Hot Humanities Posts
How To: Accurately cite your sources
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to cite sources. The citation style depends on the college major, professor or enrolled class. Citation gives credit to the author, validates claims that you have made, help readers learn about the subject and avoids plagiarism. To cite an article, users will need: the author, publication title, article title, date, volume/issue, page numbers and web address. To cite a book, users will need: the author, title, editor(s), chapter title, date of publica...
How To: Write an introduction to your academic essay
In this tutorial, we learn how to write an introduction to your academic essay. The first part of your introduction should say why the topic is important. Using the phrase "is a topic of growing importance" is a great way to help boost your topic's importance. Next, you should have a sentence or two sentences talking about the difficulties of the topic and what issues are involved. The third part of your introduction should be a thesis statement that narrows down what the topic is going to be...
How To: Use colons and semicolons
In this tutorial, we learn how to use colons and semicolons. You will use a colon when the second sentence is explaining a 'why' of the first sentence. You will use a semicolon when the second sentence is adding more to the first sentence, not explaining it. You can also use a colon when you are writing a long list and the sentence can't stand alone. Use a semicolon to separate two sentences that can stand independently. Knowing the difference between when to use these punctuations can mean t...
How To: Get better grades
The only things that will get you into a good college is persistence, a will to learn, and of course… grades. If your grades are lacking that oomph they need to impress the schools and your parents, there's a few ways to aid in improving your scores. With a little effort and focus, your next report card will sport better grades.
How To: Craft a good thesis statement for your research paper
In this tutorial, we learn how to crate a good thesis statement for a research paper. Make a clear thesis statement so you give the reader something to hang your argument on. You will want to choose a category and give the details very clearly. People read very quickly and will create their own meaning from what you write, so be very clear so they can't have an argument about what you are writing. The reader will appreciate understanding of the paper and have a new relationship with the paper...
How To: Write a research paper for school
In this tutorial, we learn how to write a research paper for school. To begin a research paper, start in the library. Grab books that all pertain to your subject, and research as much as you can. You can also search online to get background information on your subject. Make sure you cite your book on a note card in the correct format. Now, you can begin to write your research paper by starting out with an introduction paragraph that captures the attention of the reader and has good facts in i...
How To: Cite scholarly journal articles in MLA format
This video shows viewers how to properly cite scholarly journal articles in the MLA format. In your works cited page, the citation should begin by placing the author's last name first, followed by his first name. If there are multiple authors, all subsequent authors should have their first name first followed by their last name. Placing a period after this, the next item is the title of the article, placed in quotation marks and followed by a period. The name of the scholarly journal is place...
How To: Cite a webpage in APA format
When writing a school paper, many times if you use a reference, you'll need to cite it correctly. There are a couple of ways to do this and in different formats, but in this tutorial, you'll find out how to do it using the APA format. This tutorial will help you cite a webpage. It may sound like a difficult job, but it's easy to do and will make a difference in your grade. Enjoy!
How To: Write a conclusion paragraph for a research paper
Your conclusion paragraph is incredibly important to a research paper. This is where you get the chance to sum yourself up and really make your point hit home for the reader. The last paragraph is your last chance to really make your paper stand out and be memorable. In this video, you will learn exacly how to craft a fantastic conclusion so that your reader is left on a powerful note, instead of a boring one.
How To: Write an effective thesis statement
Don't be afraid of thesis statements - although they seem hard and are very important to your essay they are, in fact, quite simple.
How To: Write a proper thesis statement with Jennifer Mensink
The key to a great essay or dissertation is a strong thesis. In this two part tutorial from teacher Jennifer Mensink, learn exactly what a thesis is, why it is important and how to craft the perfect one. This video lesson will cover everything including an anticipation set, input and an assessment. Jennifer teaches as though you are her only student, and you will love listening to her step by step breakdown. So, get ready for finals with this refresher course on thesis statements.
How To: Create a title page for your research paper in MS Word
Are you finally done with your research paper? Now all you need is a title page to finish off your work and get your paper ready to turn in. In this video, learn how to create a Title Page for your research paper using MS Word in the MLA format.
How To: Write a proposal to sell your book
Have a great book idea or manuscript you'd like to sell to a publisher? Not sure what steps to take? Thanks to this video, now you will. From Book Publishing Path, learn how to create a great proposal to sell your book to an agent or a publisher. Learn from Bill O'Hanlon, author of over twenty nine titles and featured guest on Oprah, the essential elements of a book proposal. Make your dream a reality with help from this free advice!
How To: Properly write a basic looking memo
Basic memos are one of the most common forms of communication that you can experience in an office atmosphere. It is a universal message that gets sent to everyone letting them know about something important or even trivial. Writing one can be a bit tough, especially when you've never written one. So in this tutorial, find out what it takes to properly write a basic looking memo in no time at all. Enjoy!
How To: Make an school essay look longer
Have you ever spent all night writing a paper only to be short a required page? If you are ready to wrap up on page nine of a ten page essay and simple can't think of anything else to say, check out this tutorial.
How To: Paraphrase properly in writing
Paraphrasing is a useful tool you can use to avoid plagiarism, and still use expert facts. In this tutorial, learn how to quote your research in an essay properly and avoid making illegal mistakes.
How To: Properly hold a pencil for better handwriting
The fastest and easiest way to improve your handwriting is to learn to hold your pencil properly. A lot of people bypass this seemingly small step and then wonder why their writing looks like chicken scratch. This video will show you exactly how to hold your pen or pencil for the best writing results. This is especially helpful for teachers or parents wishing to help their child develop good writing habits for life. So, grab a pencil and follow along - you will be writing up a storm in no time!
How To: Improve your handwriting in just a few minutes
Do you dream of having beautiful penmanship? Well, check out this tutorial and start turning that dream into a reality. In this video, you will learn how to properly hold your pencil and where to place your letters on the paper so that you get a neater result everytime. So, whatever your age, it is never too late to start practicing and improve the way you write forever. So, grab a pen or pencil and have a seat - turn the video on and follow along. You are only a few minutes away from lovely ...
How To: Write left handed
Left handed writing style is not as common as right handed so many people are not sure how to do it neatly. Check out this tutorial for advice on how to improve your grip and posture to make your handwriting perfect. Left handers face many challenges. First of all, most teachers will teach children writing skills more suitable for their right handed classmates, also there are not many left hand specific products on the market, and left handers often have posture problems as they are pushing t...
How To: Use logical comparison on the SAT comprehension area
This tutorial is about using logical comparisons in a sentence. We should compare only equivalent concepts. Don't compare something to a group its part of without including 'other' or 'else'. Be clear about what you are comparing. The comparisons must be between apples to apples (i.e. between objects or things of same group). If they are not then you fix the problem by:-1. Repeating the apples. 2. Using 's or that or those. 3. Reworking the sentence. To demonstrate this take the following exa...
How To: Prepare for the PSAT writing section
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to prepare for the PSAT writing section. Avoid any long, wordy answer choices. Make sure that the answers are short and simple, and does not contain any redundancy. Read the sentences literally to check if the sentence is properly structured and makes sense. Review the grammar rules to ensure that you can understand sentence errors. Some grammar rules that should be reviewed include: pronoun reference, pronoun case, modifiers and parallelism. Not all ...
How To: Use quotation marks in British English
How to use quotation marks in British EnglishIn this video we are about to see how to use quotation marks in British English. This is a very useful video because most of us confuse the usage of quotations and the meaning it renders. There are two forms of quotations single and double. A single quote contains only one inverted comma and the double contains two inverted commas. A double quote is used for direct speech or actual quotations. Whenever a person says something a comma is given and t...
How To: Use the right words in the SAT comprehension section
Eva Holz with SAT Confidential demonstrates how to use the right words in the SAT comprehension section. Don't confuse similar words like affect which is a verb and effect which is a noun. The words imminent and eminent may also be tested. Note also the words inferred and implied which also get confused with each other. Also, don't use the wrong idiom. A wrong idiom may often be paired with a preposition. Finally, don't use the wrong verb. Similar words, idioms and verbs are tested most often...
How To: Approach questions on SAT passage section
Eva Holtz shows us how to approach different types of questions on the SAT, in this episode from Brightstorm. The different types of questions in the SAT Passages section include "Vocabulary in Context", "Line reference", "Whole passage", and "I, II, III, except, least, not" questions. Eva explains that the best way to approach Vocabulary in Context questions is to treat them like Sentence Completion questions. First, read two lines before and after the word in question. Then, it's best to ca...
How To: Use modifiers on the SAT reading and writing sections
Eva Holtz with SAT: Confidential demonstrates how to use modifiers on the SAT reading and writing sections. A modifier is a group of words that describes a noun. On the SAT, modifiers frequently appear in the improving sentences questions. It often appears at the start of the sentence, followed by the noun it describes. Make sure that the modifier correctly describes the noun that immediately follows and not a similar, but incorrect, idea. Make sure that the noun that follows the modifier is ...
How To: Write a good book proposal
It is very important to learn how to create a good book proposal. This video helps shed more light on things to think about when creating your book proposal. Essentially, a book proposal is your opportunity to sell yourself as a marketable asset to a publisher. Most publishers websites have down-loadable book proposal forms. They will request a lot of information such as what is your market, how do you intend to promote yourself, along with a few sample chapters. Publishers receive hundreds o...
How To: Structure your time while taking the PSAT
In this video tutorial, viewers learn about the structure and scoring of the PSAT. The PSAT is basically a shorter version of the SAT. The test lasts for 2 hours and 10 minutes. This test contains 5 sections: two 25-minute critical reading, two 25-minute math and one 30-minute writing. In the critical reading sections, there will be passage-base and sentence completion questions. In the math sections, there will be multiple choice and gridding questions. In the writing section, there will be ...
How To: Write a great conclusion for an essay
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to write a great conclusion for an essay. A conclusion is a summary of the topic and is the opinion of the topic or creator. The conclusion summarizes the main point of the topic. Repetition in the conclusion is not a problem. The points stated in the introduction of the essay are restated and rephrased in the conclusion. Adding your own opinion and ides about the topic help improve and makes the conclusion more effective. This video will benefit thos...
How To: Avoid wrong answers on the SAT critical reading area
In this Education video tutorial you will learn how to avoid wrong answers on the SAT critical reading area. Five principles to keep in mind are rephrase the question and predict the answer, answer the question being asked, find evidence in the passage, extreme answers are suspicious and finally remember a little wrong is all wrong. To rephrase the question, read 2 lines before and after, ask the question in your own words and find the answer choice that best matches your prediction. Now comi...
How To: Write a thesis statement for an essay or paper
A thesis is the basis of any paper or essay. The thesis statement sets the tone and subject of your paper and starts you off on the right foot. In this tutorial, learn how to write an impressive thesis statement and get an A on your next paper!
How To: Cram & study effectively for a test
Chau-Minh, a private tutor, discusses cramming and how to do it effectively. This video does not intend to endorse cramming, but if you are probably screwed then you might as well see it. When you cram, don't expect to get a high grade because you lack time. To pull out a high grade, we need to do deletion. Deletion is just like chopping a branch to make the tree smaller. The tree would signify the lectures of your professor. Crossing out the topics that are discussed rarely by the professor ...
How To: Make an essay look longer than it is
This video will show you how to make your essay appear longer then it actually is with just a few quick changes to your Microsoft word settings. First, you want to go to the "Edit" tab and click "Replace", from there in the replace with box put a period. Then click on format and click on font and change the size of the period from 12 pt font to 14 or 16 pt font and click replace all. The next change you want to make is with your margins and in the left and right margins change it from 1. 25 t...
How To: Write an annotated bibliography with 4 easy tips
In this video from KatiesTeachings we learn how to write an annotated bibliography with 4 easy tips. Katie Mitchell gives this tutorial. Once you find your sources you need to record the bibliographic information like who wrote it, when they wrote it, and when it was published. Next you need to summarize the source. Third, you want to assess the source. In doing this you want to answer questions such as was it good and is it valid. Finally the last step is to reflect on the source. These four...
How To: Write an autobiography
No matter what age you are or what kind of life you've lived you can put your story out there by writing an autobiography. Every life can be interesting if written about in a well formulated, and honest manner.
How To: Cite reference books in MLA format
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to cite reference books in MLA formats. Citation is a reference to a published or unpublished source. Viewers will learn how to cite an article in an online reference book and an article in a print reference book. The format for the online reference book is:
How To: Cite a cereal box in MLA format
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to cite a cereal box in MLA 2009. citation is a reference to a published or unpublished source. In general, a citation requires the author's name, publication information and medium type. Start by examining the entire cereal box for the information. Look on the front, back, sides, top, bottom and even inside. Usually, users will only be able to find title, medium, corporate sponsor and place of publication. This video will benefit those viewers who ar...
How To: Create and use an annotated bibliography
This video tells us about annotated bibliography, what it is and its elements. Annotated bibliography is basically an evaluation or an assessment of the article you have read. To make an annotated bibliography there are four steps. The first one is to provide the source, the author, where it comes from and the title. The second step is to summarize your reading. The third step is to show that you know what type of article it is, and that means that you have to assess your resource. The fourth...
How To: Make any school paper look longer
This video in the Education category will show you how to make any school paper look longer. Open the normal word document. Go to ‘edit’ and select ‘find’ and then to ‘replace’ tab. In the find what box type in ‘.’ (a full stop). Then, in ‘replace with’ box type in ‘.’. Now go to ‘format’ and click on ‘font’. In the box for font size select size 16 or 18 and click ‘replace all’. There you go, you have just made your paper longer without adding any text. In the video, a one and a half pages lo...
How To: Write a haiku
In this video, Robert will teach you how to write a Japanese poem called a haiku. First, you will learn a bit about what a haiku is, as well as its structure. A haiku is a poem with three lines: the first is five syllables long, the second is seven syllables long, and the third is five syllables long. You will learn that haikus can be about anything; there is no standard "rule" to follow involving what you write. It doesn't have to rhyme, and it can be about anything, even thoughts. During th...
How To: Know when to use subject or object pronouns
It is easy to make grammatical mistakes when there are, what seems like, endless rules to memorize. Focusing on a few rules at a time is helpful and today’s lesson can be on how to use subject and object pronouns. If you don’t know whether to use “I” or “me,” it’s easy to learn which pronoun when you follow a few simple tips.