Notebook Arts

Attending meetings can be stressful. There are different intentions by different attendees. Some have big egos, while others would just want to know the deliverable or action items and just work!

I have to admit, when attending meetings - I make it a point that I dress well. I always believe in what other professionals say that "We are judged every second."

I came to a meeting where the minutes taker has an iPad and a stylus. He looked so professional and I guess, everybody respected him instantly. Of course, that impression can be changed depending on his real attitude. Since I have a Samsung tablet, I tried taking notes. Immediately, on the spot, I downloaded a note-taking app and used a stylus (the one I use for Draw Something). And then, I dropped my traditional paper notebook and just used by tablet. This is in the hope that I will be respected and looked cool, as well.

The app stinks, the stylus point is too fat and I wrote very slowly and illegibly. The result? No notes at all. I just pretended that I'm enjoying what I'm doing to look cool. The price - the notes per se. After the meeting, I ended up asking for the notes of my seatmate. She looked bewildered and said she noticed me taking notes with my stylus profusely. From cool to uncool.

Lesson learned - be cool on your own first before using gadgets just so you think you would be cool to others.

For help on writing your essays, visit www.a1papers.com

How can a Movie Star Positively Influence a Student

Contributed  by Ceres Patchett

When the story about Kirsten Stewart cheating on Rob broke out, I was like millions of fans out there – shocked. It is not a shock, however, when some of their fan base reacted with fervor over the net.

This makes me remember the times when I was in high school and I was a major fan of a number of actresses. I looked up to Sharon Stone’s character in Basic Instinct who was diabolic but very smart. Fortunately, I picked up her trait (on smartness only!) and admired her wits.

As a high school, when you are still unsure of yourself like what are your talents (singing, writing, dancing, acting?), what school subjects are your forte (math, science, English, literature, history?), what clubs to join in (cheering, personhood, music?).

High school is such a memorable path with lots of forks. And sometimes, when you watch the silver screen, it’s so easy to empathize with a lot of characters. Movie stars or movie characters can influence young audience and if we pick up the right people to embody. And during those vulnerable young moments – we can be affected positively. Such as study well, believe in our dreams, relish life.

 *For help on writing your essays and research papers, visit www.a1papers.com

Tips on Taking the IELTS

Two of my friends were scheduled to take the IELTS exam. The IELTS is an English Exam that is recognized worldwide to standardize and quantify knowledge on English language. As their website says, “…. To start their journeys into international education and employment.”

                My friends will use the exam for academic purposes to study in Australia. They asked for my help since I am quite expert in English J

                They wanted me to check if they can pass or even ace the exam that will take place in about 5 days. We reviewed for a day the following:

1.       Listening

2.       Speaking

3.       Writing

On this blog, we will delve on the Writing Part. In IELTS, they are given a statement and write their opinion about it for 250-300 words. The time allotted for them to do this is about 40 minutes. From our review session, this is was I shared to them:

1.       Remember that the test is to be checked by a human being. Thus, write legibly.

2.       Time Management. In writing in the real world, everyone is given deadlines. Even when writing your diary, you set a personal deadline of finishing it in a day if you want to have another entry the following day (to make your diary rich and meaningful, that is).

Below are some tactics to manage time in writing their essays:

·         Make a Writing Plan at the beginning of the 40-min period. For 3 minutes.

·         Bring a digital watch with you.

·         Focus!

3.       Budget your thoughts to the set limit of words. The essay is set to 250-300 words. As a tactic, write the first 2 lines of your essay. The first line should contain only 10-12 words. This is to ensure that your writing is large enough to be legible. Then, number the lines of your essay paper. Your lines should be from 25-27 lines. Thus, you will not be wasting time counting the number of words of your entire essay. You managed the length of your essay via space allocation.

We will deal more on the Writing Plan technique on the next blogs. 

I hope those who will take the IELTS all the best!

*For any help on writing essays or research papers, visit www.a1papers.com

Writer's Aches: Shoulder Blades

Some ingredients to have success in writing any essays, research papers, term papers or any literary piece include: idea, memory and concentration.

During concentration, we are in a flow and we find ourselves very efficient and focusing on our writing. We know that we are in the "flow" of writing if we don't recognize the time. Sometimes, we spend hours uninterrupted and we just don't know it. 

The result: shoulder blade pains. The symptoms include dull pain on our upper back just below the shoulder blades. Our muscles are also tense with poking pains when we move. 

The best solution to avoid these writer pains: 

1. Use an ergonomically-designed chairs. 

2. Stand up and stretch every once in a while. Every half hour is good enough. Take a break: a snack, a drink of water, a rest of the eyes. 

3. Check your posture. Sit up straight, feet on the floor and shoulders pulled back. 

With these tips, I hope all writers will just enjoy writing those long essays, grueling research papers and colorful literary piece: with no pain on the back!

*For help in writing essays, research papers and any course works - visit www.a1papers.com

Getting that A1 Mindset - a student's memoir

Back from grade school, I had a classmate who would always top the class. Whatever the subject was. Be it Math, Reading, English or Science, this classmate of mine would always get the highest scores.

It was a bit natural to be jealous of this classmate. But I realized that it was best to befriend him and get tips and help on how to be the best. The key is very simple, start with an A1 mindset! Below are the steps on how to be the best student one can possibly be:
 1. Have a buddy - this buddy should share your goal of getting good, A grades. This buddy shall push you and share techniques on how to be the best, study more efficiently, write with passion, etc. 


 2. Manage your time - the best way to spend a day is to have a time plan. This is to ensure that your priorities are done and accomplished. 


 3. Enjoy learning - being industrious is meaningless without the fun. Thus, enjoy every step of the way. 


4.Grade is not everything - though getting that A1 grade is important, it's not everything. Having an A1 grade but having no friends is no fun. Try to be holistic and enjoy learning. Relish every step of learning.


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Trying Out to be a Blogger

I have been a writer for several years already but this is only the first time that I am going to start my blog. Excited!