Finals Study Plan!

The end of the school year is finally here!  Unfortunately, before we throw our back-packs into the darkest corner of our closets and forget they are there for the next several weeks, we must prepare for finals.  Sounds fun right?  Of course not!  Finals are a dreaded and stressful time in every student's life.  Everyone is worried about passing their test, no matter how easy the subject is for them.

By studying a little bit at a time keeping an organized plan for when and what to study, a student's chances of passing are definitely higher than those who study intensely (otherwise known as cramming) for three hours straight the night before the test. 



This is my plan to studying for finals:
Starting this weekend I will go through all my folders and notes to see what I will need, and what I KNOW I won't need.  Things I will need should include old study guides, vocabulary lists, notes, formula sheets, essays, and articles.  Everything else with the exception of what you would need to complete homework or a project can be thrown out OR put into a separate binder for safe-keeping

On Monday June 4, 2012, I will begin to study some notes for Chemistry and Algebra 2.  I will some sample problems, and make sure I review all the material I may have forgotten about since  the beginning of February.  For Italian, I will start to make flashcards for all of the new vocabulary we have learned since our last finals.

On Tuesday June 5, 2012, I will review the book Ethan Frome and the vocabulary that goes with it for Honors English.  I will start to review all the notes I have taken and reread some of the study guide essays I have written for tests in Honors History. 

Many people ask:  How would you study for American Sign Language?  You study for Sign Language the way you would for any other language class.  This includes practicing grammar and vocabulary.  I plan to sign with a few classmates to make sure I do every sign we have learned correctly and to make sure I am using the correct facial expressions that are essential for communicating using Sign Language.

On Wednesday June 6, 2012, I will review the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  I will pay special attention to the vocabulary, themes, and social criticism presented in the book.  I hope to have the Chemistry review packet by this day.  If I do, I plan to do the first quarter of it.  I will keep reviewing the notes I have taken.  I will continue making flashcards for Italian vocabulary and review Italian culture and grammar.  If I have the Algebra 2 review packet, I will do the first 30 questions.

On Thursday June 7, 2012, I will do a quarter of the Chemistry packet, and review my notes.  I will do 30 questions in my Algebra 2 review packet.  I will also review Deaf culture for Sign Language.  I will prepare what I have to sign to my sign language teacher.     

On Friday June 8, 2012- Sunday June 10, 2012 I will reread my old History essays and keep reviewing my notes.  I will finish reviewing Huck Finn and reread the essay I had to write after I read the book.  I will also finish the Chemistry and Algebra 2 review packets.  I will finish making flashcards for Italian, and continue reviewing my notes from History.     

On Monday June 11, 2012, I will retype the questions I had gotten wrong in the Chemistry and Algebra 2 packets.  I will assess what I had gotten wrong and review it.  I will study the vocabulary for Italian, and Sign Language.

On Tuesday June 12, 2012, I will review my Chemistry and Algebra 2 notes and complete my new packets.  The idea behind this is to keep doing the problems over and over until I get them right.  I will study my Italian culture and vocabulary.  I will also study Deaf culture and Sign Language vocabulary.  I will review MacBeth and the vocabulary that goes with it.  On this day I should finally have my History study guide.  I will do the first half of the study guide.  This study guide will most likely include important people, events, and places.  I plan to make flashcards  telling me who, what, when, where, and why.  This process is usually long and tedious because of the amount of detail and information needed to complete the study guide.  (During midterms I spent 12 hours straight on the entire study guide.)

On Wednesday June 13, 2012 I will revise my new Chemistry and Algebra 2 packets.  I will either take out problems or add in new problems from whatever class review we have.  While doing this every day is extremely boring and tiring, I know it forces me to actually retain the information: The less I get wrong, the less I'll have do the problems over.  I will review my notes and complete the packet.  I will continue with the second half of my study guide of doom for History and finish making the flashcards.  I will also make an outline for the essay I will mostly likely have to write on the final.  I will review my Italian vocabulary and culture as well.

On Thursday June 14, 2012, I will most likely receive my English study guide. (This is a little late, but pretty accurate)  The study guide would mostly consist of vocabulary.  I would probably write out all the definitions of the words and review them.  I will write and an outline for the essay portion of the test as well.  I will review my History flashcards.  I will review my Chemistry and Algebra 2 packets.  I will review vocabulary along with the books Ethan Frome, Huckleberry Finn, and MacBeth for English.  I will practice my signing for Sign Language.  Lastly, I will review for Italian. 

This is almost the same system I used to pass my midterms, and hopefully it will work for finals. 


Pictures Used!

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=VlTAsobzVA5FGM:&imgrefurl=http://uwartsci.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/finals-are-coming-up-dont-make-yourself-stressed-out/&docid=DJJlsIgnnV19WM&imgurl=http://uwartsci.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/colleges-ease-stress-of-final-exams-10121301.jpg&w=425&h=282&ei=KYbGT7m-KIXX0QHxtaSSCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=900&vpy=213&dur=771&hovh=183&hovw=276&tx=146&ty=118&sig=106271226408639123594&page=1&tbnh=117&tbnw=176&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0,i:164

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=KdytgjUMofURpM:&imgrefurl=http://eclecticandyoung.blogspot.com/2012/01/finals-week.html&docid=AM9MYRDrpqj77M&imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bvaw1LOc5BE/TyC_6_OTIII/AAAAAAAAAMY/o25rZBcc7cQ/s1600/Finals.jpg&w=378&h=320&ei=3YXGT-3sBcXi0QHyhOiSCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=361&vpy=176&dur=84&hovh=207&hovw=244&tx=93&ty=90&sig=106271226408639123594&page=1&tbnh=133&tbnw=157&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:142

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=wQ40p6zDbdU1vM:&imgrefurl=http://i.fra.bz/g70&docid=RPsVFqpxpVxfwM&imgurl=http://ct.fra.bz/tx/310x310/ol/fz/sw/i46/5/3/13/fbz_083c7d81dd1702c5a6f85c18d2473548.jpg&w=294&h=310&ei=cYfGT-rvDcTA0QHkx7WSCw&zoom=1

       
    

Onward Online Privacy

This Avid Weekly article explains the "Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights" and how it would affect Internet users. It "offers a sensible set of principles for online privacy, calling on Web companies to minimize their collection of personal data, help users make informed choices about the information they reveal, and not use personal data for new purposes without the user's consent."   The law would regulate the privacy standards without taking total control of the company.    However, the company would have to disclose its activities.   

The “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights” is a response to SOPA, also known as the “Stop Online Piracy Act.”  This act imposed to support an end to online piracy over copyrighted material.  Over 7,000 Websites participated in a protest or “blackout” until midnight on January 18, 2012.  These Websites included Google, Wikipedia, Reddit, Wordpress, and Mozilla.        

I support the “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights”.  It would do more good than it would bad.  The “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights” would probably decrease the amount of piracy and invalid information online.  I think this law could stop privacy abuses online.  This law would also force companies to stop making misleading statements about their privacy standards.   “Pressures from users has forced companies such as Facebook and Google to be more protective of other types of personal information they collect” The “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights “allows the consumers/users of a Website more control over their information.   The article argues that by allowing users more control over their information, they can make better choices.   This law does have negative aspects.  Many Websites would be forced to get rid of much of their information because it does not belong to them.  This is yet another reason why I support this law:  taking work that does not belong to you is plagiarism and stealing.  Why should a company take credit for another person’s work?     

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/17/wikipedia-blackout_n_1212096.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/17/google-joins-online-sopa-protest_n_1210990.html

 

AVID Weekly Writing Prompt

Global Warming is caused by greenhouse gases being trapped in the Earth's atmosphere.  Greenhouses gases trapped in the atmosphere causes the climate to increase over a period of time.  "The more greenhouses gases we put into the air, the more severe the impacts will be, and the greater the risk we run of triggering disruptive changes in climate"  (Avid)

One thing the United States could do to decrease the amounts of greenhouse gases or possibly eliminate them.  This can be done by using trying to convert renewable resources, such as water, into energy.  Houses, stores, and schools should be built with solar panels if possible.  By doing this, the amount of fossil fuels (such as coal) burned and used for energy would decrease.  Burning fossil  fuels  pollute the air and are a top contributor to greenhouse gases.  Lastly, the United States should impose/higher a tax on cigarettes.  Cigarettes also pollute the air and contribute to the issue of Global Warming.  The amount of aerosol cans manufactured should  be monitored or reduced.  People should opt for spray cans instead. 

"Even a small shift in average temperatures can carry enormous implications for our health and welfare."  (Avid)  People only need to make a small change in their daily lives if they want to prevent the Global Warming issue to worsen.  It only takes one individual to make a difference.  Small actions such as turning off lights when leaving a room and walking instead of driving.  If walking is not an option, then people should carpool with someone or take public transportation such as a bus.  Even educating others in the community can help because it spreads awareness about the issue and may encourage them to make a change in their daily routine.  If no change is made, "we will see an increase in the frequency and severity of flooding, an increase in the frequency and severity of droughts, more wildfires in some regions, and reduction in crop yields and livestock productivity." (Avid)  Small changes (which are not the worst inconveniences) are definitely worth making if it means preventing these different types of devastations and tragedies.  These tragedies will ruin the economy due to the damages of the flooding and wildfires, the lack of crops, and the lack of livestock productivity.

Some examples of local organizations that spread awareness about Global Warming is an environmental club at our school.  This group is comprised of kids who are aware of the problems with our environment and want to make a change.  They promote going green

We only have one earth.  Therefore, humans need to make sure the earth stays in its best condition, rather than kill it. 

PICTURE
 

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1680&bih=879&tbm=isch&tbnid=8T5ggKujxN7_wM:&imgrefurl=http://green4u.wordpress.com/2012/04/18/finally-23-of-american-believe-global-arming/&docid=BXbuTwPwBQvswM&imgurl=http://green4u.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/globalwarming.jpg&w=500&h=485&ei=BPCiT_aALYr40gHz_KzUDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1035&vpy=338&dur=1464&hovh=221&hovw=228&tx=126&ty=126&sig=105531058190096771302&page=1&tbnh=151&tbnw=190&start=0&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0,i:159