My approach to pre-exam study is fairly different to many people. I'm going to write about that later on, but I put more pressure on myself before 'SWOTVAC' and try to spend the last few weeks before exams working really hard so I can 'relax' before exams. Of course, relax is a subjective term so it will hardly be a beach holiday. Anyway, with exams a few weeks away, I've been working really hard in the library. As such, I have realised that I am practically living in the library and there are numerous things I have done in the library that I usually would only do at home:
I have done a full face of makeup for a family dinner:
We were meant to be having dinner at 6pm, so I left the library at 3:30 so I could go home, have a shower and get ready. While driving home I got a message saying dinner was being changed to 7 so I had a shower and got changed and headed back to the library. I actually got a heap of work done that night!
I painted my nails:
I love painting my nails black but my desk at home is snow white. While I'm fairly neat with my nail-painting, I felt safer doing them at uni. No spills and I got work done at the same time!
I have done a workout
Much like drilling concepts on the treadmill, I did pushups while reciting case law. I must admit that it was rather early in the day as I woke up at 5:30am and couldn't get back to sleep, otherwise I wouldn't be doing something to draw so much attention to myself!
I have eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner
I head into the library at night a few times a week at around 6-6:30pm. I don't stay too late, but I get as much work done as I can during that time. I have found if I sit down and eat my dinner at home I'm too full and don't feel like driving into uni. While I usually go, I don't leave for a while and get hardly any work done. Instead, I make my dinner as usual, putting it in a plastic container instead of on a plate and take it with me. I do the same with breakfast some days because it gets me out of the door faster!
Read a novel in a foreign language:
I made an effort to do this reading in study breaks and managed to read the whole thing in the library
Curled my hair
Before leaving home I put my hair in old-fashioned pin curls and wrapped it in a scarf. As I worked, my hair curled.
Planned my menu for the week, including pricing my groceries:
I ended up doing this while looking for something to avoid studying! It worked! This took forever, but was definitely worth it!
Developed unhealthy imaginary relationships with fictional characters, namely Donald Draper and Ezra Fitz
Not sure whether to be proud or ashamed of this!
Anyone else done crazy things in the library?
Monday, May 28, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Law on the silver screen
So following on from my post about my favourite law-centric TV shows, I thought I'd post about my favourite movies that take place in the courtroom.
1. Legally Blonde
You may laugh, but Legally Blonde is a legal classic. I was 10 when the original was released and can't quite remember if I was able to see it in the theatre. I definitely saw the sequel with some friends at the movies. I loved Legally Blonde. Elle was everything a young girl wanted to be... she was a Barbie doll! As the story progressed we learn that Elle is also intelligent and it shatters the perception that pretty girly-girls are dumb. In addition, it encourages us to have a healthy interest in things outside of the law; Elle would not have been successful in court if she didn't have the interest in hair and beauty.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
Yes, no list of legal movies would be complete without this classic. I couldn't tell you exactly when I first read the book, but I believe I was 9 or 10. I loved it and seeing the movie made me love the story even more. In high school we studied the book (and movie) and I loved it a whole lot more. While I understood that book as a child, I had a better grasp of the finer points. I'm sure every law student has seen the movie and been inspired by the courtroom scene. While it wasn't the reason I chose to study law, the movie certainly inspires me and Atticus is the type of lawyer I want to be, if I can't be Elle Woods!
3. The Castle
I'm not sure whether this movie was released outside of Australia, but it is most definitely a classic. A man's home is his castle, and the Kerrigan family wanted to protect their castle. Not only is it a great Australian film, there are many references to fundamental Australian constitutional law cases throughout the movie as the family fought to save their home. In my first year when we had to watch some sort of movie or TV show that centered on the law, I picked The Castle. I didn't really pick up on many of the references, but on watching it last year I realised how it would have been a great study tool for constitutional law!
4. Kramer vs Kramer
I have a list of movies that I have always wanted to see, most of them 'classics'. Kramer vs Kramer is one of these. For those who haven't seen the film, the film shows the course of a couple's divorce and the impact on those in their lives, particularly their young son. The custody battle is central and actually inspired me to consider taking the family law elective which I had previously maintained I would never take. It is a great movie and extremely heartwarming.
5. Miracle on 34th Street
I was 5 years old when Mara Wilson starred in Matilda, the movie based on Roald Dahl's book. I loved it and I saw myself in her. We had a similar haircut and she was young, just like me. Her remake of the Natalie Wood classic was released two years earlier than Matilda, but I hadn't seen it until afterwards. It was undoubtedly the first time I had ever seen the law in a movie or TV show and was heartwarming. While the movie hints that Santa is a construct of modern society (something with which I disagree... he still leaves me presents under the tree), as a young child I did not see this and rather just enjoyed the idea that a young girl got to hang out with Santa Claus! In more recent years I saw the original and loved it so much. Definitely a legal classic!
1. Legally Blonde
You may laugh, but Legally Blonde is a legal classic. I was 10 when the original was released and can't quite remember if I was able to see it in the theatre. I definitely saw the sequel with some friends at the movies. I loved Legally Blonde. Elle was everything a young girl wanted to be... she was a Barbie doll! As the story progressed we learn that Elle is also intelligent and it shatters the perception that pretty girly-girls are dumb. In addition, it encourages us to have a healthy interest in things outside of the law; Elle would not have been successful in court if she didn't have the interest in hair and beauty.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
Yes, no list of legal movies would be complete without this classic. I couldn't tell you exactly when I first read the book, but I believe I was 9 or 10. I loved it and seeing the movie made me love the story even more. In high school we studied the book (and movie) and I loved it a whole lot more. While I understood that book as a child, I had a better grasp of the finer points. I'm sure every law student has seen the movie and been inspired by the courtroom scene. While it wasn't the reason I chose to study law, the movie certainly inspires me and Atticus is the type of lawyer I want to be, if I can't be Elle Woods!
3. The Castle
I'm not sure whether this movie was released outside of Australia, but it is most definitely a classic. A man's home is his castle, and the Kerrigan family wanted to protect their castle. Not only is it a great Australian film, there are many references to fundamental Australian constitutional law cases throughout the movie as the family fought to save their home. In my first year when we had to watch some sort of movie or TV show that centered on the law, I picked The Castle. I didn't really pick up on many of the references, but on watching it last year I realised how it would have been a great study tool for constitutional law!
4. Kramer vs Kramer
I have a list of movies that I have always wanted to see, most of them 'classics'. Kramer vs Kramer is one of these. For those who haven't seen the film, the film shows the course of a couple's divorce and the impact on those in their lives, particularly their young son. The custody battle is central and actually inspired me to consider taking the family law elective which I had previously maintained I would never take. It is a great movie and extremely heartwarming.
5. Miracle on 34th Street
I was 5 years old when Mara Wilson starred in Matilda, the movie based on Roald Dahl's book. I loved it and I saw myself in her. We had a similar haircut and she was young, just like me. Her remake of the Natalie Wood classic was released two years earlier than Matilda, but I hadn't seen it until afterwards. It was undoubtedly the first time I had ever seen the law in a movie or TV show and was heartwarming. While the movie hints that Santa is a construct of modern society (something with which I disagree... he still leaves me presents under the tree), as a young child I did not see this and rather just enjoyed the idea that a young girl got to hang out with Santa Claus! In more recent years I saw the original and loved it so much. Definitely a legal classic!
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Quest for Distraction!
When I was in High School, I had a theory that if I were to watch, or even just listen to a movie or tv show, while doing an assignment I would avoid other forms of distraction. My theory was that doing so allowed a part of my brain to be distracted, but only minimally, allowing the rest of my brain to focus on my actual task.
Yeah, I worked out a way to justify watching episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Gilmore Girls. I knew deep down that it wasn't realistic but I liked the justification. The thing is, as I've gotten older, this habit has not subsided, but become more of an issue.
It was, at one point, almost impossible for me to study without something on in the background. In a way, my theory from high school rings true - if I have a TV show playing in the background, I'm not surfing the web instead of studying and I probably do get more work done. Most of the time I don't actually watch the show, rather listen in the background much like music, but I'm sure it's not the best way to study.
I like the background noise and find music much too distracting. As a music nerd from a prior life, back when I wanted to be a conductor and study music, the classical music people insist is perfect for studying distracts me. I often find myself tapping my feet, singing along or conducting. - not a great way to study either, especially in the library. My much loved punk-rock music doesn't work either as it is best listened to loudly and that never works well in earphones. Pop is too distracting and leads to thoughts of gossip and has me going straight to google to find out all about Carly Rae Jepson or whoever the latest diva is. Indie music is a little distracting too and often leads to google. There was a time where I could study to Jack Johnson, but that is now almost impossible, with the music forever associated with trying to sleep in fits of insomnia.
As I think about why music doesn't work for me, I wonder if watching a movie or TV show for background noise is such a bad thing?
After doing a little research, my suspected fears were confirmed - you shouldn't do anything but focus on study. While studying in front of the TV or while listening to music isn't a new thing, the computer is terrible for the ease of engaging in non-study related activities. However, studies have drawn a distinction between passive multi-tasking, like listening to music (or movies) and active multi-tasking, like surfing the web and facebook. Not surprisingly, active multi-tasking is worse for you.
From the LA Times, I learnt:
Poldrack also said that "The bottom line is that active distractions involved in multi-tasking are going to reduce one's ability to learn."
However, Poldrack and others have been unable to determine whether listening to something like music is such a bad thing, particularly if it is functioning as white noise to drown out other distractions.
Yeah, I worked out a way to justify watching episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Gilmore Girls. I knew deep down that it wasn't realistic but I liked the justification. The thing is, as I've gotten older, this habit has not subsided, but become more of an issue.
It was, at one point, almost impossible for me to study without something on in the background. In a way, my theory from high school rings true - if I have a TV show playing in the background, I'm not surfing the web instead of studying and I probably do get more work done. Most of the time I don't actually watch the show, rather listen in the background much like music, but I'm sure it's not the best way to study.
I like the background noise and find music much too distracting. As a music nerd from a prior life, back when I wanted to be a conductor and study music, the classical music people insist is perfect for studying distracts me. I often find myself tapping my feet, singing along or conducting. - not a great way to study either, especially in the library. My much loved punk-rock music doesn't work either as it is best listened to loudly and that never works well in earphones. Pop is too distracting and leads to thoughts of gossip and has me going straight to google to find out all about Carly Rae Jepson or whoever the latest diva is. Indie music is a little distracting too and often leads to google. There was a time where I could study to Jack Johnson, but that is now almost impossible, with the music forever associated with trying to sleep in fits of insomnia.
As I think about why music doesn't work for me, I wonder if watching a movie or TV show for background noise is such a bad thing?
After doing a little research, my suspected fears were confirmed - you shouldn't do anything but focus on study. While studying in front of the TV or while listening to music isn't a new thing, the computer is terrible for the ease of engaging in non-study related activities. However, studies have drawn a distinction between passive multi-tasking, like listening to music (or movies) and active multi-tasking, like surfing the web and facebook. Not surprisingly, active multi-tasking is worse for you.
From the LA Times, I learnt:
"What it might suggest is that if you learn these things while you're distracted, then your ability to generalize that knowledge might not be as good," said Russell Poldrack, an associate professor of psychology. "Even if you can learn under multi-tasking, it can change how you learn."
Poldrack also said that "The bottom line is that active distractions involved in multi-tasking are going to reduce one's ability to learn."
However, Poldrack and others have been unable to determine whether listening to something like music is such a bad thing, particularly if it is functioning as white noise to drown out other distractions.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Apologies
Oh readers, I've done it again! I've neglected you. I'm sorry for my absence of late and I know that my failure to keep you updated has obviously had you wrought with worry. Well have no fear, I am back! I haven't been away from the blogosphere entirely. While failing to update my loyal readers, I have been writing for Survive Law.
While I promise I will soon write for you, I will leave you today with an article I recently wrote for Survive Law: Things First Years Say. Enjoy
While I promise I will soon write for you, I will leave you today with an article I recently wrote for Survive Law: Things First Years Say. Enjoy
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
How soon is too soon to get started on assessment?
If you are a law student, I wouldn't be surprised if your approach to assessment is dissimilar from mine: I have a tendency to get super-motivated and start an assignment the second I receive a topic. That motivation lasts about an hour, often less, as I realise the topic is boring/difficult/easy/stupid. At some point (often a week or so before it is due, although sometimes in the days before) I become super motivated yet again. This all ends up with me handing in an assignment that I am totally sick of and, a week later, would not be able to tell a person the topic.
We all know it isn't the best way to go about getting a lousy few marks down before our big exams, but we all do it anyway. We all wonder if it was the adrenaline, Red Bull, coffee or lollies that kept us going and vow to ourselves that it will not happen again as we drift off to sleep, still standing in front of the submission box. Other students behind us growing impatient, we promptly forget the promise we made to ourselves and carry on, destined to forever forget to start the next assignment early.
When I start an assignment, or even studying for that matter, early enough, I have a tendency to assume it is too early and 'no one could possibly be starting now'. WRONG! Someone else always will have started before you and law school is WAR. Well, not really, but you get the idea! Do you really want to be the last person to start? Even factoring the stress of starting an assignment with so little time remaining, neglecting to start in a timely fashion means you run the risk of losing valuable resources, if you are like me and like using library books.
So starting early is a given, right? But what do you do when you are in a situation like I am now, with 3 assignments and 1 exam in a short period of time? Someone told me in high school that when you get an exam timetable you should always plan to start studying for the last exam first. It sounds counter-intuitive, but it makes plenty of sense. I'm planning on taking this idea and using it for my assignments. While I won't completely finish the one due last now, I plan to have a great draft done in the next week or so which will enable me to spend the time I need to spend on my other pieces of assessment.
What is your take? Do you start super early or are you like me, a perpetual procrastinator?
We all know it isn't the best way to go about getting a lousy few marks down before our big exams, but we all do it anyway. We all wonder if it was the adrenaline, Red Bull, coffee or lollies that kept us going and vow to ourselves that it will not happen again as we drift off to sleep, still standing in front of the submission box. Other students behind us growing impatient, we promptly forget the promise we made to ourselves and carry on, destined to forever forget to start the next assignment early.
When I start an assignment, or even studying for that matter, early enough, I have a tendency to assume it is too early and 'no one could possibly be starting now'. WRONG! Someone else always will have started before you and law school is WAR. Well, not really, but you get the idea! Do you really want to be the last person to start? Even factoring the stress of starting an assignment with so little time remaining, neglecting to start in a timely fashion means you run the risk of losing valuable resources, if you are like me and like using library books.
So starting early is a given, right? But what do you do when you are in a situation like I am now, with 3 assignments and 1 exam in a short period of time? Someone told me in high school that when you get an exam timetable you should always plan to start studying for the last exam first. It sounds counter-intuitive, but it makes plenty of sense. I'm planning on taking this idea and using it for my assignments. While I won't completely finish the one due last now, I plan to have a great draft done in the next week or so which will enable me to spend the time I need to spend on my other pieces of assessment.
What is your take? Do you start super early or are you like me, a perpetual procrastinator?
Monday, March 19, 2012
Here we go again....
So the moment I have been dreading has finally come. Life got hectic!
After a super busy week of uni and trying to catch up on readings (a result of my decision to do my readings after classes... still fine tuning the system) I decided to take a look at the assigned topics for assessment. Did I mention I was so busy I didn't notice essay topics for one of my subjects were released for almost a week? On top of that I almost forgot about my external subject yet again. It seems my rather strict study schedule is not strict enough... or maybe too strict.
After a super busy week of uni and trying to catch up on readings (a result of my decision to do my readings after classes... still fine tuning the system) I decided to take a look at the assigned topics for assessment. Did I mention I was so busy I didn't notice essay topics for one of my subjects were released for almost a week? On top of that I almost forgot about my external subject yet again. It seems my rather strict study schedule is not strict enough... or maybe too strict.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
ALL I DO IS READ!
AHH law school! I seriously think all I ever do is read! Read this, read that!
I generally have a fairly strict rule about finishing the assigned readings before a class. I tend to feel that if I do not do the readings first I will not do them. Of course, this works negatively because if I haven't done the readings I have previously felt that the class would not be of any benefit. Obviously this isn't a good way to go! In my first year I varied between reading before and after and I felt that before worked better for me.
I've changed this policy this year, at least for my Medical law subject. While the lecturer may have a general plan as to where he will finish each lecture each week, the course is divided into seven general topics. It has taken two weeks thus far to complete the first topic and I almost gave myself a heart attack looking at the learning guide and seeing how much reading was expected for that first week. Needless to say I was unable to complete the hundreds of pages and was relieved to see that we only completed a third or so of the topic. I then decided it was probably more beneficial to do the readings after the class so I would know how far to go.
This week I extended the reading after lectures idea to all classes. It wasn't intentional as I had family commitments over the weekend that prevented me from doing all preparation over the weekend. I learnt that a real benefit of reading after you have been to class is that anything a lecturer emphasises is going to be something you pay more attention to. If you are reading prior to class you just have to assume everything is important. Sometimes a lecturer disagrees with the text they have assigned on important points and taking the text as gospel is useless. Of course, lecturers sometimes go the other way and don't emphasis parts of the textbook but expect you have paid attention to them in your readings when it comes to the final exam.
So what did I learn? I learnt that it is definitely the way to go for subject where how much content will be covered is not known, like my medical law subject. It is also a good way to go when the lecturer may have a different perspective to the text. Reading, or at least perusing the text, is better for more difficult subjects. For me, Trusts is more difficult and very heavy. It isn't helped that the class does not finish until 8pm and I have a busy day. When it gets to my trusts lecture, I'm exhausted, both physically and mentally so I struggle to actually absorb the information if it is 100% new. For this subject, I really have to be familiar with the content before I get to class.
What is your approach? Do you do your readings before or after class? Do you vary your approach based on the subject itself? I'm interested to see what others do!
I generally have a fairly strict rule about finishing the assigned readings before a class. I tend to feel that if I do not do the readings first I will not do them. Of course, this works negatively because if I haven't done the readings I have previously felt that the class would not be of any benefit. Obviously this isn't a good way to go! In my first year I varied between reading before and after and I felt that before worked better for me.
I've changed this policy this year, at least for my Medical law subject. While the lecturer may have a general plan as to where he will finish each lecture each week, the course is divided into seven general topics. It has taken two weeks thus far to complete the first topic and I almost gave myself a heart attack looking at the learning guide and seeing how much reading was expected for that first week. Needless to say I was unable to complete the hundreds of pages and was relieved to see that we only completed a third or so of the topic. I then decided it was probably more beneficial to do the readings after the class so I would know how far to go.
This week I extended the reading after lectures idea to all classes. It wasn't intentional as I had family commitments over the weekend that prevented me from doing all preparation over the weekend. I learnt that a real benefit of reading after you have been to class is that anything a lecturer emphasises is going to be something you pay more attention to. If you are reading prior to class you just have to assume everything is important. Sometimes a lecturer disagrees with the text they have assigned on important points and taking the text as gospel is useless. Of course, lecturers sometimes go the other way and don't emphasis parts of the textbook but expect you have paid attention to them in your readings when it comes to the final exam.
So what did I learn? I learnt that it is definitely the way to go for subject where how much content will be covered is not known, like my medical law subject. It is also a good way to go when the lecturer may have a different perspective to the text. Reading, or at least perusing the text, is better for more difficult subjects. For me, Trusts is more difficult and very heavy. It isn't helped that the class does not finish until 8pm and I have a busy day. When it gets to my trusts lecture, I'm exhausted, both physically and mentally so I struggle to actually absorb the information if it is 100% new. For this subject, I really have to be familiar with the content before I get to class.
What is your approach? Do you do your readings before or after class? Do you vary your approach based on the subject itself? I'm interested to see what others do!
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