livy study

I’ve been preparing to start my masters after a one-year break from academia, so I’m a little apprehensive about getting into essay writing again. I found a great resource on my University’s website, giving a universal guide to writing a First Class essay. If you’re about to start your first year at uni, want a refresher, or are taking essay-based classes at your high school, this is the post for you!

C O M P R E H E N S I O N

Use a wide range of relevant sources, well understood and fully appreciated.

What do I need to do?

Read beyond the recommended reading given to you or the textbook in class. Can you explain what you’ve read to someone who isn’t studying your course - if not, do you really understand it?   

C R I T I Q U E

Ability to set sources and view points in context and evaluate contributions. Methodological awareness and theoretical appreciation.

What do I need to do?

I posted here about the WHAT-HOW-WHY paragraph structure. The critique is your WHY. WHY is the source written in that way? What was the context of the time or geographical location where it was written? Can either have impacted the writing? What are the limitations to the source - have they avoided discussing something that you believe vital to their argument? Critical thinking is the key to obtaining the highest marks in an essay.

A N A L Y S I S

Excellent answer to the question. Locates suitable concepts and makes a comprehensive assessment of issues involved. Understands the relevant theories and applies them to answering the question.

What do I need to do?

Answer the question. It seems silly but answer the question. What are you actually being asked to talk about, and are there any limiting factors (e.g. a specific time period)? Make sure that everything you’re saying is relevant to the question. If you’re anything like me, going off on a tangent is second nature. A good tip is to read your essay aloud to yourself - if you can sense you’re waffling on about something, then cut it out. 

P R E S E N T A T I O N

Well structured and planned. Clear, articulate style (good spelling, grammar, and syntax.) Proper referencing and bibliography. Confident presentation and appropriate length.

What do I need to do?

Since I’m going into my third year, I’ve learnt a lot about studying, university, and anything to go with it. Here are some tips I’ve learned along the way.

BOOKS

Don’t buy your books from the bookstore (unless you need the online code to go with the textbook). Some professors are totally cool with old editions, if that’s the case, try buying that because it saves a lot of money. Make sure that if you need the textbook code (some profs have online assignments through the textbooks software), you buy it. Best places to buy books are through Amazon, your cities buy & sell, and some universities have things like a Facebook group for textbook buy and sell! A lot of my friends and I will share books if they’ve already been in a class.

Don’t buy your textbooks before the first class. Sometimes what the university’s website says is “mandatory” is not. The first class, the teacher usually addresses this.

Check out your university library. If you want a head start, take the book out from them.

STUDYING

Switch up your location. School is much more independent now, so you’ll be studying more than in high school. Changing locations helps make studying a bit more fun. I love studying at the university libraries now.

Calculate the amount studied, per class, per day. I almost always need my laptop while studying, so I have a stopwatch open and an excel doc where I keep this saved. This way I keep track of which classes I give more attention to, and how much I’ve studied before a quiz/test/exam. It also helped me find out the maximum time I can study in a day.

Plan out how each week will usually look like. This includes how much time you’ll be in which class, when you’ll be at work, commuting times (if you don’t live on campus), and when you plan to study. Usually I plan to study 1-3 hours in the evening (not including breaks) on days I have classes, but if I don’t have class, then I expect a good 4-5.5 hours of studying.

Finding your note taking method. The first month I would come home and re-copy all my notes, but that took up way too much of my time. I suggest before school starts, try a few possible methods out. Some people just come in with a notebook and copy, I prefer printing the slides and adding additional notes if needed, but some like to do this on a tablet or a computer. Whatever you choose is up to you.

Study even if the course load seems low. Even if the first month of school seems “chill” and like there’s nothing to do, go out and study! Do *not* fall in the trap that so many students fall into. After the first class, plan the semester. Get ahead, because it’s easy to fall behind.

ORGANIZATION & HELPFUL RESOURCES

Keep some type of planner. I know bullet journals are loved on here, but they may not be for everyone. Keeping a planner helps me what I have to study that day, but also for the week and the month.

Have a list of all assignments, quizzes, exams, or anything you’ll be tested on throughout the semester. The profs job isn’t to remind you when there’s a test. But having a compiled list of everything that’s “due” for you that term *really* helps you out.

Websites & apps that should become your bestie. For writing, use a combination of the Hemingway app, and Grammarly. For decluttering, or sharing information, use CamScanner, Google Drive/Dropbox to hold all the papers you might need once the semester is over. After each semester, try moving all the files, assignments, and papers onto a Dropbox to avoid clutter and not crowd your laptop. Chances you won’t need the papers are high, but in some cases it’s handy.

Don’t ever be scared of office hours. It’s your prof’s time to help you. If you can’t make the time, email them your question or ask to meet with them at another time. This is a super helpful opportunity!

FIRST FEW DAYS

Tour the campus & get your student card while your at it. Before school starts, I suggest you go by yourself and “tour” the campus. Find out where all your classes and how to get to them. Also find out where some of the libraries are near your classes if you want to get some studying in for a break. Try getting your student card before school starts if you can.

Read over the syllabus beforehand. Ask the teacher any questions on the first day if needed. Also plan your semester as soon as you get this. 

Meet someone in each of your classes. People for the most part are really nice! Get their phone number too so you can text them if your late or miss a class.

Set up your school email (& any other resources to communicate with your professors) and test it. This is super handy, and you’ll need to use it all semester anyways. 

WHAT TO BUY

A laptop & a backpack. 

Have a pencil case, fill it with: an eraser, 2 pencils(& lead if they’re mechanical), 2 pens, and correction tape. You’ll need this for exams so even if you’re going electronic, you gotta have this.

Having an agenda and some notebooks are always handy. Even though I keep a bullet journal, it’s easier for me to leave that at home some days and use a planner.

WELLBEING

Self-care. Have a little note to self of some self care things. Do one thing whenever your stressed and need it.

Keep active. The freshmen 15 is real! It’s much easier not gaining weight than trying to loose it later. Being in university is sedentary, so try making fitness something you do at least 2-3 times a week. More often than not universities will have a gym membership included in your tuition. But other low cost options include running, cycling, at home workouts, yoga, etc.

Make sure you have adequate sleep. 8 hours isn’t always possible, but you need 6 hours to function properly. I found my best school results happened when I went to bed at 9:30pm and woke up at 5:30am.

Try making your food as much as possible. Even if it’s just a sandwich. Buying takeout is expensive and unhealthy. Easy options for meals include: smoothie & smoothie bowls, oatmeal, Buddha bowls, sandwiches/wraps, pasta, etc.

I try making meditation a habit. I love the app Insight Timer (its free), but I know others like Calm, and Headspace as well. There’s also a ton on YouTube. Sleep meditations can help you get to sleep a little earlier too.

Try being on technology less. I know it’s tempting, but you’ll be on it a lot for school, your brain needs a bit of a break.

Wake up early : Running late isn’t cool. Wake up at a reasonable hour so that you have time to get ready,eat a healthy breakfast,exersice etc.

Make your bed : You should start your day by doing something productive. Something that ‘’gets you going’’ . Making your bed is a great option.

Try yoga/meditation : Take some time to reflect and de-stress. You can do this by trying yoga and/or meditation. There are several yoga ‘’flows’’ in pinterest and great meditation apps to try out! 

Gratitude Journal : Happiness is about wanting the things that you already have. Take some time of your morning to write down the blessings that you’re grateful for. Learn to count the small wins in life.

Plan / visualize : Write down a simple to-do list with all the tasks that you want to finish that day. Visualize your short or long - term goals. Whether they are monthly or yearly goals. Remind yourself what you are working towards.

Affirmations : It could be just a simple phrase like ‘ I am powerful ‘ or ‘ I am healthy’. Affirmations are those little (or long) phrases of positivity (like mantras ) in present tense that motivate you throughout the day.

Breakfast : I MUST include this to the list.Make yourself a nice breakfast. Don’t have to be big just something healthy. It is the most important meal of the day. Don’t skip it!! 

Take care of yourself : Do your hair,put on some comfy clothes that make you confident or out on makeup if you feel like it. Other acts of selfcare can be : taking a shower, having a skincare routine, brushing your teeth. 

Yesterday I made a post with 10 things I bring with me to school everyday, and it blew up like crazy!

So with all the feedback I got and some thing I thought of later, I decided to make a part two

Some of these are more in-depth because I’m clumsy and I end up making a mess of any situations (great example is number 6)

Link to the first one: click here

1. Pencil sharpener. I mentioned the basics to bring for stationary, but forgot that not every school has classroom sharpeners. So if your school doesn’t have one, make sure to put a small pencil sharpener in your pencil case with all the other things I mentioned before.

2. Small aid kit. Nothing drastic, but a few band-aids and paracetamol will get you really far. And for anyone that has menstruation, keeping some ibuprofen are a great add on for the little kit, as well as some panty-liners, pads and/or tampons. Even if you’re not on your period, a classmate might be in need.

3. Backup food. You never know when you’re gonna be in need of just a little more energy than usual. Keeping a granola bar or a bag of nuts (or something along those lines) in your bag can really be helpful.

4. Usb-stick. Always have an usb on you. You might need to use a computer from school. You might use internet access while you want to save a file to your drive/cloud, or you might have to get your file to a different computer to print. Whatever it is, keeping a small usb stick in your bag is a necessity. Opt for one that isn’t too big/expensive. An 8GB usb is already enough, so don’t blow your money on a 256GB.

5. Pocket Stapler. Not a necessity for everyone, but I like to keep my tiny stapler in my bag as well. I like to print notes every once in a while (I don’t like my handwriting), so to keep them together I staple them. It’s a lot easier to keep a pocket stapler with you than a file-folder

6. Wet Wipes. I used to only bring a pack of wipes because I wear makeup and I wanted to be able to take my lipstick off if I wanted to, but these things are amazing! Food stains on your shirt, sweaty armpits, a broken pen that left ink everywhere (sadly this happens to me a lot lol), these wipes will help clean up your mess without you needing to go to a janitor first to ask for supplies. Just get a pack of 10 wet wipes at Walmart or the Dollar Store, and you’re set.

7. Sunglasses. Just like the umbrella from part 1, the sunglasses aren’t always gonna be necessary, but having them on you is great. Especially if you have to walk/cycle outside for a longer time to get home after school.

8. Glasses wipes. For anyone with glasses, you know how easy it is to get them dirty. But confidence grows when you look your best, right? So take a few wet glasses wipes with you, and check if your glasses need a clean every break

That reminds me

9. Glasses. If you wear your glasses at all time this is obvious, but if you wear contacts it’s important to still take your glasses. You never know when your eyes will start irritating and you need to take your contacts out.

I’m most likely gonna be doing a back to school series on here, so if you like these two posts make sure to check back (or follow me if you want) if you wanna see all of the posts on back to school season.

I made a part two for this list because of all the feedback I got. You can find it here

As I’m stocking up on what I’ll need to buy for school starting in 2 months, I decided to make a small list of my personal essentials, that may be useful for you guys too.

1. Your wallet (with your student card, ID and some change). Not only is having your ID essential, but having some change on you can be useful is you need some food or a drink from the vending machine if you didn’t bring enough.

2. An umbrella. If you live in a country/place where it rains often enough for this to be an essential (so not once a year). I always have an umbrella in one of the sidepockets of my bag (which are meant for water bottles, but I have a pocket size umbrella)

3. Mints. NEVER go talk to your professor with a bad breath. Did you just eat something smelly? Grab the mints from your bag, have one, and go talk to your teacher with a fresh minty breath.

4. Lip balm. You don’t want to have cracking/dry lips at school. A lot of people get distracted from their dry lips, start biting them or pulling at them. So to prevent yourself from getting distracted, take care of those suckers.

5. Chargers (+ powerbank). You don’t want to run out of battery in the middle of the school day. Take your laptop charger, a powerbank, and a usb-phone cable with you. You can charge your phone from the powerbank or your laptop, and your laptop anywhere with an outlet. (Don’t carry around your phone charger’s block if you don’t have to)

6. Earphones. Sometimes people talk really loud in the hall or the cafeteria, while you just want to read or study. It’s best to block out their voices with some instrumental music (you can easily find study playlists on Spotify)

7. Water bottle. Don’t just rely on coffee or plastic cups. Having a bottle of water with you that you can refill will help you save money (by not having to buy drinks) and is better for the environment.

8. Basic stationary. 2 pens, 2 pencils, 1 eraser, 1 highlighter, a pair of scissors and a roll of sticky tape. You never know what you’d need, but the bare necessities should always be in your pencil case. (Keeping an extra pen in your wallet is also great in case you forget your pencil case)

9. Extra paper (or an thin extra notebook). You never know when you’ll need to write something down or draft something. (I like to keep drafts out of my notebooks)

10. Deodorant. The worst thing is being sweaty at school. Just get a travel size deodorant and put it in your bag with the mints and lip balm. Even if you don’t need it, someone else might. (Spray is best cause it’s more hygienic if you were to share)

Bonus: 11. Blotting Paper. Get rid of the oiliness of your skin without removing make-up by patting down with some blotting paper. It absorbs the oils without wiping of any foundation

Not really a masterpost, just a list, but this is my late masterpost monday post. Real masterposts will be back next monday!

Part two: click here

SIGNAL BOOST

hey guys, here are some pictures of today’s morning study session. this year (for my degree in chinese studies) we haven’t done much written chinese, we focused ourselves more on chinese history, literature, oral and classic chinese, that’s why I’ve decided to study it on my own during my holidays! I’m planning to study 2 lessons every day (text, vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing and listening). so far, I’m doing an amazing job, I learnt 85 words today! I’m now going to read a chinese contemporary mini-story using my book “graded chinese reader 500 words” ☕ have a nice productive day! 

I was going to post images with each listing, but 100 pictures on one Tumblr post was quite a task. So, if you’d like to see examples of any of these, I am adding them to my Pinterest Board which can be found [here].

1. Books To Read- Color them in as you go! Or make a fun list of them and check them off one at a time. 

2. All About Me- Make doodles of things you love, add quotes, draw yourself!

3. Future Log- There are so many ways to make this page. Please do some research to see which would work best for you

4. Movies To Watch- Pretty self-explanatory, but there are many ways to do this page too

5. Skills To Learn- Jot down all the things you want to learn

6. Important Numbers and Addresses- In case of emergency of course. Also, be careful what you put in this part for your own privacy reasons

7. Year In Pixels- Honestly, one of my favorite pages

8. Fonts, Banners, and Frame Ideas- For practice and to choose from when you are having trouble being creative

9. Snail Mail Log- Keeping a list of people who you want to send letters to

10. Savings Tracker- It’s always fun to see how much you have saved up

11. TV Series Tracker- Keep track of all the shows you still need to binge

12. Monthly Challenges- I know I haven’t been helpful with this lately, but you can always search for challenges on my page

13. Music Playlists- A list of songs that describe you, your goals, things you love, etc. 

14. Timeline of Your Life- This was hard for me to make. My life isn’t all that exciting

15. Inspiration Page- Fill it with quotes, pictures, memories, etc. 

16. Self-Care List/Ideas- I posted many lists like this on my Pinterest if you want more ideas

17. Monthly/Yearly Memories- Look back on all the good and bad things that you’ve gotten over and endured. 

18. Sleep Tracker- See how many hours you get each night. This also works well when paired with number 7. 

19. Me Time Log- Keep track of how many hours you spend with yourself. We all need to learn to love on ourselves a little more. 

20. Tiny Adventures- Go out of your comfort zone and go on some tiny adventures like reading in public, talking to a stranger, giving people compliments, etc. 

21. Word Tracker- For those who are writers who like to procrastinate

22. Daily To-Do List- This can be done on your weekly pages or you can make a page specifically for daily sticky notes. 

23. Blog Post Ideas- Got an idea, but you’re not at your computer or have what you need for your post? WRITE IT DOWN

24. Fitness Log- Keep track of how much and when you work out or stretch or do yoga or and of those fun physical activities. 

25. Food Log- If you’re trying to lose weight or just get healthy or just want to track your food intake for fun, this is for you! 

26. Meal Prep- I love how cute and helpful these pages can be. 

27. Gift Lists- Ever see something and say to yourself, “Man, ____ would really like that”? Keep a list of things people would like so that you don’t worry about it when it comes to holiday time or birthdays. 

28. Grocery Lists- Every time I go shopping, I forget something because I didn’t write it down. 

29. Goals- Oh, yes! It’s 2018. We need some goals. Monthly, weekly, daily, YEARLY. Just get some goals and aim for them. 

30. Recipes To Try- I see nice recipes all the time on Facebook, but I never think about them again after I keep scrolling. It’s bad. 

31. Daily Affirmations- Give yourself some compliments and some emotional support

32. Business Plan- Make yourself a good businesswoman or businessman or businessperson in 2018. You got this. 

33. Birthdays- Keep track of all those important people in your life that need to be remembered on their special day. 

34. Work Hour Log- Sometimes we don’t keep track of all the things we get paid for. Actual work, babysitting, photography jobs, writing jobs, pet sitting, house sitting, etc. 

35. Wishlists- Not so you can #treatyourself, but so that you can make note of things you really want. 

36. Gratitude Log- It’s always good to have a moment of gratitude with yourself. Make it a monthly challenge if you need to!

37. Quotes- Your own, friend quotes, celebrity quotes, author quotes, and lyrics. 

38. Illustrations and Doodles- Doodling helps you keep your mind fresh and ready to react quickly to situations. 

39. Jokes- Your own, ones you heard, ones you read, etc. 

40. New Discoveries and Interesting Facts- Find a new interesting fact? How about that lemonade is basically Sprite in almost any other country than America?

41. Travel Log- Places you want to go! There are so many ways to do this, so look up different versions before starting!

42. Family and Friend Favorites- Their favorite colors, animals, stores, places, hobbies, etc. 

43. DIY Projects- Things you want to try out someday. 

44. Chore List- Keep track of when you do your chores so that your house doesn’t become disgusting or dusty. 

45. Bucketlist- What do you want to do before graduation, moving out, marriage, having kids, etc. 

46. Story Ideas- I always come up with story ideas and then when I sit down to write them, I blank. 

47. Period Log- For people with periods that have many PMS symptoms or even PMDD symptoms. This is a great way to show your doctor all of the things you go through each cycle. 

48. Words That Make You Happy- Silly words, ugly words, words that are fun to say, etc. 

49. Things That Make You Happy- People, places, and things. 

50. Monthly Habits- Water intake, cleaning, bathing, exercising, reading, etc. 

51. Story Titles- This can be titles for books, short stories, poems, or just nice sounding titles for anything. 

52. Made Up Words- I make myself laugh with all the words I make up on the daily. 

53. Follower Counter- This page keeps me inspired to keep doing what I love. 

54. Index- Always have an index for easy access to the pages you want to find. 

55. Icons- Sometimes we need to have icons to make our pages pretty. Sometimes we make too many icons and never use them (me). 

56. Packing List- For those who travel often or stay at friends’ houses more than our own, it’s good not to forget the things we need. 

57. Morning Routines- Our bodies need routines for mornings to get us ready for the day. 

58. Nightly Routines- Our bodies need routines for nights to prepare us for sleep. (see what I did there?)

59. Weight Tracker- If you’re struggling with your weight, keep a chart tracker or add your daily weight to your calendar. 

60. Pen Test Page- If you get new pens, highlighters, or markers, its best to test them out before using them. 

61. Brain Dump- Sometimes we just need to jot down ideas or thoughts. It’s okay if they don’t make sense. 

62. Spending Log- Keep track of what you spend because you might need that someday. 

63. Water Tracker- HYDRATE

64. Habit Tracker Reward System- This is something I came up with myself, so if you have questions, message me!

65. Name Lists (For Babies and Stories)- Keep a list of cool names for characters or even future babies. 

66. Looking Forward To…- Birthdays, holidays, raises, pay days, vacations, etc. 

67. Compliment Lists- Make a list of your go-to compliments, your favorite ones people have given you, etc. 

68. Level 10 Life- Please look up what this is before jumping into it!

69. Pet Care Log- Keep track of how much you do with your pets. Walks, play time, park time, play dates, baths, etc. 

70. Achievements- What have you done that you are proud of?

71. Weekly Log- Keep track of your week. This is one of the most used pages in any bullet journal honestly. 

72. Monthly Log- Another overly used page in any bullet journal. Very important. 

73. Daily Log- I don’t do this too often, but I know it helps others who really need a whole page for each day. 

74. Bill Tracker- This was fun to make and something I will be using now

75. Income Tracker- How much and how frequently do you get paid?

76. Deadline Page- Prepare yourself for things that you need to get done. Do not procrastinate this year!

77. Vocabulary Practice- Sometimes we just need to educate ourselves on our own terms. (and with our own terms. Anyone? Anyone?)

78. Doctor Appointment Log- If you don’t want to add them to your calendar or they are too far out to add to the calendar you’re using. 

79. Username and Password List- Be careful with this page. If someone finds your bullet journal, this could be bad. 

80. Monthly Cover Page- These are so cute! I just started doing them, but they make my journal so artsy and pretty. 

81. Dream Log- This is a fun one. Track your dreams. This would be good to line up with how many hours you get as well. 

82. Favorites List- What are YOUR favorites? Movies, snacks, drinks, subjects, people, colors, animals, etc. 

83. Habits To Break- Do you bite your nails? Quote The Office too much? Throw clothes into piles on your floor? STOP THAT. 

84. Small Things That Matter- Puppies, getting up in the morning, pennies, smiling at yourself, laughter, etc. Remind yourself that there is good in the world. 

85. Things To Sell- Get rid of the things you don’t need. Or make things to sell! Be prosperous this year. 

86. School Schedule- High school and college students really need this. Even teachers do too. Make a chart of your classes, room numbers, buildings, and times.

87. House Projects- Things that need fixing or improvements around the house. 

88. Day Trip Ideas- Fun places to go when you have the time. 

89. Things I Am Bad At- It’s okay to admit our shortcomings and work on them. Or just accept them for what they are. 

90. Resolutions- YES! Make yourself this better this year. Be the best you. 

91. Crochet/Knit Log- When making a blanket, small items, or just keeping track of your improvements in your skill. 

92. Future Planning- Make a list of the things you want in your future and how you plan on getting them. 

93. Quirk List- Ever notice you do small little weird things? Make a list to appreciate who you are. 

94. Who Borrowed What- Sometimes people borrow things and you forget until you need it again. By then, they threw it out or gave it to someone else. 

95. Six Word Stories- Get those creative juices pumping. 

96. Love Yourself- Write down all the things you love about yourself. Appreciate yourself. 

97. Paying It Back- Honestly, a good page to have, but it doesn’t get much attention from me. 

98. Childhood Dreams- We should always try to look back on what we thought we wanted

99. Good Deed Ideas- Ever think “wow, wouldn’t it be great if I could _____”?