Understanding Shakespeare: 4 Simple Tricks

This semester I was forced to take a 300-level Shakespeare class. It's a requirement for my English major, so I figured I might as well get it out of the way so I don't have to take it senior year.

Is it fun? No. Am I getting through it? Yes, but it's been a painful experience.

For those of you who don't understand Shakespeare either, I thought I'd compose a list of the tricks I'm using to survive the class. These tricks can be applied to any English book that you're required to read.

1. Use Post-It Notes to summarize each page

In class, we go through the plays page by page. I use post-it notes when I'm reading to keep track of all the major events, characters and lines on each page. Not only does this keep me from falling asleep when I'm reading, but it also means I don't have to write all over my rented Shakespeare textbook.

2. After reading, write down a brief summary of each scene

I don't know about you, but these plays are confusing. It's hard to keep track of everything, so right after I'm done doing the reading assignment I write down what I remember about the plot. It's great to study off of for our oh-so-wonderful weekly reading quizzes.

Via

3. Check to see if your interpretation is correct on Sparknotes

Okay, I'll admit it, sometimes I don't do the reading for classes and rely on Sparknotes to help me out. BUT I find that Sparknotes is actually a better tool for when you've done the reading but aren't sure if you understood it or not. For instance, I got completely stumped by a passage in The Merchant of Venice, but Sparknotes helped me get through it by summarizing the meaning of the passage for me. Don't rely on Sparknotes, though--use it sparingly.

Via

4. For help with specific lines, check out No Fear Shakespeare

"No Fear Shakespeare" is a series of books that translate traditional Shakespearian plays into "modern-day" English (Shakespeare technically did write in modern English, but I won't bore you with that story). If there's a specific line that I don't understand, it's great to look up the "modern" translation of it so I can understand it better.

I'm curious: do we have any fans of Shakespeare out there?

--Becky

College Studying Tips

Someone asked me if I could do a post on studying tips. I feel like a hypocrite telling you these tips because I haven't been following them at all this year. My classes haven't been too challenging yet, but I know they're all of a sudden going to creep up on me.

Here are some tips I followed last year that helped me survive organic chemistry and some tough upper-level biology classes. Hopefully they'll help!

1. Make studying your priority and mindset

This is a mindset you have to have in order to pass some harder classes. You have to make sure that studying prevails over all your other plans. This means not going to a party because you know you'll have to study for a test the next day (it sucks, I know). It means backing off on extra curriculars. You're paying a lot for college, and if your transcript gets a D or F you're not getting your full worth out of it. Studying HAS to be your number one priority.

Yep...I have to do this on my calendar sometimes to make sure I don't schedule anything else on that day. The woes of a college student.

2. Schedule hourly blocks to study

I always make sure there's time in my schedule where I don't plan anything so I can study. This year, right after my classes get out I have an hour or so where I can force myself to go to the library and study before dinner. Then I'll have extra-curriculars at night until about nine, when I can study some more. This idea works wonders--I'll always have time to study (but the question is, will I?)

My school schedule for this week. You can see that I have a huge block of time between class and my clubs on Monday and Tuesday. That's when you'll find me at the library (if I can force myself to go there...)

3. All nighters= horrible idea

Some people can get by on two hours of sleep...the other 95% of us can't. Even if I do well on a test after pulling an all-nighter, I'll be miserable for the next two or three days. It just isn't worth it. Don't get me wrong, sometimes we all have to pull all-nighters, but I try to be responsible and study a week or two ahead of time so I can spend a few hours the night before cramming--not six or seven.

4. Self Control app for Mac

I don't remember if I've posted about this before, but this computer program has saved my life. For Self Control, you type up a list of websites you want blocked, then set a timer for how long you won't be allowed to access them. This program is foolproof. I've tried changing my internet settings, turning the computer on and off, erasing my history--NOTHING will work and allow me to access these sites before the allotted time is up. Without Self Control, I don't think a lot of my English papers would ever get done. [And it's free! Even better.]

You put websites on your "blacklist" in the window on the right. On the left, you set a time for how long that site will be blocked.

5. List all the homework you have to do each night

You've probably heard this one before, but a simple checklist does wonders in motivating a person. Throughout the day I make a list of the things I need to accomplish that night, and I cross them off as soon as I complete them. Using the list prevents me from cramming for a test the night before, because I can delegate how long to study for a specific subject during every study session.

My to-do list for today...clearly I've accomplished a lot in the two hours I've been sitting here at the library.

I feel like I have some more tips up my sleeve, but hopefully these will work for now. Do you have any studying tips?