Set a timer so that you don’t forget to take your breaks! Try to stick to your timer too. Don’t take a break too early.
If your teacher offers to look at your paper ahead of the deadline, take advantage of this. Try to finish a draft early and submit it to them for comments.
Break down your subject into parts. If you’re studying a novel, break it up by chapter or segment. If you’re doing grammar, separate it by part of speech or usage.
You may find that you feel a sense of accomplishment when you check off finished tasks. This can help motivate you to continue working.
For an expository or argumentative essay assignment you will be asked to investigate a particular topic and create an argument or take a stance on that topic. Expository essays are generally shorter than argumentative essays and are more common in introductory classes, while argumentative essays are more common in advanced, capstone-type classes. An essay in either of these categories might, for example, ask you to research capital punishment in the United States and explain why you might take a stance either for or against it. [6] X Research source For the narrative essay assignment your teacher will be looking for more storytelling. An example prompt for an essay in this category might be to write about your greatest accomplishment or worst fear. These tend to be very personal and anecdotal essays. [7] X Research source For the descriptive essay assignment your teacher will expect you to describe an experience, person, object, or place in detail, usually in a five-paragraph format. This essay style often allows for more creative flexibility for the writer, depending on your topic. For example, describing a favorite childhood toy will be discussed differently by different students because each student had a different experience. [8] X Research source Always consult your syllabus, rubric, or assignment sequence for specific instructions on your project.
If you’re uncomfortable speaking up in class, talk to your teacher after class about something that you thought was confusing. This will clarify the issue in your mind and allow the teacher to explain the concept to you privately. The more specific the question, the better it will be. For example, you might ask “when Dickens writes ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’ at the beginning of A Tale of Two Cities, is he referring specifically to London and Paris in that order? Or does he mean it was the best and worst of times in both places?”
You might also ask if the teacher has any recommendations by a particular author If you enjoyed one of their texts in class. If you liked David Copperfield, for example, your teacher might suggest Oliver Twist or Great Expectations as further Dickens readings for you. Asking about further reading shows the teacher that you genuinely are interested in the subject matter and the class.
