Roni Poston

Trotter
Brit Lit/ P2
14 November 2016
Annotated Bibliography Senior Capstone
Gurung, Reagan A. R., and Lee I. McCann. "How Should Students Study? Tips, Advice and
Pitalls." Psychologicalscience.org

. Association for Psychological Science, 1 Apr. 2011.

Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/how-should-students-study-tips-advice-and-pitfall
s#.WCvwaMnkbIU
In this article, established psychologists Regan A. R. Gurang and Lee I. McCann explore
the historical background of past study habits and their effects, and then explain the study habits
most effective in modern times. To fully define such a topic, the authors refer to several
performed studies throughout the years on the best study techniques and surveys of study habits.
After that, they compose a list of ten techniques to be utilized by all teachers, regardless of the
age of the student. Initially, they present the reader with the study habits encouraged in earlier
times that involved students heavily relying on the self-help technique, that left the teacher
absent in the process. Then, the authors explain how this was completely wrong, and that
teachers should be as involved in the study processes as the student is. They conclude with
several tips for teaching strong study habits, which include making the process more personal by
asking the student one on one how they have been studying, and then making suggestions such
as getting more sleep, getting additional help from a tutor, and realizing the difference between

having knowledge of a subject and just recognizing it. This article provides me with several ways
to approach a student that I am tutoring so that they take the techniques I share with them from
our sessions to all other aspects of their education as I complete my senior capstone.

O'Donnell, Jennifer. "Who Is Influencing Your Tween?" Verywell. Verywell.com, 31 Oct. 2016.
Web. 17 Nov. 2016.
https://www.verywell.com/who-has-an-influence-on-children-during-middle-school-3288530
In this article, Jennifer ODonnell explains the sources of influence in a childs life when they
are just beginning middle school. Through her own personal experience as a mother and lecturer
on the subject, ODonnell lists the five most powerful influences over a 12 to 14 year old. By
addressing her audience with the fact that middle school is a time of major change, she admits
that there is a change in how influential a parent is over their tween. Furthermore, she outlines
each source of newly found sources of influence (from media to coaches to older siblings) can
each be negative or positive depending on how they are used. ODonnell specifically identifies
that a childs friendships during this time greatly affect how their personality develops because
they begin to seek the approval of others besides adults, but that it is a wonderful thing as long as
such relationships arent pressure based. Evidently, this article was intended for a parent with a
child who has just reached the adolescent stage of life. However, the fact it answered my
background question Who is the person most suitable to have a positive influence on middle
school students in complete detail, proves that I am in the best place possible to shape the
children who I tutors perspective on things like studying because I am close to them in age, but
have just a little more experience than they do and could be worth listening to.

Salyers, Fran. Mckee, Carol. The Young Adolescent Learner Web.

https://www.learner.org/workshops/middlewriting/images/pdf/W1ReadAdLearn.pdf
Authors Fran Salyers and Carol McKee explain in their published paper The Young Adolescent
Learner the character traits of a student from the ages 10 to 15 and the teaching techniques that
are best suited to them. They refer to sources such as publications as the National Middle School
Association to fully detail the physical and emotional features of both male and female students
going through the Wonder Years, and how teachers of such students should go about teaching
them to suit their changing needs. Salyers and Mckee describe the adolescent time period as the
most impressionable time, indicating that their educator should do as much in their power to help
their pupils safely define their identity and values. Additionally, they provide the reader with
cold hard evidence that the brain itself is going through biological changes that translate to both
the body and mind adjusting to fit their new skills. Finally, the authors outline a plan for teaching
such students, and provide examples of self-growth encouraging activities such as composing
self reflections weekly. Although this source was evidently intended to help middle school
teachers new to the scene of educating, it was extremely helpful in defining why middle
schoolers are in the most impressionable group both psychologically and biologically. This
proves that my project (tutoring 13-14 year olds) will be more effective than it would be if it
were done at any other stage of life.

Santiago, Andrea C. "Is Education Really That Important for a Medical Career?" The Balance.
Thebalance.com, 18 June 2016. Web. 16 Nov. 2016
://www.thebalance.com/why-is-education-so-important-for-success-1736016

In this article, Andrea Clement Santiago argues that having a solid educated background have
more opportunities for success in a career, specifically the medical field. She utilizes statistics
and personal experience to explain education is important for success. By walking the reader
through the key differences in obtaining a full education compared to not, she is able to identify
that the ratio of education to pay as one which is completely equal. That means that more
education means a larger income (and more success), and less education means a smaller
income. Furthermore, she gives several examples of different employment opportunities within
the medical field, and how they require academic success for all employees in order to run a
successful business. Even though this article is obviously aimed toward an audience with desires
to work in the field of medicine, it provides me with raw statistics on the correlation between
success in academics and success in employment. I can use this information when motivating
students to work hard while they are still in school, so that later in life they can have the time and
the money to live a good life.

Venturina, Giniely V. "Factors Affecting the Study Habits of the Students." Factors Affecting the
Study Habits of the Students. MNHS Cabcaben, 7 May 2014. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
http://udyong.net/teachers-corner/4774-factors-affecting-the-study-habits-of-the-students
In her article, Giniely V. Venturina defines the role of study habits in student achievement to the
Philippine government. First, she provides the reader with a word for word definition of what
education is and its essentiality to modern society and an excerpt from the Philippine
Constitution that states that education must be free for all. Then, she thoroughly explains five
distinct reasons why students fail and ends on a note of inspiration in how this generation of

pupils will be the generation to change the world. In doing so, Venturina argues that study habits
are necessary to a well-functioning society that depends on future generations being well versed
in basic language and arithmetic. Collectively, this evidence persuades the audience to recognize
that school is not just a free babysitting organization, but a truly beneficial element to a childs
present being, as well as their (and their worlds) future. This article is incredibly valuable to my
senior capstone because it explains why study habits are important, and the entire purpose of my
project is to instill in the minds of middle schoolers that good study habits are good for them and
their future. By fully understanding why they are important, students would feel more compelled
to commit to such habits.