08/04/2020 - Week One

08/04/2020 - Week one

💫Thu💫 - How are you keeping active?

Workouts mostly. Pamela Reif is a really good fitness instagramer / youtuber btw. I can really recommend her workouts, since I have been doing them for quite a while now.

How to cope with reading mind numbing content:

1) Google that shit. Take the topic at hand and run it through the web- I always check out a YouTube video before I read, just so I have that invaluable base- level understanding of the topic that academics neglect.

2) Find, and read, the introductory paragraphs and conclusion. Often, academics will put some general concluding statements in their introductions: jot these down in shorthand form before progressing, and update these fundamental points as you proceed.

3) Set yourself a 30 minute timer to read through the body of the piece. Don’t fall into the trap of reading word by word, and writing copious notes. When I’m on autopilot and reading about something boring, I find myself writing great swathes of notes, often with word for word copying. Avoid this at all costs!

4) When the timer finishes, take a fresh piece of paper and jot down the crux of the argument. If you’ve got thoughts and are feeling fancy, jot down your own opinions and deductions alongside it. This is definitely something I need to remind myself to do more often.

5) Don’t overdo it. Read what you can, make sure you’ve got a solid understanding of the key ideas and attend class. Remember at the tertiary level what so many of us forget- that classes are still intended for learning, and not the show grounds for academic posturing they sometimes appear to be. Not every topic is going to be Your Thing, and that’s ok. Make the effort to read and research, ask questions, but do not punish yourself.

Sat staring at your screen, thinking, “what the fuck?!”

… me too. It happens to the best of us. Here’s how I break the ice, and start the writing and researching process! 

You’ve got this. 

Decided to do a little dark academia theme this week! How are y’all doing in self isolation?

TV studies notes!

You: villains monologue to allow the hero time and opportunity to escape

Me, an intellectual: villains monologue because it's free therapy and everyone needs a little catharsis every once in a while