How to Ace College Literature*

A lot of these tricks I've learned the hard way through my experiences; so I wanted to pass the wisdom on.

How to Ace College Literature*

1) Don't lose a day. Every little bit counts when it comes to reading. Pace Yourself.

2) Gauge teacher's expectations/style. The funny thing about college (and education in general) is that it's really not about what you think at all. It's about what the teacher thinks. So study your teacher well.

3) Listen to feedback. Again, it's not about what you think; it's about what the teacher thinks.

4) Use the correct format. If your teacher specifies MLA format (which is typical for literature and English classes), know that this does not just apply to citations!! MLA format addresses everything from font size and margins to page numbers and how to head your papers. Some teachers deduct 10% of your grade if your paper is not in the correct format.

5) Proofread. Proofread. Proofread. There is nothing like getting a comment back about your sloppy work. 

5B) Read your work aloud to yourself. There's some good proofreading advice out there and it is this: read your work aloud to yourself. Your ear will catch your errors. No one actually does this.... DO IT.

6) Sparknotes is your friend. Sometimes Sparknotes is a sufficient replacement for reading the book. However, try not to rely on it too much and only read plot and character summaries. Don't read the analysis unless you absolutely have to, because what you read will affect your commentary and you don't want to accidentally plagiarize. 

7) Learn how to B.S. your way through a paper. It doesn't matter how or where you learn this (as long as it doesn't involve plagiarism); being able to talk your way out of a situation (or an assignment) is a handy skill. I learned this skill through my experience with YMCA's Youth and Government program and being on debate teams.

8) Don't study on your bed. "English majors: all they do is read." While this may be true, this doesn't mean you should do your reading in bed.

9) Combine Paper Topics. Check your school's academic policy first before resubmitting old papers (even if your "old paper" is for another class you're currently taking). If you've done the work once, why do it twice? Use an open-topic essay to talk about a subject you already know a lot about.

10) Work ahead. Finished the reading early? Good! Now start on the next reading assignment.


*disclaimer: results may vary