This document provides tips and strategies for college students related to organization, note-taking, studying, and writing papers. It discusses organizing emails and files using technology like Moodle and Google apps. It offers various note-taking methods and strategies for effective studying, such as the Cornell note-taking system and the Cornell 5-day study plan. The document also covers best practices for test-taking, writing strong papers using MLA or APA style, and emailing professors appropriately.

1. Organization,
note-taking and
study strategies
Summer 2018
Richard Winters
ASPSA: Learning Specialist

2. Organization and Technology
● Syncing email on phones
● Plan for organizing work
● Moodle
● Google Applications
○ Drive
○ Docs
○ Calendar

3. Email (on iPhone)
1. Settings
2. Accounts & Passwords
3. Add Account

4. Email (on iPhone)
4. 5.

5. Android? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTpZTydjuJ8

6. Moodle (Learning Management System)
● Syllabus
● Calendar of assignments
● Course resources (Readings, Videos, Links)
● Quizzes, exams, assignment submissions
● List of class roster

7. Emailing Professors
What are some guidelines
to follow if you need to
email a professor?

8. Emailing Professors https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2015/04/16/advice-students-so-they-dont-sound-silly-emails-essay
● Use clear subject line
● Use salutation and signature (“Professor” is always a safe bet)
● Standard punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and grammar
● Do your part in solving what you need to solve
● Be aware of concerns about entitlement
● Add a touch of humanity

9. how do you currently take notes in class?

10. why take notes?
● Helps you make sense of what is most important
● Helps with information recall
● Provides a tool for studying before an exam
● Can help you stay engaged in class
● Allows you to put the information in your own words

11. video: crash course in note-taking

12. note-taking options
what works best for you?
● Taking notes on the computer
● Handwritten notes
● Printing slides prior to class and
writing on the slides
● Outlines
● Bulleted notes
● Recording lectures (with permission)
and re-watching or listening to them
again
● Diagrams/pictures
● Charts and flowcharts
● Mind maps

13. note-taking tips
● Keep all notes organized by class (one
notebook per class)
● Date your notes and have each class
on a fresh page
● Read before class and take notes on
the reading
● Use abbreviations to help you keep up
with the lecture
● Listen for professor’s prompts (“this
will be on the test,” etc.)
● Stay focused and minimize
distractions (no phones)

14. what does effective studying look like?

15. options for studying
On your own:
● Study groups
● Work through practice problems
● Come up with example exam questions
● Re-read/re-write notes
● Chapter review questions
● Go to professor’s office hours
● Take practice exams
● Go through lecture powerpoints
● Flashcards/Quizlet
● Reorganize information (ex. Bullets to timelines,
graphic organizer)

16. study tips
● Plan to study in advance- and stick to
your plan
● Don’t study in bed!
● Have good lighting and minimal
distractions
● Don’t just study what was covered in
class- make sure to study
readings/extra materials, etc.
● Don’t just memorize- make
connections between the materials
● Draw diagrams, mind maps, etc.
● Space out your studying, don’t cram!
● Know what works best for YOU!
● Take “brain breaks”
● Treat yo’self

17. Don’t fall into the “illusion of mastery”
● Mix up concepts and the order you
study them (example with student notes
and study guide)
● Study all content covered in class
● Study flashcards with a strategy
○ Shuffle!
○ Keep cards simple
○ Know both sides
● If using technology (Quizlet), make your
own set

18. Cornell notes...another option
● What are they?
● How do you set them up?
● Why are they useful?

19. questions?

20. test-taking and
paper writing
USC- Summer 2018

21. what does it take to do well on tests?

22. test-taking strategies for success
before the exam...
● DO NOT CRAM!
○ Use thoughtful study strategies, including planning using the Cornell 5-day plan!
● Get a good night’s rest before the test
● Eat a good meal before the test, but not too much!
● Get to your test site early to get in the zone

23. test-taking strategies for success
during the exam...
● Read all instructions (front to back) for the exam before starting
● Skim all questions before beginning to answer them
● Do the questions you know first!
● Use other questions to help you with more difficult questions
● Reread questions that are confusing/long
● Never spend too much time on one question- come back to it

24. multiple choice exams
● Remember to select the “best” answer
● Read all the questions, instructions, and answers very carefully
● Try to answer the questions without the choices
○ Cover them with your hand or a piece of paper
● Eliminate as many incorrect choices as soon as you can

25. essay/short-answer exams
● Find directive words in the questions
○ Compare, contrast, critique, identify, suggest, etc.
● Write a brief outline of your answer
● Make sure to support your answers with evidence
● Answer the question fully, but be concise
● Reread, reread, reread!

26. take-home/open-book exams
● Know EXACTLY what materials you are allowed to use
● Organize your notes prior to the exam
○ Use highlighters, sticky notes, and other tools to help you
● Study and prepare!
● Do not spend too much time looking for information
● Double-check answers

27. how do I write a strong paper?

29. pre-writing
● Read assignment carefully
○ Topic? Purpose? Audience?
○ What are the requirements?
■ Page limit, # of sources
○ Ask professor if you have any questions
● Brain Dump
○ Jot down all of your ideas
● Gather sources
○ This can be time consuming
○ Take the time to find the right sources (read more than the abstract)
Outline
○ Read through each source and highlight and annotate them

30. outlining
● Develop thesis
● Main points
● Supporting ideas
● Take your highlighted/annotated sources and incorporate into outline
● Create a plan for when you will write each section
○ Assignment Calculator
○ Stick with your plan!

31. the writing process
● You don’t always have to start
with introduction
● Manage your time
● Create attainable writing
goals
○ 1 page tonight
○ 3 pages by Friday
● Include in-text citations now
(if needed) to avoid
plagiarism
● Follow your outline

32. editing and revising
...yes you need to do it
● Writing is a recursive process
○ Go back develop an idea
○ Add additional sources
○ Rework thesis
● Review assignment sheet to ensure
you completed all parts
● Do you stray off topic? Is it focused?
○ Does your argument reflect your thesis?
○ Topic sentences
○ Each paragraph should refer back to
thesis
● Read aloud
○ Does it flow?
○ Are your ideas clear?
● Check citations and references.
○ Are all ideas other than your own cited?
○ Pay attention to which format is
requested for the assignment.
○ Use resources such as NCSU
Citation Builder and Purdue Owl
to help you.

33. Types of Papers: MLA vs. APA
MLA
“Modern Language Association”
-Mostly in English/Writing specific courses
APA
“American Psychological Association”
-Most everything else, especially research
papers
-May require title page, abstract

34. Paper Writing: MLA vs. APA- Page Setup
*Times New Roman font, size 12, double-spaced*
MLA APA

35. Paper Writing: MLA vs. APA- In text citations

36. Paper Writing: MLA vs. APA- References

37. Organization
USC- Summer 2018

38. the Cornell 5-Day
Study Plan
...breaking it up to be successful
● Plan out before the exam
● Divvy up the material in manageable chunks
● Incorporate time for review of what else you
have studied

39. Major takeaways
● Tech- Check email frequently, use Google applications, and learn how to
use Moodle
● Come up with organizational plan for notes and assignments
● Attend office hours, stay after class to communicate with professors. Use
proper email etiquette!
● Introduce yourself to classmates and get their contact info