HOW TO IMPROVISE YOUR 'CONCLUSIONS'???

We all know that introduction introduces us to the topic and gives the first impression. Similarly conclusion is also equally important as it leaves the last impression in your eyes and memory. Therefore it is not merely a summary of the research or re-arranging the research problem but blending the key points and recommending new areas for future analysis. Actually, a well-knit conclusion provides you with the prospects to demonstrate to the reader your understanding of the topic.

Therefore it becomes important to provide a conclusion that is effective. But you have often faced a problem in writing a well gripped and staunchy conclusion to impression your supervisor and get the high grades out of his grades. Don't worry!!!!

Here are various ways to improvise conclusion:

1) Providing the thought in a gist and putting forward the larger significance of the research by placing the work within the framework of past study about the topic.

2) Conclusions should not introduce new ideas but rather provide new perception and creative ways to frame the research problem based on the results of your study.

3) It should remind the reader of the significance of the argument and proves, supporting them. It should also provide the importance of the analyses.

4) You can call "Conclusion to be a restatement of the problem statement".  The issue that you have identified in the problem statement area needs to be addressed in the entire assignment and then at the end you need to conclude whether you have addressed it appropriately.

5) It can also put forth the urgency to for the changes.

6) It can re-write a fact that seems to be impactful or the one around which the topic evolves around.

7) If the assignment guidelines permit, one can also present one's own experience to illustrate the point.

8) At the same time one can mention a message that the writer wants the reader to remember about the research.

9) Conclusions are meant to be precise and simple, it should not be stuffed in with unnecessary information, as it leads to loss of interest .Based on insights, evaluations and concluding message.

10) In introduction one carries the research from general field to a specific issue, but in conclusion one needs to move from a particular issue to a generalized discussion (i.e. how the research fills in the gap).It exactly provides the image of an hour glass(broad discussion to a particular one and then again back to a general discussion).

11) The challenges and obstacles faced should also be encountered in the conclusion, as it gives an overall view and it opens a door for future research

12) At times, the research objective changes while carrying out the research, in such cases conclusion must be used to document the changes.

13) The confidence of the writer must reflect in the conclusion, therefore the writer must avoid using lines like “This is only one way…. There might be other better ways to analyse the problem”

14) It needs to have brevity, at the same time informative.

15) Conclusions must answer the question raised in the introduction so that the reader’s mind is able analyse the overall purpose of the research. Conclusions are perfect to reconcile any miscommunication.

WHY DO WE FORGET THINGS???

In this vast world do you know who our ultimate teacher is???... It is our Memory. It is the brain that gives us the power to remember as a result to which, we can continue our existence. Do you remember your childhood days??? When you got close to the oven and your hand got burnt and you made it a point to be careful with fire… it is actually your memory that helped you to remember the incident as a lesson. It is something that is organized and systematized. But have you ever thought then why do we forget things that are even important???

The answer to this question depends upon various factors:

a) At times you tend to forget the information in your brain as you are unable to find the right retrieval cue. It is exactly like if a box of cards, where if one tries to find a particular card, the person is unable to find a specific card as they are not arranged alphabetically or according to any other method. Therefore it becomes necessary to create a mental arrangement (cue) for every important information we take in.

b) There are also instances where you forget only because you do not ‘go over’ the processed information as you do not expect them to be worthy enough to bring them to surface resulting in decay of such memory.

c) Certain information are lost in the process of ‘interference’, which can be proactive as well as retroactive. Guess what? Proactive interference is where old memories distorts the new one and retroactive interference, where new information corrupts he already present memory. In such a case you need to create mental hooks to materials as you learn. Creating cues always prevents interference.

d) Can you recollect the instance where you were making the guest list and as suddenly the bell rang and you went to answer it, you forgot two three names for the list??? It is so because one work interferes with the other. So if there are too many works to do, one needs to mentally repeat them and hold them in the mind until all the works are done.

e) During exams when you are busy memorising your syllabus, after sometimes you feel that you are forgetting the previous information. 

                                        Do you know why??? 

This is because you do not give your brain enough time to create impression, as a result the new one replaces the already studied portions. In order to get rid of this situation you need to give your memory certain amount of time, after which you learn each portion so that, it is able to imprint.

Although you are not aware, yet you will be happy to know that your brain has the elasticity and the potential to store immense amount of information. Therefore next time you can check your calibre by not listing the work and trying to memorise them mentally and see how much are you able to recollect.     

STUDYING ABROAD: A DREAM COME TRUE!!!

Hey Guys! I am sure you have always dreamt to complete your high school studies with flying colours so that ultimately you can fly abroad for higher studies. You often have dreamt yourself sitting in the airplanes, and flying abroad for a foreign visit! To fulfil this dream at this stage, academic purposes would have been the best suited reason.

Here is the answer to the question:

Why should you make an attempt to study abroad?

1) A New Eye to View the World

One of the biggest reason… rather the primary reason why you should opt for studying abroad is to open up a new eye to view the world. Not only get a chance to travel to a new city or country but even to know and experience a foreign culture along with its heritage, social dictums, cuisine, lifestyle and people.

It is a “First Time” attempt for all of you… first time to leave your family, first time away from your own country, first time into a new country, first time leaving the familiar locality, first time seem to be in the land of aliens, first time feel to be grown as adults… First time feeling the responsibilities on your shoulders...

In fact even the educational techniques adopted to teach the students are new to you! You even inculcate new interests and hobbies into yourself. How about going for scuba diving, rafting, playing golf or anything else? It is all about having a first-hand experience for the first time!!!

2) Enhancing Communication Skills: You will be happy to know that abroad studies open up a path of improvising your communication capabilities. Not only you get to learn a foreign language but get yourself trained by the native foreigners, thereby staying amongst them. You can be into constant practice. Be happy because those days are over when you used to feel subdued! I am sure gradually your stammering will be decrease and you will develop fluent speaking skills, thereby enhancing your self-confidence.

3) Opportunity for personal enhancement: When you are abroad you really do not have your loved ones to pamper you or get your work done. In fact, some of your friends may have turned down the offer of going abroad and studying solely for the reason that they do not want to come out of their comfort zone!

But see the positive side… You are constantly thrown into such circumstances which at the initial stage seems undefeatable. However, when you stand upright and put in your best of potential you emerge as gold. Eventually you become efficient enough in managing your studies, doing your daily activities, purchasing necessary groceries and balancing your study life with a peer-life!

4) Chance for Professional Development: Since you need to handle your expenses from the very first day, therefore the act of studying abroad contributes in your professional development. You not only become much more professional in your attitude, but also become acquainted with the foreign economy. As you need to run your own living there and deal with the high valuation of the foreign currencies, hence you may often be found indulged into saving, budgeting, strategizing expenses and paying bills. You know what… it undoubtedly helps you in becoming independent and not waiting for financial assistance from family.

5) Developing employment opportunities: Let me give you a good news! If you hold a degree pursued from an abroad university, thereby having proficiency in foreign language and ability to amalgamate into a culturally diversified setting, then you can surely emerge as a glowing star in front of the eyes of the employers. In fact, you possess an extra benefit, rather a mark for being a “foreign degree holder”. Employers usually consider the foreign degree holders as much more focused and keen candidates in their domain of excellence.

6) Connecting People: Undoubtedly the relations which have started as mere classmates grow strong in some of the cases. Irrespective of the courses being over, they are able to stand upright in the test of time. Even when you scatter across the globe, you never forget your friends and these helps in strengthening your networks on an international and global basis. Nonetheless, apart from friends, you also come across many such people abroad with whom you decide to stay connected in future.

Hence, you can now surely understand that by studying abroad you gain an opportunity to develop yourself personally and professionally. In addition, you also get an opportunity to bag in loads of experiences that can surely help you in due course of time.

So, if you have the dare to dream, then take a step ahead and give it a try!

EDUCATION: BORING OR INTERESTING???

Do you doze off whenever you sit with books at your study table? Is it that, the subjects bore you and make you fall asleep in the class? You just want to run away from those boring subjects…..

Now, let me just tell you a secret. There is perhaps no subject in the world that is innately boring, it depends how we approach them, and the medium of education should be attractive. You know what…even the researchers claim that almost 60% of the students tend to find at least half of their lectures boring. Educators should make sure that boredom does not sneak into the classroom, and for that… we need to make learning experience more interesting.

Though most of the teachers use the traditional method of teaching as it reaches many students at one go but we fail to understand that such a method barely allows two way interaction. Therefore it leads to inactive learning. Students like you seem to sit in classrooms like statues!!! Remember those days?

Lecturers are often inclined towards dictating notes or explaining at random… At the most, they teach via power point slides, stuffed with information, compelling students to copy information from the screen, resulting in boredom. Don’t you remember yawning while taking down the notes???

Now, let us change the situation… How about arranging for classes where you may be taught in an interactive manner where even you are allowed to participate and discuss and even share your opinions! So, to make the class interesting one can go for practical sessions as, it is more appealing. Teachers can use presentations that are colourful, animated and sound effects to make the class livelier.

Again…at times practical sessions and computer sessions become boring as the exercises are controlled and outcomes known, the student does not get the scope to explore. This often leads you to daydreaming, chatting with friends, doodling etc. Making lectures interesting does not mean amusement. It needs to be relevant. As ‘doing’ is not enough to engage one unless it is appropriate. It needs to appeal to the learner emotionally and intellectually then only we can engage our brain in the work.

Hey!!! It is not only the teachers who are to make the lessons interesting even the students can participate in the process by not blankly copying and mugging the notes. Why do you want to depend solely on the notes of the supervisors and tutors?

Here are ways by which you can make your studies interesting:

1) You can jot down points and then analyse and evaluate the concept on your own in order to get a better image of the scenario.

2) Use their materials for basic knowledge but try to explore each aspect by yourself. REMEMBER if you work on it, it will remain in your mind like a picture

3) You can always refer to films, videos or DVD’s based on the topic to gain an audio-visual aid about it.

4) During lunch breaks you can engage in group discussion, this can allow different as well as new ideas to come in… and open various perspective to the subject. This in turn can make the class interactive and interesting.

5) Do not only visit libraries and trap yourself among the books. Try participating or attending few seminars and workshops, which can enhance your knowledge ina much more interactive manner. 

THE GENERATION GAP

Generation Gap is a common phrase among us and I am sure you often use it whenever you find that your point of view does not match with an elderly person. But what is it all about? Well, in this present fast, globalised and advanced world, people are found to move ahead in such a speedy manner that, a wedge seem to develop between them and those who are unable to meet the immediate chances or advances.

We often see that, generation gap occurs between those individuals who belong to different age groups. Do you know the reason behind this?   It is actually the difference in their thought processes. Since different people to variant age categories hence, they tend to view the world from their own perspectives.

You often find the elders questioning why do you differ from them and the fact that they were never like you at your age? Well, it is because of the rapid progress of the recent generations that, the likes and dislikes, the requirements and demands of the youngsters are undoubtedly in contrast to that of the elders.

But you know what…. This is nothing new… It is not that you people are the only one who are rebellious or different. History shows that, it traced back to 1960, when the social upheaval has occurred, whereby reshaping the attitudes of the Western World in terms of religion, civil rights and sex. The primary agenda for this revolutionary change has been

“DO NOT TRUST ANYBODY OVER 30 YEARS… NEVER EVER!!!"

Hey, generation gap not only occurs in among the family members. You know what… Generation gap is also found o exist in a work environment if not handled properly… It often leads to conflict among the employees in a workplace as well between the employee base and the management. While the senior employees or the management are prone towards maintaining a fixed code of ethics while operating in a market; the freshers or the youngers are full of vigour and vital along with being technologically sound as per the requirement of the current business scenario.

Many people accuse the youngsters that, their working as well as behavioural attitudes seem to be different than the aged ones, thereby being more prone towards attaining the set goals at any cost, without adhering too  much on the business ethics. However, that is not true always! I believe that in the fast pacing world, one needs to be smart enough in understanding the market mechanisms, demands and requirements and work accordingly. Even the recent publication in The Economist supports this viewpoint… Have you read it???

You know what… Even BBC News shows that, the conflict of generation gap has also impacted in the global political scenario. Many youngsters/Gen X people (primarily the Remain supporters) as well as GenY are of opinion that, the baby boomers or the aged voters are to be blamed for the occurrence of Brexit. They seem to accuse the baby boomers for “messing up” the entire situations for a very simple reason that they do not understand the problems that the youngsters are surely to face due to Brexit. They are solely bothered about the fact that, their jobs are secured and are entitled to high-rated pensions and not the rise of the house prices, thereby putting the entire nation into the pool of debt…

This debate goes on and on as to whom to blame for this gap… But guys… I guess instead shifting blames, one needs to try and bridge this gap so that, the world becomes a combination of enriched experience of elders and vivacious youth.

LUNCH BREAKS/RECESS-HOW FRUITFUL IS IT FOR STUDENTS?

Undoubtedly most of you crave for the lunch break or recess as soon as you enter the college gates. You simply want the time to fly away but how cruel is time, which does not want to pass! It is at the very ring of the bell that each of you desire to run out of the classroom doors…. This is what you have been doing since years… from junior school or middle school, from senior school to high school… and even in college or university!!!

Is recess hours or lunch breaks that important??? Why so?

The answer to the first question is an ABSOLUTE YES!

You need to know that recess hour is not merely an hour to grab some food and gulp them!!!! It can be called fruitful due to the following reasons--

Fills your Stomach and Gears up your brains: 

The foremost reason why you should consider your lunch break to be important is because it feels your stomach after a stretch of few hours of study. Although I do not want to make this blog boring by explaining theories on nutrition, however I am sure that all of you are aware of the fact that, you should not keep your stomach empty for long hours. You should be in-taking food at regular interval. But since it is not possible to eat during class hours; hence make use of the recess hour!

Remember… when your stomach is filled, it automatically gears up your brain! Yes guys although this sounds like a nursery joke but it is true! The energy generated from the food contributes to the metabolism as well as in gearing up your brains!

Outlets the Frustration: 

Lunch breaks undoubtedly helps you in letting out where your frustration. Just imagine the situation when your professor scolds you or mocks at you for not being able to answer the question he has asked… OR the threat that your professor gives you of expelling you next time you are not able to attain proper grades! The frustration of not being able to answer back your professor pent ups inside you. It is during these lunch breaks that you take out your frustration in front of your friends and peer groups! Although it hardly changes the scenario as such, however it helps in easing yourself after having talked to your friends!

Spooky or Spicy Gossips: 

College life is no better without gossips among friends and pals! And Lunch breaks or recesses serve as the best timings for it. We know whenever you stomach is filled with any spicy gossip or spooky incident, you just can’t stop to narrate. You all wait long for the class to end so that all of you can run to the cafeteria and start gossiping. It may be about the spooky experience that you had while your weekend trip to a haunting place and how you had gossip…. Or it may be one of your friends is sharing experience about her blind date. Such gossips again may not be fruitful in material sense but it is certainly helpful because it helps in rejuvenating your mind and reducing your coursework pressure!!!

Last hour revision/discussion: 

Last minute or last hour joint studies have always helped you… right! There can be no best gathering than the ones during the lunch breaks where you can discuss few common topics, revise main points before the viva call and get yourself well-equipped from the last hour collection! Your friends boost up your confidence which is no less profitable!

Motivates you for the next: 

One of the simply yet best utility of the recesses is that it aids in motivating you for the further classes. Usually you are left with no energy by day end, to concentrate on the class lectures. However, the energy and vitality that you have attained during lunch breaks can still fuel you and keep you moving for the further classes! It catalyses you to move ahead!

HOW TO DO GOOD RESEARCH FOR AN ASSIGNMENT?

Hey guys are you worried about how to do good research for your assignments? Are going crazy in finding the appropriate content? No matter how much effort you put in so as to prepare your assignment, your supervisor still complains that appropriate research is not done.

A question has always risen in your mind:

“How to do good research for your assignments?”

Here are solutions to your problem.

·         Use authentic sources: For assignment writing, the foremost requirement that you need to keep in mind is to use authentic sources. You are not supposed to use the content from any such source which are not reliable or genuine. As for example, certain blogs may be considered to be unreliable because they have the permission to be changed or modified at intervals.

·         Use academic sources: No chit-chat conversations or mere magazines or journals are considered to be academic. Academic journals, peer-reviewed journals, and published books are the academic sources that you can refer while doing assignment writing. The content received from these sources are academic.

·     Remember! If you are using website sources, then they also need to be the academic ones. Content taken from “.edu” and “.org” and any company related information taken from company’s official website are considered to be academic.

·         Use relevant and specific sources: Remember whatever content use for your assignment needs to specific to the topic. You need to maintain the level of specificity and relevance. Firstly try to collect most of the information… even those which has even little less connection to the topic. Then segregate the information on the basis of general kind and specific kind. Try using the specific and relevant content more to enhance assignment quality.

Remember! DO NOT beat around the BUSH!

·         Use upgraded sources: Are you aware that good research means the comparative analysis of old theories with the new ones? Hence you require referring to those sources which are upgraded ones. Make sure that you are using upgraded and updated sources. It is always advisable to refer to those sources which are published within last 5 years.

·         Use primary and secondary sources: Although it seems to be a bit pressuring situation for you but note one thing and that is… to conduct a research by using primary and secondary sources. Both primary and secondary sources contribute in making your assignment writing much more in-depth as well as extensive. With the help of secondary sources, you get to know about the overall industry analysis (information from journals and books) usual industry working pattern. On the contrary, with the help of primary research, you get to know about the real scenario and the impact of the research problem from direct respondents.

·         Refer to different web pages: Make sure you refer to different web pages for a single content. You may get half dozen points for one topic if you research properly. Open up 2-3 different web pages to gain data over a single point. By analysing the content of each of the web pages you are able to find ample information.

So now you do have an idea as to how to do good research before doing assignment writing!

REFERENCING: REFERRING THE REFERRED!!!

Don’t you just get irritated when you get low grades in your coursework irrespective of doing good research and appreciable presentation? Whenever you ask your supervisor…  The answer he gives is

“You have not done the referencing properly!” or “Your references seem fake”.

Have you ever thought why it is so necessary to do referencing? Why professors stress more on referencing?

You will get your answer here…

Just imagine that you have an essay competition in your college. All your friends and you have participated and working hard to prepare a good essay. On the eve of the competition, one of your friends calls you up and says that he hardly has written anything. He asks you to help him with some ideas. You share some of the ideas from your work but strictly tell him not to us them directly. On the day of competition, when the announcer calls your friend’s name and he starts speaking…. You are shocked… Your eyes pop out! He is speaking exactly those points which are there in your work… Same to same points… At the end, he does not even show the courtesy of acknowledging your name and thanking you!

So… how do you feel??? That is exactly how the great writers feel when you do not acknowledge their work in your reference list irrespective of using their ideas!

Today let us have a quick buzz over some of the important facts on referencing:

1) Firstly referencing actually refers to the act of citing or acknowledging all those sources from where you have taking the ideas or concepts of your writing material.

2) In case you do not acknowledge the writers or do not prepare a reference list, your work comes under fraudulent activity. It is considered to be a piece of cheating.

3) It is significant that in order to write your project, you need to support your work by referring to the theoretical underpinnings, conceptual models, business models and ideas that already exist. You cannot simply master an analysis or jump into a conclusion suddenly!

4) Your reference list should be AUTHENTIC, thereby referring to those books and journals which actually exist. DO NOT make up names of writers or books/journals. DO NOT use FAKE references by manipulating the names of books, or publishing year, publishing city or publishing house. Original details are to be provided in the appropriate format

5) Remember! Preparing a referencing list is not just for the sake of it. So, do not add all the books and journals that you find under the sun!!! You should only add those which you have read and which are RELEVANT and PERTINENT to the topic! For instance, if the topic of your assignment is “Impact of billboard advertisement in attracting customers” then your references SHOULD NOT be books on marketing although advertising and customer attraction are aspects of marketing. You SHOULD use books related to Advertising and Customer Attraction

6) You should use academic books, journals and reports. CANNOT refer to any story books or readers digest as such…

7) You need to use academic websites and specific company websites for information. Websites like wikipedia and prezi.com are DEFINITELY NOTacademic.

8) The references SHOULD NOT be too old. It is always advisable to use upgraded versions of books and journals, published within last 5 years (except for topics related to history and philosophy)

9) References should be arranged in an alphabetical order (A-Z format). The list should be added at the end of the work

10) Maintain the correct form of the asked referencing styles. Need to know the difference between different referencing styles like Harvard, APA, Chicago, MLA, Oscola, Vancouver, IEEE and many more.