Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Establish a set routine. Prioritize your school tasks. Break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. Look for ways to create variety in your schoolwork. Study with friends. Ask for feedback. Ask your teachers to let you take part in learning and planning. Reward yourself for your effort and successes.

Answer: If you fall behind in your schoolwork, or don’t set aside enough time to do your homework, it can create all sorts of problems that can drag you down. On the other hand, if you set aside specific times each day to study or do your homework, you’ll stay on top of things and be more likely to be interested in your studies. Plus, you’ll feel great about accomplishing what you need to do!  Keep a running list of the things you need to do for school, such as in a course planner. This will help you keep track of things. Crossing tasks off as you finish them will help you feel accomplished and stay motivated. Try to find a quiet, distraction-free place to work. Make yourself take care of schoolwork before spending time on the computer, watching TV, playing games, etc. This might seem hard at first, but if you get in the habit of taking care of what you need to first, you’ll ultimately have more time to spend on other things you enjoy. If you have a lot of work to do, remember to schedule short breaks. For instance, if you are going to be studying for several hours, remember to take a break (five minutes or so) every hour to clear your head, walk around, get a snack, etc. Focus on doing high-impact activities (those that are most important or interesting) first. This will help you build momentum and stay interested in your studies. For instance:  If you have a big exam coming up that counts for a large percentage of your grade, studying for that might come before proofreading an essay you’ve already written for another class. If you have a chapter to read for a history class that you really enjoy, you could start with that before moving on to math homework, if you enjoy it less. Alternatively, you could do the math homework first if it is more important, and use wanting to reading the chapter for history as a motivator to get it out of the way. If you have a big project or exam to study for, it can seem daunting, and make you lose motivation and interest. However, if you break the task down into smaller parts, you will feel like you are accomplishing something and stay interested. For instance, if you have a biology exam coming up that covers 5 chapters of your textbook, don’t try to study them at once. Instead, study a chapter or half of a chapter each day leading up to the exam. You’ll feel good about the progress you make each day. If you feel bored with the schoolwork you are doing, remember that you may not always have to do things in the same way. A little variety will keep things interesting. For instance:  If you have to write a book report each month, and you have been writing on autobiographies, perhaps try writing on a novel next month.  Instead of writing yet another essay in your U.S. history class, see if your teacher will let you make a recording in the style of an old-time radio news show. You could even make a series of podcasts instead of a series of essays.  Instead of just reading Shakespeare aloud in your English class, see if you can perform a scene, record it, and share it online on a video streaming site for others to enjoy and comment on.  You could practice your geometry studies by building a scale model of a famous building or other object. Being part of a group of people all working on the same thing can be a motivator to get schoolwork done; you can quiz each other, help each other out on difficult problems or topics, etc. If you want to study with friends, however, make sure that everyone stays on task and doesn’t get distracted. You can form a study group where everyone signs a pledge to work hard, stay on task, and help each other out. When you don’t feel like you’re alone, you’re more likely to stay interested and motivated. If you are struggling in school, or just want to know how you are doing, ask your teachers for feedback. You can meet with them, and get help with a specific assignment or ask for general feedback. Most teachers are glad to help, and talking informally about your schoolwork can help you feel more at ease in school and stay interested in your studies. Don’t be afraid to tell your teacher if there is a problem in class. For instance, if you feel like a teacher calls on you too often, talk to him or her about it. Most teachers will be happy to hear your concerns and to help you do well. You’ll be more interested and care more about your studies if you’re invested in them. Your teachers might be willing to incorporate ideas you have for learning or structuring lessons to make them interesting. Let them know about your learning style, and the things you find interesting, such as:  Variety in assignment type Enthusiastic lectures Opportunities to choose what you want to work on Having good examples to learn from Learning from games (like “Jeopardy”-type quizzes) When you try hard, do well in school, or achieve a goal, see if there is someway to reward yourself. While you might not want to make tangible rewards be your primary motivation for doing well in school, a reward now and then can keep you interested in your studies. For instance:  Let yourself play a favorite video game after you’ve finished all of your homework. Ask your parents if you can go out to a favorite restaurant if you do well on a big exam, or get good grades at the end of a semester. If you complete all of your assignments and don’t have any big projects coming up, let yourself have a weekend to spend just doing things for fun, like hanging out with friends, going for a walk, or watching a favorite TV show.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Think the elopement through. Make sure you’re old enough to elope. Obtain a marriage license. Find someone to solemnize your wedding. See if your home country requires an apostille.

Answer:
Consider your decision to elope and make sure that you are doing it for the right reasons. There are plenty of people who elope in Las Vegas in the heat of the moment, but you might regret your decision if you don't consider it carefully. Keep in mind that your family and friends might be hurt by your elopement if they were expecting a wedding. You might feel ready at the age of 17, but Nevada law requires that each person be at least 18 years old to get married. There some special circumstances that allow minors to get married. In most cases, however, you need to be 18. You can marry at the age of 16 in Nevada with a parent’s consent. You will need to get a Las Vegas Marriage License. Obtaining a marriage license is particularly easy in Nevada. You and your partner must bring proof of identity with you. You can download and print the marriage license application from the Clark County Marriage Bureau's website, but you must bring it to their office in person.  The office is open from 8AM to midnight daily, including weekends and holidays. Keep in mind that you may have to wait an hour or more on busy holidays. The proof of identity can be a passport, driver’s license, or social security card. Many chapels in Las Vegas will have someone there that is authorized to officiate the wedding. If you’re eloping in a chapel, a clergyperson or court clerk is allowed to officiate the wedding. Keep in mind that on holidays, like Valentine’s Day, many people will be eloping and you may have to find someone in the private sector to do the job. Residents of a country other than the U.S. can get married in Las Vegas, and the procedures and fees would be the same. Marriages performed in Nevada are recognized worldwide, but your home country may require a special document called an apostille to finalize your marriage. Apostilles are issued by the Nevada Secretary of State.