#VicCommuterHacks: Top 8 Essay Cramming Tips
…we’ve all been there.
Keep reading to learn our (unfortunately tried-and-tested) tips for getting through essay crunch time!
1. Find Your Space
Jane: “Study in an environment that will force you to focus on what needs to be done! Personally, I visit the library a ton during exam season because I know that being in a building with hundreds of other cramming students is the little kick I need to get my butt to work. For some, a cafe works just as well because of the background noise and coffee shop music. Find a space that works for you and churn that essay out!! Write a bad first draft, laugh at it, and then make it better!”
2. Outline
Saambavi: “If you’re the kind of person who finds a blank page intimidating, it can often be helpful to write out a quick outline of what you want to say. If you don’t know what you want to say, jot down a few points you’re looking to make and find a common theme to form your thesis. Then group your points under the thesis, find a few points for evidence, and you’ve just outlined your essay. If you get stuck while writing, turn back to your outline and revise if need be.”
3. Just Start Writing
Karen: “I find the bane of any essay to be its thesis. Sometimes I get the worst block during the brainstorming process and spend way too long trying to find or perfect my thesis. I’ve learned, however, that when you don’t have the time to waste a whole day trying to come up with a decent thesis, the best way to force one out is to leave it until after you’ve written the body and/or conclusion, at the very end. Do your brainstorm, write down as many arguments as you can think of, pick the best ones, organize them a bit, and just start writing your rough draft. Once you’ve finished, go back and edit — rephrase, add on, or restructure arguments.
It might help to have a general idea of your thesis, but even if absolutely nothing comes to mind, the process of writing your first draft and sifting through the arguments can often inspire out of you one. There were times when a thesis would suddenly dawn on me halfway through my essay. There were also times when I didn’t understand what point I was trying to make until the very end of my first draft. Either way, when you’re stuck in the rut, just spit out whatever thoughts you have about the assignment and start writing. You might discover you have a lot more to say than you think.”
4. Sleep
Samantha: “(Or don’t forget to take a break!) You’ll probably be able to write faster and better when you have some rest in your system. If you have eight hours until an essay is due, break the time up and schedule in a nap, or time away from the paper. Identify how much of the paper you can have done at each hour mark, set those goals, and start working! Taking time to rest and come back with (slightly) fresh eyes can do wonders for your paper — you may catch ideas you missed, typos, and even come up with new ideas to strengthen it!”
5. Have Your Resources Handy
Sam: “When you block out a time to sit down and write that essay, you should always have everything you need within reach. I’m not only referring to essay resources like your sources and relevant references, but I also mean having water and snacks on hand! Get that study playlist playing and get into your groove, and by having everything you need, you won’t find yourself breaking your zone in search of that pesky article you forgot to save or by getting up multiple times for a drink. This will help you retain your focus and finish that essay!”
6. Leave Intros/Conclusions for Last
Liam: “Often people get stuck on coming up with a good introduction for the essay. After all, it’s supposed to contain your thesis and topic sentences right? RIGHT? However, I personally find if you have a vague idea of what you’re trying to argue, it’s much more effective to write body paragraphs and leave the conclusions and intros to once you have the skeleton of your essay.”
7. Disconnect Yourself
James: “If you’re writing your paper super late, it may be useful to deactivate your Facebook account temporarily, and get someone to hide away your phone for you. Minimize your distractions. You may get easily distracted and make your writing process longer than it needs to be by surfing the web while you’re trying to finish.”
8. Talk to Your Prof/the Registrar’s Office
Victoria: “Sometimes, we can find ourselves short on time to write essays for reasons beyond our control. It can be worth reaching out and explaining your situation to your prof and/or the Registrar’s Office to see if there’s the possibility of an extension or another academic accommodation. If you’re not sure what to do or would like some support, don’t hesitate to visit us during our office hours and we can connect you to the right place!”
Upcoming Vic Commuter Don events:
Mar 21: Wellness Wednesdays | Mythbusters: Exam Prep Edition
Mar 22: Soup Thursday — free soup 12–2pm weekly in the Goldring Atrium
Mar 23: Vic Goes Skating!
Mar 26: CommuniTea — Mondays from 4–6pm weekly in the Goldring Atrium
Mar 27 & Mar 29: U of T Library Crawl
Mar 28: Painting with Bob Ross Art Café — Part II
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