss Highlighters

Stablio Fineliner Point 88 20-Pack

I’ve been meaning to make one of these posts for a little while and now I finally got around to making a post about my writing supplies/everyday pencil case (and hopefully this is the start of me making more original content for my studyblr). I haven’t fount a purpose for some of these pens because they’re not in the pencil case I bring to class. I still have a month to plan the upcoming semester and that is probably how I’ll be spending most of my time!

[a-studying-narwhal]

Hello everyone :)

I’m a 17-year-old girl with an endless love for reading, my dog, sunrises and sunsets, nature, photography, musical theatre, my best friend, and Jesus. As of right now, I hope to major in chemical engineering, but who knows where I’ll actually end up. I’m currently facing the daunting task of completing college applications, and until school starts I won’t have much content to post, but I figured a head start on launching this account will keep me accountable throughout the year.

First a few confessions:

I’m TERRIBLE about procrastinating

I’m an extreme perfectionist

While I’d like to keep this account strictly related to studies, I will probably post occasionally about books because they are too important (my current favorites are Fangirl and Misquitoland)

I kind of hate my handwriting and it gives me a headache

I’m the queen of cramming, regretting it, and cramming again

My desk is not always organized because I’m so busy, but that’s okay

Despite my 4.0 and near perfect streak of 5′s on AP Exams, I have HORRIBLE study habits and I would not encourage one to follow my examples – but that’s why I made this account, to better my skills and stay inspired to consistently work hard

This is my first tumblr account so I’m still new to the whole thing

Alright now right off the bat this does not sound like a typical study blog. I mean, what account aims to inspire studying with an owner who’s terrible at studying? Well friends, while I may not be the conventional model student, I hope that this studyblr will still inspire those who are maybe just like me: hardworking individuals who are far from perfect, but still strive to be the best they can be.

Also feel free to ask me questions about literally anything :)

[a-studying-narwhal]

3/100 | thursday july 28 2016

Started making my little “cheat sheets” for the front of my calc binder. I can’t find my favorite ruler but at least the stormy weather was nice.