We’ve all read something that makes us pause and reread the sentence or paragraph over again. Found in everything from books to blogs, and even in our own writing, confusing and unclear sentences can take their toll on readers. But I’m here to help you improve the clarity of your writing, so your readers know …
Tell me if this sounds familiar: You’re searching online for sources for your research paper, and halfway through reading, you ask yourself, “Who writes this crap?” Good question. You, your neighbor, or just about anyone can publish online. In the world of the internet, you could become Allie S. Everson, PhD and write an article …
Have you ever heard that touching a frog will give you warts or that Twinkies never expire? These urban legends have been around a long time, but they’re simply myths. While touching some frogs can irritate your skin, frogs don’t cause warts. They’re caused by viruses. And Twinkies? Well, they may not be made from …
You may have written a few synthesis essays in your English classes, but knowing how to synthesize information has value far beyond your Dracula essay. This skill is used in countless areas—from history to science—and can come in handy in both professional and personal settings. While we may still talk about essays a little bit …
You have spent the last couple of years in a committed relationship—with writing. Love them or hate them, essays have been by you through thick and thin. So when you walk into class and your professor says you’re going to do something new today, your heart starts beating faster, and it feels like there are …
Think about your favorite TV series. Whether you’re old school and wait for a new episode each week or you prefer to binge-watch all seven seasons in one weekend, the harsh truth is that eventually your beloved series must come to an end. At the end of that final episode, you want everything to come …
How does a day rushing down water slides or floating peacefully down a lazy river sound? What if I told you that you absolutely need to go to a new local waterpark because it really is just that awesome? Would free passes seal the deal? If you’re a big fan of waterparks, you’d probably jump …
Think essay titles don’t really matter? Think your profs don’t care whether you have an interesting and original title? Think again. Here’s a quick math equation to help explain why titles do matter. English profs often teach 4 classes each semester, with 25 students in each class. (4 classes x 25 students = 100 students …
Remember those packs of building blocks you used to get as a kid? Each pack contained just enough tiny pieces to construct your favorite superhero, princess, or jet fighter. As a child, you likely relied on the picture on the front of the plastic package, rather than any set of directions, to build your creation. …
One of your worst nightmares comes true: public speaking. Your next speech is due within days, and you imagine yourself standing in front of the class, shaking uncontrollably, and suddenly unable to remember anything you’re supposed to say. Your professor seems even more intimidating than usual. He stares at you over the top of his …
It’s late Sunday night, and you’ve spent more time than you should binge-watching your favorite crime drama. Even though you most certainly feel like those eight hours were time well-spent, they did nothing to help you think of a good topic for your upcoming sociology research paper. I stress the word “good” here because it’s …
Hungry for tacos? Feel like you can’t fully concentrate on your writing assignment until you make a trip for a late-night snack? As tempting as a few tacos and a burrito sound right now, don’t rush to satisfy your cravings just yet. Instead, continue reading as this blog post contains important information you’ll need to …
Tell me if this has happened to you: your phone gets dunked in water (we won’t discuss how), and you start researching to see if putting it in rice will actually save it. You read a few blog posts and watch a few videos. But instead of immediately putting your phone in a bag of …
Imagine getting hired as a bus driver, and on your first day on the job, your boss tells you to “start driving.” Your first reaction might be, “Um…okay, where should I go?” Without a clear idea of where you should be driving (or for that matter, where you should be stopping), you’ll end up driving …
With all the writing you do during the school year, one of the last things you might want to do during summer vacation is write some more. However, keeping up a consistent writing habit will help build your skills (and may even lead to more enjoyment when you’re analyzing Hamlet or Beowulf when school starts …
When you were a child, how many times did your parents say “absolutely not” when you asked for something? How many of those times did you persuade your parents to finally say yes? Sometimes it’s a given that you’ll never be able to convince your parents. It’s almost impossible to convince them of any rather …
Let’s say you’re sitting in class, and you make any random claim like “Professor Smith never eats fast food” or “the neighbor’s dog is stealing my dog’s toys.” Your friend might tell you to “prove it” or might ask, “How do you know?” What your friend is actually wondering is what type of reasoning you used …
Read this post to get an awesome grade on your next essay! Okay, so I can’t exactly promise that by reading this post alone you’ll get an awesome grade on your next paper. But that opening line likely grabbed your attention, right? You’re still reading this post, so not only did the line serve as …
Your heart is pounding so hard that you’re positive everyone in the room can hear it. Beads of sweat form on your brow as you try to load your presentation. You pause and breathe deeply. It does nothing to calm you. The presentation finally loads … but it’s the draft you started days ago. The …
Most people run into some form of satire in their day-to-day lives—from comedians talking about politics to online comics criticizing the education system. But somehow, when students have to read or write satire for class, they tend to get a little lost. Most of the time, the lost feeling comes from making the topic way …
I bet you’re no stranger to electronic communication. There’s a good chance that you and everyone you know are using Twitter, text messages, and Facebook Messenger almost daily. And this is good news because it means that you’re practicing your communication skills every day. But now you’ve entered college or the workforce and need to …