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 …
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 …
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 …
What is it about compare and contrast essays that makes them so difficult to get started? Maybe it’s having to juggle two different subjects in one essay. Usually you set your sights on one topic and tackle it directly. However, with a compare and contrast essay, you have to tackle two subjects. Plus, while addressing …
Think you’re ready to write your synthesis essay outline? That’s awesome! But I’m going to ask you for a favor: pump your brakes for a second, so you can ask yourself this question: Have I ever written a synthesis essay before? If the answer is no, then you’ll want to check out How to Write …
Creative geniuses cannot create their masterpieces until they’re inspired. Perhaps you’re that creative genius who simply hasn’t been inspired to write a thesis statement to help focus your thoughts for your upcoming compare and contrast essay. Perhaps you don’t fancy yourself a creative genius at all. Maybe you’re more of a major procrastinator who’s only …
If you’ve ever found yourself in a new romantic relationship, you probably know that there are three tiny words that can make or break it all: “I love you.” Those three little words can wreak havoc on anyone. Should you say, “I love you”? What if the person doesn’t love you back? What do you …
Most of us can relate to film, television, or literary characters. Many of us are like Wonder Woman–professional, successful, and heroic all at once. Others are mild-mannered reporters (or other professionals) by day and like Superman by night, saving the planet from evil. If you’ve just finished reading Heart of Darkness, though, it might be pretty …
WANTED: Witty, engaging writers to share their opinions about current, relevant, and/or local topics. Must be able to create buzz-worthy writing that gets people talking. If this sounds like you, I have the perfect writing assignment: an op-ed. Op-eds (opinions and editorials) are short essays published in newspapers. They were designed to allow the average …
Have you ever wished you could travel in time to finish all the things you need to do? To fix something, to do better on a test or an essay, to free up some time for a vacation? Well, guess what? You…you still can’t do that. Sorry. But you do have another power over the …
If you’re assigned to write a critique and your first thought is, “I have absolutely no idea how to write a critique,” that’s understandable. But in all actuality, you probably already have a sense of how to critique. Need proof? Think about trying a new corner deli. The first time you visit, you evaluate the deli …
You’ve taken the required exams. You’ve filled out online and paper forms. You’ve sent in your high school transcripts. You’ve maybe even requested some letters of recommendation to help seal the deal. But as those admissions deadlines approach, you still have one thing left–the dreaded personal statement. Sure, you’re just one hopeful student in a …
Unless your prof has taught a grand total of no more than one course in her teaching career, chances are she’s already tired of reading papers about topics like these: The differences between high school and college Marijuana legalization Gun control School uniforms While it is possible to write a uniquely fascinating research paper about …
A group essay assignment can feel a bit like some kind of morbid social experiment. Several strangers are forced to work together on a project that’s generally recognized as being more easily done alone. Will they find a way to work together, or will they descend into chaos? Without the right strategies and attitudes in …
Bad celebrity interviews can be great fun to watch. Celebrities throw tantrums, walk out, or simply blank and have nothing interesting to say. Celebrity interviews can also go bad through no fault of the celebrities themselves. Sometimes it’s the interviewers who ask inappropriate questions or ask questions that can be only termed “stupid.” Take, for …
What if I told you that you had to write a research paper but that you didn’t actually have to do any of the research? Pretty sweet deal, right? A document-based question (DBQ) essay is sort of like that. You have to write an essay using a variety of sources, but someone else provides the …
You’ve completed at least a few writing courses in your day and have written your share of essays. But just when you think you’ve written every possible type of paper, BAM! You’re hit with a new type of essay: the discursive essay. With the word “curse” seemingly smack dab in the middle of the name, …
The last time I baked cupcakes, I followed the directions on the box to the letter. I’m far from a celebrity chef, so following the recipe would be the only way for me to bake anything edible. My grandmother, on the other hand, never made anything from a box. I don’t even remember her following …
J.R.R. Tolkien was grading a stack of college exam papers one summer day when he came upon a blank piece of paper tucked among them. He wrote on it the first thing to pop into his head: “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” Over the next 20 or so years of …