5 Ways to De-Stress

In this day and age, we have too many things piled up on our plates.  It can be difficult to stay on top of school or work with everything else we have going on.  I can't function, let alone write a paper with too much stress bubbling inside of me. What I've found to be instrumental to my personal productivity is finding small ways to de-stress.   Here are some of my own personal tried and true stress-relievers.  They don't take long and make it easier to face whatever tasks I have on my to-do list.

5. Read or watch a show

When I was an English/Theatre teacher, I often found myself in the midst of an 80-hour work week: a full day of school, followed by a full evening of rehearsals.  There were always a billion things I needed to be doing, but occasionally I would sequester myself during my lunch or prep period, and watch or read something.  An episode of Parks and Rec or a short chapter in a novel really helped me get away from it all, if only for 22 minutes or so.  For you, maybe it's listening to a podcast or reading a magazine.  The point is, find something you enjoy to let your mind escape for a little bit.

4. Drink more water

Almost all of us are a little dehydrated most of the time.  Drinking more water can help you feel fuller, happier, and healthier.  Because you're giving your body what it needs, you have more energy to get through your day and your stress starts to feel less overwhelming. 

3. Eat healthy 

When I'm stressed, it's easy to resort to eating fast food and other quick unhealthy options.  I use my stress as an excuse, telling myself that I "deserve it."  Deserve what?  Feeling like crap?  Eating food that's bad for you will only increase your stress level because you're throwing the guilt of poor eating choices on top of your already-heavy load.  Plus, your body is unable to run as well with a tank full of junk. 

2. Take a shower/bath

A shower is a great quick option for getting away for a few minutes.  Let that water wash away all your worries.  If you have a little more time, a bath is a great way to de-stress as well, especially if you have some Epsom salts and essential oils. Also, you're cleaning your body, so it's multi-tasking.

1.  Work out

Wait, wait!  Here me out. This doesn't have to be straight up going to the gym and lifting weights.  Any kind of exercise releases endorphins and helps you feel refreshed and energized. Plus, you're proud of yourself for doing it. I like playing Just Dance on my Wii, kickboxing, and going for walks, but there are all kinds of ways to get your heart-rate up.   One time, I went laser-tagging and found that to be an amazing way to release my pent up stress and anxiety.  I stalked my way through the course like I didn't give a darn, shooting every enemy player that I encountered.  By the end, I was sweaty, smiling, and I felt like a boss after totally dominating the game. So whatever gets you moving--roller blading, skate boarding, surfing, yoga--do it.  It'll help relieve tension.


Whether you're a CEO, or a stay-at-home mom, life is stressful.  You have to find ways to unwind a little, or you'll explode.  Then you'll be able write, lead, teach, work, learn, etc. much better.  Trust me.

Until next time, I remain your zen Online Writing Tutor,
Mrs. B

How to Write a Transition

An essay is a lot like a train route, where each station is a topic, point, or paragraph, and each stretch of track is the transition from one topic to the next.  Sometimes what needs the most work are the stations themselves: your thesis, your paragraphs, your conclusion, etc.  Sometimes, however, it's the track that needs a little maintenance.

Does your essay seem choppy, jumpy, or disjointed?  Have you received feedback that your arguments are hard to follow, or that they lose your train of thought (pun intended)?  These are clear signs that your track needs some work.

What is a transition?  It's a segue from one thought to another.  It connects two ideas helping the flow of your essay, paper, email, etc.    There are many different kinds of transitions, or stretches of train track, to help you get from station to station--let's take a look at a few:

1.  List track

When you are making a list in your paper and each individual item becomes it's own station, the list track will help you transition from item to item.

• First, chocolate is a popular confection that can be found in almost every culture across the world....Second, chocolate is versatile in its applications, being used in sweet and savory treats....Finally, chocolate can come in multiple forms, such as milk, dark, and white, finding a way to please almost every palette. 

You can also use next, then, one, two, three, lastly, etc.  These are short, simple ways to let us know you're going from one station of thought to another. 

2. Compare/Contrast track

Sometimes you're showing us that one station is like another station, or that they are not alike at all.  For the first, you can ride the compare track.  For the second, take the contrast track.  

• Compare track:
• Also, peanut butter is frequently used in candies and treats
• Similarly, peanut butter can be found in sweet and savory dishes.
• In the same way that people enjoy chocolate flavoring, people often crave the taste of peanut butter. 
• Other examples: likewise, like, so too, just as, in like manner, additionally 
• Contrast track:
• Caramel is a popular pairing with chocolate, but peanut butter is favored by many.
• Peanut butter, however, adds a little savory spike to the sweetness of chocolate. 
• On the other hand, peanut butter can't be enjoyed by those with nut allergies. 
• Other examples: be that as it may, contrasting, in spite of, nevertheless, nonetheless, though, still, yet

3. Evidence track

Often times you have a station dedicated to examples and evidence and it can be tricky to get there.  These are some tried and true transition tracks to get you there.

• For example, more people at restaurants choose chocolate desserts than non chocolate desserts (I made this up, but it's probably true.)
• For instance, women in the media are often shown to be chocolate addicts, even Commander Troi from Star Trek TNG.

You can also use e.g. (example given) and such as

4. Addition track

When you have more to add or build, one of these can come in handy.

• Additionally, dark chocolate has a few health benefits.
• Furthermore, chocolate has been proven to make you happier. (Made this one up too, but I think it's true.)
• Moreover, chocolate can go with just about any topping you can imagine. 

5. Ending track

It can be hard to know how to wrap it all up and transition from your last station to your conclusion station.  These are all great ways to do that.

• In conclusion, chocolate is the best dessert on the planet.
• To conclude, if people consumed more chocolate, they would be happier.
• In short, it's important to consider how much chocolate is healthy for a person to consume. 
• Finally, chocolate is always a good gift choice. 
• To summarize, it's important to analyze the pros and cons of each dessert choice.

Many variations exist for the ending track.  Pick one that suits you best.

Transitions can happen at the end of paragraphs, during paragraphs, and sometimes even during individual sentences.  The whole idea is that you're connecting the previous idea with the next one so that we follow your train of thought.  Don't leave us at one station when you're headed to the next!

Until next time, I remain your friendly neighborhood Online Writing Tutor,

Mrs. B

Grammar Help

I had a request a little while ago to create a post with a list of grammar help websites, so here we go:

1. Grammarly.com is a great reliable resource for all your grammar needs.  You can even install a button on your browser so that it'll help you when you write anything online.  You can also search for specific questions:  https://www.grammarly.com/blog/comma/

2. ProWritingAid.com has a bunch of different helps for the writing process and they have a great section just for grammar:  https://prowritingaid.com/en/Blog/Category/10/Grammar-Rules

3. Grammar.com has a text box where you can insert writing and it'll check errors for you.  They also have a bunch of articles on grammar issues, from punctuation to affect vs. effect.  https://www.grammar.com/

4. Englishgrammar101.com is easy to navigate and has little modules set up to teach you about grammar concepts one step at a time, or you can click around to any lesson in any order. 

I also recommend getting any of the grammar books by Mignon Fogerty "The Grammar Girl."  She's brilliant. 

There will also be a series on certain grammar issues on this blog.  Anything you want me to start with?

Hope this is helpful!  Until next time, I remain your grammar conscientious Online Writing Tutor,
Mrs. B

Figurative Language: Hyperbole

I'D RATHER DIE THAN USE HYPERBOLE!

Well...that was hyperbole.

Hyperbole (Pronounced "Hi-per-bowl-ee") is exaggeration.  You probably use it all the time on a day-to-day basis.  Exaggerations can add personality and flavor to writing.  Here are some examples:

• I'm starving to death (you're probably not actually starving to death, but it's more interesting than saying "I'm really really hungry")
• It's pouring buckets (I'm sure buckets aren't actually falling from the sky, but now we know that it is raining A LOT.)
• It's worth a million bucks (chances are, whatever you're talking about doesn't really cost a million dollars, but now we know that it's very expensive.)
• He's the cutest baby in the world (that would be impossible to prove, but it lets us know that he's a REALLY cute baby.  By the way...my baby is definitely the cutest in the world :) ) 

Hyperbole works best in dialogue and narrative writing.  It can add a nice flavor to the voice of a formal piece, but you have to be careful because exaggerations often come across as too general and casual in those settings.  

And there you have it.  Pretty simple.  Now go out there and hyperbole it up!

Until next time, I remain your silly Online Writing Tutor,

Mrs. B

Hook Me Up (with essay hooks)

Your essay should grab your reader right from the get-go: snatch their attention, pique their interest...hook 'em.  So how do you do that?

A "hook" is a catchy sentence (or two) at the beginning of your essay that grabs the attention of the reader. You can also use hooks at the beginning of individual paragraphs.  Hooks can be interesting, mysterious, thought-provoking, or even funny.  Here are several different kinds of hooks you can try:

1.  Introduce an interesting fact

Start with something interesting about your topic that the reader likely doesn't know yet.

• With several shopping establishments charging extra for plastic bags, and many others banning them entirely, reusable shopping bags are sweeping the nation.   

2.  Use a quote

If you're writing about a book, it can be a good idea to start your essay with an important quote from that book, one that touches on the theme(s) you're going to discuss. 

• "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it" (Lee, 39).  (From To Kill A Mockingbird)

If you're writing about a topic, it's often effective to find a quote about that topic from someone you find credible.  

• Dr. Shinichi Suzuki once said, "Knowledge is not skill. Knowledge plus ten thousand times is skill." 

3. Tell a story

Stories from history, personal stories, parables, and fables can all make for interesting hooks.  

• Walt Disney was told that no one would come to see a full-length animated cartoon.  Everyone told him he was crazy, but he followed his dream, pushing through uncertainty and doubt.  Because of his persistence, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs went on to be one of the most successful films of all time. 

4. Describe a scene

Give a tangible description of something or someone to help us visualize what you're going to be talking about.

• Factories in the late 19th century smelt like sweat.  Men, women, and children spent their days doubled over machinery for hours, everyone and everything covered in grime. 

5.  Tell a joke 

Humor can be a fun way to start off an essay.  A joke about a particular issue can be a good way to transition into talking about it, but humor doesn't work well with every topic (such as human trafficking, or drug addiction) so be careful with this one.

• Diapers are like politicians: they should both be changed frequently. 

6.  Post statistics 

Facts and numbers show us you are prepared and have drawn from credible sources. They are also down-right interesting. 

• "29% of California's air pollution is from China."  Source here.

7.  Ask a rhetorical question

This is my least favorite kind because it's overused,  but it can still work well.  Rhetorical questions are questions that have obvious answers, and this can be a fun way to start an essay.  The audience wonders how you're going to address the topic and what new information you're going to offer. 

• Where do children learn racial prejudice? 
• Are teenagers addicted to cellphones? 

Any of these 7 methods can be wonderfully effective to hook a reader.  Once you've got em' hooked, lay out a brilliant thesis, and then you're on your way to an amazing essay.

Check out this great website for even more ideas on hooks: https://pro-essay-writer.com/blog/essay-hooks

Until next time, I remain your humble Online Writing Tutor,

Mrs. B

Figurative Language: Personification

This can be so much fun when it's done right. 

Personification is giving human traits to something non-human.  Here are a few examples:  "the sky was crying,"  "the trees danced in the wind," "the car groaned in protest," etc. 

Personification is a great way to describe something.  It can make a clearer picture for your reader.  Take a look at this boring description:

• I could hear sound of the water in the brook. 

Adding a little personification can make it much more fun:

• I could hear the giggling sound of the water in the brook. 

Common words used to given personification include: smile, dance, cry, sigh, groan, giggle, laugh, roar, whisper, and run.  

Be careful though, a little personification can go a long way.  You don't want a paragraph to look like this:

• The sun smiled upon the dancing field of grain as the trees stretched and yawned.  The air sighed, greeting the morning, the dawn running across the sky.  The ground laughed as the animals tickled the earth.

It just becomes a little much after a while.  

Also, don't confuse Personification with Anthropomorphism, which is where you make something not human, human-like...such as Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny.   Mice and bunnies aren't really like humans, but it's fun to imagine they are in cartoons and such.  That's anthropomorphism, not personification. 

Until next time, I remain you faithful Online Writing Tutor,

Mrs. B

Inserting a Quote Into Your Writing

Teachers are always harping on evidence: evidence, evidence, evidence.  Why?  Because evidence is important.  It helps to prove, back-up, and justify your point. 

There are many different types of evidence to include in your writing, but the one I'll be focusing on today is arguably the most common:  quotes.   Quotes are excerpts from other people that help fortify your own points and arguments.  They strengthen your argument because they show that other people share your opinion, and you'll often find facts and statistics with results that assist in proving your point. 

But it can be tricky to know how to do quotes right.  Here are some quick tips:

1.  Look for credible sources to pull from

Your quotes won't serve as good evidence if they come from sketchy sources.  Books in your school's library will be credible, and newspapers are good to pull from.  Most of us, however, look for sources online.  Sources that have a .org or .edu are a good indication of credibility.  Online scholarly journals and reputable newspapers are also good.  Try to see if you can identify an author.  If there's no author attached to the article, better to skip it and find one that has an author listed.  Avoid websites with crazy weird colors and trippy fonts.  If it looks unprofessional, it probably is.  Also, websites like Wikipedia are not great because just about anyone can get on there and make edits.

2.  Use quotes that add substance

A quote isn't good evidence if it doesn't actually say anything.  "Smoking is bad" isn't a substantial quote.  It's general and obvious.  "Smoking causes bad breath, yellowing teeth, and leads to lung cancer" is a quote that actually brings up some points worth noting.  It's specific and informative. 

3.  Watch for quote length

Don't use quotes that are too long or too short.  Too long, and we'll wonder why we're reading your essay instead of theirs.  Too short, and it likely won't have any substance.

4. Don't leave the quote alone

Quotes are needy, and can't be left alone.  They like to be introduced, and they really like commentary.  An introduction looks like this:  Dr. Frank Alley of Clock magazine wrote, "Smoking causes bad breath, yellowing teeth, and leads to lung cancer." 

Commentary looks something like this:  Basically, Dr. Alley is saying that smoking causes health and hygiene problems.   Don't let the quote have the last word, add onto it.  Tell us what you wanted us to get out of the quote.  Here are a few sentence frames to help with commentary:

• In other words, ________________________________________________
• What ___________ really means by this is ______________________
• To put it another way, ______________________________________
• In sum, then, ______________________________________________
• In short, ______________________________________________________
• Basically, ________ is saying ___________________________
• In other words, ________ believes _________________________
• In making this comment, ____________ urges us to ____________
• ______’s point is that ________________________________
• The essence of _________’s argument is that __________________

Having good commentary will take your writing to the next level.

5.  Cite your sources

This is the most important because you don't want to accidentally plagiarize.  Make sure that you do the correct in-text citations and a works cited page.   Owl at Purdue is a great resource for the different styles of citations:

MLA

APA

Chicago

6. Quotation marks

Whatever you do, don't forget to put the quotation marks around the quote.  Believe it or not, I had students do this all the time, and it makes it look like you're plagiarizing.


And there you have it.  Easy.  If you follow these 6 steps for inserting quotes as evidence, you will be good to go.

Until next time, I remain your tired (my baby woke up early today) Online Writing Tutor,
Mrs. B