Friday, May 30, 2008

How To-44: How to Improve Your Memory


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Wouldn’t it be nice to just look at a page and never forget what was on there? What if you could never again forget a friend’s birthday? The bad news is, not everyone has a photographic memory, otherwise known as eidetic memory. Only a few actually have it, the rest rely on mnemonic devices. The good news, however, is that everyone can take steps to improve their memory, and with time and practice most people can gain the ability to memorize seemingly impossible amounts of information. Whether you want to win the World Memory Championships, ace your history test, or simply remember where you put your keys, this article can get you started.

Steps

  1. Convince yourself that you do have a good memory that will improve. Too many people get stuck here and convince themselves that their memory is bad, that they are just not good with names, that numbers just slip out of their minds for some reason. Erase those thoughts and vow to improve your memory. Commit yourself to the task and bask in your achievements -- it's hard to keep motivated if you beat yourself down every time you make a little bit of progress.
  2. Keep your brain active. Regularly “exercising" the brain keeps it growing and spurs the development of new nerve connections that can help improve memory. By developing new mental skills—especially complex ones such as learning a new language or learning to play a new musical instrument—and challenging your brain with puzzles and games you can keep your brain active and improve its physiological functioning.
  3. Exercise daily. Regular aerobic exercise improves circulation and efficiency throughout the body, including in the brain, and can help ward off the memory loss that comes with aging. Exercise also makes you more alert and relaxed, and can thereby improve your memory uptake, allowing you to take better mental “pictures."
  4. Reduce stress. Chronic stress, although it does not physically damage the brain, can make remembering much more difficult. Even temporary stresses can make it more difficult to effectively focus on concepts and observe things. Try to relax, regularly practice yoga or other stretching exercises, and see a doctor if you have severe chronic stress.
  5. Eat well and eat right. There are a lot of herbal supplements on the market that claim to improve memory, but none have yet been shown to be effective in clinical tests (although small studies have shown some promising results for ginkgo biloba and phosphatidylserine). A healthy diet, however, contributes to a healthy brain, and foods containing antioxidants—broccoli, blueberries, spinach, and berries, for example—and Omega-3 fatty acids appear to promote healthy brain functioning. Feed your brain with such supplements as Thiamine, Vitamin E, Niacin and Vitamin B-6. Grazing, eating 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals, also seems to improve mental functioning (including memory) by limiting dips in blood sugar, which may negatively affect the brain.
  6. Take better pictures. Often we forget things not because our memory is bad, but rather because our observational skills need work. One common situation where this occurs (and which almost everyone can relate to) is meeting new people. Often we don’t really learn people’s names at first because we aren’t really concentrating on remembering them. You’ll find that if you make a conscious effort to remember such things, you’ll do much better. One way to train yourself to be more observant is to look at an unfamiliar photograph for a few seconds and then turn the photograph over and describe or write down as many details as you can about the photograph. Try closing your eyes and picturing the photo in your mind. Use a new photograph each time you try this exercise, and with regular practice you will find you’re able to remember more details with even shorter glimpses of the photos.
  7. Give yourself time to form a memory. Memories are very fragile in the short-term, and distractions can make you quickly forget something as simple as a phone number. The key to avoid losing memories before you can even form them is to be able to focus on the thing to be remembered for a while without thinking about other things, so when you’re trying to remember something, avoid distractions and complicated tasks for a few minutes.
  8. Create vivid, memorable images. You remember information more easily if you can visualize it. If you want to associate a child with a book, try not to visualize the child reading the book – that's too simple and forgettable. Instead, come up with something more jarring, something that sticks, like the book chasing the child, or the child eating the book. It's your mind – make the images as shocking and emotional as possible to keep the associations strong.
  9. Repeat things you need to learn. The more times you hear, see, or think about something, the more surely you’ll remember it, right? It’s a no-brainer. When you want to remember something, be it your new coworker’s name or your best friend's birthday, repeat it, either out loud or silently. Try writing it down; think about it.
  10. Group things you need to remember. Random lists of things (a shopping list, for example) can be especially difficult to remember. To make it easier, try categorizing the individual things from the list. If you can remember that, among other things, you wanted to buy four different kinds of vegetables, you’ll find it easier to remember all four.
  11. Organize your life. Keep items that you frequently need, such as keys and eyeglasses, in the same place every time. Use an electronic organizer or daily planner to keep track of appointments, due dates for bills, and other tasks. Keep phone numbers and addresses in an address book or enter them into your computer or cell phone. Improved organization can help free up your powers of concentration so that you can remember less routine things. Even if being organized doesn’t improve your memory, you’ll receive a lot of the same benefits (i.e. you won’t have to search for your keys anymore).
  12. Try meditation. Research now suggests that people who regularly practice "mindfulness" meditation are able to focus better and may have better memories. Mindfulness (also known as awareness or insight meditation) is the type commonly practiced in Western countries and is easy to learn. Studies at Massachusetts General Hospital show that regular meditation thickens the cerebral cortex in the brain by increasing the blood flow to that region. Some researchers believe this can enhance attention span, focus, and memory.
  13. Sleep well. The amount of sleep we get affects the brain's ability to recall recently learned information. Getting a good night's sleep – a minimum of seven hours a night – may improve your short-term memory and long-term relational memory, according to recent studies conducted at the Harvard Medical School.
  14. Build your memorization arsenal. Learn pegs, memory palaces, and the Dominic System. These techniques form the foundation for mnemonic techniques, and will visibly improve your memory.
  15. Venture out and learn from your mistakes. Go ahead and take a stab at memorizing the first one hundred digits of pi, or, if you've done that already, the first one thousand. Memorize the monarchs of England through your memory palaces, or your grocery list through visualization. Through diligent effort you will eventually master the art of memorization.
What is memory?

Simply put, memory is the mental activity of recalling information that you have learned or experienced. That simple definition, though, covers a complex process that involves many different parts of the brain and serves us in disparate ways.

Memory can be short-term or long-term. In short-term memory, your mind stores information for a few seconds or a few minutes: the time it takes you to dial a phone number you just looked up or to compare the prices of several items in a store. Such memory is fragile, and it’s meant to be; your brain would soon read “disk full” if you retained every phone number you called, every dish you ordered in a restaurant, and the subject of every ad you watched on TV. Your brain is also meant to hold an average of seven items, which is why you can usually remember a new phone number for a few minutes but need your credit card in front of you when you’re buying something online.

Long-term memory involves the information you make an effort (conscious or unconscious) to retain, because it’s personally meaningful to you (for example, data about family and friends); you need it (such as job procedures or material you’re studying for a test); or it made an emotional impression (a movie that had you riveted, the first time you ever caught a fish, the day your uncle died). Some information that you store in long-term memory requires a conscious effort to recall: episodic memories, which are personal memories about experiences you’ve had at specific times; and semantic memories (factual data not bound to time or place), which can be everything from the names of the planets to the color of your child’s hair. Another type of long-term memory is procedural memory, which involves skills and routines you perform so often that they don’t require conscious recall.

Certain areas of the brain are especially important in the formation and retention of memory:

  • The hippocampus, a primitive structure deep in the brain, plays the single largest role in processing information as memory.
  • The amygdala, an almond-shaped area near the hippocampus, processes emotion and helps imprint memories that involve emotion.
  • The cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain, stores most long-term memory in different zones, depending on what kind of processing the information involves: language, sensory input, problem-solving, and so forth.

In addition, memory involves communication among the brain’s network of neurons, millions of cells activated by brain chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Stages of memory foundation and maintenance

There are three stages that the brain goes through in forming and retaining memories.

Acquisition → Consolidation → Retrieval

New information enters your brain along pathways between neurons in the appropriate area of the brain. The key to encoding information into your memory is concentration; unless you focus on information intently, it goes “in one ear and out the other.” This is why teachers are always nagging students to pay attention!

If you’ve concentrated well enough to encode new information in your brain, the hippocampus sends a signal to store the information as long-term memory. This happens more easily if it’s related to something you already know, or if it stimulates an emotional response.

When you need to recall information, your brain has to activate the same pattern of nerve cells it used to store it. The more frequently you need the information, the easier it is to retrieve it along healthy nerve cell connections.

Tips for memory improvements

Do you feel that you have a poor memory? You may just have some less-than-effective habits when it comes to taking in and processing information. Barring disease, disorder, or injury, you can improve your ability to learn and retain information.

Brain exercises

Memory, like muscular strength, is a “use it or lose it” proposition. The more you work out your brain, the better you’ll be able to process and remember information.

Novelty and sensory stimulation are the foundation of brain exercise. If you break your routine in a challenging way, you’re using brain pathways you weren’t using before. This can involve something as simple as brushing your teeth with your nondominant hand, which activates little-used connections on the nondominant side of your brain. Or try a “neurobic” exercise – an aerobic exercise for your brain – (see Keep Your Brain Alive Exercise) that forces you to use your faculties in unusual ways, like showering and getting dressed with your eyes closed. Take a course in a subject you don’t know much about, learn a new game of strategy, or cook up some recipes in an unfamiliar cuisine. That’s the most effective way to keep your synapses firing.

General guidelines to improve memory

In addition to exercising your brain, there are some basic things you can do to improve your ability to retain and retrieve memories:

1. Pay attention. You can’t remember something if you never learned it, and you can’t learn something — that is, encode it into your brain — if you don’t pay enough attention to it. It takes about eight seconds of intent focus to process a piece of information through your hippocampus and into the appropriate memory center. So, no multitasking when you need to concentrate! If you distract easily, try to receive information in a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted.

2. Tailor information acquisition to your learning style. Most people are visual learners; they learn best by reading or otherwise seeing what it is they have to know. But some are auditory learners who learn better by listening. They might benefit by recording information they need and listening to it until they remember it.

3. Involve as many senses as possible. Even if you’re a visual learner, read out loud what you want to remember. If you can recite it rhythmically, even better. Try to relate information to colors, textures, smells and tastes. The physical act of rewriting information can help imprint it onto your brain.

4. Relate information to what you already know. Connect new data to information you already remember, whether it’s new material that builds on previous knowledge, or something as simple as an address of someone who lives on a street where you already know someone.

5. Organize information. Write things down in address books and datebooks and on calendars; take notes on more complex material and reorganize the notes into categories later. Use both words and pictures in learning information.

6. Understand and be able to interpret complex material. For more complex material, focus on understanding basic ideas rather than memorizing isolated details. Be able to explain it to someone else in your own words.

7. Rehearse information frequently and “over-learn”. Review what you’ve learned the same day you learn it, and at intervals thereafter. What researchers call “spaced rehearsal” is more effective than “cramming.” If you’re able to “over-learn” information so that recalling it becomes second nature, so much the better.

8. Be motivated and keep a positive attitude. Tell yourself that you want to learn what you need to remember, and that you can learn and remember it. Telling yourself you have a bad memory actually hampers the ability of your brain to remember, while positive mental feedback sets up an expectation of success.

Mnemonic devices to improve memory

Mnemonics (the initial “m” is silent) are clues of any kind that help us remember something, usually by causing us to associate the information we want to remember with a visual image, a sentence, or a word.

Common types of mnemonic devices include:

1. Visual images - a microphone to remember the name “Mike,” a rose for “Rosie.” Use positive, pleasant images, because the brain often blocks out unpleasant ones, and make them vivid, colorful, and three-dimensional — they’ll be easier to remember.

2. Sentences in which the first letter of each word is part of or represents the initial of what you want to remember. Millions of musicians, for example, first memorized the lines of the treble staff with the sentence “Every good boy does fine” (or “deserves fudge”), representing the notes E, G, B, D, and F. Medical students often learn groups of nerves, bones, and other anatomical features using nonsense sentences.

3. Acronyms, which are initials that creates pronounceable words. The spaces between the lines on the treble staff, for example, are F, A, C, and E: FACE.

4. Rhymes and alliteration: remember learning “30 days hath September, April, June, and November”? A hefty guy named Robert can be remembered as “Big Bob” and a smiley co-worker as “Perky Pat” (though it might be best to keep such names to yourself).

5. Jokes or even off-color associations using facts, figures, and names you need to recall, because funny or peculiar things are easier to remember than mundane images.

6. “Chunking” information; that is, arranging a long list in smaller units or categories that are easier to remember. If you can reel off your Social Security number without looking at it, that’s probably because it’s arranged in groups of 3, 2, and 4 digits, not a string of 9.

7. “Method of loci”: This is an ancient and effective way of remembering a lot of material, such as a speech. You associate each part of what you have to remember with a landmark in a route you know well, such as your commute to work.

Healthy habits to improve memory

Treating your body well can enhance your ability to process and recall information.
  • Regular exercise
    • Increases oxygen to your brain.
    • Reduces the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
    • May enhance the effects of helpful brain chemicals and protect brain cells.
  • Managing stress
    • Cortisol, the stress hormone, can damage the hippocampus if the stress is unrelieved.

    o Stress makes it difficult to concentrate.

  • Good sleep habits

    • Sleep is necessary for memory consolidation.
    • Sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea leave you tired and unable to concentrate during the day.

  • Not smoking
    • Smoking heightens the risk of vascular disorders that can cause stroke and constrict arteries that deliver oxygen to the brain.

Nutrition and Memory improvement

You probably know already that a diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and “healthy” fats will provide lots of health benefits, but such a diet can also improve memory. Research indicates that certain nutrients nurture and stimulate brain function.

B vitamins, especially B6, B12, and folic acid, protects neurons by breaking down homocysteine, an amino acid that is toxic to nerve cells. They’re also involved in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen. (Best sources: spinach and other dark leafy greens, broccoli, asparagus, strawberries, melons, black beans and other legumes, citrus fruits, soybeans.)

Antioxidants like vitamins C and E, and beta carotene, fight free radicals, which are atoms formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Free radicals are highly reactive and can damage cells, but antioxidants can interact with them safely and neutralize them. Antioxidants also improve the flow of oxygen through the body and brain. (Best sources: blueberries and other berries, sweet potatoes, red tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, green tea, nuts and seeds, citrus fruits, liver.)

Omega-3 fatty acids are concentrated in the brain and are associated with cognitive function. They count as “healthy” fats, as opposed to saturated fats and trans fats, protecting against inflammation and high cholesterol. (Best sources: cold-water fish such as salmon, herring, tuna, halibut, and mackerel; walnuts and walnut oil; flaxseed and flaxseed oil)

Because older adults are more prone to B12 and folic acid deficiencies, a supplement may be a good idea for seniors. An omega-3 supplement (at any age) if you don’t like eating fish. But nutrients work best when they’re consumed in foods, so try your best to eat a broad spectrum of colorful plant foods and choose fats that will help clear, not clog, your arteries. Your brain will thank you!

See Helpguide’s Healthy Eating and Healthy Fats for more information.

Memory and aging

Several factors cause aging brains to experience changes in the ability to retain and retrieve memories:

  • The hippocampus is especially vulnerable to age-related deterioration, and that can affect how well you retain information.
  • There’s a relative loss of neurons with age, which can affect the activity of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters and their receptors.
  • An older person often experiences decreased blood flow to the brain and processes nutrients that enhance brain activity less efficiently than a younger person.
However, in healthy older adults, these changes represent more of a slowing in the ability to absorb, store, and retrieve new information, not a loss. The factual information you’ve accumulated over the years remains largely intact, as does procedural memory. You can make and recall new long-term memories; the process just takes a little longer.

Of course, some older adults do develop more significant problems with memory that are the result of diseases such as Alzheimer’s or stroke; injury; poor nutrition; other physiological issues; or emotional problems.

For more information on aging and how it affects memory, see Helpguide’s Recognizing, Reducing and Preventing Age-Related Memory Loss.

Related links for improving your memory

Memory improvement

Theories And Processes – This article explains the steps of memory acquisition and retention, plus techniques for improving memory. (University of Texas at Austin)

Memory Improvement and Learning Skills – A resource chock-full of articles on every aspect of memory improvement. There are also sections titled Mnemonics, Amazing Brain, and Great Minds. (Project Happy Child, UK)

Don’t Forget! Playing Games With Memory – A series of four memory games designed for kids of all ages that test memory along with advice for improving memory. (The Exploratorium, San Francisco)

Keep Your Brain Alive Exercise – Illustrated memory improvement exercises that teach you to exercise your brain. These mental gymnastics strengthen nerve connections and activate little-used pathways in your brain to help keep your mind fit. (Neurobics.com)

Improving your memory – Simple, clearly presented guide to how reviewing, organizing, interpreting and making associations for what you learn can help you with memory improvement. (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Nutrition and memory improvement

Feed Your Head – Part of a special report on mental acuity, this article lists a number of foods that can help you stay sharp longer. (AARP)

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Improve Cognitive Function (commercial site) – Report on how fish oils, specifically DHA, help prevent memory loss. (Life Enhancement)

Memory and aging

Memory and Memory Loss – Excellent explanation for the layperson of how memory works and the different degrees of memory loss, plus guidelines for preserving memory function. (Duke University Medical Center)

Memory Loss with Aging: What’s Normal, What’s Not? (Commercial site) – Easy-to-read article about the normal changes in memory as we age, as well as information on how to tell if your memory problems are serious.
(FamilyDoctor.org).

Tips


  • Most people’s brains are not very good at remembering abstract information, such as numbers. This is one of the things that separate those with eidetic memory from those with a great, normal memory. The key to being able to recall such things is to build associations and links that evoke the memory. This is why almost anybody with normal brain functioning can dramatically improve their ability to recall things using mnemonics. While building a memory palace, for example, actually requires that you "remember" more, by associating the thing to be remembered with other things (emotions, other memories, images, etc.) you build more mental "links" to the memory, thus making it easier to access.
  • A large number of memory improvement products are available (a search on the internet will produce hundreds of such products). Most of these products actually teach you mnemonic strategies, and while some are no doubt bunk, some are legitimate.
  • One easy method to help you remember people’s names is to look at the person when you are introduced and say the person’s name: "Nice to meet you, Bill."
  • Try memorizing the order of a deck of playing cards. Although this may seem like a pointless task, it will allow you to discover memorization techniques that work best for you.

. Try a tray of objects (say, 10 objects). Study them for 30 seconds. Take the tray away and write down all the objects you can. Increase the number of items for more mind excercise. Or get someone else to find the objects on the tray; this makes them harder to remember and will test you more.

  • Put black ink at the end of your palm to remember any important thing for the next day or for that day itself. Whenever you see the black dot, you'll remember what to do.
  • Visualize whatever you have to do as part of something you see every day. For example, if you have to give your dog some medicine, visualize your dog in your fridge every time you walk past it or look inside. This will keep your dog fresh in your mind.
  • Write the event or task down immediately. If you don't have a pen, one thing you can do is change the time on your watch; later on you will remember why it is set at the wrong time. You could also wear your watch upside down.
  • Write in a diary or journal every day without fail. Even small issues should be written down -- this is a good way to make sure you don't miss anything.
  • Leave yourself a telephone message reminding yourself of important "to do" tasks.
  • Memorize your favorite song or poem until you can say it to yourself without any help. Try to do this often.
  • A study by Harvard University shows that people who sleep tend to remember things better. So sleep and see how much you remember things better.

Warnings

If you notice a severe or sudden deterioration of memory, talk to your doctor immediately. Sometimes "senior moments" can be precursors to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

While improving your ability to recall things can make a lot of tasks easier, it does not guarantee any sort of success in life.

Exercise due diligence when purchasing a memory improvement product. Find out as much as you can about how the program works, and do your own research to determine if it will work for you. Some of these products are simply scams. Be especially wary of products that promise to improve your memory instantly or with little or no effort: effective strategies to improve recall take time and practice.

While some herbal supplements that claim to improve memory may in fact work, there is no conclusive evidence that any of these are effective. Most are harmless, however, and may be worth a try, but exercise caution: some supplements can have harmful effects, and not all contain what they say they contain.

Related wikiHows

. How to Build a Memory Palace

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Your Memory. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-43: How to Improve Your Visualization


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

This is a tutorial on how to improve your Visualization skills. It is a good technique to know and helps your imagination and gives you more vivid dreams.

Steps

  1. Sit in a quiet room and dim the lights.
  2. Make yourself comfortable.
  3. Look around the room and notice everything in general - the lighting conditions, things on the wall, objects in the room, etc.
  4. Close your eyes, and try to 'see' what is around you. Remember the images of objects and things in your room and recite where they are and what the objects look like.
  5. Open your eyes and see if you correctly identified the things in and about your room!

Tips

  • Try not to stress your eyes because then you will just get frustrated.
  • Try to relax as much as you can.
  • Do not sit in an extremely bright room, or in a very dark room.
  • It helps to read books often - doing so will improve your creativity and visualization. Fiction novels are a great help in particular.

Warnings

  • It may take a very long time for you to do it, but if you keep practicing you will get it. Make sure you don't get frustrated.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Your Visualization. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-42: How to Create a Positive Classroom Atmosphere


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A positive atmosphere can make a classroom a more pleasant place to be and, in turn, a more effective, motivating place to learn. It's simple to do, and it can have positive results on the achievement of students.

Steps

  1. Change the way you act, talk, teach, communicate with your students. From today, communicate positively with every single one of them in a way that tells them that you have total confidence in them and their abilities(even though you might not have). Your body language and tone of voice makes up the majority your overall communication, so include it in your changes.
  2. Encourage the students with positive feedback whenever possible. Praise for successes is a far stronger motivation than criticism.
  3. Cover the walls of your classroom with positive messages: posters with motivational pictures and words; inspirational quotations from great people; positive paintings, drawings, prose, poems, done by your students.
  4. Create stereograms that have hidden positive words. For an example go to www.school-teacher-student-motivation-resources-courses.com/teaching methods and check out subliminal communication.
  5. Embed more positive words in everything that you write and talk about.
  6. Create a positive word for the day and start a discussion on it. Apply it to positive case studies, role models. For example - 'Winning' - Lance Armstrong won against cancer, won Tour de France Race 7 times, and won the hearts and minds of charities and young people with his coloured rubber wrist bands.
  7. Create a class dictionary of positive words. Start with an A - Z template and get your students to add positive words to the template. Make it big and put it on the wall.
  8. Use bright, warm colors in decorations. Most classrooms begin with standard-issue furnishings, all the same. Well-placed wall decorations can make a classroom more homey and occasionally even impart knowledge to those whose attention has drifted off.
  9. Make wall displays educational.

Tips

  • Give corrections in a positive tone. Say things like "Try again" or "Do you have another idea?" instead of "no". Prompt the student if he/she is on the right track: "And what is it called when that happens?"

Warnings

  • Don't play favorites. If necessary, create a deck of index cards with each student's name to ensure that students get called upon an equal amount of the time. Mix them up, periodically.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Create a Positive Classroom Atmosphere. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-41: How to Write an Analytical Essay


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Writing an essay is all about organizing your thoughts. Here's how to put together your ideas into a coherent analytical essay. An analytical essay is an essay that compares main ideas between 2 topics.

Steps

  1. Draw a square and put your introduction in it. (the introduction should grab your reader's attention)
  2. Start to plot out what you want to write. Do this underneath your introduction.
  3. Come up with a main idea for each paragraph. Explain your main idea, maybe throw in a quote that will help to explain it in better detail.
  4. Back up your ideas with examples. If you're writing a Descriptive consider a personal example. Otherwise, find an objective example to support your analysis.
  5. Follow these procedures for each paragraph that you need to write.
  6. State your conclusion. Restate your introduction and leave the readers thinking.Make your conclusion something very brief that anyone could read, try writing as if you were talking to a toddler, a very affective way of getting your point across.

Tips

  • Beginnings and endings are great places to use quotes, to use made up metaphors, and to use repetition, for effect.
  • If you are writing a formal analysis or critique, then avoid using colloquial writing. Though informal language may bring some color to a paper, you do not want to risk weakening your argument by influencing it with verbal slang.
  • When writing this type of essay you do NOT need to quote anything, pretend as if they were your own words, (if doing MLA, APA, or Turbain) These types of essays Do not require quotes and will be marked down accordingly if they are added.
  • Ask yourself "What am I trying to prove?" the answer should be in your thesis, if not go back and fix it.

Warnings

  • Avoid making your essay too tacky by using too little quotes. Remember that you want to incorporate others ideas, too.(without quotations if possible)
  • Don't try to add useless sentences to make an analytical essay longer; it is better to leave it short and to the point. Make each sentence count.

Things You'll Need

  • paper
  • pen
  • spell checker
  • thesaurus

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write an Analytical Essay. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-40: How to Increase Your Powers of Concentration


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Do you find it difficult to memorize long theoretical questions? Try the following steps to improve your concentration skills!

Steps

  1. Complete only when in a quiet environment.
  2. Drink a glass of room temperature water.
  3. Now draw a small, yet visible, dot on the wall facing you, and start staring and concentrating on the dot for 60-70 seconds.
  4. Start taking deep breaths while staring and for a short time after you have finished staring at the dot..
  5. You should now find an increase in your concentration power.

Tips

  • Do the exercise just before you sit to study.
  • Do not make a large dot (unless you have applied asian paints).
  • Increase the exercise duration from time to time.

Things You'll Need

  • A Glass Of Room Temperature Water
  • A Pencil
  • A Quiet Room To Complete Steps

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Increase Your Powers of Concentration. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-39: How to Read Shakespeare for Beginners


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Reading Shakespeare can initially be a confusing and frustrating experience, especially since most of us find little emotional connection with poetry written 400 years ago. But with a little common sense and a few general guidelines, you'll be equipped to expertly communicate the political backdrops and emotional motivations of "Hamlet" in no time. With the right tools, the process can be incredibly rewarding and you can always pride yourself in the knowledge that you now possess an understanding of some of the most successful theatrical sensations to have ever been written. You can even impress your dates by dropping in a few appropriate quotations here and there.

Steps

  1. Decide on a play. It is generally helpful to choose a play that is highly popular. Reading "King Lear," for instance, can give you greater motivation to understand the text than reading "The Merry Wives of Windsor." It is also helpful to choose a play with themes in which you are interested. Does a tale of "star-crossed lovers" appeal to you? Then "Romeo and Juliet" is right up your alley. Remember that understanding Shakespeare can be a tiring experience for the novice and can easily discourage readers. Most editions will have a brief synopsis printed on the back cover. If the play sounds intriguing, it might make for a good selection.
  2. Choose a good edition. There are several to choose from. The textual differences are generally minute, but they will differ drastically in their explanation of the text. The Arden is highly regarded as being the most detail oriented edition and providing the most historical information pertaining to the play. The New Folger Library edition, if it is available is a nice choice, as are the Spark notes treatments.. Each page of text provides simple notes and explanations on the opposite side to give you a more accessible understanding of the language.
  3. Find a synopsis. This might sound like cheating, but is highly valuable to understanding the play. If you possess the New Folger Library edition, a synopsis is provided before each scene. They are written to provide just enough information. Read it. You will then be able to match each character's lines with your understanding of the plot. In addition, because you are not burdened with the effort of "figuring it out," you will be more receptive to the nuances of language and character. Remember, it is difficult to appreciate anything when you have a puzzled look on your face.
  4. Read the play out loud. Shakespeare's plays were meant to be performed. Do not fall into the trap of intellectualizing the material before you've had a chance to experience it. The reason Shakespeare's works have survived for as long as they have and with such popularity is because we, as an audience, have understood the connection with the human experience. Read aloud. Have fun and act it out if you can. Make it a living experience. You will then reach an understanding that is far greater than what any scholar can say about the subject. You will also have more fun.
  5. Attend the play. Or watch the movie. After you've finished reading it, of course! It can be a real treat to see a performance of the piece once you've already imagined it in your head. How does the performance compare with your perceptions of the play? Was there something the actor provided that you did not consider? Was there something you would have done differently? Generally speaking, having read the play makes you a much better audience member as you are not struggling to understand the words. If you have finished reading one of Shakespeare's more popular plays as prescribed above, there is a very good chance it is currently in live production or has been produced into a film, often several times.

Tips

  • Many of the Bard's plays are now available for listening on CD, audio tape or iPod download. Listening to these may help you become familiarized with the language and make it easier for you to do the reading.
  • A basic rundown of some of Shakespeare's more popular plays:
    • Romeo and Juliet Romance Tragedy. A tale of star-crossed lovers. One of the simpler plays due to its straight plot structure, highly recommended for the beginner, but if romance isn't your thing, you may want to put it off until later. Highlight: Mercutio's death speech alone is well worth the cost of admission.
    • Twelfth Night Romantic Comedy. A woman cross-dresses in order to fit into a male-dominated career (which was, well, all of them, at Shakespeare's time) and falls in love, causing confusion and hijinks to occur.
    • Taming of the Shrew Romantic Comedy. A rather temperamental woman is "domesticated" by the man who becomes her husband. Warning: May insult modern sensibilities.
    • Richard III Historical. Full of murder, insanity and a strive for power. A bit more advanced but well worth the effort since so much is going on. Highlight: The conversation between the pair of assassins who go after Richard III's brother (who is in jail at the time).
    • The Tempest Fantasy. A Shakespearian equivalent to "Lost" or "Survivor" with a bit of wizardry tossed in for fun.
    • A Midsummer's Night's Dream Fantasy. Fauns, and pixies and magical creatures galore.
    • Macbeth Tragedy. A Scottish warrior meets a trio of witches who prophesize that he will become king. He tells his wife, who urges him on in his quest to become king. He quickly becomes obsessed, and blood shed and betrayal ensues.

Warnings

  • "Shakespeare Made Easy." Is a book in which Shakespeare's plays have been translated into modern vernacular. Each page of text is paraphrased into easily understood sentences on the facing page. Although a nice idea to help make Shakespeare more accessible to the masses, this edition is not recommended. Most people who pick up this edition end up only reading the "modern" text and completely ignoring the original writing.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Read Shakespeare for Beginners. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-38: How to Write a Research Paper


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Writing a research paper can be a challenge. Not only do you have to come up with shockingly clever ideas, you also have to figure out what the so-called experts think, and learn to format your paper correctly. When you finish, you’ll be surprised at what you’ve learned. But, start early; it may take more time than you realize.

Steps

  1. Decide on a topic. If it hasn’t been assigned to you, try to think of something original. Choosing something that actually interests you will make the process a lot less painful. Also, try to choose a topic on which you will be able to find outside information.
    • Narrow the topic. Instead of writing about "Music," you could narrow that down to "Instruments," or even, "The History of the Clarinet," That will make the topic much easier to control!
  2. Research. The whole object of a research paper is to research a topic. Utilize book and article databases at the library, reputable websites, encyclopedias and other reference books, peer-reviewed magazines, etc. Find as much as possible written about your topic and either bookmark it, or make a copy of it; you will need it later, and it's much easier to look through your copies, than to try to find that particular source again.
  3. Read through your materials. Depending on how much information you actually have, you may not want to read everything. Try skimming through it to get the gists of each article, then go back and read the most useful parts in depth. Put a bookmark on all the important pages and write down any quotes you want to use in your paper. Highlight important passages and other useful, and usable, information.
  4. Write your thesis statement. This is one of the most important parts of the essay-writing process. Your thesis statement is usually one sentence that states your main point, or subject. Make sure that it accurately represents what you are trying to say. Remember that you have to be able to prove, using your research, anything you say.
  5. Write your paper. Every paragraph should work towards proving your thesis statement. Now is the time to use that information you spent so much time researching. Use quotations to reinforce your evidence and support your thesis. Always be sure to cite your sources.
  6. Format and proofread your essay. Read your paper over for grammar, spelling, and syntax errors. Make sure you transition from thought to thought and paragraph to paragraph in a fluent fashion. You should never jump from one idea to another without some sort of transition. Check with your teacher to find out what format your paper should be in (double-spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman, for example) and what format your citations should be in (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.). Consult a guide to learn the specifics of that format. Be sure that you have all required elements including a works cited page, bibliography, or footnotes. Before turning it in, check the paper over at least three times.

Tips

  • Stick to the topic of your paper, chances are you get more points for creativity.
  • Remember that your research paper should be based on a number of reliable materials which will support your argument.
  • Reading your paper out loud or having a friend check it can help you find easy to miss mistakes.
  • Also start at the end of your research paper and read the sentences in reverse order so that your eyes can catch mistakes. You may read it so many times that your eyes got to familiar with the words so reading it in reverse sentence order will help you catch mistakes.
  • Proofread your research paper in order to get rid of punctual and grammar mistakes.
  • Wikipedia can be a great source of information, but you have to be careful. Make sure that what you are reading makes sense; occasionally, as with any wiki, pages can be vandalized. Because of this, many teachers frown upon its use. Check with your professor before using wikipedia as a source.

Warnings

  • Watch out for poor quality references. Most teachers frown upon quotes from thrown-together personal websites (complete with corny music and mouse trailers) used as scholarly references.
  • Don't plagiarize work done by other people unless you have their permission or site where you got the information. You could be sued by the author or get a fine.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Research Paper. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

If you want your children to be intelligent....

If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales – Albert Einstein

How To-37: How to Be Good at Algebra



How to Be Good at Algebra


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Have you ever been frustrated at calculation problem? Have you ever thought, "Oh! I could have gotten that one right!!"??? Well, here's where you start.

Steps

  1. Review each time your teacher teaches you. If you do not something, ask your parents, your friends, or even your older siblings. They would definitely be glad to help you. You should review the DAY the teacher teaches you because who knows? Maybe the next day you try to review, you will forget. Review while it is still fresh in your mind.
  2. As much as reviews go, you should also do a prep study. Preparation studies help you. You will know what the teacher is talking about the next time she teaches you a lesson. So prepare for a lesson before the teacher teaches to you. That way, the teacher will not sound like "blah blah blah" and it will start to make sense.
  3. Ask your teacher during class! Or, if you are a shy type, ask the person sitting next to you. Or, maybe you can ask your friends after class. It has to be AS SOON AS the class is over. You can also ask your teacher after school, if he/she is free.
  4. Study, study, study! But never cram. Some people think that cramming is good because it makes them want to study more. But no, it is not good. Because you will forget the next day you have a test. They just don't stay in your mind. 2 weeks before the test, study at least 1 hour everyday.
  5. The more problems you solve, the better. You might think that there is no other ways to study algebra. But the point in solving problems is so that you can get used to the formulas That way, you can solve the problems faster and you can think faster.
  6. Never cheat! Never cheat on a test. Cheating can get you a big old goose egg, "0". You don't want that to happen do you?
  7. Do not panic during the test Your mind won't be able to think clearly and you will forget the formulas. Do NOT panic.
  8. Accept your grades. That's right, accept it. When you get your test back and found out that you have a bad grade, accept it. This is what you should do when you get your tests back.
    • Look at your score. Do you want to make it better? Never think, "Hurray! I got 100! Now I don't have to study anymore!" If you think that, then you will get a bad grade because you will feel that there is no need to study. If you get a 100, just think, "I'll have to keep it up!"
    • Make corrections. Solve the problems you got wrong again and again until you get it right. Review each day. Make the problems you don't know in one of you studies.
    • Reflect on your scores.
  9. You will be a pro in algebra in no time!

Tips

  • Best time to study is in the mourning as soon as you wake up, maybe after breakfast. Do simple calculations. It can clear your mind and can help you study on other subjects. Your mind won't go blurry.

Warnings

  • Don't study too much or you will get the formulas mixed up. Never overdo.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be Good at Algebra. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-36: How to Be a Popular Teacher


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Don't you hate it when you get the feeling that your pupils hate you? Here are some tips to get on their good side.

Steps

  1. Have a unique character. This normally only works if you're new, but if you stick to a certain personality that may be mean/angry etc. you will gain respect for it, as long as you're not stupid or act like a snob.
  2. Ask for a class opinion. Have a discussion with your class about what could make class more interesting. The same things normally come up like listening to music. Listen to their suggestions and compromise.
  3. Be flexible. Listen to your students! You'll be amazed how much they'll respect you when you do. But don't let the kids rule you. Of course they'll want to take advantage of these fun things, but you still want to maintain control. Do not be overly strict.
  4. Make the work you give to students fun. Any subject can be interesting if done through a game or puzzles. Never waste the students' time. Make sure that your assignment is actually going to teach them something or help them apply class principles in real life. Busy work is a hassle for everyone. Moreover, they will see it it as pointless for you you teach something not relevant to the subject you are teaching.
  5. Stay in fashion. While still dressing appropriately for your age and maintaining decorum, keep in touch with fashion to help the students relate to you more. Discussing what's new in trends with your students will give you a better feel for where they're coming from as well.
  6. Keep in mind that your students cannot remember everything. Make sure to remind them about things when necessary.
  7. Know how to console your students. Be someone who can give advice on solving the students' dilemma. Give respect, and never humiliate a student in front of the class unless the context is a very clear joke. Remember, humiliation offends far more people than just the student in question.
  8. Show your passion! Stay interested and involved with your work, remember why you became a teacher in the beginning. Your love of a subject and excitement for it can influence your pupils greatly.

Tips

  • DO NOT be hypocritical. If you want your students to take their coats off indoors, make sure you do so too.
  • Grade fairly. Make sure that not all of your assignments are subjective. For those that are, take precautions such as reading the first page with the name last, or having students write their names on the backs of the papers so you don't know who it is before you grade.
  • Don't be someone you're not. People can see right through you. It is more likely to get you made fun of than popular with students.
  • If you don't know the answer, don't be afraid to say "I don't know." Students often know when the teacher doesn't have a clue and that leads to a dramatic loss of respect. (And then don't take the question as a challenge to your knowledge. Take it as a good question from a good, curious student.)
  • If you have a student who has read something that you haven't or has an idea you don't know how to respond to, respect their opinion and appreciate that someone has taken the time to do some extra research. If you don't know how to respond, say things like "I've never heard that before. I will have to do some research." It will actually make the student feel that his opinions are valid.
  • Don't naively believe that everyone believes the same things you do (especially when it comes to religion), even if you live in a region where most people believe the same things.
  • Stop complaining how much you have to grade. You were the one who assigned it. If you don't want to grade it, don't assign it!
  • Don't check out, especially if you teach high school. Letting movies teach your class for you isn't cool; it is lazy and shows the students you don't care.
  • Care about what you teach! If you don't like it, your students won't either. If you expect your students to get good grades and put forth an effort, you have to as well.
  • Remember that education is more than teaching students what to think, it is also teaching them how to think. Encourage diverse opinions (even if those opinions differ from your own).
  • Don't complain about your job, salary, or that you have to do conferences - it is part of your job, you picked it. If a business man told his customers how much he hated his job, would they buy his product? No! It also makes students feel bad about themselves if you hate being there with them.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be a Popular Teacher. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-35: How to Write a Resume


How to Write a Resume


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Want to make your resume shine? Here's how to put together a resume that'll impress any employer.

Steps

  1. Make notes of all your previous job responsibilities. Note what is already on your current resume and what you might want to add to past jobs. If this is your first resume, this is a great time to start putting the proper amount of detail into your resume. That way, you don't have to revisit those portions year after year.
  2. Tailor your resume to the position you're applying for (this may require a bit of research). You may end up with many different versions of your resume, each one emphasizing a different set of skills.
  3. State your objective. Again, keep this short and to the point. Personalize it to the position. Make sure your objective doesn't contradict the position you are applying for.
  4. Highlight your work experience. Again, keep in mind that you should tailor your qualifications to the the position you are seeking. Whenever possible, list your experience in terms of accomplishments and achievements rather than tasks and responsibilities. Show your success.
  5. Add information about your educational background.
  6. Mind the look and feel of your resume. It should have clean lines and be easy to read. Make it 1-2 pages max - if you have more to share, save it for the interview. The font should be 8-13, no smaller, no bigger, but you should be able to read it well when you print it out. Black and white is best, but occasional color is okay if not overdone.
  7. Keep the format neat and organized. Include relevant information only. Don't list every little job you've ever held if it isn't relevant. Decide between listing by experience or chronologically (use whichever one works best for your resume).
  8. Include an address, phone number and email address. But, do not include an email that shows you shouldn't be taken seriously, like beerandboys@email.com. Don't use your current employer's name, number or email, either. If necessary, get an extra email address with a professional name that you can use for job searches.
  9. Proofread, proofread and proofread again. Have a friend proofread. Have an enemy proofread. Have a stranger proofread. Then proof again! Don't boast about verbal communication skills with a typo.
  10. Toot your own horn, but be careful. There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence. Try not to cross that line.
  11. Follow directions. This is a huge indicator of responsibility to a hiring manager. If the ad says "no calls please," then don't call! If the job description asks you to provide your salary history, then include that information in your resume.

Tips

  • Be consistent! Format each entry in your resume in the same way.
  • You might not need to list your whole name if it takes up two full lines (James Michael Allan Hoffman III; James Hoffman is fine or even Jim Hoffman if that's the way you like to be addressed.
  • Don't over qualify yourself for a position. Give enough information for interest and save the "wow" factor for the interview. Write the resume for the position you are applying for without altering the truth.
  • Don't attach 6 letters of recommendation, your diploma, your birth certificate, and your CPR and fitness certifications. Indicate your current certifications and be prepared to give references upon request. Do not waste space on your resume by saying "References available".
  • Put your educational details in before your employment details, with the most recent first on both of them.
  • Another approach is to lead with your strong suit, whether it be education, skills, work or volunteer experience. The idea is to showcase your strengths and hide any weaknesses.
  • Detail your duties within each position but don't go overboard.
  • Highlight your expertise in software programs and/or any other particular skills that will impress the interviewer.
  • Listing personal hobbies is optional, but make sure they are sending the right impression. In other words, you might want to mention your stamp collection if you're applying for a job at a delivery company, but don't include Monday night football at Hooters.
  • Be careful about listing volunteer activities. When you start listing things that tie you to political and other emotionally charged organizations, you might get put in a bucket of preconceived notions. It's not right, but everyone has biases and it is better to avoid them if possible.
  • Quantify your accomplishments, if possible, by applying specific numbers to your successes. For instance, if you streamlined the flow of work for your department, define how much time it saved the company over a period of, say, 4 months. Time is money.
  • Most people are somewhat shy and modest about what they have done on the job. Don't be! Think hard about what you've done and what you've accomplished. For instance, instead of saying "answered phones," say "answered multi-line phone and routed calls for an office of 43 people." The example here shows the prospective employer the volume of work you've handled and the complexity of the equipment.
  • Try to keep your resume to one page, and two at most.
  • Get a friend or business adviser to check it for mistakes. It is easy to miss typing errors and grammatical mistakes in your haste to produce the perfect resume.
  • Print your resume on good quality paper, such as 20 pound bond white paper. Fancy papers are nice, but it's the content of your resume that employers care about.
  • If possible, keep the resume for a day or two before reading it again. You may think of something else you want to add before submitting it to prospective employers.
  • Write a cover letter that is short, sweet and to the point (and specifically written for the job you're applying for). If at all possible, do not write more than a page-long cover letter (make sure, though, that you include everything the employer asks for). Try and remember that the person reading it is probably looking at hundreds of resumes. Address logical questions in your cover letter. If you're applying for a position in California but your resume has a New York address, explain why. If you don't, the reader will probably trash the resume (unless the company is ready and willing to pay for a relocation package).
  • If you do have to use two pages, make sure that the second page is at least half filled. If not, go back and re-work the formatting to see if you can fit it on one page. You can also review all the information you have and make sure it is all necessary and relevant. Remove the "fluff".
  • Use no more than three different fonts.
  • Always backup your resume on a floppy (yes, a floppy), flash USB drive or even print it out.
  • Use white space effectively. The resume layout should be professional, crisp and well-defined. If you have too much information on the page, feel free to leave out what you feel is not 100% necessary, such as that fast food job you had in high school, if you have other more relevant experience to draw from.
  • Do not pad your resume. This may be illegal in some instances, and is quite likely to make you look like a fool.
  • Do not include irrelevant personal information. If you make inappropriate personal disclosures on your resumes, employers may perceive you as having poor judgment. They may also, intentionally or unintentionally, discriminate against you.
  • Although in some cultures, it's customary to list your age, marital status, and family status, it isn't common in the United States. If you think age is important, you can allude to it with the year you graduated college or high school. Otherwise, these dates aren't necessary. Beware that, depending on the industry, you may face age discrimination if you graduated many years ago. For example, in creative industries, having graduated more than a few years ago may disqualify you from getting an interview for a junior position.
  • In some countries (like Germany) you have to include a photograph with your application. In others, like the US and Canada, including a photo will immediately disqualify you with many employers. This just goes to show how important it is to research the local culture if you apply for a job in another country.
  • Many word processors, including Microsoft Word, have "fill-in-the-blank" style resumes. Check for one with an appropriate style and then follow their guiding. It can give you help on how to start.
  • Make a lot of drafts!
  • Remember, the resume lands you the interview and the interview gets you the job!

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Resume. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-34: How to Improve Your IQ



How to Improve Your IQ


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient. It basically measures your intelligence - how smart you are. There are several types of intelligence; not just your typical school/education related material. While IQ is generally thought to be innate, there are things you can do that may improve your IQ score.

Steps

  1. Read! Read and read some more! Yes, this is first because in order to improve your IQ you must read. But before you reach out for that worn out paperback (a story you've read a million times) read a new book, a book from a completely different genre than what you're used to. You usually read mystery? Good, now, go ahead and read some comedy. Only fiction? Go grab a biography. Read everything and anything (this includes articles, news stories, and magazines.)
  2. Try writing with your opposite hand. Some people claim that if you write with your opposite hand then your IQ goes up, because your brain is not used to writing with that other hand and is forced to work harder. However, if you're ambidextrous, that's great. Try writing with both hands at once, and try writing different things with different hands at once. You can also try using different hand for using the mouse. Doing that will stimulate the other side of your brain to work.
  3. You can also try reading upside-down. This is a good excuse to re-read that paperback you weren't allowed to read in the first step.
  4. Write out long letters. Thinking about emailing your aunt that thank-you note? Forget it, write it out by hand instead.
  5. Play video games. However, attempt to play a game that is out of your usual range of choices. It will help you think differently. Look for games that provide you with problems to solve or force you to think quickly.
  6. Work on cryptology. This is when a message is written in codes and you try to figure it out. It's challenging for some, but after a while may even become enjoyable.
  7. Practice crosswords and sudoku. These activities stimulate your mind and thought processes. People normally don't consider word searches thought-provoking, but if practiced in addition to other mind games, they could prove to be easy and stimulating.
  8. Do Logic and lateral thinking puzzles. These help your brain think outside the box and solve problems in different ways.
  9. Take a weekly IQ test and record your results. If you would like to view your improvements, consider placing the results on a line graph using excel or another graph-compatible program. (See external links for a free, tested online IQ test).

Tips

. Eat brain food. Fish has been scientifically proven to increase memory.
  • Exercise. This increases blood flow to the brain-resulting also in increased thought/memory.
  • Forget. Yes-you read that right. You need to get rid of unnecessary info in your brain sometimes to make room. This is also where sleeping comes in handy. Forget the day and rest your brain.
  • Practice doing a Rubik's Cube. Yes, this WILL increase your IQ.
  • Play games like chess and crossword puzzles. It helps you to think and it can be fun at the same time.

Warnings

  • Don't ever think that there isn't a way to remember something. We have a lot to work with. Not only that, but there are several types of memory aid techniques and strategies.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Your IQ. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-33: How to Become a College Professor


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Teaching at a college or university is a rewarding career path. But hard work and sacrifice are required if you wish to follow this path. However, your hard work will be rewarded with great benefits!

Steps

  1. Complete your compulsory education. In the United States, this is grade 12, high school diploma, or General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
  2. Enroll at a two year or four year college or university. If you go to a two year school, junior college, or community college make sure that your degree path is intended to transfer to a four year college or university. Some degrees at the two year institution are not intended for transfer, but rather to prepare the student for the job market.
  3. Select a major. This is not necessarily the discipline you will later teach, but should be something in which you are interested.
  4. Complete the baccalaureate degree with a particular degree program and major. Make really good grades (3.5 or higher GPA) to be competitive for the next step.
  5. Go to graduate school. This is where you really have to begin to specialize. When you choose an institution for your graduate study, look carefully what program have the highest enrollment. These programs probably have a good reputation and a lot of students for a reason.
  6. If you don't know what you want to study in graduate school, don't go.
  7. Make really good grades (most graduate schools require grades of A and B.)
  8. Decide if you want a more research oriented career or teaching oriented career.
  9. If you want to teach in a two year college, you need a master's degree in the subject you want to teach.
  10. If you want to teach in a university (four year institution) you need a terminal degree in that discipline, usually the doctorate.
  11. If you want a faculty position at a research oriented or Ph. D. granting university, typically you will need to do at least one postdoctoral fellowship after completing your Ph.D. During this time, typically 2-3 yrs, you need to publish as many papers as you can in the top ranked journals of your discipline. You will also need to develop an independent research plan that is first and foremost at the leading edge of your discipline, one that is fundable by federal agencies such as the NIH, NSF, DOE, etc, and will attract graduate students as postdocs to your group.
  12. Most colleges and universities allow professors to work full time and earn tenure. Tenure provides those in the academic profession with some benefits, including protection from termination without due process or without cause.
  13. While tenure is a tremendous benefit, it comes with a great responsibility. Be a good and honest scholar, but don't abuse it and don't hide behind it.
  14. Typically tenure at a top-ranked research institution requires some degree of demonstrable funding (especially in sciences and engineering disciplines) and a strong record of publications. Being a good teacher with a so-so research record will typically not get you tenure.
  15. In sciences and engineering, typically starting Assistant Professors are given funds to build a lab, buy specialized equipment and supplies, and get their projects off the ground. This would usually be thought of by the junior faculty members as an investment that their university has made in them. They should try VERY hard to make good on this investment through securing their own funding, typically 2-3x their startup, before coming up for tenure.
  16. Remain humble. Don't succumb to "professor's disease". Just because you spend your days in front of students who, by definition, have a lot to learn, doesn't mean you are omniscient or have an exalted place in the universe.

Tips

  • Your grades make a difference.
  • Do research and learn statistics.
  • Go to conferences offered by the national organization for the discipline that interests you.
  • Take elective courses (while earning the baccalaureate degree) in collateral areas.
  • Never stop trying to learn; academics are life long learners.
  • Be prepared to work as a TA or adjunct professor to get your foot in the door. Most universities require experience before a hiring.
  • If possible, apply *everywhere*. The more places you apply, the better your chances of getting a job. This only works if you are willing to move anywhere (possibly cross country) with short notice.
  • Learn how to write scholarly papers. Academia does not put up with "fluff" or BS. This is especially important because most tenure positions require you to publish something on a regular basis (publish or perish, as the saying goes).
  • Check job postings *often* , several times a week.

Warnings

  • The pay is not great, and the work is isolating. When you seek the tenure track, the first 6 years on the job are intense. This would not be the time to have a baby, get married, or make any other big life changes. Many institutions and systems now offer a flexible tenure track. If you feel like life may intervene, you might want to look for that kind of program.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Become a College Professor. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-32: How to Impress Your Students


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Sometimes, teachers can't always get the students on their side. And, as a result, the students tend to think that their teacher isn't very communicative. Every child loves a teacher that is willing to open up their feelings to them, and tell them about their lifestyle.

Steps

  1. Find a story that is very funny or interesting. It is probably best to tell when your students are quiet and hard at work. They need a time off.
  2. Act relaxed and add a dramatic pause, as if waiting for something. This causes suspense and has a feeling of specialness. It also makes the students interested,
  3. Look around the room, and then tell your story. If you please, add some exaggeration.
  4. Pause every once in a while, and make sure this story is happy. Sometimes, if the time is right, you might want to add a little tension, or suspense.
  5. End your story with a good laugh.

Tips

  • Try to assign something related to your story, and act as if you just remembered your story.
  • You want to usually want to tell something funny.

Warnings

  • Make sure that your stories do not offend yourself or anyone else. It is OK if you do not know the person and you make fun of them.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Impress Your Students. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-31: How to Find the Right Online Continuing Education School Program


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Online continuing education is a fast-growing market that is becoming more and more acceptable in the work place - as long as you choose a legitimate online education program.

Steps

  1. Verify the institution is "recognized" through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation's Web site at http://www.ncahlc.org. ("The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) database lists approximately 7,000 degree-granting and non-degree-granting institutions and over 17,000 programs that are accredited by United States accrediting organizations that have been recognized either by CHEA or by the United States Department of Education (USDE) or both.") Accreditation is necessary for recognition by your employer as well as recognition by other higher education institutions (i.e., in case you want to pursue an advanced degree).
  2. Make sure the price is right. Find out up-front - before you pay an application fee exactly how much tuition is and make sure that you have a full picture of all costs including any access fees, texts, other required purchases,etc. You have to be positive you can afford the tuition costs. Keep in mind that many companies have strong tuition reimbursement options. Although online education is generally more affordable than a comparable campus-based education, it is not cheap, so make sure you get your money's worth and know exactly what you are enrolling for.
  3. Check out the teachers. Ask about their experience - either real-world or academic - and make sure they are worthy of educating you on the area you are pursuing. It is important that they have the knowledge necessary to do the job. As a point of reference, most associate or junior college teachers have at least a Master's degree in the subject they teach, and the majority of full college professors have a PhD. in their area of expertise. Your online education teachers should have comparable levels of education.
  4. Make sure you will get any needed attention. Try and pin down at least a guideline for student-teacher ratios. Unlike classroom learning, it is possible to have an almost unlimited number of students in an online class, but obviously if the class size is enormous, you will not get the same sort of quality time with the teachers as you would in a smaller class. Making sure your teachers are not overburdened can help you get the education you deserve.
  5. Evaluate the history of the school. Schools develop their reputations for producing quality students - who get the job done at the companies that hire them - over time, so for the most part, the longer the school has existed, the better.
  6. Evaluate your fellow students. What is the total school enrollment and what percentage of students graduate? They should be able to tell you how many students are currently enrolled. A large amount of students shows both stability and future name recognition in the job market. Also, a higher graduation rate is a great indication that students are very satisfied with the programs at that school. Be leery if they do not share these data points with you.
  7. Determine what resources they will require you to have. Most online classes require that students have access to a computer and may require certain levels of hardware in order to adequately handle and run up-to-date multimedia and word processing types of programs. They may also require certain levels of Internet access. So make sure your equipment is up to the task, or that you are budgeted for buying new equipment. In terms of software, many online programs provide all the materials you need directly from their site, but some may require you to buy supplemental software on your own.
  8. Determine what resources the school provides to you. Top online degree programs offer great access to "virtual libraries" and other resources to help you through your education.
  9. Make sure the length of time needed to earn a degree works for you. The length of time required to earn your degree can vary widely in the online education world, so make sure you know exactly how long each program you are considering takes and determine which best fits in with your time frame. Some online schools will allow you to complete tasks at their own pace, while others require that students participate in virtual class sessions and have specific deadlines for assignments.
  10. Look into what forms of communication are available for you to get in touch with the school/teachers. You want to know if all communications are done online or if you can also call if you need help or have questions. Some schools even offer actual campus locations you can go to for certain classes, sessions or extra help. The more options available to you the better, but at a minimum, the school should have a legitimate phone number for you to reach them at.

Tips

  • Accreditation and a good match to your desired degree programs are the two main keys.

Warnings

  • Watch out for non-accredited online degree mills that teach you nothing. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Find the Right Online Continuing Education School Program. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.