Ho many of you struggle with english/ lit. classes?

Rapheal · Jan 29, 2004

I suggest you keep your outlines very short. Get the topic straight in your mind and what you need to cover in the most basic way. Then after the outline pencil in facts or ideas that you want to express. Then take a break from it for a short while. If that doesn't seem to be enough you may benefit from playing some soothing music at a low volume. This may help relax you. Good luck, hope this helps.

Erin RN · Jan 29, 2004

I have always written essays a kind of strange way...I write the first paragraph which is usually pretty easy since it sets the reader up to what you are going to talk about then I write the last paragraph with my conclusion. Then knowing I have to get from point a to point b I fill in the rest. I have always written this way and it works well for me. As far as outlines unles I have had to turn one in I basically did the first and last paragraphs and then made a list of points I wanted to cover within the body of the essay..rearranging them into a logical sequence. Something else that is helpful is to think think think about the essay and when you come up with one liners or points jot them down...I almost always "wrote the essay" in my head and then sat down and put it on paper..If you get writers block just walk away for awhile..Good luck erin

studentnurse74, LPN, LVN · Jan 29, 2004

I just finished Eng. comp. 101 last semester and got an A. Here's what our teacher told us to do for our lay out:

Intro: Tell 'em what you're gonna tell 'em.

Body: Tell 'em.

Conclusion: Tell 'em what you just told 'em.

Does that make sense? You have to have some type of format for your paper, then "fill in the blanks" with all your ideas you jotted down on paper. HTH

proud2basn · Jan 29, 2004

Don't know if this helps, but I am a deadline writer. I can't sit down and write an essay a week or two before it is due. Care plans I can because I know exactly what I have to say and in what format. When I took Composition, it was nothing for me to write an essay the night before, or even the day it is due. And they weren't second-rate jobs either. I got an A on one of my final papers that I finished the morning it was due, and a B in comp 1 & comp 2. I just feel I need the pressure to be able to think of something, and put it on paper.

But, that is just me.

manna, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2004

Originally posted by proud2basn
But, that is just me.

I do the same thing, but I'm kind of a procrastinator in general anyway. :)

Writing comes relatively easy to me, and I've made good grades (mostly A's and one B) in all the ENG classes I've taken so far, but I just don't LIKE doing the work. I love to write and read for my own personal benefit, but something about having to do it for a class - especially being forced to read a piece of literature and analyze it, blech - turns me off to the whole idea.

Mom2kids · Jan 29, 2004

Ditto that, Manna! I am the same way - I don't like being FORCED to write either, so I procrastinate. Luckily, I too have always done well in Eng classes and I work well under pressure so once I get the last minute ideas flowing....I'm like a waterfall...you can't stop me! If I try to write an essay/research project weeks in advance, I just sit and stare at blank pages with writers' block...

Imupallnite:

One thing that helped me with english/general writing was taking speech in college. Speech is all about "outlining" and "bullet pointing" and doing your speeches off of main ideas - it helped me tremendously when having to prepare outlines for any other classes, etc.

Maybe if you have the extra time, you can look into a speech class or similar class that will teach you the structure of outlining/essay writing, etc. I'm sure there are plenty of books avail at your local book store too!

I wish you all the best! :)

Mom2kids · Jan 29, 2004

Imupallnite Math, cell biology,micro, and speech haven't been a problem

Oops, I missed that you included speech and have already taken it ..sorry.

:imbar

Love-A-Nurse · Jan 30, 2004

if there are choices of topics the professor has provided to write from, pick one that peaks your interest or the desire to know about the topic. if you can choose your own topic, let it be somthing that interest you the most.

usually the previous mentioned gives you more ideas and information to work with toward completing your paper.

i enjoyed my english classes but lit was taken in a summer session and it presented a lot of reading in a short time frame, but interesting.