The only way to get higher grades is to study and to practice good study skills. This web site can help you get started with some good, practical advice (I don’t need to paste it all here). http://www.how-to-study.com/

As to doing your research papers … first narrow your topic. The biggest problems with writing a paper is trying to tackle too much information! That makes it almost impossible.

So, let’s take the topic of sports. Well, THAT’S certainly broad!

Let’s narrow it down to drugs and sports. OK, that’s better. Still pretty broad.

Go further still, illegal drugs in the Olympics. Now, you’re getting to a manageable topic!

You get the idea! 🙂

Good luck!

My first tip is to make sure you start these projects, papers, etc early….and start prepping for them over the next few days or weeks they are due…it makes things a lot better and you aren’t scrambling…For research papers, those are really hard because you have to add in alot of information, but my suggestion is to right down on index cards bits of information that you want to include in your paper, and write the name of the book, and all the details right then so you know which info came from which book and you have the info for the Bibliography. Write one card for each bit and then you can arrange visually your paper with the information. Also, when you start to write your paper, do it a few days before, and then set it aside for a day or two and then relook it and read it aloud because you will be new to it and will find things you don’t like or sound wrong. Same thing for compositions…do the index cards and the editing thing, but as well see if your teacher will let you give them the paper early to have them look it over and give you suggestions to improve. You get to know your teacher better that way, and you get some suggestions on writing. For higher grades, all you have to do is do the required readings, be in class, do all the homework, ask questions on what you don’t understand and ask for help when you don’t get something, because that shows you are concerned about your grade, and if your grade is like a 89 and you have gone for help all semester, oftentimes since they know you put in an effort, they will give you the A- rather than the B+….For homework, make sure that you are answering all the questions and to the best of your ability, and it means doing it with ample time, and not right before class or in the previous class. That way you are looking and thinking for each problem and not just trying to put something down for an answer. Make sure you read all the directions, and look at the examples to help you. For tests, read over all of your notes several days before the test so you aren’t cramming. Depending on your learning style, it may be good if you read the information aloud, or if you write down a “study guide” with the important information, or if it’s math, maybe look over previous tests and homeworks and quizzes, and try to do the problems again on a separate page, and see if you can do them again. Also, if your teacher assigned problems in the book previously, go back and try to do some of the problems that they didn’t include in the homework…Good luck!

Research papers…hm well i always go to the library and check out a few books and read up to begin, cite each book i plan to use, and compose a works cited page. Then i make an outline of what i plan to say. It helps you organize your thoughts, and see what information you still need. Then you can do more resreach or start composing a paper.

As for tests, when your teacher tells you there will be a test write it down someplace, in a planer or on your calender. don’t wait till the last minute. if the test is two weeks away study 20 minutes every night, last minute study doesn’t help you remember as well.

If you have any other problems keeping the grades up talk to your teachers and maybe get a tutor. They can help idenify your problems.

write down when everything is due!!!! on top of the worksheets, in your planer/calender whatever, but it will help you remember and organize your time.