Many students are planning to take classes this summer. Some need to catch up a little, while others are planning to get a head start on college courses. I'm often asked if summer classes are any different from classes taken during a normal school term. In fact, they are very different.

Summer courses are going to cover all of the same material that the instructor would cover in a regular term, but courses offered during the summer are often condensed into a shorter amount of time. That means the information will be coming at you at a fast and steady pace.

This fast pace means you should really manage your time more carefully than normal. You should also take extra care to avoid distractions. The swimming pool and the barbecues will be calling your name, but don't worry. You don't have to miss out; you just have to stick to a tight schedule.

Every time you write, you are writing for a certain audience, whether you've actually realized that or not. When you write a paper for school, you might assume that your audience is your teacher--but you shouldn't really think that way.

If you are writing a how-to essay, for example, you should speak to a larger audience: all the people who don't know how to do the task you're describing.

If you are writing an argument essay on a controversial topic, you should imagine that you are speaking to somebody taking an opposing view.

Any time you write an essay, you should start off with an imaginary reader. It might even help to give your reader a name and personality!

For some students, big finals are just around the corner. Are you ready?

One challenge many students discover during midterms and finals is facing two big tests in one day. To perform well on a day like this, you should really start preparing a week ahead of time.

Are you prepared for back-to-back tests?

High-achieving students across the land are preparing speeches to deliver at the graduation ceremony. Some schools give this honor to the student with the highest grade point average, while other schools hold auditions and encourage students to audition for the opportunity.

I thought I'd share some advice for the speechwriters out there, but I'm just getting the ball rolling. I'm hoping that others will pitch in and add their own words of wisdom. Feel free to submit your comments below.

• Be inclusive. Make sure that your speech relates to all students--not just some of the graduates.
• It's risky to try to be funny if you're not really good at it. If you want to be funny, you could start or finish with a humorous quote from a famous person.
• Read a few inspirational speeches before you write one, to get an idea of the format and tone.
• Include gratitude.
• Start early and revise.
• Read each draft out loud to see how it sounds.
• Practice a lot!

I'll end with that, but I'd like to hear from others!