How To-70: "How to Memorise Long Text in the Shortest Amount of Time Possible"

How to Memorise Long Text in the Shortest Amount of Time Possible

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

It’s hard trying to learn words for a play or whatever it may be, isn’t it? Well, read the following, it may help!

Steps

1. Write whatever you want to learn on a piece of paper if it isn’t all ready.
2. Split it up into sections of 1-2 sentences. It depends how long they are; if it is very long, make that sentence one section, if it’s quite short bring the next sentence in as well. If the sentence that comes after the short one is long, then try and remember the short one on its own and use the long one as explained above.
3. Learn the text.
4. Put your paper down so that you can see it clearly by standing above it.
5. Start with your first section by reading it aloud to yourself, over and over, until you can do it without looking at the paper.
6. Do the same with the next section.
7. Say your first section out loud if you don’t feel too weird (it will stick better if you say it out loud) or just say it in your mind. Next say your second section, then third and so on. If you don’t get stuck on anything and you feel that you can remember them correctly without looking at your paper again, then do so. If you get stuck and you can’t remember the text, go ahead and look at the paper.
8. Memorize the next section by reading it over, like with the other sections, until you can do it with out looking at the paper. Then read all three sections together.
9. Repeat this process until you have memorized the whole text.

Tips

• You can read it off of a computer, if that’s where the text originally is.
• Saying it out loud, especially if you must say it on a stage or during a performance, will help the words roll out of your mouth naturally. The more times you say it, the easier it will be to remember and say next time. (You hear it at the same time as you say it, and you reinforce your learning two ways each time you do it right).
• Try only memorizing a sentence or section to where you are not very confident with it, but think you could recite the basic idea. Read the next section or sentence to take your mind off of it briefly, and then come back to it and recite as much as you can. You will probably make at least several mistakes if not many more. Do this as many times as you need until you memorize the section. You will find that each time you come back to it, you remember the mistakes you made last time and recite it a little better. Learning by making and correcting mistakes can be very effective.

Things You’ll Need

• A quiet space.
• Paper to write your text down on if it isn’t already written/noted down.
• A pencil or pen to do the above.

Related wikiHows

• How to Memorize a List in Order
• How to Memorize Lists Using the Pure Link System

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Memorise Long Text in the Shortest Amount of Time Possible. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-69: "How to Remember Anything"

How to Remember Anything

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Everyone experiences times when they just can’t seem to remember what they need to. Be it the first 50 digits of pi, the items on the grocery list you left at home, or that set of instructions off wikiHow, these tricks are sure to help you out.

Steps

Visualization

1. Picture an object you will use to visualize things. It could be a set of boxes, a zoo, or your house. In these steps we will use the example of a house, it is common and works well.
2. Think about your house. Imagine your room, the bathrooms, the kitchen…
3. Learn to store things in these rooms. If you want to remember a grocery list of Fish, Cheese, Pudding and Pineapples, you could imagine your house with a fish in your pool/shower, cheese in your fridge, pudding in your room, and pineapples growing outside in your garden. By picturing these objects in a familiar place, your house, they are much easier to remember.

Mnemonics

1. Learn some strategies like mnemonics. Another way to aid your memory is to use mnemonics.
• These are catchy/silly phrases that help you remember something more boring like a math formula or the colors of the rainbow (ROY G. BIV).
• Mnemonics can be words in which each letter stands for something (Order of Operations = PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Mult/Division, Add/Subtraction). They could also be a song, a poem, anything you want.
• Mnemonics are easiest to remember when they are especially goofy or wild.

Use Stories

1. Use stories to help with remembering.
• To imagine grocery lists, for example, think of a story or pattern. In the previous shopping list (Fish, cheese, pudding, pineapple) you could imagine a fish eating cheese pudding in a pineapple under the sea. This is strange enough to remember, much easier then remembering four words.
• Now that you know how to remember anything, something such as counting cards becomes much easier. Picture your house with a room for Kings, Queens, etc. As cards are played, theses rooms fill up. You can imagine your house as a hotel if you want.

Visual Reminders

1.It may seem obvious, but one easy way to remember things is to place something in an unusual position, for instance placing things on top of each other. If you make a note that you are doing it to remind you of something else, then the chances are when you see it again you will remember it.

2. The key with this strategy is not to use the same thing repeatedly, or it stops being unique to your brain, and therefore will no longer remind you of things. Keep it different, but still relevant to what you want to remember if possible.

• As an example, say you wanted to remember to buy a new lightbulb for your bedside lamp. One ‘unusual’ reminder would be to tilt the lamp so that its back (which we assume is flat for the sake of the example) is facing upwards, and then place a coin standing up on top of it. When you see it there, you should be instantly reminded that you had to buy a bulb.

3. This method is very simple, but very effective. Even so, everyone is different, and you may try many methods of triggering memory before you find one that suits you.

Books To Read

The Memory Book: The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory at Work, at School, and at Play.
The Memory Book
Secrets of Mind Power
Ageless Memory
The Harry Lorayne Memory Isometrics Course

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Remember Anything. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-62: "How to Build Literacy Skills Through Games"

How to Build Literacy Skills Through Games

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Create a simple board game with letters, spelling and pictures to learn the English alphabet and spell simple words.

Steps

1. Make 9 x 3″ (22.9 cm x 7.6 cm) squares on a board with a pencil and scale.
2. Keep the first square in the bottom left-hand corner empty.
3. Paste a picture in each of the other squares. Each picture should have printed prominently on it:
   • one of the letters of the alphabet (for example, ‘A’)
   • a word beginning with that letter (“apple”, “bicycle”, “cat” etc.)
   • a picture relating to that word. You should have pictures for all 26 letters of the alphabet.
4. Make a die using a paper cube. On each face of the cube, write four letters of the English alphabet randomly (not in any order). This way 24 of the letters would be written on the six faces of the die. On any one face, write the remaining two letters of the alphabet.
5. Make 7 place markers each for four players of different colours. Good choices might be blue, green, red and yellow. Create these from cardboard, which you can laminate if desired, or save time and use laminated cardboard to begin with.
6. Let the four players roll the die. Whoever rolls the six letters side up, gets to play first. The rest of the players will then take turns to play in an anticlockwise direction.
7. Move. When a player rolls the dice, he or she puts a coloured marker in the box (on the board) which matches the first alphabet on the face of the die that he or she rolls. For instance, if you roll the die to a face that contains “DFGH”, then you place your marker in the box on the board which contains the letter D.
   • If somebody else’s marker is already there in the “D” box, then put your marker on the “F” box, which is the next letter on the face of the die.
   • If somebody already has a marker in all the four boxes then the player does not get to place his or her marker and it becomes the next person’s turn.
   • If one of the players rolls the die with the six letter face up, he or she gets another turn.
8. Once all the boxes on the board are covered with a marker each, the number of markers that each player has placed on the board is counted up. The player who has placed the maximum number of coins on the board wins the game.

Tips

• Two to four players can play this game.
• This is a fun way of recognising the letters of the alphabet and recognising the spellings of simple words. As well, it helps with associating pictures with the letters, so that the learning is retained.

Things You’ll Need

• Board – large enough to fit the 26 squares
• Pictures for pasting
• Paper glue
• Scissors
• Paper cube (for die)
• Cardboard (laminate it or use laminated cardboard)
• Pens or pencils for the lettering

Related wikiHows

• How to Exercise Your Brain for Better Thinking Skills
• How to Improve Your Reading Skills
• How to Become an Advanced English Speaker
• How to Use Children’s Literature and Cooking Activities to Teach Early Literacy Skills
• How to Read Aloud to a Child

Sources and Citations

• For more learning games for kids and adults visit http://www.experiential-learning-games.com/

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Build Literacy Skills Through Games. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-51: "How to Stay Informed About Current Events"

How to Stay Informed About Current Events

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Today’s world is becoming more volatile than ever before. With so much at stake, it’s a good idea to stay informed as to what’s going on in your country and the World.

Steps

1. Watch the news. This seems simple, but it often isn’t. News is becoming more and more biased to all different interests. The safest way to make sure you’re getting the whole story is to watch several different stations. Don’t limit yourself to the nightly news, watch 24 hour news stations as often as you can.
2. Make sure you get a paper. Reading your local paper is great for staying current on issues close to you. Try to also get a paper from your closest metro area, as they often report on your state. Finally, subscribe to nationally accepted paper like the New York Times. With these you can get updates on whats happening across the country and often around the world.
3. Subscribe to News Magazines. Once you’re up on all the issues, it’s nice to get a broader idea of them. A great way to do this is by reading news magazines, like Time or Newsweek. These have many opinion essays, and articles that go into issues in more depth.
4. Stay balanced. Try not to close your mind to other sources. Even if you think the information you’re getting is skewed, pay attention to the spin in order to understand more.
5. Read books by top officials, pundits, and those in the know. Now more than ever the figures you see on the news and in politics are writing books. These are great to get their side of the story and an inside view of what they do. They may not always be riveting, but they’re great for keeping informed.
6. Check news sites as often as you can. News sites are constantly being updated and usually have many more stories than you get on TV or even in a paper. Again, try and stay balanced with these. You can also sign up for tickers that pop up on your computer screen that show you the top stories. Email alerts are also good.
7. Talk with other informed people. Debate is a great way to test out your opinions. You can always learn something from a good debate, even if your opponent’s views are completely different from yours. If you can’t find people around you, join a forum to discuss issues. Most news sites offer forums or blogs that you can join and debate with other users. Reading blogs of regular citizens is also a great way to see other sides of the issues.

Tips

• If you can’t afford to subscribe to papers or magazines, your local library will probably have all the latest issues. If not, bookstores often let you read on the premises.
• Make sure you have a good internet provider. Checking the news can be very frustrating on a slow browser.
• Get a good television package. Most offer several news stations that play all day and all night.

Warnings

• Take everything you see in the media with a grain of salt. Remember that most news stations have a bias and what they report may not necessarily be fact.
• Make sure you’re actually interested in staying informed. If it’s boring you, you’re wasting your time and probably not getting everything you can out of it.
• Don’t act like you know everything once you’re informed.

Things You’ll Need

• An open mind
• All 5 senses intact.

Related wikiHows

• How to Take Action to Abolish the Death Penalty
• How to Go on a Hunger Strike Safely
• How to Prevent Noise Pollution
• How to Create Small Scale Anarchism
• How to Track Congress and Legislation

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Stay Informed About Current Events. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-50: "How to Widen Your Logic and Knowledge"

How to Widen Your Logic and Knowledge

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

So you want to know how to expand your logic and knowledge, good for you! By simply following these instructions, you can truly expand your logic and knowledge that will open many new things to you later in life.

Steps

1. On a daily basis, such as before you go to sleep or after eating breakfast, do a crossword puzzle or a soduku puzzle, even if you are not a fan like me….once a day is fine!
2. After checking e-mail and surfing the web, stop by a news website such as CNN and read a few current events so you know whats going on.
3. Every night, read 1 page in the encyclopedia that interests you. So for example, if you like videogames read about how they are created and the process of making a videogame.
4. Challenge someone for a game of chess or another strategic game you might like, if you have time on your hands and are up this but there is no one to play with, play online!
5. Once a day, learn 1-4 new vocabulary words. This will truly help you a lot in the future.

Tips

• Do not try too hard. Just take aside some time each day to do this.
• If you have a Nintendo DS, buy a game such as Big Brain Academy or Brainwave to get some extra logic and critical thinking in your day!

Related wikiHows

• How to Become More Intelligent Than You Are Now
• How to Exercise an Open Mind
• How to Be Smart
• How to Think Clearly and Logically Under Pressure

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Widen Your Logic and Knowledge. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-49: "How to Improve Your IQ"

How to Improve Your IQ

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient. It basically measures your intelligence – in other words, how smart you are. There are several types of intelligence; not just your typical school/education related material. While IQ is generally thought to be innate, there are things you can do that may improve your IQ score.

Steps

1. Read! Read and read some more! Yes, this is first because in order to improve your IQ you must read. But before you reach out for that worn out paperback (a story you’ve read a million times) read a new book, a book from a completely different genre than what you’re used to. You usually read mystery? Good, now, go ahead and read some comedy. Only fiction? Go grab a biography. Read everything and anything (this includes articles, news stories, and magazines.)
2. Drop your stereotypes about learning. For example, do away with the idea that old dogs can’t learn new tricks. Sure, it will likely take more time to learn when you are older, but that is no reason to stop learning.
3. Try writing with your opposite hand. Some people claim that if you write with your opposite hand then your IQ goes up, because your brain is not used to writing with that other hand and is forced to work harder. However, if you’re ambidextrous, that’s great. Try writing with both hands at once, and try writing different things with different hands at once. You can also try using different hand for using the mouse. Doing that will stimulate the other side of your brain to work.
4. Remember the motto: Write, don’t type. Thinking about emailing your aunt that thank-you note? Forget it, write it out by hand instead. This will increase your writing speed, which is useful in any case. Besides, typing will only use your left hand 56% of the time… when using both hands, at least.
5. Play video games. However, attempt to play a game that is out of your usual range of choices. It will help you think differently. Look for games that provide you with problems to solve or force you to think quickly.
   • Scientific studies have shown that playing the popular game Tetris leads to more efficient brain activity; as players become more proficient at the game, their brains show a reduced consumption of glucose (the body’s main fuel). This intense scientific study supports this theory.
6. Work on cryptology. This is when a message is written in codes and you try to figure it out. It’s challenging for some, but after a while may even become enjoyable.
7. Practice crosswords and sudoku. These activities stimulate your mind and thought processes. People normally don’t consider word searches thought-provoking, but if practiced in addition to other mind games, they could prove to be easy and stimulating.
8. Do logic and lateral thinking puzzles. These help your brain think outside the box and solve problems in different ways.
9. Take a weekly IQ test and record your results. If you would like to view your improvements, consider placing the results on a line graph using excel or another graph-compatible program. (See external links for a free, tested online IQ test).

Tips

• Eat brain food. Fish has been scientifically proven to increase memory.
• Exercise. This increases blood flow to the brain-resulting also in increased thought/memory.
• Forget. Yes-you read that right. You need to get rid of unnecessary info in your brain sometimes to make room. This is also where sleeping comes in handy. Forget the day and rest your brain.
• Practice doing a Rubik’s Cube. Yes, this WILL increase your IQ.
• Play games like chess and crossword puzzles. They help you to think and it can be fun at the same time.

Warnings

• Don’t ever think that there isn’t a way to remember something. We have a lot to work with. Not only that, but there are several types of memory aid techniques and strategies.

Related wikiHows

• How to Tell the Day in Any Year and Century
• How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Your IQ. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-48: "How to Increase Your Brain’s Processing Speed"

How to Increase Your Brain’s Processing Speed

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Here’s an exercise that will actually increase your brain’s processing speed. It will also strengthen attention skills, enhance working memory, and build visual manipulation skills. Try it. Many people can actually feel their brains working. This exercise, when done with intensity and frequency, will actually map new neural pathways in your brain. It really will make you smarter!

Steps

1. Enlarge the picture above by opening it in a new window.
2. From left to right, top to bottom, call out the direction the eyes are looking (from your perspective —”down, left, up, right…”) Have someone time you. Do it without error in 30 seconds. Keep practicing until you can do it in only 15 seconds.
3. Try it from the face’s perspective (as if you were the face looking out from the page – “down, right, up, left…”.) It’s harder, isn’ t it! You have increased the difficulty by adding a second mental challenge (adjusting for the change in perspective). Don’t worry though…your brain can adapt and grow!
4. Call out the color of each without error in 30 seconds. Get that time down to 15 seconds without error. Not too tough unless you are color blind! (but now comes the fun…)
5. Begin doing exercise 1 (above) but point your finger in the opposite direction each time (“down [point up], left [point right], up [point down]…”). You have added an element that requires divided attention. Once mastered, increase the difficulty by switching (point the direction the eyes are looking and call out the opposite direction) only when you come to a green face. Try substituting different colors. Keep track of your time and stay with it until each exercise flows quickly and smoothly. You will find yourself not only doing the familiar ones easier, but mastering each new variation faster as well. This is because your brain is growing new connections to handle the challenges!

Related wikiHows

• How to Solve a Problem

Sources and Citations

• http://www.learningrx-franchise.com – Cognitive skills training franchise

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Increase Your Brain’s Processing Speed. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-47: "How to Increase Your Attention Span"

How to Increase Your Attention Span

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

There are simple ways to increase your attention span without drugs. Here are two — one to increase your overall attention span and one to accomplish a specific task.

Steps

Meditation

1. Find a comfortable place to sit. Sit with your spine erect — If it’s supported, you’ll find yourself asleep. Turn off any device that may interrupt you.
2. Set a timer of some sort. When choosing a timer, avoid one that ticks audibly; it will distract you. If it’s a timer that will make a loud or grating sound when it goes off, muffle the sound by putting it in a drawer or wrapping fabric around it. There are some excellent timers you can download off the Web for free and either keep on your computer, burn on a disc or download into an MP3 player.
3. Determine how much time you’d like to meditate. Don’t try for big numbers, initially. Set your timer or alarm so your first sessions are just 10 minutes long. Build in five minute increments when you feel ready. Shoot for 20 minutes a session, twice a day.
4. Choose an image, color, or word and think of it. Don’t think of variations of it or meanings it may have — just think of the image, color, or word. If you think of a flower, for example, make it one that is simple and still and unchanging. One popular form of meditation involves focusing on the breath, particularly the sensation around the nostrils as it enters and leaves the body.
5. Do not judge your meditation experience while meditating or afterward. The mind will rebel and wander often. When it does and you become aware of it, simply gently remind yourself to return to the breath or image you have chosen.
6. Be patient. It may take months, even many years, to become proficient

Getting things done

1. Set a timer for a specific time. If it’s studying a difficult topic, try 20 minutes. If it’s cleaning a dirty kitchen, go for 40 minutes.
2. Make rules. Tell yourself that you will not look up from the book until the timer goes off.
3. Reward yourself, within reason. After 20 minutes with the book, give yourself 10 minutes to read a book or magazine for pleasure, check your e-mail or have a light snack. Stick to your predetermined 10 minute rule, and go back to the task as soon as the 10 minutes are up for another 20 minutes, or longer.

Related wikiHows

• How to Overcome Short Term Memory Loss
• How to Improve Your Memory
• How to Exercise Your Brain for Better Thinking Skills
• How to Become More Intelligent Than You Are Now
• How to Deal With Alzheimers As a Caregiver
• How to Be Teacher’s Pet

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Increase Your Attention Span. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-46: "How to Improve Your Concentration"

How to Improve Your Concentration
from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit
The quality and quantity of work you can produce is dependent, not only on the effort you put in, but on your ability to concentrate. No matter how hard to you try, if your brain isn’t performing well, you won’t be as productive as you should be.
Although many of the factors affecting concentration are beyond your control, a large amount is determined by behavior.

Steps

1. Get Your Rest. It might seem obvious, but the biggest factor affecting concentration is rest. If you aren’t well rested your mind will be scattered. Avoid this by making sure you get the right amount of sleep at the right time. Set a regular bed time for yourself and use an evening routine to wind down so you don’t have trouble sleeping.
   • It’s also important not to sleep too much. Oversleeping disrupts your natural rhythm and leads to grogginess. Avoid this by having a set wake up time.
2. Make a Plan. When you sit down to work without a plan, it’s easy to get caught up in crutch activities like checking email and browsing the web. Without a purpose, your mind will be pulled in several different directions. Instead of devoting all your attention to one important task, you’ll find yourself distracted by a variety of nagging thoughts.To avoid this, make a clear plan of action beforehand. If you need to check email, resolve to fire through it as quickly as possible, then close your inbox and move on to your most important task. By making a plan, you decide where your mental energy is allocated instead of allowing to be dispersed randomly.
3. Isolate Yourself– Become a hermit and stay away from other people if you want to concenrate on your work. Unless your work is based on other people they will only break your focus. Create a private space and refuse to talk to anyone until your work is finished.
4. Eat Light and Healthy. Nothing slows down the mind and body like a big greasy meal. Overeating puts a huge load of digestion on the body, sapping strength from the mind. Maximize your ability to concentrate by eating light and healthy meals. As Thomas Jefferson said, we rarely regret eating too little. It’s likely you’ll find that you need less food to satisfy you than you think. If you run out of energy, keep some healthy snacks on hand to give yourself a quick boost.
5. Exercise. The body has pent up energy that needs to be used. If you don’t exercise regularly, this energy can manifest itself in the form of a distracted mind. The best way to improve your concentration all day long is by exercising first thing in the morning. This will clear your head, give you a chance to reflect on the day ahead, and allow your body to sweat out impurities. Afterwards you’ll feel rejuventated, and ready to take on tough problems.
6. Take Breaks and Mix Up Your Environment. Stagnation and fatigue are other factors that can negatively affect concentration. When you’ve been working too long in the same place, you start to get stir crazy and lose focus. The best remedy for this is taking breaks and switching up your work environment. When you find yourself losing focus, get up and take a walk. This will get your heart rate up, increase your alertness, and give your mind a chance to work on the problem internally.
   • It can also be helpful to work in different places. Instead of being chained to your desk all day, make a point of moving around. In a typical day I might spend time working in my apartment, the local library, and at a nearby coffee shop.

Tips

• Know what your goal is clearly before you start. If you aren’t sure what the end result is, the confusion will make it impossible to focus.

Warnings

• Do not work in a crowded place as you’ll lose you’re focus.

Related wikiHows

• How to Avoid Getting Bored While Reading
• How to Develop Your Sense of Time
• How to Keep to a Daily Schedule
• How to Plan a Homework Schedule
• How to Get Work Done in a Home Office

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Your Concentration. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-45: "How to Improve Critical Thinking Skills"

How to Improve Critical Thinking Skills

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

We are presented with a plethora of alternatives. Critical thinking helps us analyze each alternative and choose one over the other. Colleges are paid good money for developing our critical thinking skills. Whether it be for critiquing a wikihow article, considering a business proposal, or analyzing a poem, these simple steps will help you:

Steps

1. Understand your own purpose: Criticism, especially artistic, is subjective. What do you want to achieve by your critique? Do you want to evaluate an artistic work, or an objective business proposal?
2. Understand the purpose of the person whose work you’re analyzing: Most criticism goes off its target simply because the critic doesn’t take into account what the writer or painter wants to convey. The writer may aim for and hit the branch, while you may think he has actually missed the bird on the branch. Has the writing or painting succeeded in accomplishing its original purpose?
3. Know the alternatives: Research works related to the one you’re reviewing. Criticism can only be done by a standard: A thing is higher or lower in relation to something. Find out about contemporary writings and similar endeavors in past ages. If you are evaluating whether to buy a car from someone, find out how much other options like buying second-hand, or renting a car will cost you. If you can find nothing related, let the standard be your own vision of how the project should shape up, or how the originator of the proposal wants it to shape out.
4. Learn logic: Study how an argument is constructed, what premises are, and how the conclusion is reached. Then study the fallacies of logic, and practice pointing them out in your daily life.
5. Learn the critical jargon: Every field has different critical jargon. For example, in poetry terms like alliteration, enjambment, and the trochaic meter, show that you know what you’re talking about. These terms will help make your critique more concrete, and give you hotspots on which to focus your critique.
6. Use the GBI technique: The lateral thinking psychologist Edward de Bono states that we should list the Good, the Bad and the Interesting points.
7. Don’t just say you don’t like it, say why you don’t like it, and add suggestions to make it better.

Tips

• Don’t be absolute, yet don’t be timid in your criticism: Try to avoid absolutes like “never”, and use them only when you’re completely sure. However, at the same time, be assertive in your criticism. Think how much less motivating this saying would be: “Slow and steady, in certain cases, wins the race.”
• Use libraries and the Internet, to find out information on the topic you’re critiquing. An uninformed critique is sometimes worse than one merely executed badly.
• Ask for other people’s opinions. They most likely will offer a new perspective which could change your approach. Consider people both from different age groups and different occupations.
• Practice critiquing, as you’ll get better at it. Take notice if others critique your critique.
• You can something critique much, much better if you can actually do it. Only a writer can properly analyze another’s works, for example.
• Read other people’s critiques in newspapers and books, and learn from their mistakes and strengths to improve your own style.
• Be diplomatic. Your aim is not the person himself, but the proposal he puts forward.

Warnings

• Give criticism in a non-offensive way. People get defensive if something they pride themselves on gets attacked. Prefacing criticism with praise usually works well.

Related wikiHows

• How to Restate a Thesis
• How to Write a Paper in a Night
• How to Write Articles
• How to Write a Swalesian Introduction

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