Month: February 2010

20/20 – Day 7: 20 ways to get the word count right

Word counts. Ah, yes. We’ve all been through it before.  You either get stuck after writing about 800 words of a 1,500 word essay, or you fly past the required number of words in the hope that triple the length is acceptable.

Below are 20 ways to help you achieve the word count you need.  Ten for when you’re struggling to write, ten for when you’ve rocketed past the limit.

When you can’t find the words

  1. Write the way you feel. Make it scholarly later. In other words, ignore your internal editor!
  2. Read more. There is always more to add and other avenues to explore.  Further reading should help uncover new areas that you haven’t discussed yet.
  3. Return to your notes. Has something been covered that could be included as part of your argument?  Did your tutor provide any broad topic areas that are relevant to your writing?
  4. Ignore the essay so far. Just list all the points/opinions/arguments you want to make. Anything currently missing from the essay can now be written up.
  5. Step away from the essay. Leave it for a while and return when your mind’s fresh.  Sometimes it’s the only way to wake your mind back up.
  6. Think prodding, not padding! Just adding text for the sake of making up numbers is pointless and it won’t get you any extra marks.  Question everything you read. Does a text agree with your argument? If so, how has the author moved the topic on?  If not, can you criticise that argument in order to back up yours?
  7. Ignore the word count. It starts you off with the wrong mindset altogether.  If you consider the number of words before you’ve written anything, you will automatically stop writing at points in fear that you’re writing too much.  In fact, you need to write more.  So return to any writing that you’ve already done and try expanding on what you’ve got without it turning to padding.
  8. Ask your tutor how the essay is shaping up.  Discuss what you can examine next, where to explore, and so on.
  9. Return to the question. What else could it mean or imply?  Rarely is an undergraduate essay a simple question with an unambiguous answer.
  10. Stop restricting yourself. If you do all the above and still can’t get near to the right number of words, you’re somehow blocking yourself.  Remember that there’s no right or wrong answer.  Critical engagement is so much more than that. If it’s proving that difficult to engage, look to staging a completely different argument.  Maybe you’re trying to give an opinion that isn’t really your opinion.

When you’re over the limit

  1. Cut, cut, cut!
  2. List points in order of importance. Cut the rest to brief points and references.
  3. Check for repetition.
  4. Check verbosity. Are you unnecessarily labouring a point? Be brutal.
  5. Consider depth. Have you given more detail than is expected of you?
  6. If a particular discussion or argument uses many more words than your other set pieces, cut from here.
  7. Take a reality check. “There’s no way I can cut this without cutting something crucial. I need to include everything.”  Seriously, you don’t.  Count yourself lucky that you’ve got the ideas. If it’s still tough, talk it through with your tutor. They will almost certainly suggest areas to chop.
  8. Don’t retell a story or explain from scratch. Introduce the point briefly and reference.
  9. Don’t panic if you’re slightly over.  0-5% is no big deal. 5-10% is worth being vigilant over.  Anything above 10% needs serious reduction.
  10. If you’re going to write so much, why not make it your dissertation subject? 😉
Title image: original by tiffa130 (cc)

20/20 – Day 6: 20 excuses to move

Not everyone plays sport. Not everyone gets up from where they’re sat every hour to stretch.  Not everyone thinks to move around as much as they probably should.

Today’s 20/20 post contains simple excuses to get up and move. Because we all need to be active sometimes.

  1. When you make a phone call. Don’t just sit there, walk as you talk.
  2. Make a cup of tea or coffee. While waiting for the kettle to boil, walk around the room. If the room’s big enough, of course!
  3. Walk to town. Some walking wellbeing before the retail therapy.
  4. Jog to campus. Not suitable if you’re laden with books.
  5. Change position as you change task. Even if you’re due to continue working in the same place, give each task a physical break point as well as a mental one.  Not only does it get you out of your seat, it also separates the tasks you’re working on.
  6. Move when you lack inspiration. You don’t need to go very far.  Just move away from the space you were occupying.  Think of it as a reset button.  You may not need a total reboot, but you’d like to return to your default settings again.
  7. Get physical when you are tired. Jump up and down, spin around in circles, do something to wake yourself up again.
  8. When you need the toilet. Fair enough, you’ll move whether you like it or not.  But don’t wait, just use the excuse to get active. If you’re on campus, don’t automatically use the nearest convenience.  Walk to one further away.  Every step helps.
  9. Post a letter. There’s bound to be a postbox near to you. A quick walk to the postbox is a great excuse to move. Don’t wait until you’re going past it anyway.
  10. Get off bus one stop early. Walk the rest of your journey. I wouldn’t advise getting off one stop late.  I did that once and found that the next stop was 15 miles away!
  11. Use stairs, not the lift. For many of us, the automatic choice between taking the stairs and catching a lift is the lift option.  Each time you make tracks toward the lift, look for the stairs. If you want a challenge, try to beat the lift.  I expect you could most of the time.
  12. Cook from scratch. You won’t go far with a microwave meal. There aren’t many steps to the front door to collect that pizza you’ve just ordered.  By making your own food, you have to get active in the kitchen.  Okay, it’s not aerobics, but the movement will still do you good.
  13. Schedule it. What more excuse do you need? Once you schedule an activity it’s only a lack of willpower that can get in the way. I say ‘only’…
  14. When you’re thinking. Time spent exercising your mind can be time spent exercising your legs.  Every time you’re engaged in lengthy thought, get walking.
  15. Get up and dance! Music doesn’t have to be listened to in a sitting position.  Stand up, move about, you could even dance.  Although perhaps not in public.
  16. Move your phone away from you. Your phone is like another limb.  But it doesn’t need to live in your pocket all the time.  Put the phone on the other side of your room while you work on other things.  You’ll then get up and move every time you receive a message.  It could get annoying, but surely that’s more reason to ignore the phone or switch it off, rather than stick it back in your pocket again!
  17. Shower instead of bath. Easier on the environment, easier for you to get moving.
  18. Tidy!
  19. Set an alarm.  Every 20 or 30 minutes, set an alarm so you can walk around the room a couple times.  A simple alternative to scheduling the exercise.
  20. Stand/fidget as you work.  Sedentary work may not require much movement, but who said you had to sit down and stay perfectly still?  Get your fidget on!

Title image: original by tiffa130 (cc)  /  Bottom image: NeoGaboX (cc)

20/20 – Day 5: 20 uses for 20 minutes

Pushed for time?  Got some spare time?  Don’t want to waste time?

Whatever the case, 20 minutes isn’t very long. But it’s long enough to do all sorts of things.  Day 5 of 20/20 explores some of the things you can do in a seemingly small space of time.

  1. Wash your clothes. Gather up a load of washing, stick it in the machine, throw in the detergent, and you’re away.  Even if you have to walk to the laundrette, it shouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes to get this done.  And if you want to wait for the load to finish, it’ll give you more time to do some more of the stuff below.
  2. Wash the dishes. One of the jobs we love to hate.  You don’t really see dishwashers in student digs, so the washing up has to be done at some point.  Get it out of the way when you’ve got time to spare.  When it’s done, it’s out of the way.  Now all you need to do is never eat or drink again…
  3. Have a shower. You’ll be clean, you’ll be refreshed, you’ll be stimulated. Not bad for 20 minutes work.
  4. Start writing an annoying essay. Time yourself and see what you write. It’s just a way to ease you in. When it works, it’s awesome. And it works more than you think it might.
  5. Read.  If you need an excuse…
  6. Power nap. A quick rest to give you more energy for the rest of the day. What’s not to like?
  7. Walk somewhere nearby.  10 minutes each way, but make it 20 minutes each way if feeling adventurous. Get your mind working, enjoy the view, think about stuff or ignore everything. Up to you. A walk brings many benefits and it’s healthy too.
  8. Send a postcard. It’s a great way to keep in touch with people you care about.  It doesn’t take long and it’s a novel way to make someone smile.
  9. Make a phone call. Not just any call. Ring someone who’ll really appreciate the fact that you’ve taken the time to make contact.
  10. Watch educational videos online.  Get a short burst of mental stimulation.
  11. Write something different. A short poem, a manifesto, a journal entry.  Make your mark in a way you wouldn’t usually consider.
  12. Make a list of the things you want to do before you graduate. To get an idea, check Savvy Student’s suggestions.
  13. Make a social media splash. Not just chatting on Facebook. Start a professional profile, follow influential people on Twitter, get a blog started, if you’ve already got a blog then write a post for it.
  14. Work on your CV. Never too early to make it shine.
  15. Tidy up. There’s never enough time for stuff like clearing your room. There is if you only spend 20 minutes on it.  You won’t finish, but it’s better than doing no tidying at all!
  16. Take stock.  20 minutes is all you need to see how far you’ve come and note what you need to do going forward.  It’s actioning those plans that takes the time.
  17. Write a list. Who knows where it will take you?
  18. Listen to a genre of music you’re not used to. Experience the new. If you don’t like it, you’ve not wasted much time. If you do like it, you’ve got so much more goodness to explore.
  19. Do something different. However big or small, change your perspective and do something you’ve never done before. Or do something old in a completely different way. Do it just to see how you react. Obviously don’t do anything dangerous. I’m saying do something different, not stupid.
  20. Just stop. Celebrate silence. A few moments of pure nothing is wonderful in a world where we’re always doing something.  You’re allowed to have a breather.

Title image: original by tiffa130 (cc)  /  Bottom image: Robbert van der Steeg (cc)

#voteforstudents – More than just a hashtag

Earlier today from 12.00, the Twitter hashtag #voteforstudents started trending worldwide.

#voteforstudents became the second most popular topic tweeted in the UK  within minutes. And for good reason too.

The Vote For Students website, set up by NUS (National Union of  Students) asks students to vote in the forthcoming general  election to support candidates who won’t support an increase in student fees.

The purpose of today’s Twitter event was to make the cause known and help spur students on to vote.  The student population is  huge.  Students represent 15% of the voting population, but many do not vote.  By coming together on a cause like this, students can make a big difference through their united voice.

In addition to this, the Vote For Students campaign puts pressure on political parties to speak up about the future of funding in  Higher Education.

Among the great Tweets were:

#voteforstudents  now at number two in UK trending topics, but it will be the number one thing on students minds on polling day – @estellehart

You don’t have to be a student, pledge your vote now to honest candidates at www.voteforstudents.co.uk #voteforstudents – @andrewhenrynus

We don’t want a country where poor institutions teaching poor students get poorer and vice versa #voteforstudents – @jim_dickinson

#voteforstudents  is about mobilising the student vote with the  immediate aim of stopping any increase in uni fees. – @johnpeart

#voteforstudents  isn’t just for students you can sign up today  too if you care about the future of education in the UK – @marktweets

Because if fees rise then most of us are screwed for the housing  ladder and pensions #voteforstudents – @AliceBouquet

The student vote could change the result of the next election.  Make sure our voices are heard. #voteforstudents – @uclansu

We could swing the general election…there’s 7 million in @nusuk  ‘s membership! #voteforstudents – @DannieGruff

great that #voteforstudents is trending. But it’s vital students sign up http://www.voteforstudents.co.uk & vote! – @AaronPorter

I did notice a couple of criticisms along the way too:

#voteforstudents  campaign and NUS should focus on getting students to vote, since 50% say they wont, rather than promoting their own agenda – @owenlmeredith

Impressed with the successful effort to get #voteforstudents to trend globally. Though a short tweetable manifesto would be useful. – @technicalfault

Today’s campaign to create a Twitter trending topic is one way in many that interested parties (not just NUS) are reaching out to  students to ask for their vote…and for their vote to actually count.

As for a tweetable manifesto, many Tweets were going out with the Vote For Students website linked, but @technicalfault does make a  fair point.  I’m sure if NUS were to set up a similar event, they’d consider something like this.

And I can well imagine NUS will do this again.  The outcome of the event wasn’t certain, but to trend so successfully in the UK and  around the world is a big deal given Twitter’s 40 million Tweets per day! [Update: Just a few days later, let’s make that 50 million Tweets!]

Congratulations to all who helped make #voteforstudents a top trending topic.

Now do we all go back to normal? NO. It’s time to make a difference. That’s what today was all about.  We all need to use our vote wisely.

Earlier today from 12.00, the Twitter hashtag #voteforstudents

started trending worldwide.

#voteforstudents became the second most popular topic in the UK

within minutes. And for good reason too.

The Vote For Students website, set up by NUS (National Union of

Students) asks students to vote in the forthcoming general

election to support candidates who won’t support an increase in

student fees.

The purpose of today’s Twitter event was to make the cause known

and help spur students on to vote.  The student population is

huge.  Students represent 15% of the voting population, but many

do not vote.  By coming together on a cause like this, students

can make a big difference through their united voice.

In addition to this, the Vote For Students campaign put pressure

on political parties to speak up about the future of funding in

Higher Education.

Among the Tweets were these:
#voteforstudents  now at number two in UK trending topics, but it

will the number one thing on students minds on polling day –

@estellehart http://twitter.com/estellehart/status/9281341191

You don’t have to be a student, pledge your vote now to honest

candidates at http://www.voteforstudents.co.uk #voteforstudents –

@andrewhenrynus

http://twitter.com/andrewhenrynus/status/9280856974

We don’t want a country where poor institutions teaching poor

students get poorer and vice versa #voteforstudents

http://www.voteforstudents.co.uk – @jim_dickinson

#voteforstudents  is about mobilising the student vote with the

immediate aim of stopping any increase in uni fees.

http://www.voteforstudents.co.uk – @johnpeart

http://twitter.com/johnpeart/status/9281040139

#voteforstudents  isn’t just for students you can sign up today

too if you care about the future of education in the UK

voteforstudents.co.uk – @marktweets

Because if fees rise then most of us are screwed for the housing

ladder and pensions #voteforstudents – @AliceBouquet

The student vote could change the result of the next election.

Make sure our voices are heard: http://www.voteforstudents.co.uk

#voteforstudents – @uclansu

We could swing the general election…there’s 7 million in @nusuk

‘s membership! #voteforstudents – @DannieGruff

I did notice a couple of criticisms along the way too:
#voteforstudents  campaign and NUS should focus on getting

students to vote, since 50% say they wont, rather than promoting

their own agenda – @owenlmeredith

Impressed with the successful effort to get #voteforstudents  to

trend globally. Though a short tweetable manifesto would be

useful. – @technicalfault

http://twitter.com/technicalfault/status/9282485567

Today’s campaign to create a Twitter trending topic is one way in

many that interested parties (not just NUS) are reaching out to

students to ask for their vote…and for their vote to actually

count.

As for a tweetable manifesto, many Tweets were going out with the

Vote For Students website linked, but @technicalfault does make a

fair point.  I’m sure if NUS were to set up a similar event,

they’d consider something like this.

And I can well imagine NUS will do this again.  The outcome of the

event wasn’t certain, but to trend so successfully in the UK and

around the world is a big deal given Twitter’s 40 million Tweets

per day!

http://royal.pingdom.com/2010/02/10/twitter-now-more-than-1-billio

n-tweets-per-month/

Congratulations to all who helped make #voteforstudents a top

trending topic.

Now do we all go back to normal? NO. It’s time to make a

difference. That’s what today was all about.  Let’s use our vote

wisely!