Procrastinus - A Procrastination Site

I know I've been yammering on lately about time management and lists - it's just that time of the year for me, February and procrastination seem to go hand-in-hand - but, I'm still going to link to one more time-related site. Procrastination Central includes online assessments (I'm apparently a moderate procrastinator), research on procrastination and links to a number of interesting sites (both serious and fun). I know that any success I've had with conquering procrastination is because I've found out as much as I could about it and learned techniques that I can use to avoid it (no pun intended).

Miriam

Google Super Searching Workshop

Have you ever used an internet search engine and walked away thinking, “I am sure there is more on this topic out there, but I just can’t seem to find it!” or, “I am not sure if this is from a website that is considered authoritative;” or even, “Why oh why did I end up with this recipe for fantastic chicken corn chowder when I am researching the Cuban missile crisis?” Don’t worry you are definitely not alone at this university. Using internet search engines effectively is a great skill to learn so that next time you sit down in front of your computer you can get the results you need. The Dafoe library is offering a number of workshops called “Google Super Searching,” which are aimed at teaching you about search concepts and tricks, as well as how to find what you want on the internet. The details are as follows:

Location: Room 11, Elizabeth Dafoe Library

Dates: Monday, February 19, 4:00 - 5:00
Wednesday, February 28, 1:15 – 2:15
Friday, March 9, 3:00 – 4:00
Monday, March 12, 4:00 – 5:00
Wednesday, March 21, 1:15 – 2:15
Friday, March 30, 3:00 – 4:00

Email dafref@ms.umanitoba.ca to register.

Have fun searching the net,

Jeff

Mnemonics

In most cases, understanding and becoming familiar with a subject area is the best way to learn; however, sometimes we just need to memorize (i.e., what are the 6 types of veins?). Mnemonics are strategies that you can use to memorize difficult to remember lists, systems, and facts. Some examples of mnemonics are acronyms (HOME = Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie; MADD = Mother's Against Drunk Driving), first letter mnemonics (PIRATES = Pulmonary disease, Ischemia, Rheumatic heart disease, Anemia, Thyrotoxicosis, Ethanol, and Sepsis), or verses (Thirty days hath September,April, June, and November: All the rest have thirty-one, Except for February). You can make up your own mnemonics (you just have to make sure you remember what they mean!) or use mnemonics others have already created (like the examples above).

The wikipedia entry linked above (just click on "mnemonic") lists a number of different mnemonic techniques. I've also listed a number of other sites below that you might find useful.

Amanda's Mnemonic Page
University of Victoria's Mnemonics Page
Mnemonic Techniques provided by Inteligen
Mnemonics

Miriam

Two useful sites

I love to-do lists; they keep easily distracted me on task. They also allow me to get rid of "brain clutter" and put all those little items that tend to cause me anxiety down on paper where I can see them - tasks just seem so much more manageable when they are put down in on a piece of paper. However, those little pieces of paper often get lost in the larger clutter of my desk. If you are a student, even the luxury of a desk space to lose to-do lists on is rare; most of the time you're going from cafeteria, to hallway, to library, to class (and so on) and those lists are easier to lose (or forget). Ta-da an on-line list program is a possible solution to this problem. You need to subscribe (so it will remember your lists), but it's free and really, really easy to use. I've set ta-da as my home page, so that I can see my lists as soon I pull up Firefox. And, best of all, you can't lose the lists!

Another on-line service that upper level students, particularly graduate students, might find useful is the newly launched on-line Chicago Manual of Style. There is a cost associated with this subscription ($30 per year), but if you use this style manual regularly and are tired of hauling it around (for those of you who aren't familiar with the Chicago Manual of Style - it's big!) the cost of an annual subscription might be worth it.

Miriam

Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Podcast

I've been wandering the net looking for interesting sites that I can add to our page o' links on the LAC webpage and came across a series of "Quick and Dirty" podcasts. Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing is, not surprisingly, the one I was most interested in (although better manners and more money wouldn't hurt!). Her podcasts cover everything from style guides, to commas to the use of hung vs. hang. The information is accurate, clear and fun. Check it out! Those of you with iPods can be a true geeks, download the podcasts, and listen to them while you're walking from class to class, on the bus, or waiting to pick up you next double double.

I love making lists

I love making lists. Even if I know I won’t get it all done in one day, I like at least to put it all out there. It not only serves as a reminder, but as soon as an item gets on my list, it has entered my thinking in-basket. This in-basket means that even if you can’t see that I’m working on an assignment, my mind has begun processing. This processing may take the form of thinking about the steps of the task, or accessing my background knowledge, or I could even play with jumping to conclusions in an essay.

The brilliant part is that I may not even look at the list again (though not usually the case), but I am so much more likely to get those items done if I have written them on a to-do list. The process of writing itself helps me break down tasks into doable parts. I also invariably put those little things that need doing but are super easy to cross off the list, like phone my grandma and mail two letters. These “easy button” tasks help me feel like I am getting things done and on top of the world. I like that.

Happy Listing

Natalie

Topic and Transitions Sentences

As a reader of quite a few essays and term papers, I notice that writers often struggle with organization. What I have usually found is that their organization is pretty good; each paragraph has a main idea and the paragraphs follow logically, but two key elements are missing. These elements are topic and transition sentences and can even be added to essays after they are written. Using topic and transition sentences is an easy way to infuse both organization and cohesion (aka flow) into essays.

Topic sentences belong at the beginning of each body paragraph and highlight the main idea of the paragraph and how that idea relates to the thesis of the essay. I think it’s important to be really explicit in this sentence so the reader is not left to question the logical flow of ideas. However, it’s also vital to be creative and interesting so the reader is eager to keep reading.

Transition sentences are the last sentence of every paragraph and serve to sum up the paragraph and hook or connect into the ideas coming in the next paragraph. If in an article review, the first paragraph is illustrating a strength in the article, the transition sentence could show the reader that this is not the only strength of the article, more are coming.

Writers may feel like they’re being repetitive in doing this, but readers don’t know the topic as well as the writer, so the restatement or clarification really is helpful for the reader. And a happy and unconfused reader is usually a happy marker! (wink wink ;))

Here's a short sample essay that has colour coded the thesis and topic sentences so readers can easily see how these sentences look and function in an essay.

Natalie

WC Online

Attention students! You no longer have to stop by our office or phone us to book an appointment to see a writing tutor at our office. If you want to book an appointment, simply log onto www.rich15.com/manitoba, ‘Click here to Register’, fill in all the required information then log onto the site and book the appointment over the internet! You can book appointments at 4:00am and from anywhere in the world if you like. If you require instructions, please visit our office website at www.umanitoba.ca/u1/lac and click on ‘Booking Appointments’ or stop by our office and ask for more information.

Greg

Google Scholar

Research papers typically require students to venture out into the world of academic literature in order to gain insight into a topic. Typically only reputable, peer-reviewed sources should be used to support your arguments. If you’re scared of the intimidating Elizabeth Dafoe Library (which you shouldn’t be), my guess is that you’ll probably venture on to Google to see what you can find on the topic you’re researching. Using a basic search engine, you’re going to find a whole lot of material that may be interesting, but not particularly useful. Sites like Wikipedia or Joe Blow’s Blog may be informative, but they don’t quite have the same clout as the publications of experts in the field you’re studying.

This isn’t to say that the Internet is useless when it comes to research. Not at all. However, when you’re on the lookout for reputable scholarly literature, try Google Scholar. This search engine will provide you with legitimate, peer-reviewed publications from the best and brightest.

Greg

Structured Procrastination

In case you blinked, October is in full swing. Where did all of September go? I doubt anyone has a reasonable answer for that. What is apparent is the fact that the number of days of stress-free university life students have managed to soak up these past few weeks are rapidly drying up. Perhaps you have been keeping on top of things, reading over notes from every class, starting all your assignments early, and going to see your profs with all you questions. Or maybe you had every intention of doing these things but somewhere along the way they lost priority to all other things in your life like soccer practice, the season premiere of Grey’s, and hanging out with friends, etc. Now faint recollections of meaning to review class notes are coming back and due dates that seemed so distant and manageable at the beginning of term are but a week or so away. October can be a hard in terms of getting yourself back into the swing of things and the only way to get the ball rolling…is to get the ball rolling. However if you feel your excellent procrastination abilities are impeding your ball rolling consider something called Structured Procrastination at www.structuredprocrastination.com. This is a neat skill that helps you to turn your procrastination into completed by using your procrastination skills in a valuable way. Does this sound too good to be true? Well it’s not as easy as sitting around doing no work but at least this one with help you get your assignments and studying done on time.

Conclusions – Will there be a sequel?

One of the biggest challenges student writers face is toward the end of the process. You’ve written everything except the dreaded conclusion. But what do you write? An all too common approach to conclusions is to summarize your entire paper. The trouble with a summary is that your instructor will be reading the same things they just read in the body of your paper. Especially for short papers written at the undergraduate level, reading a summary may be perceived as time well wasted.

I’ve struggled with conclusions for many years and have found the best way to tackle a paper’s conclusion is to think like some horror movie producers do:
leave room for a sequel! A great writer effectively answers question she’s asked herself but in the end, poses another with the hope that she or another researcher may be able to answer. Just as the monster comes back to life in the frightening final moments of a horror flick, prompting audience anticipation for a sequel, academic writers also might leave their endings open.

Greg

Blog note: Here's some more online information on conclusions.

Time management web workshop

I apologize for the sporadic nature of our posts. The weeks are just flying by.

When it gets busy we all struggle with time, the lack of it and the seemingly vast number of tasks that seem to pile up. Figuring out a game plan to deal with those tasks is always a good idea. The University of Guelph has a fabulous, interactive web workshop on time management. There are several points of entry: by topic (i.e. "time management and creativity") by persistent or recurring problems (i.e., procrastination) or by topics that are geared towards specific student populations (i.e., adult students or first-year students). Check it out.

Next Week's Workshops

The first full week back to school is almost complete and if you are starting to feel a little panicky about your ability to tackle assignments and organize your studying fret not!! The LAC will be offering a variety of workshops in the next two months that will set you well on your way and keep you on track to meet your goals this semester.

The LAC is offering two workshops next week. Note! If you have one of the LAC Brochures some of the rooms have changed! They are correct here.

Organizing Your Time Effectively
Tues. Sept 19, 1:30-2:30, Helen Glass 348
Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2:30-3:30, Helen Glass 344
This workshop will help with that constant pressure of getting everything done and getting it done on time.

Research and the Internet
Thursday September 21, 1:00-2:00, Helen Glass 370
This workshop offers information about using research logs and how to search the internet effectively. This involves sorting through all the junk and finding something valuable as well as making use of the databases available through the UM Libraries.

You can register by calling 480-1481 or online through the Virtual Learning Commons.

The Writing Tutor Program is back!!!!!

That's right! Starting Tuesday, September 19th, the writing tutors return to the Elizabeth Dafoe Library's Reference Room! Feel free to drop by for help with your essays. For updated information about hours of operation, please visit us online.



Greg

Welcome First Year Students and The Virtual Learning Commons

It's the first day of orientation! Welcome all first year students. When you have a chance come by and say hello and grab a candy out of our candy jar.

The University of Manitoba has a new and existing online initiative called The Virtual Learning Commons. This site provides academic information, and is extremely interactive with an assignment manager, a very cool scheduling feature, the ability to add your own "to-do" list (which can be added to your scheduler) access to an online writing tutor and the opportunity to chat online with other UM students.

Check it out!

LAC Fall Workshops

The times, dates, and location of our fall workshops are now online. Our first one is on September 12 at 1:30 (Taking Useful Class Notes). The same workshop is repeated on September 13th in 344 Helen Glass at 2:30.

If you want to register please call 474-1481.

What counts as cheating?

In every class you take the professor starts by rattling on about plagiarism. Who actually reads that long, dense paragraph, or goes to the university’s academic dishonesty policy, anyway?

You should!

What may seem like a minor infraction of the academic dishonesty policy can get you a big, fat goose egg on an assignment or even get you cashiered out of a course. For a quick way to get your head around this issue, try the Student Advocacy web site’s online quiz.

Kris

Reference Librarians

The first time you walk into Elizabeth Dafoe Library can be a little overwhelming. As the largest library in the province, it isn’t easy finding what you need. Thank goodness for the friendly and helpful Reference Librarians. The reference desk is located straight ahead of you when you walk into the library, and they are happy to help you find what you’re looking for. They also offer occasional library tours/orientations and have maps for students. So whether your need periodicals, microfilm, photocopiers, dissertations, government documents, writing tutors, computer labs, newspapers, collections or a nice quiet carrel to study at, the Reference Librarians are there for you!

Greg

Critical Comma

I'm often caught grumbling about picky people and commas, but Rogers Communications Inc. just found out that a misplaced comma can be costly. Maybe I need to stop grumbling.

(Thanks to Neil Gaiman for pointing this article out on his blog.)

Miriam

Making the Most of Group Studying

Studying with a group is fun, and can be very productive. Actually, it can often be the best way to approach a particular subject area. However, managing group study time can be challenging.

If you are anything like me, staying on task in a group is difficult. For example, I have a hard time staying focused when my study group insists on making jokes about chickens and roads. The temptation to be distracted by very corny jokes, discussions about great parties, and why most of the profs on campus are completely unreasonable is high. If you find that you can’t bring people back to task with a topic-related question, or that your group is too easily distracted, try moving to a quieter study area with fewer distractions. Ultimately you need to understand the material. If the group continues to be dysfunctional, find another group, or study on your own. Remember, chicken jokes will not impress a professor on a final exam.

To focus your group, try some of the following tips:

• set a goal of how much material you will cover
• identify key definitions and quiz each other
• each person come up with a possible test question; then try to answer the questions
• work on the sample problems and share the process/solution
• each person come up with a memory aid to learn a different part of the course content
• if course content is controversial, set up a debate and back up your positions with material from readings and lectures

See these links for more info:

for how to study effectively in groups

and

for why study groups work...


Kris & Anita