Category: Schoolwork & Studying

How do I add more detail to my paper?

Posted by: admin on May 12th, 2020

If your teacher tells you that your paper lacks detail, it likely means that you’re making big claims without supporting them through evidence from the text. The good news is that this means you’re probably making arguments in your paper. Now, you just need to make sure you have the evidence to support these arguments.  […]

Is My Source Credible?

Posted by: admin on May 12th, 2020

One of the most important aspects of developing a research paper is finding credible sources. Sources provide the evidence that you will use to build—and defend—your thesis. With so much information available online, it’s more important than ever to determine that you’re using only credible sources. But how can you tell if a source is […]

How to Study Efficiently

Posted by: admin on May 12th, 2020

One of the most valuable lessons I learned from my 8th-grade science teacher had nothing at all to do with science. We were allowed a cheat sheet for a test: a single 3×5 index card with anything we wanted written on it. Thinking myself terribly clever, I found a very fine-point pen and proceeded to […]

How do I add more analysis to my paper?

Posted by: admin on May 6th, 2020

One of the most common pieces of feedback that my students get from their teachers is that they need to add more analysis to their papers. But how can you tell if your paper is analytical enough? In this post, we’ll look at how you can revise your paper to add more analysis to your […]

I’m Going into STEM. Why Do I Need to Learn to Write?

Posted by: admin on May 6th, 2020

A scientist I worked with once said, “If a picture is worth a thousand words, then an equation is worth a thousand pictures.” Those of you laughing right now are probably STEM students. You know, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics. You dream big dreams of curing cancer AND the flu. Perhaps you’re already testing machine learning […]

How to Write an Introduction

Posted by: admin on May 6th, 2020

When you’re writing an introduction, think of yourself as a prosecutor making opening arguments. You want to make a compelling case — one that you’ll spend the rest of the essay defending. There are typically three parts to an introduction: a “hook,” which draws the reader into your paper, a “setup,” which gives the reader […]

You, Only More So: Junior Year Extracurriculars During COVID-19

Posted by: admin on April 30th, 2020

These are strange times, but staying at home doesn’t mean becoming a recluse. Contact your friends and get creative!  Juniors, here’s a bit of advice as you find yourself finishing out the academic year online. Remote connections are the way to go these days, but distance learning and social distancing shouldn’t get you to the […]

What Matters to You: Exploring Passions and Pastimes

Posted by: admin on April 28th, 2020

There has been a great deal of loss during these recent weeks, and we are all looking for silver linings.   As I contemplate possible silver linings for PrepMatters students, I look for opportunities that could offer greater strength and insight regarding learning.  I see, even in the midst of these difficult days, that there is […]

Reading: Putting the FUN in Fundamental

Posted by: admin on March 11th, 2020

It might now seem like a long way off, but in just a couple of years, you’re going to start thinking about applying to college. Part of that, of course, is taking the SAT or ACT, and you’re undoubtedly going to be doing focused test-prep to get ready. The breakdown of each test is pretty […]

Finishing 8th Grade Strong

Posted by: admin on February 19th, 2020

Transitions are tricky. If you are staring down the last few months of 8th grade, you probably feel a mix of excitement and nervous energy, perhaps along with some love of your school and even just plain annoyance at the people around you. Transitions like this one usually come with deeply mixed emotions for everyone, […]