Things about Finals

Interesting fact: finals week isn't usually the most stressful part of the end of the semester. It's usually the week before, when everything is due. The week before is usually called "hell week" because it's ONE OF THE WORST INVENTIONS. Some people say that you get through these weeks because of caffeine, while others will swear by sleep and exercise.
Both of these people are crazy.
Want to survive finals and hell week? TIPS FROM A FOURTH-YEAR ENGLISH MAJOR.

PAPERS!
1. don't start research the same week a paper is due, unless you can survive on like 5 hours of sleep a night for a week. If you can do that, use that ability in the writing process. Still pace yourself on the research. You'll need it.
2. If you're the type who needs to dither about into your writing regimen, allow yourself time to do that. And also introduce yourself to the person who can survive on 5 hours of sleep.
3. Outline a lot. When you find a quote, put it in one of the supporting evidence points in the outline. Does it not fit neatly into one of your arguments? Try not to include it, unless it works well as a transition piece of evidence.
4. Don't. Procrastinate. Ever. If you're worried about starting/ finishing/ will it suck, STOP. If you NEED to dither until you finally do it, do that before Thanksgiving.
5. One thing I did this semester that was helpful in my final capstone paper is to have 4-5 index cards for each point. Label them as "general information," "quotes from text," "analysis of quotes+facts," and "tie back to thesis." Do this for as many points as you have/ need. Write down your sources on the index cards; include the citation on the back of the card. Use as many index cards as you need - you can probably get 100 for under $1.

TESTS
1. Study buddies are your best friends.
2. So are index cards.
3. And colored pens/ pencils. Color-code things. If it's a name you should remember, do it in one color. If it's a date, do another. If it's a particular piece of math, do another still. Or vocab, or plot points, or whatever.
4. Find out if the test is cumulative or since the midterm/ most recent test. If it's cumulative, study the most recent information first - since it's fresher, you won't need to spend as much time on it.
5. If anything involves long-answer/ essay questions, write out your study answers in complete sentences.

PRESENTATIONS
1. I have nothing. I don't really do presentations anymore.
2. I'm sorry.