Tag: Research

  • Tips for writing college papers like a pro

    Some students are satisfied with C’s for their essays, but others don’t just want to get a better grade – they want to get a skill in essay writing. If you are one of the goal-oriented students who want to be professional in writing essays, follow our smart tips!

    1. Think like a professional

    The way you think about your essay influences your productivity a lot. Students often take their studies for granted, neglect most assignments, and constantly suffer from procrastination. Many think that things will change after they start working because work is paid. But, disregarding your duties may turn into a habit unless you do something right now.

    • Change your attitude

    To start with, replace your constant demotivating ‘I have to’ with ‘I want to.’ This is an old trick, but a lot of students still don’t understand why on Earth they would WANT to write an essay. This is the hardest part.

    • Find your reasons

    Three main things can motivate you to write on a topic you don’t like or when it is just hard to start:

    • a good grade,
    • a chance to learn something,
    • and perfectionism.

    All of them are great to force yourself into the process of writing. At this point, if perfectionism works for you, you can even ignore the fact that it is the universal evil. But be cautious.

    • Face the reality

    It is still vital to ensure that your perfectionism is not blocking you from writing. You need to understand that it is not obligatory for you to write an ideal essay and get the highest grade. Another way to adopt the realistic view is not to wait for a muse or any other kind of inspiration. Professionals never do that.

    2. Prepare like a professional

    Once decide to start working immediately and never stop until your essay is written, you may find it hard to remain that optimistic for a long time. You will encounter obstacles which may seem insurmountable. One of the best ways to escape most of them is preliminary work.

    • Get your topic

    In all the senses. If you are to invent it yourself, do your best. If you are already given a topic, research it properly. And don’t be shy of turning to your teacher if you don’t understand it. Getting your topic right is half of your essay success.

    • Mind the type

    Another backbone of preparing to write a top-notch essay is researching on its type. Plenty of things depend on it: the topic, the point of view, the way to organize the information, references you should use, etc. For example, if you need to pick one of college persuasive essay topics, but you keep focusing on argumentative ones, this is nothing but wasting your time.

    • Outline your essay

    An outline is one of the most effective tools of essay writing. It is more than a plan – it is a strategy! That is why it really takes some time to create a good one. It also presupposes some preparatory research and consulting.

    3. Research like a professional

    You have probably already mentioned that preliminary work demands some research. At college, it can be limited to asking your teacher what to do and googling it. But when you actually start writing, this is not good enough.

    • Choose credible resources

    To cut a long story short, you can’t ground your essay on the entertainment content. Including… Wikipedia! No matter how useful it is for PRELIMINARY research and general knowledge, citing Wiki is forbidden. You need some evidence for your argument, which may be:

    • data, statistics, and the like (primary sources)
    • books, scientific articles, etc. (secondary sources)
    Draw your conclusions

    A primary school student today knows that it is prohibited to copy and paste from secondary sources. But at college (and even university), some students tend to forget that an essay has to be totally original. This means that you have to bring some new ideas, not just repeat what has already been said. Once students hear that, they get terrified with the idea that they are to make a discovery. Of course, depending on the level of your research, the ‘discovery’ can be some results nobody got before. But it is not always this way! Often, you just have to come to conclusions of your own or reveal a new point of view.

    4. Proofread like a professional

    Reading your essay a couple of times before you hand it in is never enough. There are some proofreader tools you have to employ if you do not want to fail your essay.

    • Grammar checkers

    They are really helpful, and you can use them to find minor details: some grammar, some wordiness, spelling, typos, etc. But don’t trust them completely.

    • Time-management

    Of course, all the planning should be done before you start writing. Your plan should include proofreading. Moreover, you have to complete your paper at least a day before the deadline, because it is critical to read the essay the next day. Your paper will seem a lot different to you, and many mistakes will become obvious.

    • Observing the whole picture

    There are three main things your essay should not be: ungrammatical, unclear, and journalistic. Make sure that everything in your essay is aimed at avoiding those things.

    Students spend lots and lots of sleepless nights to complete one essay after another. This guide will make essay writing a lot easier for you.


    Sophia Clark graduated from the University in the City of New York with B.A. in Journalism, 2011. She is a creative writer who loves to share her thoughts with readers, now she writes for Eliteessaywriters. In her free time, she enjoys writing fiction as well as reading it. Connect with her on Twitter and Google +.

  • 10 hints on how to become a professional writer by using online based software

     

    Having access to a lot of great online tools is a benefit most writers cannot live without. If you are a novice and would like to become a professional writer, you can. There are some essential steps you will have to follow. You can find a rephrase and a plagiarism checker all in one place. Before you embark on this journey, set a timeline and have a plan in place.

    You do not have to get a degree in writing to become a professional writer. There will be a lot of practice involved. We constantly hear that the internet is a huge distraction. Not everything on the internet is detrimental. Use the tools you find online to help you achieve your goals. Start by evaluating your skills. You need to measure your writing capabilities, so always start with understanding where your start is. Here are 10 ways online based software can help you become a professional writer.

    Organizers

     

     

    Writing starts with a plan and you need to be organized. Find an organizer created for writers or students. This usually gives enough space to organize your life. Being a professional writer is more than just jotting down a few ideas. Not all organizers work the same. Find one that fits your needs.

     

    Grammar checkers

     

    No writer is above a good grammar checker. You need to test a few before committing. There are so many out there. You no longer need to worry about grammar issues. Instead of going through your writing with a stressed mind, use one of these.

     

    Paraphrases

     

    There will be moments when you find great facts to use in your writing. You cannot copy the facts directly, but you can use a free paraphrasing tool. A good rephrasing will help you rewrite accurate content.

     

    Faster typing

     

    Even if you are not a typist, writers often appreciate when their typing speed increases. There are so many free typing courses you can take. Using software available to improve your writing skills is a viable option. Do not be afraid to use such services. When you are trying to improve any skill linked to writing, you are on the right track.

     

    Plagiarism checkers

     

    Most writers hate being accused of plagiarism. This is at times done deliberately but often time not. It is easy to unintentionally have a plagiarism offence. Luckily, you can find paraphrasing software that often checks for plagiarism as well.

     

    Creativity

     

    Join forums and chat with other writers. A lot of these creative blogs and forums can spark an idea. You do not have to sit on these websites a lot. There are moments when writers run out of ideas. Find a platform where you can easily boost your creativity.

     

    Productivity

     

    Distractions are part of our lives and it is a battle we fight constantly. Find a writing platform that minimizes distractions. You do not need all the buttons you find on Microsoft Word. Online platforms are often very simple. It offers a white background and keeps you focused on the task.

     

    Research

     

    Finding information on Google is easy, but a lot of times it is not relevant. As a writer, you will be required to do a lot of research. Find online software to help you streamline your research and only give you the information you can use.

    Beyond grammar

     

     

    Having good grammar is important to any writer. This is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to writing. There are many other smaller issues you can pick up in your writing if you have the right tools. You can find tools specifically designed for your needs. This can vary from academic writing to fiction.

    Time management

     

     

    Besides being organized, you need to have excellent time management skills. When you are serious about completing a task, find a useful timer. As silly as it may seem, these tools are very effective in helping us stay focused.

    Final thoughts on online based software

    Becoming a professional writer does not have to intimidate you. There is always room to improve. Professional writers are just individuals who have worked on their crafts. You can do the same. Using online software is a great way to boost yourself into a writing career.


    Author: Karla Long

  • Get your student excited about school

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    Learning can and should be one of the great adventures and joys of childhood, however school sometimes becomes a monotonous chore or even a battle for some. There are many ways parents can help keep their children engaged and excited about different subjects, specifically science. With so many branches of study, new discoveries being made every day, and an infinite ways to explore, there is no reason for science to be anything less than thrilling.
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  • 9 Must-remember tips for writing a scientific paper!

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    A scientific paper is based on empirical methods and aims to provide the general conclusions of the experiment. Regardless of the nature of your experiment, there are some common elements that must be included in a scientific paper. Here they are:

    1. Start by creating an apt title for your project. The title should define the gist of your scientific experiment. Here you will include your full name, date along with the title. Keep the title on the middle of page without making it bold, italicized or underlined. Make it specific and precise.
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  • Education systems in international context

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    Facts you need to know about education verification.

    There is no doubt that the goal of improving education plays important role among policymakers and other stakeholders in societies worldwide. They might not be able to quantify it, but the governments in most countries empower the link between the knowledge and skills with which young people enter the workforce and long-term economic competitiveness. Because of the fact, the interest in research which explores the factors that bring some countries to outstanding educational performance, and ultimately to better qualified workforces is increasing.
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  • Why become hypnotized?

     

    Hypnosis, as a therapeutic tool is as old as man himself, i.e. it can be traced back through various periods of time and we can find records of hypnosis being used to heal and to make the change.

    Hypnosis is used under many different names down the centuries and its use for healing can be traced back to around 3000 BC in Egypt. Both the new and old testaments of the Bible, speak of what could be deemed to be hypnosis. The ancient Greeks and Romans had sleep temples, where those seeking to heal would be put into a trance-like sleep and their dreams, would be interpreted by the priests. The rhythmic drumming and monotonous chanting together with eye fixation were accompanying the ritual. The Shaman of today can still produce catalepsy of the body. This helps him to give the appearance of having magical powers, just as they have done for centuries.

    Many things done in the past by the village witchdoctor, shaman or wise woman, can be attributed to the fostering of a strong belief, conviction, expectation and imagination in the one being healed, and the chanting and singing often take the form of what we would term as a suggestion.

    If the most powerful and magic person you know tells you that you will become well, you are very likely to do just that. In many cases where such an individual administered to a sick person, they would have recovered eventually anyway and this intervention just speeded up the healing process, or it is just autosuggestion.

    It has been believed by many healers that body, thoughts and emotions can influence one another. In this sense, it is possible to influence a physical sickness by working on and realising particular emotions, and by changing thoughts and behavioural patterns.

    The Romans said “MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO” – Healthy mind, in a healthy body.

    This just confirms that for many centuries it has been believed that physical and emotional well-being have an effect on one another, which can be seen when our health declines after periods of stress or as a consequence of radical events.

    In medicine, the division between body and mind is something that took place around 1750, with the scientific developments from Newton. Before this period of time, the mind and the spirit have been considered to be under the jurisdiction of the church and the body under the jurisdiction of science. This explains why all other kinds of medicine see the human being as a whole – consisting of body, mind and soul.

    Traumatic experiences are stored not only on an emotional level but also on the physical level. The emotional charge of the traumas can influence our immune system and health conditions.

    Through processing old traumas and the emotional charges connected to a certain sickness, it is possible to find resources inside of us which could help us start the healing process.

    Anton Mesmer (1734 – 1815) begun the studying of the modern hypnosis in the 18th Century. He was a medical graduate from the famous medical school of Vienna and after studying as a Jesuit priest, he became interested in magnetism. Mesmer became Europe’s foremost expert at magnetic healing. In this healing magnets were passed over the body to effect a healing, which was a great success and he became very famous. Mesmer believed that all living things contained a kind of magnetic “fluid” and if a person had enough of this fluid, he/she would be healthy. This is actually where the term “Animal Magnetism” comes from.

    One day Mesmer forgot his magnets and so just made passes over the patient with his hands and was surprised to find that they got better. From this moment, he thought he had sufficient magnetic fluid in himself top effect the cures.

    James Braid (1795-1860) was a scientist that coined the terms “hypnotism” and “hypnosis”, in 1843. Being a Scottish surgeon working in Manchester, he found that some people could go into a trance if their eyes were fixated on a bright object, like a pocket watch. He believed that through this, a neurological process was involved and that the process could be very useful when for a person’s disorder, no organic origin could be found.

    James Esdaile (1808-1859) was another Scottish surgeon working in India who would use eye fixation to prepare a patient for surgery and slow sweeping motions, putting them into a deep hypnotic sleep, causing full amnesia throughout the body.

    James Braid and James Esdaile, where among the first who could be called “scientific” researchers in the use of hypnosis. They removed hypnosis from the realms of “mysticism”, and started experimenting with what could really be done with it to help people with their disorders. Other scientific pioneers were, Liebeault, Bernheim, Brewer and Freud. The great Freud, was responsible for hypnotherapy being shelved by many, for some time, when he abandoned its use.

    Individuals who are fundamental to the current view of hypnosis are Milton Erikson, Ormond McGill, Charles Tebbetts and Dave Elman.

    Ormond McGill was a true a stage hypnotist, but he preserved the public interest in hypnosis. Charles Tebbetts was involved in stage hypnosis in the early part of his career. As the times when he lived were different from the ones we live today, the stage hypnosis would prove to engender a desire to know more about this curious art and therefore bring many of the people who moved the therapeutic use of hypnotherapy forward through the last (20th) century.

    Dave Elman introduced some measure of acceptance to hypnosis from the medical profession in the USA, when the Council on Medical health of the American Medical Association, accepted the use of hypnotherapy in 1958.

    Most likely the most important contributor to the acceptance of hypnotherapy as an art and as a science was the grandfather of hypnotherapy Dr Milton Erikson. He was a psychiatrist and hypnotherapist with outstanding professional credentials. Because of his solid medical background, he had credibility within the medical profession.

    There are other people worth mentioning for their contribution to the advancement of hypnotherapy as a healing art and as a science in the 20th century. They are Rosen, Abramson, Menninger, Shank, Magnet, Wolberg, LeCron, Bordeaux, Wetzenhoffer, Erwin and Simonton, who continue to do amazing things with cancer patients using mental imagery and focusing on beliefs and belief systems amongst other things.

    What is Hypnotherapy?

    Hypnotherapy is the application of therapy during the hypnosis, aimed to change or modify the behaviour patterns that we wish to change, such as the compulsion to smoke, drink, gamble, etc. It can be used to help in the cure of phobias such as fear of spiders/insects, fear of flying, fear of height, fear of thunder and lightning, fear of injections etc. It can help with motivation, confidence building, reducing stress and has proven to be very effective in pain control.

    Hypnotherapy deals with Psychosomatic problems. These are the problems of the mind that are rooted in and controlled by the subconscious mind. We act according to what our subconscious mind tells us, even if it goes against reason and logic. In this sense, the hypnotherapy bypasses the conscious mind to allow the positive life-affirming suggestions for change, of our own choosing, to be fed to our subconscious mind directly, for us to act upon.

    Hypnotherapy and hypnotic suggestions have a cumulative effect. Over time there is a build up of suggestions that are reinforced in the subconscious mind that it will act upon. This will do more rapidly than if you were feeding the suggestions to your conscious mind.

    If there were problems where a causal event or events may exist in the past, initially hypnoanalysis can be used in order to find the sensitising event or events and release the emotion and motor actions associated with them. The freeing of the individual from the grasp of an outdated and obsolete (possibly never really needed at all) thought the pattern and/or conditioning occurs. Following this, the healing suggestions and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) are used to build on the individuals’ desire for change, in a direction of strengthening and supporting forward movement into a positive future.

    You have to remember that hypnotherapists do not control your mind!

    Hypnotherapy empowers you, in taking control of your mental resources to bring about the changes you want. You are the one that is always in control during hypnosis and hypnotherapy. The therapist cannot make you do anything against your will, or that is not within you as an individual to do. With a little work, when there are a good therapist and a good client, who wishes to make changes and are motivated to do so, success will be achieved in about 95% of cases.

    Who can be hypnotised? -Virtually everyone, if they have a good therapist and wish to cooperate with them in order to work on the problem with which they are presenting.

    What does hypnosis feel like? – It feels different to some people than to others. It as a relaxed easy feeling and heightened state of awareness.

    Sometimes you may be prone to drift away for a while, just like day-dreaming, and you might just as easily be concentrating on your therapist’s voice. Your good therapist will ensure you get the very best from your hypnotherapy session and can guide you in everything you need to know.

    Hypnotherapy can help to address many problems including: fear of flying, fear of crowds, lack of confidence, stress issues, low self-esteem, fear of heights, panic attacks, exam nerves, driving test nerves, smoking, weight loss, nail biting, relationship, sexual tinnitus, stress anxiety and many more diagnosis.

    Hypnotherapy is by all means not magic, but can do magic!

    If you would like to learn more you can visit:
    Hypno-therapy
    Learn hypnosis online
    UK Hypnosis
    Online hypnosis training

  • Digital age suffers from bullying

    Digital age suffers from bullying

    Believe it or not – 25% pupils experience Digital age suffers from bullying!

    On 1 November 2012, Gerald White, from the Memorial University of Canada has been introduced among school children, on using Internet. The presentation: “School, family, and community factors related to cyber victimization: Findings from research in Newfoundland and Labrador schools, sponsored by the Graduate Programs and Memorial Faculty of Education established the fact that 25% of the pupils were experiencing bullying in various forms while using the world wide web searching.
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  • Get online writing help for your PhD thesis!

    Out of your PhD program, a dissertation is the most significant component and all your attention, plus efforts should be taken up in it. Having said this, it is worth mentioning that the most vital components that constitute a dissertation are not simply the research and writing, but also research buttressed by findings, advanced fresh theory, or supported angle.  It is a meticulous process, and all of this takes time. (more…)

  • Gates Foundation in education

    The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has focused on teacher quality as a key dimension of its recent grantmaking strategy. The Foundation supports education and heath projects worldwide.

    Here is a more detailed presentation of the number of grants they have funded:

    Teacher-related spending:
    67 Grants : total: $78,938,413
    1. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: aid for improved teacher professional development and related tools, help teachers network and share best practices – 63 grants – Total: $122,665,467
    2. CAPACITY-BUILDING: Support of the districts, states, and others in developing teacher evaluation systems, and helping build capacity for other teacher-quality initiatives – 53 grants – Total: $50,014,034
    3. RESEARCH: Funding of research on effective teaching, including measures of effective teaching research project and related work products -49 grants -Total: $50,710,139
    4. EDUCATION/ADVOCACY: Providing grants to educate communities, engage the public on Gates-funded teacher work, and build support for teacher initiatives -20 grants – Total: $37,958,606
    5. TEACHER PREPARATION: Helping traditional and alternative programs that prepare teachers or groups engaging in advocacy around teacher preparation – 16 grants -Total: $20,725,979
    6. UNIONS: Funding teachers’ union projects, including work on teacher evaluation and the common core- 12 grants – Total: $281,193,218
    7. INTENSIVE PARTNERSHIPS: Supporting four “Intensive Partnerships for Effective Teaching” sites, including Hillsborough County, Fla., Memphis, Tenn., and Pittsburgh – 9 grants – Total: $23,611,556
    8. CHARTER-DISTRICT COLLABORATION: Encouraging districts and charter schools to share best practices, including for teacher effectiveness – 8 grants Total: $21,570,250
    9. TEACHER VOICE: Supporting groups that help teachers have a voice in policy, such as Educators 4 Excellence and Teach Plus – 7 grants – Total: $8,198,912
    10. DATA SYSTEMS: Helping states and districts in the collection of linked student/teacher data – 2 grants – Total: $1,052,505
    11. MEDIA: Assisting the journal Education Next in covering teacher effectiveness, charter schools, digital learning, and common standards and assessments

    Top beneficiaries
    Four of the five biggest recipients of Gates Foundation aid teacher-quality initiatives participated in its “intensive partnership” grants, supporting changes to teacher hiring, evaluation, and pay. Denver used its cash for similar purposes.
    Beneficiaries Receiving More than $10 million in total

    See the infographic for more details or visit the Gates Foundation web page. Over 2 billion USD were spent since 2008.

     

  • Tools for distributed e-learning

    E-learning is becoming more and more present in an increasing number of social media.

    The tools that the people are currently using for distributed e-learning vary and get better with every new technology improvement.

    In the infographic below you will see which social media uses which tool, to introduce the e-learning. Feel free to plunge and leave your comment!