I love the #starbucks #cinnamonrolls! #yummy

In love with minimal decoration rn. #palmengarten #villaleonhardi @goose_ffm

I will start Computational Liguistics next semester and I need to learn Python + Java. Do you have any tips/ tricks/ suggestions where and how to learn them?

Can we just keep this in mind before judging? This is a result of a scared and xenophobic older generation. These people still live in the past.

Give yourself a break :) Belgian waffles and LAVENDER LEMONADE (i really loved it ^.^)

Why I’m changing my major

Hey guys,

so recently I decided to stop studying for my teacher’s degree even though I was halfway through my studies. I wasn’t happy and the thought of going back to school (at some point) made me sick. I could not see myself teaching children or handle teenagers - even though I might be good at what I do. I don’t want to be one of those teachers who know their subject but can’t explain shit. I don’t want to have that kind of a responsibility and I just cannot be bothered. 

(and this is why I changed my url from your-futureteacher to namaste-shay.)

I applied for Geology and Environmental Studies. Let’s just see what the future has to offer for me. :)

Write Your Essay #3: Thesis Statement Problems

Hey guys!

Make sure you read this first before continuing with this post. :)

4. Overly-broad thesis statement:

Example: Elements of “The Lottery” are echoed in many post-apocalyptic books and films.

A thesis statement should show what exactly your paper will be about which helps to keep your paper to a manageable topic. A strong thesis statement has a specific context and a clear angle on a topic.

If you are not sure if your thesis statement is overly-broad then try adding more information and see if it gets clearer.

Suggestion:

The mindless obedience and violence of the villagers in “The Lottery” serve as precursors to the zombies in I am Legend, World War Z and The Walking Dead.

5. Process thesis statement:

Example: This paper will examine the similarities and differences between Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” and Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games.

A thesis statement should answer a question with more than one possible solution and should not be a description of methodology. “Examine the similarities and differences” shows the reader the tool used to give an insight to the topic but shows no indication of a conclusion. A good thesis statement makes your approach to investigate a topic clear but also shows your conclusion.

Suggestion:

Although on the surface, the events in Collin’s The Hunger Games seem futuristic while the setting in Jackson’s “The Lottery” is primitive, at a deeper level, both stories critique blind obedience to any kind of ritual.

I hope this helps you to write a killer thesis statement! Stay tuned for Part 4 of this series which will be about Paraphrasing. :)

Disclaimer: I know my suggestions are not the best but I hope you still get the idea. :)

Write Your Essay #2: Thesis Statement Problems

Hey guys!

Part 2 of my Write Your Essay series will be about thesis statements and the problems you might face in the process. 

So what is a thesis statement? 

The thesis statement is a (preferably) single sentence in the first paragraph that presents your arguments to the reader. It presents a road map for your paper and what to expect from it. It should be a debatable claim.

If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement and convince the reader of its merits. 

To demonstrate how you should write your thesis statement, here are some common problems I could find in other/my own thesis statements:

1. The “non-thesis” thesis:

Example: Foreshadowing is an important literary technique used in “The Lottery.”

This thesis statement merely states an observation and does not take a stand. A strong thesis statement should present an argument and justify discussion. Moreover, it should provoke the reader. 

If you are struggling with this problem ask yourself this question:

What aspect of my material deserves further consideration in an academic context?

Suggestion:

In “The Lottery”, Shirley Jackson uses foreshadowing as an effective tool to slowly turn the reader against the townspeople, thereby enhancing the moral message against ritual executions.

2. Incontestable thesis statement

Example: Killing a member of a community just because they lost a lottery is wrong.

Your thesis has to be debatable. So, do not pick a thesis that is impossible or morally offensive to argue with. To argue a truism shows a lack of confidence to defend a point of view that is more open to discussion. A strong thesis statement shows an argument that contradicts a widely-accepted view. A good strategy is to show that the topic is controversial. 

Suggestion:

To the community depicted in “The Lottery,” killing one of its own members is not evil since its rules are not only transparent and fair but also perceived amongst themselves as morally correct.

3. Divided-focus thesis statement

Example: An analysis of collective or mob mentality can be effectively used to explain the shocking behavior of the townspeople in “The Lottery,” while the focus on tradition is interesting too.

Your thesis statement should present one main idea because two main ideas will cause confusion about the subject of your paper. To solve this problem, create a relationship between these two ideas. Use words that clarify the relation between various points (because, since, so, although, unless, however).

Suggestion:

The shocking behavior of the townspeople in “The Lottery” can be traced to three central reasons: mob mentality, rigid obedience to tradition, and alienation from the political process.

Stay tuned for Part 3 which will feature two more “thesis statement problems”. :)

Write Your Essay #1: The Hourglass Essay

Hey guys,

maybe you are like me and sometimes struggle to structure or even write your essay. This is Part 1 of my Write Your Essay series.

The Hourglass Essay is the simplest structure your essay can have and is particularly suited for shorter papers! 

Here’s what an Hourglass Essay looks like:

1. Introductory Paragraph

Your introductory paragraph needs an attention-grabbing first sentence which points to the subject of your paper followed by historical, intellectual and/or literary context. Answering the wh-questions should be a good guide for this (who, what, when, where). At the end of your introductory paragraph, the reader should find a mapping thesis statement which might look like this: 

I assert the following argument for reasons A, B and C.

2. Body: 

The “Body” of your paper consists of 3 Paragraphs; each paragraph represents reason A/B/C. Each Paragraph should look like this:

- Restate reason A.

- State your supporting points for reason A with and example or quote. Do not forget to explain your example.

- Link reason A back to your thesis.

3. Concluding Paragraph:

Give a brief summary of your argument that highlights how it fits together. Then, restate your thesis statements and explain how reason A, B and C relate to and illustrate the validity of your thesis. 

Optional: Highlight the importance, meaningfulness or usefulness of your paper in the larger context of your study.

It is completely up to you how you structure the reasons A,B and C but I prefer to go from a broader argument to the most specific. I hope this helps you or your friends to get started with your or their paper.

Part 2 + 3 will be about thesis statements - so stay tuned. :)

I haven't posted pictures of the last day but this is Day 2/100 of my productivity "project". There are always things you do not want to do and do not really enjoy but these things also have to be done. :)

Am I the only one who listens to electro music while studying?

App Recommendation: Hemingway Editor

Hello guys!

I have another App Recommendation: The Hemingway Editor. 

This is a web app that helps you with the structure of your text. I used it for my paper on police brutality but you can also use it for fictional texts etc.

The features of the app can help you structure your text by highlighting:

Using short and simple sentences helped me with structuring and creating a clearer course of my arguments. 

I hope this helps you guys.

Happy Writing!

New in ♡ Follow me on instagram @your_futureteacher #stationaryjunkie#stationary

Help?

One thing I’m reeeeally really bad at is writing an discourse analysis for linguistics. I’m so stuck here. :( 

My fav spot to study - Peppa Jane, Heidelberg ♡♡ Add me on snapchat: mlle.roy