I claim to know nothing so that I may learn more.

Studying is a part of a student's life, it’s a part of succeeding in life most cases as well. Learning and retaining is a vital life skill you should learn as soon as possible. This is a post to kind of follow up with my last study post I did called “Study Habits That I Use”. Because it got me thinking “what if what I am doing isn’t the “best” way to study? Can I improve?” which is what made me want to type this up.  

Disclaimer- I am not a professional. I study a lot because I basically live the academic life by choice and enjoy it. It's part of what brought me into the Dark Academic aesthetic.  

The Least Effective Study Methods and Why

Studying for Long Periods of Time (Cramming)

This is bad because chances are you will get bored with what you are doing, you will space out, and just scroll on your phone to entertain yourself. This doesn’t make you a bad student, it just makes you human. I’ve been in the academic's world by choice for many years, and even I do this. Another reason to not do this is that is actually increases your stress levels. Cramming can also lead to students staying up too late and missing out on sleep, this is if the student decides to even sleep at all. This now leads to the student going into class after an all nighter to try and pass a test. This just isn’t effective.  

Studying a Single Subject for a Single Period of Time (Massed Practice)

This is like speeding through something. Can you read 5 chapters of your book before bed, yes, you probably can, but SHOULD you? This is how I explain it to those around me when they don’t understand. If you read the entire book, you just bought in one sitting, you probably won't retain much of the story. You are literally not giving your brain a break to process the information so you don’t have a chance to retain it. My advice here, SLOW DOWN, slow and steady wins the race.  

Mastering One Subject Before Moving on (Block Practice)

This is when you study a pattern. This may seem like a good way to study in theory, because you may remember answers 1 through 10 are this and that, right? But what if I mix the lineup of questions? It is shown that block practice is not as good when put to the actual test. Which many schools do. This is why I recommend switching up the questions, learning them in as many different orders as possible. That way your mind gets use to that method and you won't feel as anxious when the list isn’t in a particular order.  

Reading and Rereading Text

To me this is one of the most boring ways to study. And it has been shown that students that sit and read the same thing over and over again do not retain the information due to lack of interest. Studying this way does not give you a challenge to overcome. Your brain likes achieving things, so if I may suggest Flash Cards instead?  

Highlight and Underlining Text

I know I said I use this method, and I do, a lot actually. That’s because I have been teaching myself to study with color codes. For most students this simply isn’t a good option. You may take the time to high light and reread but chances are you won't review the material. I find this to be a good habit if you want to high light passages in your text book that you know you will come back to. But that’s it.  

Reviewing Notes

This is the same as rereading your notes, but this has more to do with the student keeping a habit of coming back to actually review and study. Again, most students will not want to come home after a lecture and read what they just spent probably 2 hours on in class. And they shouldn’t! Give your mind a break, drink some water, eat a healthy meal. Play a game or go shopping with a friend. THEN come back and review. But, like I have said, most of the time student will not come back and review what they have typed/written in their notes.  

Most Effective Study Methods

Pre-testing

Pre-testing has been shown to help decrease anxiety and help the student actually retain what they are answering. This is a good way to build up self-confidence as well because you get to see how many you missed the first-time vs the second time and so on. You can also spend less time studying with this method and take more breaks vs studying for hours on end, which isn’t good anyways.  

Spaced Practice

This is one of my favorite ways to study actually. That is when my courses allow it. This is when the student takes several hours at a time if not days on a subject they are studying. Doing it this way is more effective because you are giving yourself time to absorb the information without over working yourself to death.  

Creating Flash Cards

PLEASE DO THIS! This is good for ALL subjects! Not just math. This is a very good way to challenge yourself and help you retain the information. And it’s okay if you get it wrong sometimes, just shuffle the cards again and keep practicing. Even making the flash cards can help your brain start to learn the information. Then you get to challenge yourself which is even better. A way I do this is by getting my favorite candy or treat, and whenever I get one right, I get a bite. I’m not sure how effective this is, but I like to think it works lol. You should also ask yourself about the flash cards, this can create meaning to the cards and help form connections during testing. I normally study for about 30 minutes to an hour with flash cards, three times a day if I have enough time to do so. I also combine color coding as well if multiple cards go into the same category.  

Self-Quizzing

This is effective because you write out the test question yourself and then go back and answer them, or you can answer them as you write them out, whichever floats your boat. Whenever I have done this, I personally have more fun, because writing is a good way to retain information, and I am taking a quiz which may just be in my head, but it gets rid of my testing anxiety.  

Interleaving Practice

This is when you study a subject that has different categories all together. By doing this you are teaching yourself to think about the problems in different ways, because not all problems may follow the same formula, such as Maths.  

Paraphrasing and Reflecting

I use to hate doing this, because I didn’t see the point in turning to my partner in class and asking them about what we just read. But in reality, it has helped me not just in school, but when learning a new skill in general. By taking the time to talk to yourself about what you are learning you are allowing yourself to take in the information. Reading it in your head is different than hearing it out loud. If you are lucky enough to have a study group or a friend, do this together. Talk about what you just learned, then allow your friend to say their piece on the subject. This helps you not only learn to socialize but to also learn the same information in a different way.

Remember that even though you might get something wrong, maybe you studied till your hearts content and didn't pass. Its OKAY to fail. Its OKAY to not get 100%. Just try again, and communicate with your professors and see if they might have any methods or resources for you to get help.

I hope that this post was helpful to everyone. Happy Studying!

Source - https://www.edutopia.org/article/5-research-backed-studying-techniques

Behind these words

I sit here in silence

The white screen it screams

I need it to be silent

I focus my mind

Taking in a cup of earl grey

It is these words you see

That brought me here today

It is because of the string we create with words

That we all gather in places such as these

With patience and practice

We learn from one another

Because I am here

And you are

We can do this together

Because we are all bound by words

A bright white screen stares back at me

I long for leather, blank sheets and black ink

The digital world is fast paced

The real world is slow with my pen in hand

There are days only the smell of leather

and old books can please me

There are others when I sit at my pc

Typing for hours on end

Never before could I have reached so many

Be it physical or digital

I am here

You are here

Together we are bound by words

Gray is the most sleepiest color

Its  tones over cast my room

With only the white noise of my fan for comfort

Beside me my black cat slumbers

He is old with salt and pepper accents

I lay here and enjoy this moment

For now I have learned that moments like these are gone in the blink of an eye

I notice the dark gray tones a bit more now

I welcome their aesthetic

Wanting nothing more than to be wrapped in gray

Gray is the color of sleep

If one is lucky to have the time to listen

They can sometimes hear the quiet hum of the rains song

It soothes you and puts your soul at ease

Because gray is the sleepiest color

Taking notes for class is important. And of course, anyone can take notes, anyone can write something down. What makes notes “good” notes is how one organizes them and uses them. I want to say that I am not a professional, this is just how I have learned to take notes.  

Titles and Headers

When it comes to titling your notes, I try to make mine aesthetic and pleasing to look at, otherwise, why bother? Here is an example. 

As you can see, I did a bit of planning around my color pallet as well before trying out different titles. I recommend Pinterest for this kind of thing. Just search for “Aesthetic Notes” and you should be in good hands. These are just some examples I tried to do. Maybe I'll make some notes I can share with all of you some time.  

Note Taking

Work on your handwriting if you are not happy with it. There are plenty of places to find handwriting work sheets online. Maybe I'll create a post on handwriting journals sometime in the near future. Another thing is to use bullet points when taking notes. Bullet points keep everything uniform and neat. Where are writing a sentence has an indention in the format. This is also just my preference, but I like the way my notes look.  

Styles of Note Taking.  

This also comes down to a preference. I feel it is important to know the different styles one can use when taking notes. Here is a list.  

Mapping Style

Mapping notes helps your brain make connections between important points of information. This can help some people depending on how they like to learn retain the information they are learning. 

Charting Style  

This is a poor example but hopefully it gives you an idea. Basically, section off your paper in equal columns and you take notes based on whatever your headers are. I like this style of note taking because of how organized it is. 

Cornwell Style  

As you can see the Cornwell style helps you organize your notes based on time and what it is. I myself have tired this method and it doesn’t work too well for me. I prefer outlining. 

Outline Style

Outlining your notes is one of my favorite ways to take notes because I feel it is easier for me to read through my notes at a later time and they feel neater. I also don’t have the information over load when I go back to look at my notes. Here is an example  

Header – Name of Paper  

Notes 1

Notes 2

Notes 3

Header 2 – Name

Notes 1

Notes 2

As you can see this helps keep everything orderly.  

Sentence Style

This style is just as you would imagine.  

Header 1

This is a sentence about something. This is a sentence about something.

This is a sentence about something. This is a sentence about something. This is a sentence about something. This is a sentence about something. This is a sentence about something. This is a sentence about something.

And so forth. Let's move on to the more fun subject, shall we.  

Color Schemes

I believe that, no what the style of notes one chooses to take, that color coding and keeping a theme within your notes makes them look good. If you are looking for inspiration on colors for your notes, I actually posted a color pallet based around Dark Academics, which you can find here.  

Decorations – not a need, but a want.

I actually enjoy decorating my notes. The main things I use are stickers and washi tape. Because I have an extensive collection of stickers and washi tape, let's just say I'm obsessed with stationery. You can also use post it notes or doodles. Whatever you want really.  

That’s how I like to take my notes. So, as we can see here there really isn’t a wrong way to take notes. Don’t let someone tell you otherwise. I hope this post was helpful. Happy Note Taking. 

Dark Academia School Supplies

Taking notes and studying is a passion that I believe needs the proper tools. These are all just what I use when I study and take notes. If you see something I missed or think I should add to this list, please let me know. Thank you.

Pencils

Tri-Conderoga

Ticonderoga

These are my two favorite brands, pretty sure they are the same brand just shaped differently. I prefer black Ticonderoga pencils.

Erasers

Classic Pink Pearls

Kneaded Rubber Erasers

Hi-Polymer Eraser by Pentel

Some of you may be thinking "but are kneaded erasers for artist?" and yes, most of the time they are. But I personally have always had one in my supplies. The pink pearl eraser is also a safe bet. I have also included Hi-Polymer Eraser by Pentel because I just recently discovered this brand and have found they actually erase better and leave behind less shedding. Which is a plus in my book.

Binder

Vintage Professional 3 Ring Binder Organizer

I like this three ring binder because it has a leather look to it, and gives off the DA feel when I use it. Having a nice light brown leather 3 ring binder also causes some heads to turn on campus sometimes.

Folders

Jam Paper & Envelope Linen Folders

The reason I am picking these over others is simply for the colors they come in. Its hard to find earth tone folders for some reason. It surprised me to be honest.

Notebooks

Spiral

Composition

This is a preference. I personally like composition notebooks because I can easily find them in browns, grey, creams, to keep with the DA style I have going on with the rest of my supplies.

Highlighters

Staedtler Textsurface Highlighters

Zebra Midliner Highlighters

Ohuhu Markers

I chose the textsurface highlighers because they come in a vintage set that has greys and browns. Zebra's are just a great brand I have been using for years and love, I highly recommend them. And Ohuhu markers are for those of us on a budget. I picked up a 60 color pack for about 20 dollars a few years back. I enjoy having a variety of colors when it comes to Ohuhu and they have dual tips, brush and fine.

Backpack

Leather messenger bag

To me this is a no brainer, messenger bags give off that vintage look we are all going for as an academic.

How I Write Poetry

Before I start getting too deep into this post, I want to make it clear that I am by no means a professional or an expert. I write poetry because I enjoy it, and I wanted to spark a discussion about poetry in this thread. So, with that said let's begin.  

Brain Storming

Before every session I try to brainstorm what, I want to write about. I never worry about how long it's going to be how it's going to sound, what style will I use. I simply focus on the idea that I want to write about, and the words that go along with my idea. That’s it, I try to keep this as simple as possible. 

Writing A Poem

Let’s say that we want to write about winter. When you think about winter you probably think, snow, cold, Christmas, holidays, gifts, family, that sort of thing. And those are all good, but what if you want to capture how you are feeling? Or maybe the atmosphere of winter through your eyes and heart? So, let's start over and think of more words.

Cold, snow, dead trees, silence, ice, are some words that pop out at me instantly. Let’s see what we can do with them.  

Across the lonely fields of white

I am blinded by the suns harsh light

Crystals of water hang by an inch

Among the trees, all naked and birch

I wait here in silence, alone on this bench

I wrote this off of the top of my head just now so don’t be too hard on me please. In the example I managed to use most of the words I was looking for. The way I got better was by actually studying the type of poetry I wanted to write. Since I myself have started learning poetry I have learned of 15 types. Here is a list for reference.  

Blank verse. Blank verse is poetry written with a precise meter—almost always iambic pentameter—that does not rhyme. Learn more about blank verse here. 

Rhymed poetry. In contrast to blank verse, rhymed poems rhyme by definition, although their scheme varies. Learn more about rhymed poetry here. 

Free verse. Free verse poetry is poetry that lacks a consistent rhyme scheme, metrical pattern, or musical form. Learn more about free verse here. 

Epics. An epic poem is a lengthy, narrative work of poetry. These long poems typically detail extraordinary feats and adventures of characters from a distant past. Learn more about epics here. 

Narrative poetry. Similar to an epic, a narrative poem tells a story. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” exemplify this form. Learn more about narrative poetry here. 

Haiku. A haiku is a three-line poetic form originating in Japan. The first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line again has five syllables. Learn more about haikus here. 

Pastoral poetry. A pastoral poem is one that concerns the natural world, rural life, and landscapes. These poems have persevered from Ancient Greece (in the poetry of Hesiod) to Ancient Rome (Virgil) to the present day (Gary Snyder). Learn more about pastoral poetry here. 

Sonnet. A sonnet is a 14 line poem, typically (but not exclusively) concerning the topic of love. Sonnets contain internal rhymes within their 14 lines; the exact rhyme scheme depends on the style of a sonnet. Learn about Petrarchan sonnets here. Learn about Shakespearean sonnets here. 

Elegies. An elegy is a poem that reflects upon death or loss. Traditionally, it contains themes of mourning, loss, and reflection. However, it can also explore themes of redemption and consolation. Learn more about elegies here. 

Ode. Much like an elegy, an ode is a tribute to its subject, although the subject need not be dead—or even sentient, as in John Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn”. Learn more about odes here. 

Limerick. A limerick is a five-line poem that consists of a single stanza, an AABBA rhyme scheme, and whose subject is a short, pithy tale or description. Learn more about limericks here. 

Lyric poetry. Lyric poetry refers to the broad category of poetry that concerns feelings and emotion. This distinguishes it from two other poetic categories: epic and dramatic. Learn more about lyric poetry here. 

Ballad. A ballad (or ballade) is a form of narrative verse that can be either poetic or musical. It typically follows a pattern of rhymed quatrains. From John Keats to Samuel Taylor Coleridge to Bob Dylan, it represents a melodious form of storytelling. Learn more about ballads here. 

A soliloquy is a monologue in which a character speaks to him or herself, expressing inner thoughts that an audience might not otherwise know. Soliloquies are not definitionally poems, although they often can be—most famously in the plays of William Shakespeare. Learn more about soliloquies here. 

Villanelle. A nineteen-line poem consisting of five tercets and a quatrain, with a highly specified internal rhyme scheme. Originally a variation on a pastoral, the villanelle has evolved to describe obsessions and other intense subject matters, as exemplified by Dylan Thomas, author of villanelles like “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night.”

By taking the time to study the different types of poetry, you can learn which ones you like the most and start doing a what I call “deep studies” where you pick out one author you really love and read as much as you can by them. Then, using what you have learned challenge yourself to write your own poems while trying to maintain the style of the author you like.  

By doing exercises like this it has taught me how to think about environments differently, how to use details when describing something. And it has helped me become a better writer over all.  

The next thing I do to help with my poetry is by keeping a Word Bank. It's basically a small note book that I keep with me at all times and when I come across a word, I don’t know I simply pull out my phone and google it. Then, by writing it down by hand I will hopefully remember that word by heart. If not, well, good thing I keep a word bank with me.  

The more you read and practice writing poetry the better you will become. I started out learning poetry from Masterclass. Masterclass is a must have source to me. That’s all the tips I have on writing poetry, my way, I hope this post was helpful. Happy Writing.  

Source - www.deanbokhari.com

Keeping a journal is something I do on a daily basis and have been doing for years. I have noticed that my mood has improved and I feel happier a majority of the time since I started this habit years ago. So, being as this subreddit is about dark academia and what not, I figured writing a piece about journaling would be good. A healthy mind makes a healthy happy student, at least for me it did.  

There are several ways to keep a journal, if its one thing I hope to get across here though is that there is no such thing as the "wrong way" to keep a journal. If someone tells you otherwise, they probably don't understand how a journal works or what one is used for. With that out of the way lets get into the post.  

Daily Log

Keeping a record of your daily life is good for when you want to look back at a certain event. The act of writing out what happened, good or bad, can also help you learn to cope and recognize what you have been through that day. Even if the event was a fun one, your mind might still need time to relax. Writing out everything can also help you get feelings out into words; it helps you learn to express yourself. I keep a daily log because it helps me remember important events that might be coming up later on in the month, or maybe I just made a new friend and want to remember their birthday, write it down.  

Write Down Your Goals Every Day  

I started doing this and its pretty nice. I make my goals into a "check list" or "to do list" and try to get it done. If I don't have anything to write down that day then I will write down something like "try to sleep for 8 hours tonight". This way I am still getting something done.  

Write Down Three Things You are Grateful for Every Day  

This is something I do at the end of my day. I write in my journal two or three times a day, because it helps to wake up in the morning and get words on a page for me. Doing this is also a good way to end your day on a positive note.  

Journal Your Problems

This is one I don't actually partake in but I can see how it would be helpful. The only thing that worries me with this one is if it will actually help the writer get over their problems or will it only give them a space to fixate on them? If I was to do something like this, I would probably just use it as therapy, and instead of keeping a journal I would much rather write my problem down on a piece of paper and throw it away afterwards.  

Journal Your Stress

I use to do this, but with graphs as well. I would write out a paragraph of what was actually stressing me out. Then I would have a graph with different stresses, much like a Year in Pixels page and I would just color in whichever square indicated that stress. This allowed me to take a quick glance at the page and know that Red meant car problems, Orange meant work stress, Blue mean family stress etc. I enjoy doing this when I do have a lot of stress in my life because it allows me to pinpoint what is stresses me out the most. Allowing me to handle and fix the situation with a better understanding of where my stress is actually coming from.  

Journal Your Answer "What is the best thing that happened to me today?" every night before bed  

This is something I use to do but I switched it out with the three things I am grateful for bit. This is still a very good exercise and lets you end your day on a positive note.  

Bullet Journal

If you are the artistic type, you might be interested in Bullet Journal. I have tried this and I ended up making more of a poetry journal or a junk journal more than a Bullet Journal. This journal ended up stressing me out personally, but I have friends who swear by them. You can find a guide on how to keep and use a Bullet Journal on bullet journal.com if interested.  

Junk Journal

Junk Journals are just what they sound like. You take a journal, any kind of journal, hell even a notebook would work if you kept the materials on the light side, and you just fill the journal up with whatever you want. I have a habit of putting sticky notes or hand written letters in my journal a lot. It tends to get really messy when I get into make them. But this is a good way to show self-expression and to help rid yourself of stress.  

School Topics

This might not be the most fun topic to write about in your journal, but if you are struggling with a topic in school, ask yourself these three questions.  

What topic am I currently struggling with?

Why am I struggling with it?

How can I do better?  

I have tried this and it worked pretty well for me. I started a new jounal of course, and sometimes on paper I will do this exercise because it helps me get through papers I am writing or maybe I got stuck writing a chapter, these questions have always helped me get through that. What I am hoping it will do for you, as a student, or for really anyone who needs this, is that it will help you see figure out when to get help or how to figure out how to solve your own problems.  

Digital vs Physical

This one is a no brainier to me; I like writing by hand so I keep a physical one. Others like to write things out and keep them on a pc, there isn't anything wrong with that either. You should do what is easier for you. Remember, there isn't a wrong way to keep a journal.

Online learning is basically a normal way to learn these days thanks for the pandemic. I myself have mainly learned everything online for years now. I even graduated from an online high school. If it is one thing I can say about learning online though, is that there isn't enough interaction between anyone. I never spoke to another student for the entire two years I attended my online high school. I believe I only spoke to one or two teachers for a few minutes each during my two years.

My main point is that I know what it is like to learn online and to learn in a classroom. And some of us may not have any other options but to learn online due to health conditions (like myself) and so I thought I would type this up to give some references to where others can learn some dark academia topics and online learning sources in general.

Just to let everyone know that any links that are in this post are not affiliated. Some links redirect you to Tumblr, which would be my account. It is not my goal to self promote though, simple to provide a reference list.

Harvard University

Believe it or not, Harvard has free classes that anyone can partake in. It's pretty cool if you ask me that they even do this. You can find a list of their free classes here.

Class Central

This is a website that has a list of free courses from all over the internet. I believe a majority if not all of these courses are free. You can find them here.

MIT Open Course ware

This was a good find with plenty of material to read. I particularly like that you can view the courses syllabus and reading materials. The book lists are always a plus to me. You can find it here.

Khan Academy

I myself used this site at one point and I can say it is a god send to have it completely for free. I am linking to the "Grammar" section. It never hurts to have a refresher. I definitely would say this site is good for children who are struggling with topics in school as well. Just something to keep in mind. You can find it here.

Udemy

This site seems to have some good information on it. I am linking to free literature courses. You can find it here.

Internet Archive

I have always found this website useful. They have a borrowing system if you make a free account. I personal only view the material through a browser. I never download anything from here. You can find it here.

Project Gutenberg

This is another free eBook site. I seem to always find something to read on here and felt it fit this list. You can find it here.

Tumblr

While I was searching for Dark Academia related content I came across this master list of "Dark Academia Topics" list and thought I would include it. You can find it here.

YouTube

YouTube is a treasure trove to me. Anything that I can think of I can find on YouTube in the form of a guided lecture or a documentary. It just felt wrong to not include such a valuable source in my opinion.