Tag Archive for: writing

How to Write an Effective College Essay

How to Write an Effective College Application Essay

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How to Write an Effective College Application Essay

How to Write an Effective College Essay

You’ve worked hard in class to get the grades and you studied up for the SAT. Now it’s time to write your college application essay! This is your chance to show your personality and let the admissions committee get to know you beyond the numbers. Below, we’ll guide you through writing an effective college application essay.


Understanding the Importance of the College Application Essay

Your college application essay is an opportunity to share your experiences, dreams, and personality with college admissions committees. This is your chance to let them know what your values are, what kind of person you are, and who you want to be. Your college application essay can be what differentiates you from an identical applicant who has a similar GPA and exam score.


Choosing the Right Topic

Like any writing assignment, sometimes the hardest part is starting, and to start you’ll need to pick your topic. A good place to begin is to reflect on your personal experiences and what’s important to you. Think about moments that have impacted your life, influenced your perspective, or taught you lessons. What challenges have you overcome? When did you have to stand up for what you believe in? Did you ever have to work really hard to achieve a goal? These are stories that are personal and resonate with admissions officers.

Keep in mind that many students write about similar activities like sports, volunteering, and student leadership in their essays. It’s perfectly fine to write about a sports victory or volunteer trip, but focus on your unique perspective and personal growth. Whatever you choose, make sure it aligns with the prompt and highlights your individuality.


Crafting a Compelling Narrative

The best college application essays tell a story. Don’t list your achievements or describe an event with a play-by-play of what happened. Instead, create a narrative that engages the reader. How were you feeling? What did you notice? Share your perspective and use descriptive language to paint a picture for the reader and allow them to experience the moment with you.

Remember that authenticity is important. Don’t simply write what you think the admissions committee wants to hear. Authentic stories, even if they’re about small, everyday experiences, can be incredibly powerful and tell a lot about who you are.

Don’t forget that the most compelling essays often highlight personal growth and self-reflection. How did the experience challenge you or change you? What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about the world around you?


Structuring the Essay

A well-structured essay is easy to read and more impactful than a poorly structured essay. Start with an attention-grabbing introduction. This could be a surprising fact, a question, or a vivid description that sets the scene for your story.

In the body of your essay, develop your main ideas in clear, concise paragraphs. Make sure each paragraph transitions smoothly to the next one and build on the story. Keep your reader engaged with a logical progression and avoid unnecessary tangents.

The conclusion of your essay should tie everything together and reinforce the main message of your essay. The reader should finish with a clear understanding of your story and the message you shared.


Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your College Application Essay

  1. Being too generic: Your essay should be specific to you and reflect your personal experiences. Essays that are too broad or could apply to anyone will not stand out.
  2. Overusing complex vocabulary: While it’s important to demonstrate your writing skills, using big words just for the sake of it can make your essay sound forced and unnatural. Write in your own voice and let your personality shine through.
  3. Going over the word limit: Admissions officers have hundreds of essays to read, and if your essay is too long, it could be cut off or even disregarded altogether.
  4. Not fully addressing the prompt: It’s easy to get carried away with your story and forget to answer the question being asked. Review the prompt carefully and ensure that your essay provides a complete response.


Conclusion

Writing a college application essay can be daunting, but it’s an opportunity to reflect on your experiences and share who you are with the admissions committee. Remember that your first draft won’t be perfect, and that’s okay. With time, effort, and the right guidance, you can write an essay that truly represents who you are and stands out in a crowded admissions pool.

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure of where to start, Hodis Learning & Music can help. We offer personalized guidance to help you brainstorm ideas, refine your writing, and create a standout essay. Call or submit a form on our website today to schedule a session.

Flora V. Educator Spotlight

Educator Spotlight: Flora V.

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Educator Spotlight: Flora V.

 

Flora V. Educator Spotlight

 

What subjects do you teach?

  • Art: Painting, Drawing, Illustration, Sculpture, Photography, Videography, Video Editing, Graphic Design, Portfolio Planning & Development
  • Academics: Art History, Creative Writing, Screenwriting

  • Music: Ukulele, Guitar

 
What’s the most rewarding part of being an educator?

The most rewarding part of being an educator is when my students express a desire to learn or practice a subject more! As an educator, it is my job to inspire enthusiasm, and I know I have succeeded when a student asks to spend more time experimenting, initiates a project, or shows a deeper curiosity about what we are learning.


What are the most common areas you see your students struggling in? How do you help them in those areas?

Although all my students have unique strengths and weaknesses, the most common area I see them struggling in is their self-confidence. Many of my students are ambitious and highly creative, and with this, mistakes and self-doubt naturally occur.


How do you help them improve in those areas?

To help my students overcome issues with self-confidence, I encourage mistakes through playful experimentation and always ask them to analyze their work to discover areas of improvement. I find this helps them see that making mistakes is part of the process of learning and that their self-confidence should be determined by their desire to learn and grow!


What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching students?

Outside of teaching, I enjoy making art, short films, and music; I always have a project or two I am working on in my free time. I also love to cook and take walks with my dog Dusty!


What do you think makes Hodis Learning & Music a great service and company to work for?

I love working for Hodis Learning & Music because they encourage dynamic and individualized education. I appreciate that HLM does not confine educators to a generalized lesson model, as this allows me to tailor each course I teach to my student’s needs. Additionally, I feel valued as an educator and part of a greater community at HLM!

 

Learn more about Flora.

Enhance Your Writing

Tips to Enhance Your Writing Skills

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Tips to Enhance Your Writing Skills

Enhance Your Writing

Writing is essential for academic success. Strong writing will also help you as you apply to high school, college, and beyond. Additionally, most jobs require applicants to submit a well-written cover letter and resume, so your ability to write well will have implications beyond your academic career. Below are some helpful tips to enhance your writing skills.


1. Understand Grammar and Punctuation

Make sure you have a strong understanding of grammar and punctuation rules. These should be taught in your English classes, but if you don’t understand, talk with your teacher after class or hire a writing tutor who can explain concepts in a focused setting. You can also utilize grammar-checking tools or apps. Just make sure they are allowed before you use them in class or on an assignment.


2. Write Daily

When it comes to writing, it’s important to get lots of practice to enhance your skills. Try to write something every day, whether it’s a journal entry, a short story, or a blog post. This will help you develop your written voice and enhance your creativity


3. Use Writing Prompts

There are plenty of books, websites, and apps that offer creative prompts to get you started with writing. Try different types of prompts to expand your skills. For example, one day you might want to try a persuasive prompt and another day you can try a fictional prompt.


4. Read Regularly

Reading exposes you to different writing styles, vocabulary, story structures, and ideas. Read a variety of materials such as books, newspaper articles, short stories, poems, and magazine features. Choose topics that interest you so that reading doesn’t seem like a chore, but rather something enjoyable that you can do frequently.


5. Expand Your Vocabulary

Use a thesaurus to find synonyms and antonyms for words that you can use in your writing. Expanding your vocabulary will make your writing more engaging and precise.


6. Understand the Writing Process

The writing process includes prewriting (planning and brainstorming), drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading. Get familiar with this process and use it whenever you need to write. Good writing often involves multiple revisions, so don’t be afraid to go back and change things after a first draft.


7. Peer Review

It might be intimidating, but exchange your work with someone like a classmate or friend for feedback. Peer review helps identify weaknesses in your writing and offers different perspectives. Your classmate or friend might notice something you missed in your own review.


8. Structure and Organization

Essays and reports should have a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Outlining can help you structure your thoughts and determine where information should go. Make sure you follow your essay structure so that the final paper is cohesive and concise.


9. Read Aloud

Reading your work aloud can help you identify long or awkward sentences, errors, or parts that are unclear. Read aloud multiple times throughout your writing and drafting process.

 

 

 

Enhancing your writing skills will not only help you excel academically but also develop vital communication skills that will serve you well in all aspects of life. At our Hodis Learning & Music, we offer expert academic tutoring to help writers navigate the intricacies of grammar, composition, and develop their creativity.

So, whether it’s mastering your personal statement, crafting compelling stories, or tackling research projects, our team is here to nurture the talent within each student, helping them become confident, effective communicators. Start your writing journey by calling or emailing us today!

personal statement tutoring workshop

Personal Statement Workshop

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Personal Statement Workshop

 

personal statement tutoring workshop

 

Personal Statement Workshop Overview

Whether you’re applying to high school, college, or a graduate program, having a strong personal statement is key to standing out to any admissions committee. In the Hodis Learning & Music Personal Statement Workshop, you’ll learn everything you need to know about crafting the perfect personal statement.

 

What To Expect

Once you sign up for the workshop, you’ll be matched with an expert tutor who will go over common prompts and help you brainstorm and draft your statement. You’ll hone your writing skills and create at least one compelling statement that you can use in your applications. You’ll also gain the skills you need to write other successful statements on your own.

 

Sign Up To Write a Winning Personal Statement Now

Reserve your spot in our Personal Statement Workshop now and you’ll save $40 on the listed price! This exclusive offer ends February 14. If you want more information, read about the workshop here. 

Call us today at (626) 227-1149 or email us to reserve your seat today!

New post! Read this educator spotlight on Staci W., an English, ESL, History, Korean, and elementary and middle school tutor.

Educator Spotlight: Staci W.

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Educator Spotlight: Staci W.

 

New post! Read this educator spotlight on Staci W., an English, ESL, History, Korean, and elementary and middle school tutor.

 

What subjects do you teach?

  • Academic Tutoring: English up to college level, ESL, History, AP History, Korean, Math and Science up to Middle School level

 
What’s the most rewarding part of being an educator?

I love helping students gain confidence in subjects they used to struggle with. It’s very rewarding when a student starts understanding a difficult concept and realizes their capability. A lot of my students struggle in the same areas I used to when I was in school and I enjoy teaching them healthier study habits that helped me over the years.


What are the most common areas you see your students struggling in? How do you help them in those areas?

Most of my students struggle with a lack of confidence in their ability to do well. If a subject has proven difficult in the past, they may have developed negative self-talk that keeps them from doing their best. I do my best to show them the tools they need to accomplish their goals and to encourage them. I aim to make my lessons fun so that learning doesn’t feel like a chore and to give them a positive environment to make mistakes and learn. 


What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching students?

I enjoy making music as a singer/songwriter, going to cute coffee and boba shops, and catching up on TV in my spare time.


What do you think makes Hodis Learning & Music a great service and company to work for?

Everyone who works here not only wants to help students succeed but genuinely wants to make learning fun and enjoyable for their students. Learning shouldn’t have to be dull and I appreciate Hodis Learning & Music’s mission.

 

Learn more about Staci.

The Do’s & Don’ts Of Finding Research Paper Sources

The Do’s & Don’ts of Finding Research Paper Sources

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The Do’s & Don’ts of Finding Research Paper Sources

The Do’s & Don’ts Of Finding Research Paper Sources

The foundation of any good research paper is made up of high-quality, primary sources. This resource post serves as a quick guide for finding good sources and avoiding the bad ones.

DO make sure you know how many and what kinds of sources you need for your assignment. Can all your sources be from online, or do you need sources from academic journals and books as well? Meeting the minimum source requirements is an easy way to get points on your paper.

DO use reputable sources when you’re searching online. A tip for ensuring that you find good online sources is by using URL links that end in .gov or .edu.

DO take advantage of academic journal databases. You can usually get free access to paid articles in databases like JSTOR, ProQuest, OVID, or Google Scholar with a student email address.

DO rely on your local or school library. Librarians can be helpful in your source search as they are familiar with the library contents and can direct you on where to find relevant books. Many can also offer guidance with online database or archive searches. Libraries may also have scholarly journals that you can borrow for your research.

DON’T simply use Wikipedia summaries. You will likely need to have primary sources to support your research claims. Primary sources are first-hand accounts of an event or topic. Wikipedia articles are not first-hand accounts and can be changed by anyone, so you don’t want to rely on potentially false information. Wikipedia can be a starting point for gaining a basic understanding of a topic, but follow the citations at the bottom of the page to find where the information is coming from.

DON’T use the first source you find. Keep a list of each source you find, and make sure any piece of information you plan to use is verified by a high-quality, reputable, primary source. It’s better to have multiple sources to reference, than to have too few.

DON’T just copy and paste your source URLs at the end of your paper. Make sure you understand the formatting requirements for your paper as that will likely be part of the grading criteria on your assignment. Use sources like Purdue Online Writing Lab to learn about writing styles and proper citations. You can also find online citation builders like EasyBib that can help you organize your sources properly.

Additionally, Hodis Learning & Music has expert writing tutors who can help you throughout the process of writing your research paper. If you think you might need more assistance in planning and writing a paper, contact Hodis Learning & Music here to get started with a tutor today.

New blog post! How to prepare for public speaking. Read now!

How to Prepare for Public Speaking

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How to Prepare for Public Speaking

New blog post! How to prepare for public speaking. Read now!

Many people experience fear and anxiety when they are faced with public speaking. Whether you have a class presentation or you are preparing a speech for student body elections, the tips below will help you prepare for public speaking in any scenario.


Get Familiar With Your Material

The first thing to do when you are preparing for public speaking is gain a thorough understanding of the material you’ll be presenting. Do your research, make notes, find multiple high-quality sources. You will feel more prepared and confident about speaking when you are knowledgeable about the topic.


Know the Parameters of Your Presentation

If you’re working on a presentation for class, make sure you understand the assignment requirements. Oftentimes, the presentation parameters will be part of your grade. Some things to make sure you know:

  • Is there a minimum time requirement you must speak for?
  • Are you supposed to create a slideshow to accompany your presentation?
  • Are you allowed to use props to help you while presenting? (i.e. notecards or an outline)
  • Will there be a question and answer section following your presentation?


Create an Outline of Important Talking Points

Almost like you would when starting an essay, create an outline of what you will talk about. For example, if your presentation is about a historical figure like Abraham Lincoln, you might want to start with a brief biography. Describe where and when he grew up, how he became president, then his notable accomplishments as president.


Rehearse What You Are Going to Say

Rehearsal is essential to presenting well. Create a script if you must. Practice your presentation aloud by yourself and in front of other people, like family members, friends, or a roommate. They can offer feedback and tell you if they notice areas for improvement. Rehearsal will also help you find out if your presentation is too long or too short.


Speak Slowly, Clearly, and Pause

When people are nervous, they have a tendency to speak quickly, so practice speaking slower, even if it feels a bit unnatural. Make sure you enunciate and project your voice. You don’t want to be yelling, but you also don’t want to mumble. Being mindful of slowing down and projecting can help you so that you don’t automatically speed through your presentation. Take moments for natural pauses within your presentation, like between slides. This will help with your pacing and allow you moments to breathe, which can help ease anxiety.

Schedule a session with one of our expert tutors to help brainstorm and rehearse your speech!