When we hear the phrase "E for effort" it's usually related to a lack of success. You get an E for effort if you try and fail at something, right? Actually, there's something you should know about the "E" factor. It can also stand for Extra and Edge.

Confused? It's simple, really. Most teachers will notice when a student is really trying. The student who shows up for class every day, remembers homework every day, and raises his hand every time he has a question--that student will have a little extra going for him when it comes to borderline grades.

I don't know a single teacher who doesn't appreciate genuine effort in a student. And the student who doesn't really put any effort into attendance, punctuality, time management, assignments or test answers? That student won't receive any extra consideration when it comes to grade calculations.

Need to memorize a long list of people, places, or things? This fun activity is much like the Method of Loci mnemonic, but it's also a game. This activity will show you just how easy it can be to memorize a list.

First, write up a random list of ten objects for each person in your group. A sample list would look like this:

• pickle
• frog
• window
• scarecrow
• sea monster
• chicken dinner
• wallet
• carpet
• toilet paper
• banana

As you can see, you can have fun simply creating the lists! Once you have a list for every student, you'll give each person five minutes to memorize the list by making up a story. Read more...

A Venn diagram is a great tool for brainstorming and creating a comparison between two or more objects, events, or people. You can start with a Venn diagram as a first step to creating an outline for a compare and contrast essay.

Simply draw two (or three) large circles and give each circle a title, reflecting each person or object you are comparing.

Inside the intersection of the two circles (overlapping area) write all the traits that the objects have in common. You will refer to these traits when you compare similar characteristics.

In the areas outside the overlapping section you will write all of the traits that are specific to that particular object or person.

Do you seem to be able to concentrate best at night? Many students think late night study is best for them, but that can be a problem. Lack of sleep can destroy your academic performance!

So when do you study? Is that when you're most productive?

Some teachers get really irked when students ask what will be on the test, because they expect students to study all the material that's been covered in class. That is understandable.

Still, one of your best approaches to preparing for tests is to play the role of mind reader and to try to figure out what will be covered. There are a few ways to go about this.

First of all, you could ask your teacher to give you an idea of what material to focus on the most while preparing for test day. Some teachers expect you to ask! Just don't expect a complete preview of test questions.

Secondly, you should go over the material and look at it from a teacher's point of view. Ask yourself what you would consider most important to put on an exam. You'll be surprised how helpful it can be to play the role of the teacher as you prepare for a test.

Finally, it's fair to ask the teacher what kind of questions will be on the exam. It's good to know ahead of time whether you should prepare for an essay test, a multiple choice, or a fill-in-the-blank.

The bottom line is that you should do a little detective work to try to figure out what will be covered on your test, so that you can focus your efforts productively. But do not expect the teacher to give you the questions and answers ahead of time!

Just when you feel like you're getting the hang of finding the theme of a book in literature class, your teacher will probably ask you to compare two novels in an essay.

Comparing novels is pretty straightforward, and that may bring the left-brain thinkers a little comfort. You use a systematic approach to this type of paper. Simply make lists of characteristics for each novel (like characters, settings, time periods, or overall themes) and choose elements that are similar. You can easily make an outline from your lists.

Choose three to five comparisons to write about, come up with a good thesis statement, and begin writing your comparison paper!

The most recent studies by the U.S. government show that about sixty percent of the students who started their postsecondary studies in a four-year college lasted more than two years. Some of those students transferred away to other colleges, but a large chunk of them (at least seventeen percent) just left college.

Why do students drop out of college? As an academic advisor in a state university, I know there are many answers, but some important factors are maturity level and college readiness.

Students who can study independently, manage their time, and take charge of their own schedules and planners are most likely to stick it out and succeed in college.

SOURCE: Statistics are from the U.S. Department of Education Study, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003-04 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (BPS:04/06).

It's important that you stay safe while conducting online searches or using an Internet source. The following recommendations come from A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety, a publication of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

• Never meet in person with someone you've met online.
• Never upload pictures of yourself to someone you don't know.
• Don't give out information about yourself such as name, address, school name, or phone number.
• Don't download pictures from an unknown source.
• Don't respond to messages from strangers, or bulletin board posts that are suggestive, obscene, or harassing.
• Always remember that people you meet online may be dishonest about their identity.

I try to make sure that the online tools I suggest are safe, but we can't be too careful! Always protect your identity and safeguard your personal information.

Libraries can be intimidating the first time you need to do some serious research. As you get into high school and college, your work in the library changes a bit--and it is a little different from walking in and browsing the books. As a researcher, you'll need to know where to find journal articles and archive materials. Fortunately, a reference librarian can help you along the way. But first you need to know what a reference librarian does!

I've put together a library glossary to help you navigate around the thousands of items you'll find in a research library. Be careful--research can be addictive!

Because different people have different brain types, we all react to tests differently. Some people prefer answering essay questions, because it allows them to do a mind dump and spill everything they can think of into one big answer.

Others like to mull over their choices in a multiple choice format, and others prefer the straightforward true and false questions. My advice is to prepare for an essay test first, so you cover all the material. Then prepare for other types of questions with a fill in the blank practice test.