College professors share one serious complaint when it comes to their students, and this is not due to their tendency to be late for a lesson or the fact that they are too easy to offend.

Instead, professors agree that students’ lack of strong writing skills is the biggest factor hindering their university success. Since this problem is very important, colleges and universities

have created a number of systems to try to correct the problem, from tutoring centers to online writing trainers and ending with compulsory correction courses. However, to understand why writing has become such a serious problem for colleges and how to be a good writer in college, it is worth looking at the problems with writing at the high school level.

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1. Changes in different disciplines

 Disciplines are discursive communities with their own methods for the development and transfer of knowledge. However, students attend classes in several disciplines (that is, in several discursive communities) at the same time and experience difficulties in mastering various forms of research and various applied stylistic conventions. It takes a long time to develop writing skills in one discipline, not to mention several. 

2. Lack of common standards

The criteria, standards, and definitions of good addressing vary from course to course (even within the same department). Students develop the idea that this is arbitrary and depends on the personal preferences of the teachers. Of course, they can always find help with essay and other kinds of work on different languages and topics at studymoose.com but the question in this article is about problems with their writing skills, not only where to find help. This encourages them to look for “what you are looking for” or “what you want” in their assignments. 

3. The need of clear criteria and standards

 In some courses, students have little or no information about what constitutes a suitable letter: there is no clear understanding of the goal that students should strive for. 

4. Undeveloped writing processes

Composing should not be the hardest subjects in college. In many classes, students are expected to write well, but they are not taught to do so. Courses do not try to develop students’ composing skills; they simply require it. And students need to use any strategies and competencies that they have. But – unless they are given feedback and helped with their writing processes – students will not feel better just by composing a lot. 

5. Misleading

In some classes, formal drafting can be considered solely as a list of rules governing the use of the language (grammar, spelling, punctuation), and not as a focused communication of ideas.  When this is done, the mechanical aspects of the language are emphasized, excluding important conceptual abilities as college writing skills. Often, key writing concepts are never covered in courses. For example, how to adapt your knowledge to your audience and situation (i.e., rhetorical thinking) is extremely important, but rarely taught. In the same way, how to develop a consistent train of thought is crucial for good composing – but rarely taught. 

6. Deficient understanding of the subject

 Students very often have to write about subjects unfamiliar to them. And, typical of beginners in any subject area, their understanding, as they write, tends to be incomplete and naive. Thus, it is very common that their writing lacks consistency and structure, reflecting their fragmented understanding of the topic, and not their incompetence as writers.

7. Loss of experience and lack of understanding of genres

 Most of the tasks are academic noting exercises: “tests” in which students demonstrate their knowledge to a teacher (for examples, essay, paper, languages, topics, library research). These are genres that are rhetorically complex and confused – and poorly prepared for the writing that they will do after graduation. Students have less opportunity to develop knowledge of other forms of composing and writing for different audiences. 

8. Students are not interested in writing

Often students perceive academic noting as a routine work and not as a significant learning experience. Although it is part of modern student culture, it is not inevitable. Students are more likely to invest in their work when they have some control over the choice of topic, and the work has a “true purpose” in addition to getting an assessment.

9. Unreflective writing experience

Students probably do not see composing as an intentional skill for the best development. For the most part, they do not analyze their own writing and do not reflect on their strengths and weaknesses and development as writers. 

Too often, students are expected to “develop” their skills, as if with the help of osmosis, and this is especially troublesome when it comes to students who need more help and direct training to achieve these goals. To solve these problems, teachers, teachers, high schools and colleges must work together to prioritize in writing and make sure that it is a skill that can be tested and measured, and not just what is expected.

Having a passion and drive to earn isn’t enough for you to generate a stable income as an artist.

With the number of artists who have years of professional training and experience in the industry, it’ll be hard for new artists to stand out in the industry.

For aspiring artists who want to level out the playing field, earning a graphic design degree can be a great investment. This degree is one of the best platforms for you to study graphic design elements and incorporate different forms of technology to create outputs for clients. A graphic design degree also covers subjects that can teach you how to work well with clients and adapt to advanced design software and programs.

Aside from increasing your chances of being a successful artist in the future, earning a graphic design degree also qualifies you to work for the following positions:

1. Graphic Designer

A graphic designer is a professional who creates visual concepts for clients by using computer software or by hand. Depending on the needs of their clients, graphic designers create visual ideas that can inspire, inform, or attract customers.

A graphic designer works closely with their clients to determine the scope of the project. After the clients communicate their needs, the graphic designer will immediately create different visual elements that can include images, logos, and illustrations. The graphic designer works on the layout, colors, images, and typefaces of the project.

As a graphic designer, you’ll have the opportunity to work in different industries. Your skills as a graphic designer will be in-demand in the fields of publishing, public relations, and other specialized design services.

2. Creative Director

As the name suggests, a creative director works by determining the creative vision of a specific project. A creative director often works with a team and is responsible for leading the team throughout the entire creative process – from creating a vision, overseeing the progress of the team, and providing guidance to the entire team working for the project.

The nature of the job requires all creative directors to possess strong leadership and management skills as they will work with different teams to complete one project. They are also expected to be skilled in budgeting and time management. 

For you to be successful in this profession, you have to stay up-to-date with the latest design, marketing, and advertising trends. Most creative directors work in advertising and marketing companies with other designers, artists, marketers, and copywriters.

3. User Experience Designer

A user experience designer is responsible for making products, services, and processes enjoyable for users. They plan and conduct user research to determine what the users want and expect from their products, and analyze the competitors so they will know what to benchmark.

A user experience designer will create programs based on the information they’ve gathered. They run several user tests to assess how the product feels and how users will benefit from it. Every test will be followed by refining or tweaking certain elements of the design process to improve the user’s experience when using the program.

Depending on how extensive the program is, conducting tests and making adjustments will run for months and even years. It is crucial for a user experience designer to facilitate these tests to ensure that once their product is sold in the market, it is already flawless and creates the best user experience.

4. Production Artist

A production artist works by assisting different teams that are responsible for producing graphic materials, display and advertising, and packaging. Usually, a production artist works with other graphic designers to format a specific artwork and make sure that the print quality is met and organize files.

A production artist can work with art, film, graphics, and other formats. They are also responsible for uploading and seeing the accuracy of the design files when it reaches the final stage of development. They basically check the output of the team and identify if it still needs any adjustments before offering the output to the public or client.

Since a production artist can also make minor improvements by scaling, cropping, repositioning, and retouching the material, computer application and creative design skills are highly necessary for the job.

Always Prepare

If you’re convinced that a graphic design degree is beneficial for aspiring artists like you, start scouting for schools that offer the program. Depending on your budget and schedule, you can opt to enroll in brick and mortar schools or sign up for online classes.

But regardless of the learning platform you’ll choose, always spend time to know more about the school and the specific subjects that come along with the degree. It’ll be very easy for you to prepare and excel in the degree if you have an idea of what you’re going into.

LA – the home of the rich and famous.

Around every corner of this city in California, you’ll find mansions, many of which are home to A-List celebrities. The most expensive – and largest – home in America is situated in LA and went on sale last spring for a whopping $500 million. The lucky owner of this property will enjoy a nightclub, beauty salon, casino and even a jellyfish tank – all from the comfort of their home.

There are many guided tours available that will take you to see the celebrities’ homes but you might want to pick up a car hire in Los Angeles and explore yourself, at your own pace. 

If it’s the latter, then here are five that you won’t want to miss:

John Legend and Crissy Teigen – Beverly Hills

John Legend, recently named People’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’, and his hilarious wife Crissy Teigen, purchased their mansion in Beverly Hills, which was once owned by Rhianna, for an estimated $14.1 million in 2016. Their modern home is open-plan and across three floors boasts a theatre, billiard room, a gym plus five bedrooms and eight bathrooms. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows allow them to enjoy the beautiful views across the city and ocean from both inside as well as outside.  

Angelina Jolie – Los Feliz

Now Angelina is no longer part of ‘Brangelina’, she has bought her own home in Laughlin Park in Los Feliz. The $24.95 million price tag has made it the most expensive property to sell in this area. The property, which was built in 1913, is still reminiscent of ‘old Hollywood’ but has recently undergone six years of renovations. Inside there are six bedrooms and 10 bathrooms as well as a library, while outside there is a pool and a separate building that houses a gym and guesthouse. Angelina’s celebrity neighbours include Kristen Stewart, will.i.am and Natalie Portman. 

Beyonce and Jay Z – Bel Air

The architect that built LA’s most expensive mansion is also behind Jay Z and Beyonce’s home in Bel Air, that the power couple purchased it in 2017 after a three-year search. They paid $88 million for the modern mansion – well below the $120 million asking price but still the highest-selling transaction in the city that year. Their hillside home sits behind iron gates and features 11 bathrooms, 8 bedrooms and a 15-car garage as well as four pools and a basketball court. It’s also a smart home and has bulletproof windows from floor to ceiling so they can enjoy the incredible views. 

Simon Cowell – Malibu

You may have seen inside Simon Cowell’s Malibu home; he recently invited the Celebrity X Factor contestants there for Judges’ Houses. This beachfront mansion, which set him back £18.7 million, benefits from wonderful views of the beautiful coastline. It features seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms as well as accommodation for staff and guest suite with a private entrance. Plus, there is a tennis court and a pool – which you’ll have seen on screen – and a spa. As well as taking in the view from the terrace, Simon can look out on the ocean from his bedroom thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. There is a private drive leading to the property which he shares with his partner, Lauren Silverman.    

Taylor Swift – Beverly Hills

Taylor Swift owns homes across America. Although her main house, where she spends most of her time, is in Nashville. She did actually own two homes in Beverly Hills before selling one last year. The second one was purchased by the ‘Shake It Off’ singer in 2015. This home alone has six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a pool, tennis court and guest house for when her girl gang comes to visit. The $25 million property boasts breathtaking views across California.  

You may not be able to step inside the homes of the rich and famous, but you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the outside, enabling you to see how the other half live, with your own eyes.

It’s something that you’re not going to take lightly, but relocation happens. In fact, in modern-day life, it probably happens more than we have ever been used to.

As we all know, the reasons can be few and far between. For some people, their decision might be fueled entirely for work purposes, having landed a job in a brand-new city. For others, family might be the key, and trying to get closer to loved ones.

Whatever your reason, there are some practical considerations to take into account. Through today’s guide, we will hone in on some of these in-detail.

You don’t have to find a new home in record speeds

This is one of the biggest mistakes that a lot of people make when it comes to relocating. Just because you are moving to a new city, it doesn’t mean to say that you need to acquire a new home in record speeds.

On the contrary, take your time. Use a storage company to house your belongings as you make your decision, and go from there. There’s nothing wrong with staying in a hotel or Airbnb as you bid to find the right permanent accommodation.

It’s actually quite difficult to find the good areas of a city, and living there for a few weeks and mingling with the locals might just provide you with enough insight to make that informed decision.

What is the cost of living?

Hopefully, this is something you have already factored in. After all, while the big salaries tend to be in London, so are the huge rents and other associated costs.

It’s not just London, and other capital cities through the world for that matter, which grab the headlines in this regard though. There can be huge differences between the cost of living between cities that are actually quite close to each other. In some cases, this can mean that the big salary rise you got for moving jobs, actually turns out to be quite small when you calculate the cost of getting yourself to work either through the bus or parking every morning.

How far detached is your “other” life?

Finally, every case is going to be different, and for some of you this might not be an issue. After all, you might not have family or friends in other cities; you are effectively moving your entire life to one location.

Of course, the above seldom happens. Instead, you will usually have some ties in other areas – and it’s about how you are going to manage these.

Again, this can relate to the cost of living. For example, if your new city of choice happens to be quite isolated, the cost of visiting family and friends might not only be very expensive, but also time intensive. Over time, this is something that can lead to the deterioration of relationships, which is clearly something that nobody wants.

It’s for this reason that you really have to assess your new city overall, and not just about the small perks that have led you to it in the first place.