Tips for Writing College Essays: Literary Analysis

let's be realistic here, it isn't just WRITER'S block, it is really PROJECT CREATOR'S block. Whether we are writing a paper, creating a PowerPoint presentation, a short video production, a website, or any time of major project in an English course, we eventually hit that brick wall of saying "what do I do next?"

Well, if you are participating in any sort of English class, whether it is literature, critical theory... etc. there is a good chance that you will run out of the creative juices at some point. The problem is that it can sometimes take FOREVER to get back in track, when you really just want to get the project done fast. So here's a quick set of steps you can take to get the creative ideas flowing again.

Consider the Big Picture

Just ask yourself the following question about the (literary analysis) topic you chose to write about.

What are the primary themes or big ideas that are represented in the text(s) I'm concerned with?

Simple, right? If you have narrowed the focus of your paper well enough, you hopefully don't have more than three of these. And those three should honestly be bridging up to an even bigger, singular idea. Anyway, take those ideas or that idea and take the next simple step.

Symbol Identification

English classes, and especially literature courses, are largely representing philosophy and world views (culture) through metaphor. This means that you can have a lot of creativity in your interpretation of a text. And you really can't be wrong, as long as you make a compelling argument for it. But here's the key to overcoming that writer's block...

Symbols are a KEY metaphorical tool of authors!

So, simply pick out some symbol - whether it is a character, a description, an item... etc. - that helps explain the text's or texts' attitude toward that big idea. Now you can get into an elaboration of a particular symbol and big idea within your writing. At this point, find a few quotes surrounding that symbol that help back up your position, and you've just crunched out another 250+ words in your paper. Also, add your own elaborations after each quote to explain how the quotes prove your argument.

Not only is this a great way to add some more description and elements to your paper, this same process can be used as a way to create your thesis statement:

- Just look for the big ideas,

-Find a symbol (or a few) that make a statement about that big idea,

-Then argue that the symbol represents your author's viewpoint on the big idea.

-Or maybe the author is satirizing that viewpoint. Use your own discretion here.

Looking for other study skills or time management tips? Check out http://www.gaingradesnow.com for other strategies from Sam, so you spend less time in the library and more time living!

Job Seeking Tips For The Class Of 2012

Most graduates pursuing accredited associate degrees, Accredited bachelor degrees, accredited master degrees and Accredited doctorate degrees are unsure about the steps they should take for job searching. In reality, there are many ways through which you can search for your dream job including networking with people, finding old colleagues, applying online, joining job portals, spotting the job postings in newspapers, hiring career coach etc.

Job searching requires a lot of time and patience and it's easy to get frustrated and lose motivation. Given below are the top five job-seeking tips that can make this tedious process fast and rewarding.

1. Visit your college career center. Many of us are unaware of the value a college/university's career centre holds. Most schools' career centers have trained professionals who are in touch with changes taking place in the job market and who can advise you on how and when to apply for them. So whether you're pursuing an Accredited bachelor degree or an Accredited master degree, the career counselors present at your college/university's career center will filter the information to suit your preferences.

2. Everything around us is making a transition. Even the way hiring managers are searching for prospective employees is changing. Social media has now become a criterion and 80%-90% of hiring managers conduct background checks for the job applicants using social media (mainly Facebook). Having a powerful digital presence is a plus point when you are on the search of a job. Establish a professional online profile for the consistent representation of your personal brand that you can link to from anywhere you have a digital presence - email signature, Facebook, Twitter, blog, company website bio, etc. It is also wise to have positive and branded professional content under your name and Google yourself regularly.

3. LinkedIn is today's most popular and most critical tool for job searches for recent graduates. It has totally transformed the job search process. More and more employers and companies turn to LinkedIn to find suitable candidates. Create a LinkedIn profile for professional networking, making useful connections, job searching, joining groups and researching for companies. Be sure to mention any qualifications that may help add value to your profile. For example, if you are in the process of earning an Accredited associate degree or an Accredited doctorate degree from an accredited online university, state it in your LinkedIn profile. Many prospective employers may term this as a plus as acquiring an online degree requires a certain level of proficiency when it comes to computers.

4. Keep a regular check on the job listings in the classified advertising sections of your local newspaper. Also, have a record of all the jobs to which you have applied, the name and designation of the company's representative with whom you spoke and what response you received.

5. Don't hesitate in asking people for assistance for your job search. Contact people and businesses in your area that hire people with your career interests. Ask your previous employers, colleagues and friends to write letters of recommendation for you. Tell them what skills they need to include in those letters.

6. Search for job postings, find important keywords and try to incorporate them in your resume and cover letter. When you review at least 6 to 8 job postings in your field, you would be able to easily find keywords that appear time and again. Fit these keywords into your resume and this way you can improve the chances of being found by a hiring manager or even employer.

A. Madison is working at Accredited online university for last 5 years. He loves to express his thoughts regard new inventions and development in online education industry. Explore online associate degree and associate degree program much more.

How to Study With Strategy and Get the Most of Your Overseas Study Experience

Yes, discipline is a key factor of results. But if you want to have outstanding grades, or maximize your studying time, you will need to study smart. With discipline and a well-planned studying strategy, you can say goodbye to study stress and achieve a healthy balance between school and your life outside college.

Who wants to spend all that time studying and worrying about grades when you have a life to live, right? Study smart and plan your schedule well. Getting the best out of studying abroad depends on your time management skills.

Our study tips are based on awesome stuff that was written more than a couple thousand years ago. We will be taking a few quotes from Sun Tzu's book: "The Art of War". And we will break down his lines into something that can be applied to your studying plans.

Sun Tzu was a brilliant general from Ancient China. He was - and still is, well-known for his war strategies. And up to this date, his writings have been translated to many languages. His wisdom has been used by many business people to achieve effective and efficient results.

If his strategies could work for others in this century, they sure can work for you!

1) Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories - Sun Tzu

Battles come in all shapes and sizes. Going overseas to take on a college degree program is a battle itself - you have to struggle with adapting yourself to another country and culture; and also do your best to learn and excel in your chosen field. Regardless of which country you choose to study abroad in, you will face exams, tests, and presentations.

Some people know that mountains of stress are piling but they choose to ignore it. It is okay if you are the type who can prioritize and achieve good results by cramming. But if you are not, take some time to build your stamina to study.

The average mugger who does not have a habit of listening in class needs around four hours to figure out and understand each chapter. Two hours of reading, and two hours for practice. If you have been listening in class, you could refresh your memory in less than two hours.

Every subject has anywhere from 12-24 chapters in a textbook. So plot your course well. You know yourself best. So design your study plan to suit your needs.

2) He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious - Sun Tzu

How long can you sit still at your desk in front of a textbook or assignment without getting distracted? There is no need to worry if you have the attention span of a gold fish. Training the mind is just like training the body. You need discipline to set aside certain amounts of time to get things done.

Start by increasing your study durations bit by bit. On your first day, you could start with around three minutes, then, gradually increase it by two minutes each day until you can study for 15 minutes a day effortlessly.

3) Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win - Sun Tzu

Plan strategic study time into your schedule and you will have a better grasp of dealing with your assignments, tests, and presentations. Being well-prepared reflects on your professionalism. And this will be a trait that you can bring into the workplace after graduation.

Donald, International Admissions Director of Raffles Education Corporation, a leading education provider in Asia Pacific operating 33 colleges across 30 cities in 13 countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Mongolia, Bangladesh, India, China, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Sri Lanka & Indonesia). Certifications such as Advanced Diploma, Bachelor and Master Degrees are also offered for various disciplines in design, business, science and technology such as visual communication, animation, multimedia, interior design, product design, jewellery design, biomedical, infocomm security and early childhood. Direct your questions to Raffles College.

Back to School Guide for Students

Even if you have just missed out on the latest offers there's still something you can do. After all, the best things in life are free right (at least some of them anyway)?


It is vitally important to stack up on pen and paper for taking those life-saving notes. These are usually cheap as chips and if you're a university student, you can pull it off with only a couple of notebooks for your notes. And if you have a tablet or a laptop with you most of the time, you can go ahead and download some free note taking apps, which will save you the money and the effort for buying pens and papers and keeping track of them.

Speaking of tablets, it is a nice thing to have for a student. It's really convenient to carry your books there, view slides and take notes. Saves loads of space and does not weigh as much as a book would and it may provide you with some great spare time activities or even let you start off with writing your papers early (doubt anyone does that anyway). If you want a tablet, but don't know which one to buy, you can do a search for best tablets for students and you should definitely find something that will suit your needs.

If you're a fresher this year and are heading out to a different city or even a different country, you may consider getting a smartphone. You'd be surprised how many times you'll be saved by the map on your smartphone or the fact that you had internet access when you needed it the most. If you have no idea what's on the current market, you can have a look at best top 10 mobile phones lists on Google and hopefully you will find a thing or two worth your attention.

This should get you started on getting out and about on piling up the precious resources for learning. All you need to remember that there are ways you can do things for the cheap. Keep an eye out for the best deals and note down some good websites, preferably blogs, which throw out good tips and tricks (such as the best note taking apps ) on what should an everyday student have and how will it make your life easier.

How to Find the Best Student Accommodation ?

There are plenty of different kinds of places wherein you could stay. Since there are plenty of options, it becomes really hard to make the right decision.


There's no clear cut answer as to what you need to do in order to find the best; but, follow the following steps and you would probably find a place that you love:

Pick the location

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing an accommodation for your University stay is the location. As far as possible try to stay close to the university as this would save you both on time as well as travel costs.

Do a bit of research on the location

There are times wherein the location of the university is on the outskirts of a city and in such cases the facilities available in that particular locality may not be up to par with what you need. In such cases you would prefer to stay further away but get what you need.

Find out from others

One of the best ways to find the right accommodation is by asking previous students for their opinion. You could join various groups on Facebook or Google+ that are based on a particular university. People are willing to help you out - so there's no harm in asking. If you're travelling to another country, find out a bit about the culture of the country and their customs - this would help you get adjusted to their society easily.

Pricing

Another important factor to consider when choosing your accommodation is the costs you're going to incur. There are a few places that may seem cheaper but only offer you basic services; and, if you need an internet connection you may have to pay more. Therefore, before you rent out a place make sure that you're getting all that you need at a fair rate.

Share the place?

You could even consider renting out an entire apartment and sharing it out with other students. This way you would have company and also someone to share in the rent and other expenses - this turns out to be one of the best options.

Finally before you book a place go around and meet the neighbours, find out what they have to say about the landlord - there are times when the best places have the worst landlords and you would have to face a lot of problems later on.