Tell me if this has happened to you: your phone gets dunked in water (we won’t discuss how), and you start researching to see if putting it in rice will actually save it. You read a few blog posts and watch a few videos. But instead of immediately putting your phone in a bag of …
When you were a child, how many times did your parents say “absolutely not” when you asked for something? How many of those times did you persuade your parents to finally say yes? Sometimes it’s a given that you’ll never be able to convince your parents. It’s almost impossible to convince them of any rather …
Read this post to get an awesome grade on your next essay! Okay, so I can’t exactly promise that by reading this post alone you’ll get an awesome grade on your next paper. But that opening line likely grabbed your attention, right? You’re still reading this post, so not only did the line serve as …
Your heart is pounding so hard that you’re positive everyone in the room can hear it. Beads of sweat form on your brow as you try to load your presentation. You pause and breathe deeply. It does nothing to calm you. The presentation finally loads … but it’s the draft you started days ago. The …
WANTED: Witty, engaging writers to share their opinions about current, relevant, and/or local topics. Must be able to create buzz-worthy writing that gets people talking. If this sounds like you, I have the perfect writing assignment: an op-ed. Op-eds (opinions and editorials) are short essays published in newspapers. They were designed to allow the average …
Have you ever wished you could travel in time to finish all the things you need to do? To fix something, to do better on a test or an essay, to free up some time for a vacation? Well, guess what? You…you still can’t do that. Sorry. But you do have another power over the …
If you’re assigned to write a critique and your first thought is, “I have absolutely no idea how to write a critique,” that’s understandable. But in all actuality, you probably already have a sense of how to critique. Need proof? Think about trying a new corner deli. The first time you visit, you evaluate the deli …
You’ve taken the required exams. You’ve filled out online and paper forms. You’ve sent in your high school transcripts. You’ve maybe even requested some letters of recommendation to help seal the deal. But as those admissions deadlines approach, you still have one thing left–the dreaded personal statement. Sure, you’re just one hopeful student in a …
Unless your prof has taught a grand total of no more than one course in her teaching career, chances are she’s already tired of reading papers about topics like these: The differences between high school and college Marijuana legalization Gun control School uniforms While it is possible to write a uniquely fascinating research paper about …
Bad celebrity interviews can be great fun to watch. Celebrities throw tantrums, walk out, or simply blank and have nothing interesting to say. Celebrity interviews can also go bad through no fault of the celebrities themselves. Sometimes it’s the interviewers who ask inappropriate questions or ask questions that can be only termed “stupid.” Take, for …
J.R.R. Tolkien was grading a stack of college exam papers one summer day when he came upon a blank piece of paper tucked among them. He wrote on it the first thing to pop into his head: “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” Over the next 20 or so years of …
You’ve written at least a gazillion argumentative essays in your academic career, right? And I’m sure that in just about all of them you’ve had to include the counterargument. But have you also included a rebuttal? Right now, some of you might be thinking, “Wait….What? You mean I have to include even more stuff in …
Are you starting college soon? How about your first college-level writing class? Before you trek into this uncharted territory, you’ll want to sharpen your skills and steel yourself for the big day when you’re writing your first major college essay. But you’ll need something more effective than that double-shot of espresso to get you through those …
CLSC LIT TV (8:00 – 10:00 p.m.) – Survivor: Salem Edition (Reality. First aired 1953) Abigail and friends are found dancing naked in the forest and are accused of witchcraft. They claim to be bewitched in an attempt to avoid a possible death sentence if convicted. In a vengeful move, Abigail accuses Elizabeth of practicing …
When you’re studying literature, just understanding the main point of certain books is difficult. But when you have to look for certain literary devices in the text, it can feel like a nearly impossible task—or at least not a very fun one. You’ve gotten the basics of theme, setting, and symbolism down, so now it’s …
Those of you who consider yourselves fashion mavens might hear the phrase “personal statement” and think about how you might make a statement with your outfit at your grand entrance at next weekend’s party. Though writing a personal statement generally has nothing to do with how you dress (unless, perhaps, you work in the fashion …
Sometimes, essays and research papers are just really difficult to write. You may feel like you lack the creativity or just the motivation to get it done. Other times, you get in the zone. The inspiration strikes, and you’re able to get through the content really quickly. But as inspired as the body of your research paper …
You’re super confident when your teacher hands you an essay assignment. You’ve read the material and know exactly how to approach your arguments. But then you sit and stare at a blank page, unsure how to start. It happens to the best of us. Fortunately, because it’s a cause of concern for so many students, …
One time, in the ninth grade, we were reading The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe. We were discussing what Poe meant by what he wrote, specifically about the symbolism of the short story. A boy in the class asked why Poe just didn’t say what he meant instead of hiding the meaning in …
You’ve been toiling away the entire term, and now it all comes down to this—the term paper. In many classes, term papers take the place of a final exam and can determine a whole letter grade (and sometimes more). No pressure, right? While writing a term paper can be stressful, time-consuming, and really just a …
It’s the middle of the night, and you’ve drifted off into a deep sleep. You’re dreaming of a magnificent summer day of relaxing on the beach or maybe hiking a mountain trail. Then your alarm goes off. You’re slapped back into reality. Your once-peaceful dream is now bordering on a nightmare. There are exactly 28 …