Ok. I know I should be in bed, but I wanted some advice, as I've been thinking!

I've now finished jetting off round half the world having fun adventures with friends and family. Now I have come back down to Earth with a bump. Even though it is the summer holiday, I have been given tons of homework:

* Sociology - 3 essays, and some other questions, have to do catch up work also from when I missed lessons due to open days
* English - read 2 books
* History - research for History coursework

It is the History which is getting me so stressed. I have to write an argumentative essay, worth 30%. For ages, I have though I'd do the Salem witch trials, it is really interesting and different to other peoples. However, after reading some books, and researching, I just don't think I can get enough evidence and this is worrying me, as I need to know what I am doing NOW. By the end of the first week back, I need to submit a title, plan and possible resources, and I have nothing at the moment if I don't do Salem. My parents don't seem to understand that Salem might not be possible and I might have to change. I just really want a good mark and to be sorted, I hate feeling so out of control.

I have the telephone number of my old History teacher, who retired at the end of term. I could in theory ring her, but I feel like I shouldn't be doing. I just have so much to do with Sociology and whatnot, that I can't afford to waste time, especially since year 13s are being made to go back first (end of August) which is unfair as we've had the shortest break. (having to go straight to A2 courses)

I won't even get started about my personal statement for university

I thought summer holidays were supposed to be relaxing, I've had a lovely one so far, I really have, but I don't want to get stressed again before term has even started.

Thanks, and sorry for moaning.

For now, young lady, accept that you've listed the problem, and now put it out of your mind and go to bed.

In the morning, we'll help you figure out a strategy. OK?

If I go to bed now, can you leave me a strategy so I can see it in the morning?

I've been thinking about it for ages, gah.

Night

Tomorrow.

By the way, when does term start?

You could try working on the other stuff you have to do while thinking about what to do with your history. And about the salem witch hunts, have you read the crucible? It focuses on them, and some books have the historical backgrounds too. I don't know how much that would help though?

It is tomorrow now. Term is 31st August



I'm reading the Crucible, although it is not 100% fact, Miller has used artistic license. The problem is that, I can find out lots of lots about the Salem witch trials, but I need evidence, e.g I need to be able to say stuff like

The great divisions between Salem Village and Salem Town, show that political factors were also key factor in why the witch trials started. This is shown by X - and for X, I can't really keep quoting out of books can I? Oh, it's confusing me.

I don't know where I've left all my Sociology work either

What books have you got to read for English Nicki?

Catcher in the Rye and The Great Gatsby

Read 'Catcher in the Rye', afraid I've never read 'Gatsby'. With those books, why not read a little bit each evening and see how far you get. If you don't quite complete the books by the start of term, I really can't see it being the end of the world - you may not catch all the essentials in the first read through in any case - those bits you miss I'm sure be covered in your first English lessons.

Oh, and by the way, try not to get stressed - everything will work out - and enjoy the rest of your break!

Well, I want to drop English, so might not need to read them.

It's hard not to get stressed, I've put so much effort into this darn History and I'm getting nowhere. Everyone who has done this has said to do as much as you can in the summer, and to me it just seems like I am time wasting. *sigh*

You could ease yourself in gently with these by watching a DVD of The Great Gatsby, before starting to read the book.

If you need notes for these books you could try this site - the link is for the Catcher in the Rye. Catcher in the Rye

Have you Googled "Salem witch hunts"? I just did it and it came up with loads of sites. Looking at a couple of these might give you an idea for what aspect of the trials to be "argumentative" about.

Can't help with the Sociology.

Good luck.

I know what I have to look for - political/social/economic/cultural aspects which may have led to the Salem Witch trials. It is just finding the evidence. I really feel like giving up.

I'll wait til Thursday (results day) before I read the books.

I better get on and do some work, not sure whether to do Sociology or History first

OK, so the main jobs are: read 2 books, write 3 essays and do some history research.

You've actually got tons of time - two whole weeks, so doing one or two things a day will get the whole lot done.

The way to get a lot of stuff done is to break it into smaller tasks. And give yourself a reward when you've done one of them - e.g. playing some good music or a chunk of chocolate or something.

Let's start with the history research. A very quick google tells me that Salem, Mass. has a useful tourist information site which links to (among other things) the Peabody Museum and the House of Seven Gables website. Each of those have "contact us" e-mail addresses so you could try e-mailing them and seeing if they've any brochures or online materials you could use. My suspicion is that like all New Englanders they'll be chuffed to bits to be contacted by someone from the UK (and even more so if you can get them to 'phone you, they'll go bananas about your accent) and they'll help as much as they can.

So task 1 is track down those e-mail addresses and fire off a request for help.

Task 2 is choose just one of the sociology essays and write an essay plan for it.

Task 3 is the second sociology essay plan

Task 4 is the third sociology essay plan

Task 5 is write up the first essay

Task 6 is write up the second essay

Task 7 is write up the third essay

Task 8 is check what progress you've made on the e-mails to Salem.

This lot will take you to this time next week, when we can plan what to do next.

OK, I'll do the emails. Through the inter library loan service I have eventually managed to get about 4 books which I need to read.

The problem with the Sociology is, I have to understand it, I missed a lot of key bits, so am self teaching myself really.

Right, sorry to be a pain, I'm going to start work by 10. I'll keep you upated

Good luck, Nicki. And DON'T PANIC. Just do little bits at a time and then rest and do other stuff.

Sorry, I thought you said you didn't know what aspects of Salem witch hunts to do - misread your post.

Thanks. As for not panicking, that might not happen

Aww *hugs Nicki* Katyjay is right in the best thing to do is probably to break things into chunks. That way it'll seem like less!

Don't stress too much. Remember that it IS still the hols...
*sprays more anti stress mist*

Nicki,

Just do as Auntie KatyJay says and you'll be fine.

[hugs]

[sprays more anti stress mist]

Ambs
xx

I could get one of those pointy sticks......

I know it still is the hols, but I'ver just found more work I need to do, which needs to be done for the "first Monday back"


Hope so


*runs*

I've just done some Sociology work. At least I have the ability to get down to work, and concentrate, although it does seem like when I was doing revision and I keep thinking about Thursday.

Now, just online for a bit, doing some nice things, like thinking of stationery I need (yes, it really does get me excited!) before I do some more. Thanks for your support.

Excellent. Hope it's all going well Nicki!

If you get that much homework then i am NOT looking forward to being in whatever year Nicki Flute is in.

Woo, it is lunch time. Done a bit of work, but not any History yet. Urgh. It stresses me out just thinking about it

Work! Work! Work! Work! Work!

Now where is that pointy stick! When I come back tomorrow I hope you have done some work or I will have to wield that pointy Stick!

I've already done some work. I'm not the person who leaves things, it just is really stressful right now.

Definitely true.


Me too

I was going to go and start work at 1....hmmm...

Stupid history

Kayla, that's NOT what a Pointy Stick is for!

Nicki, just do the e-mails and let me know what they say in return. OK?

I give up. I can't do this History, and I'm going to be in the position where I'll have to work twice as hard next term. Why was I ever so stupid as to choose a fascinating but hard topic.

Nicki - don't make me come up there! I might have to actually, you left your Piazolla etudes on the kitchen table

Would help if the Salem museums had email addresses


I'm fine I'll be ok, I'm just being stupid.

I wondered where they had gone...

I found a site earlier with some of the transcripts from the trials. But I've forgotten it now. Still, googling "Salem Witch Trials" might find it....

No, I know the one you mean. But I've been looking for email addresses for the museums.

I might just drop it...do something less interesting but easier

You guys really need to stop getting so stressed about school work - it's only school - how are you going to cope with the real world?!

But you can only see that point of view from one side. Of course, these are the hardest things that we've done - and we natrually want to do well. Once we've done it, we are then able to take on that kind of attitude.

I hate to say this, but with hindsight it is easy to say "it's only school." I don't like being stressed, but at the moment school is the most important thing right now. If I mess this year up, I could end up going to a university I would have preferred not to. Which is something I don't want to do. I am getting two new History teachers, so I won't have the support/help I had last term as they won't know me. I don't get stressed for the sake of it. The real world is totally different to school, and I will get stressed about the real world. But at the moment, could you give me some support, because I'm finding it rather hard. Thanks

Sorry if this sounds if I am getting at you, it isn't meant to be offensive

All I mean is you need to get some kind of perspective on it. I have some seriously cr*p stuff going on in my life right now and it stresses me out to hear people constantly complaining about trivial stuff.

Mmm, I understand, and I'm sorry that life isn't treating you well. To me it isn't trivial though, and I was just asking for some advice here

It's the summer holidays, you haven't got your results for AS yet and you have at least 6 months of education ahead of you. Sit for a second and think about what you just said! If you're stressed in the *holidays*, things don't bode well for the future.

Ok, so you have history and sociology to do. Sociology, as it's essays, I suggest you do those (if you haven't already, can't remember) Those are pressumably things you have already studied?

secondly, the history project you mention is an "ongoing, year long (or there abouts) task". They say do as much research as possible in the holidays, and you seem to be doing it. One of the reasons they say that is because they know that people have problems getting enough details and evidence, so if you've worked that already then you're ahead of the game.

Thirdly, you don;t know what you're english results are going to be, so dont know if youre going to drop it, so therefore don't worry about it til thursday. And besides, they can't expect you to hav read both the books and be able to study them at the samr time in class. That wouldn't make a lot of sense. If that's the case, then try and find a chapter summary online, just in case you can't read them both.

Seriously though, it looks to me that this is some pre exam results anxiety, and somehow you think that by orking hard now you can make up for any guilty feelings you might have about the amount of work you did this year? (you'll have done enough anyway). Or you're ttrying not to think about results day and trying to use your time "productively".

It's not the end of the world if you mess up your exams. It'll have happened for a reason, the university you wanted to have gone to will get blown up my martians or something. Personal statement doesn't have to be remotely done til october, and it's failry easy! Or you'll take a different career path. Higher education is supposed to be fun, I wouldn't even consider going there if you can't hack 6th form (and I'm not being unsupporting, but people said i wasn't well enough to do GCSEs and was maybe gonna have to do the year again, and them saying that gave me a kick up the backside to prove them wrong)

Well, it is just because I have no access to teachers to ask for help


Well sort of. I missed out several lessons due to open days, when they started new topics, so I am self teaching myself the work


It's til April. The thing I am worried about is, I have to send off a plan the first week back, so I need to know what I'm doing.


I'm not planning to read the English books. We would be doing them both, we have 2 English teachers


No, I'm not working because I'm guilty. I work really hard throughout the year. I'm actually not too worried bout results now, but that will change.


I find it really hard talking coherently about myself, so the PS is a big challenge.

Thanks for spending your time on writing such a long post in reply

We can help you write a PS, no problem dude.

But, I'm supposed to write it!

Personal Statement for Nicki Flute
+-------------------------------------+

I am what I am.
If you don't like it, tough.
I know plenty of other people who do like it.
So there.
*blows raspberry*

But it's something that nearly everyone has done - we can point you in the right direction with something like this - unlike, say, an essay on the Salem Witch Trials or something

Thanks

If you don't want to go somewhere, nicki, don't go. There's no have to about it.

(Anyway, you won't mess up )

It's funny how people get locked into a certain way of thinking. Must do A followed by B, C and D...
Woe betide if there's a diversion via b, c and d along the way

My advice is get knocked up with three kids, get a council house, live off the benefits, get the kids taken off you and taken into care and then squeeze the government for all the monies necessary to fund you full time through your Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees

Is this from personal experience Mrb?

But that's an alternative A-B-C-D scheme, innit? I like it, though. Is this what you did, mrb?

I have decided that if my "career" plans fall through I will market myself as a guru. Perhaps nicki could do the same?