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Writer's pictureLeah Skinner

So I Was Failing. Or was I?

Updated: Oct 30, 2018

Failing and winning at the same time, and how you can succeed at studying and essay writing.

Don't feel like reading? I've got you covered. Scroll to the bottom and listen to my YouTube video, or click here.


Uni is hard work. Everyone knows this. But what we fail to acknowledge is that the grade we get at the end of each assignment does not determine our success or overall intelligence. It merely reflects a learning curve. A nod to the ability to translate our understanding of the learning materials into our own words. A reflection of our effort. A reflection of our abilities in that moment, but not a reflection of our abilities going forward.


Here's a little insider info for you- I'm a mum of three children between the ages of 6 and 12 of whom I also homeschool- whilst also studying full-time. My husband and I very much cherish family time, so my studying has to work around our family life. So how do I do it? Well here is my #confession I'm a night owl. I typically stay up all hours of the night to finish assignments so that during the day I can spend time with my husband and kids. I also have dedicated days for studyies that don't interrupt our schedules. But let's be honest, sometimes none of that works and life is a little on the hectic side. Hence, these tips are essential for busy mum's and dad's like me, or full-time workers alike, and if I can do it, so can you.


Learning is the result of all things.

It is the magic that happens when we 'do'.


Learning occurs as a result of reflection. Failure, then, is what happens when we tell ourselves that it is the final result. We must stop doing this. We must stop saying 'I failed, therefore, I can't do'. Instead, we must analyse our failures and dissect them for reflection so that we can learn from them. Because failure is a blessing. When we fail and continue on, there is power in that. As long as you are failing and learning, you're doing okay.


Earlier this year, I took on two units: Writing, Rhetoric and Persuasion, and Introduction to Writing (@CurtinUniversity #opeuniversity). This semester was by far my worst study period since starting University (and because, well, a lot was happening, read my personal essay here), but I also learned the most during this semester too and I want to share what I've learned with you. Because what I learned was how to study smarter, and not harder. Because during this semester, I was failing myself because I stopped following my system. So, I'm going to give you some key tips on how to set yourself up for success. I'm going to share with you the fundamentals of essay writing, and my approach to studying.


Here's my system:


Prioritising is key.

Why? Because when you don't prioritise you'll be rushed from the very beginning. Prioritise your workload: know what is due and when, then dedicate some time- that best suits your schedule- to make notes on the weekly readings and tutorials. I set aside Monday-Wednesday mornings for studying, and I treat it very much like a work day. I set an alarm, I shower and make myself presentable, I make my coffee and then I sit down at my desk with everything that I might need readily accessible, and I study. I use OneNote and set up different tabs for each unit. Under each unit's tab, I clearly label each week and have separate notes for tutorials and each reading for that week. I also use an app called Egender (available on android and apple devices) to set up a reminder for all of my due tasks.

This is how my OneNote looks

Each unit has clearly labelled tabs or 'pages'

Plan your attack.

I know this seems obvious, but I know that this is also the single most contributing factor to students losing points on assignments and similarly losing focus. Start planning as early as possible, jotting down initial ideas for assignments as soon as you get your unit outline. Start your plan by briefing yourself on each assignment, starting first with understanding what the assignment is about.

  • What is the assignment asking of you?

  • What is the word limit?

  • What is the style of the assignment: analytical, argumentative, report, exegesis?

  • What have you read so far, and what research can you do to enhance your learning? Furthermore, what is your understanding of the unit materials so far?

Once you can answer these few things, and you have completed the groundwork, only then can you begin the drafting phase. If at this point you are unsure and cannot answer any of the above, #speakup- Go straight to your tutor and ASK THEM for help. It's also an excellent idea to take a look at the marking rubric for each assignment so that you understand what the markers/your tutors are looking for.


QUICK TIP: start each draft with a brief thesis statement accompanied by three (four max) key points that lead off from your thesis. This will identify your key research area, and will also get you started faster.

Example:

Assignment Brief: analyse how web 2.0 tools and technologies support communication and collaboration

Starting Thesis:

  • Blogs enhance communication and collaboration in the educational field.

(Later, with more research, the thesis will detail how/why blogs enhance communication and collaboration)

3 Key starting points:

  • Blogs are decentralised learning management systems that invite broader participation outside of centralised spaces like classrooms.

  • Blogs encourage collaborations with peers and instructors on a platform that supports multimedia, enhancing learning opportunities.

  • Blogs transcend space and time, offering a permanent archive that can be accessed anywhere and anytime.

This will kickstart your research by plucking out key phrases to search for supporting documentation. For the above example, I might start searching with "blogs for education", "blogs for the classroom", "blogs for learning" etc. As you uncover more through your research and your general understanding broadens, you can refine your thesis. Once you have a good understanding of your research and your approach/direction it's a good time to refer back to the assignment question to ensure your thesis is addressing the brief.


(For details on writing a thesis statement and how to write an essay watch the below YouTube video, or click here .)


Editing is essential.

If you haven't prioritised and planned your attack, trust me on this, you'll be rushing the edit. You need a good chunk of time to edit because this is where you'll pick up any holes in your research or approach. As mentioned above, you'll want to refer back to both your unit materials to date and evaluate if your research and approach is hitting the brief. What you have to remember is, the key points of each paragraph have to tie into your thesis, and your thesis has to address the assignment question.


  • Do a thorough spell-check and if possible get someone else to read over your work. If you don't have anyone available, I recommend using Grammarly. You'll need to sign up, but the basic service is FREE and you can upload/copy-paste paragraphs or entire forms of writing and they will make suggestions on spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

  • You'll also want to make sure that you have formatted your essay correctly (spacing, font, size, etc) and adhered to the style and genre of the writing (your tutor should give you instructors on this, but if you don't know, ask).

  • Double check all of your sources are cited and referenced correctly and in accordance with the referencing style that your unit requires. For more instruction on this, your tutor will be able to steer you in the right direction. Otherwise, Google. But Google responsibly, of course. Each referencing style (APA 6th, Chicago, MLA, Harvard, Etc) has a dedicated site with examples and instructions. For APA 6th, my favourite site to use is here.

NB: to ensure you don't miss any sources or citations, write down the source in note form as you draft, then format later. For example: (p.7 Skinner, 2018, or p.7 'So I was Failing...'). Always make a note of any quoted material using quotation marks and similarly make a note of paraphrasing to avoid any possibility of plagiarism. For citations and references you can use a programme like EndNote or something similar to collect your sources, but be sure to also check the formatting against the referencing style guide as well (don't rely on EndNote to do all of the work).

  • This is also a good time to check that your assignment meets the assignment criteria: word count, references, and style are in accordance with the instructions given to you.


For some extra-awesome tips on editing, check out this article by Grammar Girl.


Take ownership. Take responsibility. Be reflective.

This is the overarching step, because above all things, taking ownership and responsibility for your work is going to get you off to the best start.


Because you are in control and there are no excuses. None.


If you begin your studies with a complacent approach, you're not going to get the most out of your learning experience. In the end, if you're proud of what you've done and you've completed these fundamental steps, then you're in the best space for learning to occur.


Take ownership and be responsible for your own success. Your passion and dedication will reflect your efforts. If you don't get the marks you were expecting, reflect on your instructor's feedback where possible. If you don't get feedback, ask for some.


More importantly, don't accept failure as the final result. Take ownership, take responsibility and apply yourself next semester based on your reflection.


That's it from me today, y'all.

Continue to Write, Read, Talk, and Live life. #writereadtalklive #studentlife

Leah x




For a thorough guide on how to write an essay, I highly recommend the below video created by one of my tutors at Curtin University, Stewart Woods.

Video By: Stewart Woods

Uploaded on Jun 26, 2017

Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_-ISkSmses&feature=youtu.be




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