It is so much easier to work on a research paper if you are working with a topic that really stirs some curiosity inside your gut. Sometimes this is easy, and sometimes it's not.

If you stop and think about it, you can find something interesting about any topic. Just let your imagination fly, and try to find a way to connect your given topic to something that really interests you. If you have to write about gravity, for example, you could connect this topic to a number of hobbies or interests:

• sailing
• diving
• racing
• ice skating

The list is endless!

One thing that can stand in the way of identifying a really interesting topic is the fact that teachers sometimes tell you what to write about--as opposed to letting you pick a topic yourself. This isn't necessarily a road block: if you talk to your teacher, you may find that you have some leeway. After all, your teacher probably doesn't want to read thirty very similar papers. Use your imagination and give the topic an interesting twist. You and your teacher will be happier.

Some people are completely thrown by the "all of the above" and "none of the above" questions on a multiple choice. That is because these questions have an element of logic to them, and some people take longer than others to work out logic problems.

If you tend to get confused by questions like this, you can rest assured that there's nothing wrong with you--it's simply a reflection of your individual brain type. Still, that won't help you much during the test. You have to deal with the questions as they come. So--if you find that some questions require a little extra concentration, you may need to treat them as a separate section. Skip the questions, keep an eye on the clock, and go back to do the confusing questions last.

You can find more advice like this as you read over the 10 Tips for Answering Multiple Choice Questions.

Mornings can be crazy when everybody is getting ready for the day at one time. We have hours to prepare for other parts of the day, but in the morning, we have to accomplish many things in a short period of time: everybody showers, gets dressed, gets packed, eats, and flees out the door--all in an hour or two. It's a mad dash!

In this mad morning rush of activities, it is really easy for somebody to forget something--and sometimes that something is homework. I have a favorite trick for remembering things on really important days, and it might work for your family. I use the giant sticky note.

Sticky notes actually come in a variety of sizes, including poster size. If I know a really hectic morning is coming and it's important for everyone to remember to do or bring something before dashing out the door, I put a giant sticky note right on the door, so everyone sees it before they exit.

Everybody writes on the note the night before--jotting down whatever it is they need to remember that next day. The very last person out the door can take down the note.

Sometimes we all need to pause for a moment and take a good look at our habits and behaviors. Is there something that you do that is working really well for you? If so, give yourself some kudos!

On the other hand, there may be something that you do habitually that is keeping you from achieving your true potential.

Why not take a moment to go over this study skills assessment to inventory your good and not so good behaviors and habits. It's never too late to make improvements!

What is the number one way to give yourself an advantage in school? Show up for class! Many students don't understand how damaging poor attendance can be when it comes to academic success.

Missing class hurts for many reasons. Here are the top 5:

• You can miss important information that might show up on a test. It's almost impossible to recover from missing out on a day's worth of class notes. You can't rely on your friends to fill in the gaps of your knowledge.


• You can miss a pop quiz. Pop quizzes can make up a big part of your overall grade. Most times, a no-show is a zero!


• You can get a reputation for slacking. Your reputation with teachers and friends can't be fixed if you mess it up by being unreliable.


• You can miss out on "building block" concepts. Subjects like math and science involve very precise steps. If you miss out on one or two key elements, you can be lost forever.


• You can miss an assignment. When you miss a day, you can miss the fact that the teacher has assigned a paper or other task. That's a possible F!

The one-minute paper is an assignment you might receive in class after you complete a homework reading assignment. The one-minute paper is designed to let you demonstrate how much information you've retained from your reading.

A one-minute paper is also a tool that teachers use as a pop quiz, of sorts.

You can use the one-minute paper as a technique to quiz yourself before a big test. Have a parent or a study partner assign a one-minute paper topic and do a mind dump essay. You'll be able to see how much accurate information you can recall.

It's a great way to assess your progress in a class.

One big key to success in math class is having enough patience to retrace your steps. You have to retrace your steps with every single math problem you solve to check yourself, but you also need to retrace your steps through previous chapters or years sometimes.

Students think that math is just too hard for them sometimes, but this is rarely true. Most times, math isn't too hard to grasp--but it seems like it is because you've missed one of the building blocks that led to the task at hand (and that can happen for many reasons).

It's always a good idea to review as you go, be patient with yourself, and let every process sink in well. Every new step that you learn in math is a building block for the future. Take your time!

The best way to keep from slipping behind in a certain course is to look ahead a little.

If you take a careful look at your textbook, you'll probably see that every chapter is broken down into subsections with subtitles. You can use these subtitles to preview and predict the content of every upcoming chapter--and by previewing the content you will actually be establishing a framework in your brain. By building a framework, you are creating storage space for all the little details to come.

Glance through the next chapter of your book and take a look at every subtitle. Then, on a clean sheet of paper, write a question that correlates to it. For example, if your subtitle is:

Leading to War

Write a question like "What events led up to the war?"

As you work your way through the chapter during class lectures and discussions, make sure to revisit the questions and fill in the answers. Keep that questions sheet handy!

More helpful activities:

• Using SQ3R
• Visual Learning Strategies
• Make a Reusable Practice Test

Have you heard that Google is holding a science fair to identify some of the brightest young researchers from around the world? And leave it to Google to come up with the most fabulous prizes ever--including a fifty thousand dollar scholarship and a ten-day trip to the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic Expeditions!

And don't worry if you prefer the social sciences. There's a category for that. As a matter of fact, there's a broad range of categories.

Students aged 13 to 18 are eligible to enter studies in the following fields:

• Computer Science & Math
• Earth & Environmental Sciences
• Behavioral & Social Sciences
• Flora & Fauna
• Energy & Space
• Inventions & Innovation
• Physics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Food Science
• Electricity & Electronics

This competition is open to students from around the world, so submissions will take place online. You'll be required to use Google Sites to deliver a presentation--either a video or a slide show using Google tools. Interested in learning more? Get started on the Google Science Fair web site.