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i'm behind in my english class & etc.
14/f
okay, so far... i hate advanced English, lol. i have the most hardest teacher, it's really hard for me to keep up with the work. right now, we're on winter break, but ill be ending next Monday. and I'm supposed to be done reading "A Tale of Two Cities" By Charles Dickens. there's about 390 pages in that book, and right now, i'm on page.. 97. Everybody that's in my class is ahead of me.. right now they're on "Book Three" and I'm on "Book Two" it's really hard for me to concentrate on the book... i mean i have no idea what's going on in it.. i hear about this one character.. and then the next chapter is about a different character. so i get confused, so I'm like "wait, what? who's the main character? who's this & that?" and not just that... i also tend to almost fall asleep on the book. have you ever had that feeling when you're reading something and all the sudden you can't concentrate, and music is playing in your head..? that happens to me alot.. and i try soooo hard to focus on the book. I also have a project due next Wednesday on the book. and i have to choreograph a dance with my friend for my exam also.
i'm not very good on schedules it's hard for me to keep up with them.. is there a way where i can be able to focus on the book, and finish it on time? also to help me stay awake while reading it?
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Okay, this is coming from someone with a Masters Degree in literature and a high school English teacher, and I've always had one bit of advie on this subject. (Forgive the "language") "Dickens Sucks!!" He's long, dry, boring, and depressing, and if I had the option to never teach it, I'd be a happy person! So, this is what I've got for you. Dickens is an unfortunate aspect of high school English, and you just have to muddle thru. Keep at it. I personally cannot write a paper without music in the background, and I usually have it on when I read. But TV is the most distracting thing in the world to me. With TV, there's dialogue and plot to distract you, where as music in something you don't have to focus on. It helps me to stay focused because complete silence causes my mind to drift off like you've described.
And on that subject: I have a very great deal of trouble staying focused, keeping schedules, being organized, being on time, etc. I suffer from severe ADD. What you have described here are classic symptoms of ADD. Now, I'm NOT a doctor, so I'm not giving you any medical advice here, but I really want you to check online, with real medical sites, and read about ADD. Many offer checklists that can give you an idea if this is something you should talk to your doctor about. Look into it, please, and if you think it's a possibility you should look into further, discuss it with your parents, show them what you've read, and talk to your doctor. ADD is a very common problem, it is classified as a learning disability, and don't buy into the negative stereotype about those words! It's something that can greatly affect your life and be difficult to live with if untreated, but when properly treated, it can make all the difference in the world! Like I said, I'm not a doctor, just someone who still deals everyday with ADD, with great success. I'm proud to say I've overcome my problems for the most part, and it made all the difference in my career.
Just hang in there! Dickens should be the worst of it, the most boring of all things you'll have to get thru. It does get much better. Talk to classmates, your teacher, ask questions without fear of what anyone thinks. It's your grade, not theirs, so don't let your grades suffer because your afraid of what anyone else thinks! Always question, its the only way we learn!
Hope I helped a little. Feel free to ask me questions as well, I'm willing to help you if I can. Best of luck to you with all things in your future!
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try listening to an audio of the book while you read along with it. it helps a little bit to keep you reading it. annotate while you're going along. also it may help to read sparknotes ALONG with reading the book. it may tell you thinks you might have missed.
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Here's a quick fix to your problems:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
SparkNotes = the bombb. :]
Unless your teacher asks you/tests you on specific quotations from the book, SparkNotes is just as good. As long as you attempt to read portions of the book, I honestly don't consider SparkNotes cheating. Its just a learning guide.
If you're having as much trouble concentrating as you say you are, either don't take advanced English next year, or, if you know that you are very smart and deserve to be in that class, gt tested for ADD. Seriously. One of my close friends was told by her doc that she had ADD the other day, and I would have never suspected it.
Good luck, I hope SparkNotes helps.
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About the book....Do you watch TV?If you do you should just turn on 1 of yer favorite shows,and on the commercials you should read as much as you can so that you have something to look forward to while your reading the(BORING)book.
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A lot of people have this problem--you aren't alone! I agree, "A Tale of two Cities" is a difficult book and yes, I agree, it is hard to stay up. First of all, you need to be more organized. You need a planner to organize all those schedules. Write down all the dates in the planner for the future so you are ready. Second, you need the book on tape. Get the book of tape--it helps! Second, get cliffnotes or sparknotes as a backup if you don't understand something. However, this isn't a substitute for the book. I REPEAT, DON'T THINK YOU CAN READ THE SPARKNOTES/CLIFFNOTES AS A SUBSTITUTE. Third, prepare yourself. Find a room where it is quiet and no distractions like the computer, ipod, or your cellphone. It's about the book. Read along with the book on tape and you should be fine. Don't worry about your classmates being ahead of you. You need to understand this book clearly so take it seriously! GOOD LUCK!
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Here's something that helped me get through tough books:
Read a small section of the book. Stop and think about what you just read. Who were the characters? What was the problem? What were they trying to achieve? Could this foreshadow something? If this ironic in any way? Why did the characters act the way they did? Why could this part of the book be important?
Once you try to answer those questions, go back and reread the section again.
As for remaining focused, just take the book on a little at a time. If you feel yourself getting tired as you read, take a break and go for a quick walk. Instead of reading somewhere comfortable, like a couch or bed, sit up straight at a table and read. Tackle the book in small amounts two or three times a day and you should get through it all in time.
It might also help to go get cliffnotes on the book to help you understand. You should still read the book, though, and don't only rely on the cliffnotes. Sparknotes are good too. They have them online or in bookstores.
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Maybe you wanna get a tutor or go to regular engllish. Sorry but that's all I got
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