essay planner notebook

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Essay Planner Template

Description:

This great planner will help you make an argumentative, persuasive, and informative essay from introduction to expository moments. Pick a paper size that suits you, download the PDF template, and print it as you start writing your story with pre-prepared materials and creative ideas for your essay.

Sections available in this template:

• Possible Title (1, 2, 3);
• Ideas & Key Points.

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Customer reviews

I know it might sound over enthusiastic, but I used to have this planner on my reMarkable, and it was kind of my beacon. I missed it so much when I lost my tablet. Now I have a BOOX and bought a new planner, and you can't possibly know how happy I am. 

(On the other hand, I don't know why I had to create a new account, but it doesn't matter).

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Lots of planning pages to use

Very well thought out and easy to use.

Love it, this planner is amazing.

Everything you ever wanted is right here.

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About this Interactive

Related resources.

Expository writing is an increasingly important skill for elementary, middle, and high school students to master. This interactive graphic organizer helps students develop an outline that includes an introductory statement, main ideas they want to discuss or describe, supporting details, and a conclusion that summarizes the main ideas. The tool offers multiple ways to navigate information including a graphic in the upper right-hand corner that allows students to move around the map without having to work in a linear fashion. The finished map can be saved, e-mailed, or printed.

• Student Interactives
• Strategy Guides
• Lesson Plans
• Calendar Activities

The Persuasion Map is an interactive graphic organizer that enables students to map out their arguments for a persuasive essay or debate.

This Strategy Guide describes the processes involved in composing and producing audio files that are published online as podcasts.

This strategy guide explains the writing process and offers practical methods for applying it in your classroom to help students become proficient writers.

This strategy guide clarifies the difference between persuasion and argumentation, stressing the connection between close reading of text to gather evidence and formation of a strong argumentative claim about text.

Students will identify how Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of nonviolent conflict-resolution is reinterpreted in modern texts. Homework is differentiated to prompt discussion on how nonviolence is portrayed through characterization and conflict. Students will be formally assessed on a thesis essay that addresses the Six Kingian Principles of Nonviolence.

Students develop their reading, writing, research, and technology skills using graphic novels. As a final activity, students create their own graphic novels using comic software.

Students are encouraged to understand a book that the teacher reads aloud to create a new ending for it using the writing process.

While drafting a literary analysis essay (or another type of argument) of their own, students work in pairs to investigate advice for writing conclusions and to analyze conclusions of sample essays. They then draft two conclusions for their essay, select one, and reflect on what they have learned through the process.

Students analyze rhetorical strategies in online editorials, building knowledge of strategies and awareness of local and national issues. This lesson teaches students connections between subject, writer, and audience and how rhetorical strategies are used in everyday writing.

It's not easy surviving fourth grade (or third or fifth)! In this lesson, students brainstorm survival tips for future fourth graders and incorporate those tips into an essay.

Students explore the nature and structure of expository texts that focus on cause and effect and apply what they learned using graphic organizers and writing paragraphs to outline cause-and-effect relationships.

Students prepare an already published scholarly article for presentation, with an emphasis on identification of the author's thesis and argument structure.

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Essay Planner template

Helpful for Education Idea Generation Mind Mapping Planning .

Ayoa’s Essay Planner template simplifies the process of writing an academic essay by allowing you to brainstorm great ideas, then put your arguments into a clear and defined structure ready for you to turn into a cohesive and well-researched paper.

Ready to get started with this template? It’s ready and waiting in Ayoa! Create your account , then simply open the app , select ‘create mind map’ from the homepage and choose this template from the library.

What is included in the Essay Planner template?

Writing an essay can be an overwhelming and time-consuming task for any student, whether you’ve written dozens before, or this is the very first time you’ve put pen to paper for this task. You could have plenty of great points ready and waiting, but no idea how to start your essay and actually begin writing. On the other hand, you could be struggling to generate ideas in the first place! Whatever the issue, Ayoa’s Essay Planner template provides you with the perfect canvas to brainstorm ideas for various types of essays, flesh out your arguments, then put them into a clear and defined structure.

No matter the subject or topic you’re writing about, every essay should follow the same basic structure with an intriguing introduction, a body that contains a number of points or arguments to be explored in detail, and a concise conclusion that sums up the findings of your essay. Our Essay Planner template (which is formatted in the style of a colorful, visual mind map ) provides you with prompts for each of these sections, so you can determine what you’ll be exploring and conduct some helpful research before you begin writing.

The reason you should use a mind map to plan an essay is because they are well-known for their ability to boost idea generation, organization and memory.

Why should you use the Essay Planner template?

Our Essay Planner template provides you with prompts for each of the sections of your essay to help you establish what you want to write before you get started. You can also use our template to make notes of helpful information (such as quotes, excerpts, statistics and links to articles) that you want to include or reference in your essay. By having this information all in one place, and knowing exactly what points you’re going to make, you can make the process of getting your words down both quicker and easier when the time comes. This is because you won’t be interrupted by needing to conduct additional research, and you’ll also be less likely to run out of steam halfway through writing.

The reason that our Essay Writing template is in the style of the mind map is due to the fact that they are proven to boost our ability to think creatively. The interconnecting branches of a mind map mirror our brain’s natural thinking processes, which can help us to generate more creative ideas. Our brains also love visuals, and the different visual cues you can include in a digital mind map (such as shapes, colors and images) can also help our brains to make associations and get out creative juices flowing.

The interconnecting branches of a mind map also perfectly demonstrate the way a process (in this example, writing an essay) should flow and the way various ideas connect to each other, which can make structuring your work incredibly simple. You can also add attachments, notes, comments and checklists to individual branches of your mind map, so everything you need to start writing is in one place!

How to use our Essay Planner template

Unsure of how to write an essay or struggling to find inspiration for your next report? Using our Essay Planner template will get you ready to get started as quickly as possible! Discover how to use our template below.

To access the template, sign up to Ayoa . Once you've signed up, navigate to the homepage to create a new whiteboard , mind map or task board and choose this template from the library .

When you open the template, you will see that we’ve already included examples to help you get started. Beginning with the central idea (the circle in the middle of your mind map), briefly outline what topic you will be exploring in your essay. To do this, double click on the text to bring up a menu of options. From here, you can change the color and size of your text, make it bold, underline it, add emojis, and more.

Tip: You can also click the paintbrush icon to bring up a side panel with options to change how your central idea looks by changing the shape and image.

Now it’s time to start planning your essay. Navigate to the ‘introduction’ section of the mind map and use the attached sub-branches to briefly outline the summary of your essay and what your goals are. Ask yourself: what are you hoping to achieve? What are you expecting the outcome of your essay to be? Use your answers to form the basis of your introduction. To edit an existing branch, double click on the text. To add a new sub-branch, click on the branch you want it to be connected to, then click the green arrow that appears.

Use the next few branches to determine what points you will argue in your essay. In as few words as possible, write what these are in the ‘argument’ branches. You should then use the sub-branches to go into more detail – you may want to include statistics, quotes and excerpts to back up your argument.

Mind maps should contain singular short sentences to avoid it becoming ‘cluttered’ or overwhelming. If you want to go into more detail, you can easily attach files, comments, notes and checklists to individual branches of your mind map. To do this, click on the branch you want to add more detail to, and this will bring up a menu of options. To discover what each one does, simply hover over the icon with your mouse!

Once you’ve outlined what you will cover in the body of your essay, it’s time to plan your conclusion. This will be a concise summary of everything you covered and what you have discovered from your research and analysis. In some cases, you might not know what your conclusion will be until after you’ve covered the main points and arguments of your essay. If this is the case, feel free to fill out this section of the map after you’ve done this.

Now that you have your plan, it’s time to start writing! Use the hierarchical structure of the mind map to structure your essay, developing the branches into sentences and paragraphs. Keep your mind map open so you can keep referring back to it and ensure that you’re staying on track.

The smarter way to work

Ayoa is an all-in-one online whiteboard where you can brainstorm ideas, work together and get things done. View website

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About Louise Cunnah

emily | 20 | england | medical student

Resources , Studying

Free Printable: Essay Planner Guide

I’m not an essay person (you probably knew that already though as I haven’t done an essay subject since I was 16) but I know that lots of you have to write essays for school and uni so I thought I’d put together a quick planner printable that you could use whenever you need to write one!

To access the printable, click the Google Drive link at the bottom of this page – I’ve included multiple colours in case pink isn’t your thing and they’re all pretty basic so you can easily mould them to your own needs. If you download it and decide to share it on social media then please tag me, it always makes me smile to see people using the printables I create and I might share a few on my story too!

Click here to download the printable!

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Essay Planner Template

More PESTLE Analysis Template

About the Essay Planner Template

• Prompts of introduction
• Prompts of the main body
• Conclusion prompts
• Visual assistance tools

Why should you use the essay planner template?

How to use our essay planner template.

• First of all, you need to choose whatever template you like. So first, go to the homepage and choose the create a new option. There you find the dashboard and the library to choose the templates present there.
• Secondly, start to open the template. Most of the sample examples will already be there to help you to write. Start writing the main idea and brief the subject of the essay by clicking on the menu of the dashboard. Now you will be presented with multiple options to change the sizing and outlook of your writing. You can change the colors, add emojis, and format as well.
• Now start with the introduction segment and use the mind map option on the dashboard. There you would find branches that can help you map the essay and specify the vision of the essay's introduction section. This is where you want to ask the following questions: What is the main goal of this segment of the essay? Or what is the desired outcome? Use the other branches to specify the goal of the essay. Make sure that it is brief. This would be the main argument of the essay. If you want to get into more detail, you can choose the subbranches as well. With those, you can add up various quotes and other data to back up your argument.
• When it comes to mind maps, make sure that the sentences are not long and stuffy because stuffy sentences can overwhelm the readers. At this point, you can add up various other things such As pictures, comments, sidenotes, points, etc. If you want to add up things to your mind map, you can go towards the menu of options and choose whatever you desire to add. Choose the file and add it.
• Now that the body line of your essay is ready, can you have filled up all their content within the essay? You need to write the conclusion now. While working on the conclusion, make sure to make it as short as it can while making sure all the important points are added into it according to the research in data. In few cases, conclusions are not that visible and hard to write; however, you can just summarize what you have written in the essay and come up with the best conclusion. You can edit the conclusion with the additional options in the dashboard to make it seem more professional.
• Now it is time to write the final draft of the essay since you have come up with all the technical structure of the essay. Now gather all the branches you have come up with and change them into essay content and paragraphs. Finally, open your mind maps on the side so you can be on track.

Essay Planning & Writing Tips

• The thesis statement should be captivating and comprehensive: it is important to create a captivating PC statement as it provides the purpose and need of the topic of your essay. It is the core of the essay that holds all the scopes and limitations of your writing skills. You need to make sure it is short and up to that topic's need.
• Every paragraph must have a topic sentence: a topic sentence is important to guide the scheme of sentences. A topic sentence can also be an argument or just an idea statement. Once you state the topic sentence, all you need to do is provide evidence in that paragraph to support it.
• Create a brief and effective conclusion: the conclusion should be well structured and planned because it is important, as it encompasses all the data within the context. There should be the addition of important points with brief closing lines. This way, your piece would be professional-looking and strategically right.

Related Templates

Essay Mapping Tool

Instructions.

Effective writing at university is a process:

Analyse the task → Gather content → Plan → Draft → Edit

This tool may help you to bridge from planning to drafting by helping you arrange your sentences in a logical order. It also provides tips for each component of an essay – the introduction, body, and conclusion. It can be used to improve your understanding of essay writing in general or as a planning tool for one of your university assignments.

Because this tool is for your personal use only, you may decide to write in bullet points, but we recommend full sentences. Once you have filled in each section, a complete essay overview will be generated which can be printed.

1. Introduction

Three paragraphs planning spaces have been provided for you. You can add or delete as necessary.

The purpose of the body is to logically develop the points made in your thesis and outline statements. There are no rules about the number of paragraphs required in assignment, but in general, you are advised to develop one idea per paragraph. This is done with a clear and coherent structure which introduces the topic in a topic sentence, defines or clarifies which aspect of the topic you are going to discuss, develops and supports your discussion and (optionally) concludes your discussion.

A topic sentence generally has two parts. You may refer to the overall essay topic and also introduce the specific aspect you plan to discuss in this paragraph. This is referred to as topic + controlling idea . You can also use a topic sentence to link to or contrast with the previous paragraph. This is an effective strategy to use with the second body paragraph onwards. You may choose to conclude the paragraph with a summary sentence; however, you are advised not to overuse this type of sentence as it may seem repetitious.

Cohesion and coherence refer to how effectively sentences are connected and how smoothly the writing flows. This is not simply achieved by following a logical paragraph structure, but also by using linking words (e.g. however/furthermore/consequently ) and referring words (e.g. this/that/these/those )

When you develop your argument, remember to use a range of support. You can use examples, logical reasoning, speculation, statistics and citations

Paragraph 1

Write the topic and controlling idea (one sentence).

Support your controlling idea using evidence, examples, elaboration or explanations. Do not go off topic. Do use in-text references.

Sum up the paragraph and link to your thesis OR link to the next paragraph (one sentence).

Paragraph 2

Paragraph 3, 3. conclusion.

The purpose of the conclusion is to summarize the key points you have discussed; however, it often contains a paraphrase of the thesis statement. This helps link the whole essay together. A conclusion may also contain a statement which links the essay to the broader topic or suggests a future action.

You can begin with the phrase ' In conclusion, ' but there are other phrases you could consider: In summary/This assignment has…/In this essay, I have… . Avoid Finally/Briefly/

Remember to reference any sources you have used. Refer to CDU Library for more information on referencing.

Introduction

To save as a PDF, click the Print button and then change your printer destination to "Save As PDF".

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Study Planners and Notes Templates

At Studyclix, we always want to make your studying as easy and stress-free as possible. That's why we've created some brand new resources to help you stay organised and on top of your work! Our new templates include daily and weekly planners, an essay planner as well as a note-taking template. Check them out for yourself below.

Daily Planner

Our daily planner is the perfect resource to plan every detail of your day from your tasks to your goals and even your water intake! Planning out your day with goals to be achieved and specific work to be covered will help you to avoid ending up overwhelmed about the work you need to cover. Check it out below to help make the most out of your day!

Weekly Planner

As well as a daily planner, we think it's a great idea to have a plan for your week. Our weekly planner gives you the chance to sit down and lay out a structure for your entire week. This will help you to stay focused on your studying and smash your goals! We understand everyone has slightly different time schedules too so we've ensured you can fill in the times to suit your own schedule. Check it out  below  to get on top of your week.

Note-taking Template

Have you ever heard of the Cornell Method of taking notes? It's a simple note-taking structure that we've utilised for our newest notes template. Don't be daunted by the fancy name! It's a simple method that encourages you to keep your notes concise which includes sections for keywords, details, and a summary. Check out the template below.

Essay Planner 

We all know the key to a successful essay is planning; that's why we've created an essay planner! This planner can be used across a wide range of subjects from English to Irish to History and beyond. Before diving headfirst into writing an essay, our essay planner is the perfect tool to create a clear strategy of what you'll include in your essay. You can download it below. 

For tips on how to get the most out of these planners and use them to boost productivity, listen to the podcast below: 

Or, you can watch Gabrielle tell you how she makes a study plan and her tips for sticking to it!

We hope these planners and study templates will make your work and study that bit easier. Best of luck with your studies and don't forget, you've got this!

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Description

Your trusty tool for essay excellence!

We all know essay writing is every student's  favourite part of high school! Who doesn't love spending hours trying to read Shakespeare and then come up with arguments, quotes, and techniques?

Only kidding – writing essays is hard work, especially when you don't have a clear structure to follow. That's why we're proud to present the ATAR Notes Essay Planner for any student who needs to be rescued from writer's block and wants to elevate their writing prowess!

This notepad is designed by our expert English and Study Skills team to target the most common weaknesses in students' essays, and can be used for any subject with essay writing components.

Key features include dedicated space for:

• A prompt breakdown: for students to untangle the essay question, consider its implications, and make sure they properly engage with the core of the question. (This is the BIGGEST priority for exam assessors!)
• Contention/thesis:  to articulate the key argument of the essay and maintain focus on the central premise, making essays easier for students to write and easier for teachers to read!
• Paragraph topic sentences:  to give the essay cohesion and strong supporting arguments, as well as providing students with three distinct ideas
• Quotes and analysis: for every paragraph to boost marks and back up key points.
• A conclusion: to tie things all together and ensure that once students complete this comprehensive plan, they can write the entire essay quickly and effectively, ending on a high note to solidify top marks!

Our Essay Planner is the perfect sidekick to help students understand the requirements of essay writing. No more staring at a blank page desperately trying to work out where to start – this scaffolding lets you prioritise the most crucial components of great essay plans to ensure students can start writing ASAP with clear goals in mind.

Grab an Essay Planner for yourself and start conquering the art of essay writing today! 

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EssayPro Homework Planner Review

Say goodbye to the mundane and hello to the extraordinary as EssayPro redefines what it means to excel in education! EssayPro’s school planner for students is an innovative tool that seamlessly integrates task management with a unique feature – the ability to delegate academic writing tasks to expert writers in case the deadlines are too short, or you find yourself caught up in writer’s block.

What Is a Homework Planner Tool

Historically, the concept of student planners dates back to the early 20th century. The practice of recording assignments and managing study schedules gained popularity in educational institutions as educators recognized the importance of instilling organizational skills in students. 

Over the years, the design and features of planners have evolved to meet the changing needs of students. Today, these planners have transformed into fundamental digital tools for students of all ages where they can enter the due dates of orders placed using an essay writing service in addition to incorporating technological advancements and adapting to various learning styles. 

Looking to Manage Your Tasks and Time More Effectively?

Make a homework planner or use an app with numerous extra features. Don’t forget about professional writers, too!  

Modern Homework Planning Tool from EssayPro

In this EssayPro homework planner review, you will find out how we revolutionized traditional homework planners by digitalizing and infusing them with innovative features. With our ultimate app, students no longer just manage their tasks – they orchestrate their academic journey with precision, optimizing study sessions and effortlessly staying ahead of deadlines. 

Task Management

• Users can input and organize their assignments, homework, and projects, specifying details such as due dates, priorities, and relevant course information.

Calendar Integration

• The planner often integrates with digital calendars, allowing users to view their academic schedule alongside other commitments and events.

Reminder Notifications

• Users can set up reminders for upcoming assignments or exams, helping them stay on top of their academic responsibilities and deadlines.

Subject Categorization

• The ability to categorize tasks by subject or course enables users to filter and focus on specific academic areas easily.

Progress Tracking

• Digital planners allow students to track their progress on assignments, providing a visual representation of remaining and completed tasks.

Note-taking Features

• Integration with note-taking tools or the ability to attach additional information to tasks can be useful for recording important details related to assignments.

Collaboration Features

• The digital planner supports collaboration, allowing students to connect with professional writers who can help with pending assignments.

Popular platforms for digital homework planners like EssayPro include dedicated apps, online platforms, or features integrated into educational management systems. These tools aim to enhance organizational skills, time management, and overall productivity for students.

Benefits of Using an EssayPro Planner

Taking EssayPro’s homework planner as an example, this online tool is designed to help students organize and manage their academic tasks and assignments. It is a digital version of a traditional paper planner, making it easier for students to keep track of their homework, projects, exams, and other academic responsibilities. Some features of digital homework planners include:

Optimize Your Studies and Achieve More

This planner is designed to serve as a reliable partner in your academic journey, offering features that optimize your studies for maximum efficiency and productivity. Through intuitive interfaces and smart functionalities, it helps you prioritize tasks, allocate time effectively, and ensure every study session is a step toward academic success. Kanban boards for tasks with search filters, deadline notifications, and file attachments are available for free.

Manage Your Deadlines Effectively

As you learn how to start journaling , you can also draw up a planner for your assignments either by hand or using a modern app. With EssayPro’s planner, bidding farewell to missed deadlines is a breeze. The application provides a comprehensive overview of all your assignments, projects, and exam dates, allowing you to stay on top of your academic commitments. Set reminders, receive notifications, and confidently navigate through your academic calendar without the fear of overlooking crucial deadlines.

Make Task Scheduling a Breeze

Tired of feeling overwhelmed by a chaotic schedule? The planner empowers you to control your time by offering robust scheduling features. Easily plan your day, week, or month with customizable calendars and scheduling tools. Whether it's class timings, study sessions, or extracurricular activities, the app ensures you can create a well-balanced and structured routine tailored to your academic needs.

Take Charge of Your Homework

One of the key advantages of using the planner for task delegation is the ability to specify detailed instructions and requirements for each assignment within the planner app. It’s similar to how students ask our writers to ‘ do my homework ’ on the website. From the topic and word count to formatting preferences and citation styles, students can communicate their expectations clearly, ensuring that the final deliverable meets their standards.

The planner for homework app is a central hub for managing academic tasks and streamlining the delegation process. With its intuitive interface and robust features, the app empowers students to assign and track tasks to a curated pool of expert writers and academic professionals effortlessly with just a few taps.

How to Make a Homework Planner Step-by-Step via the Essaypro Planner App

Delegating your assignments via the planner app is a seamless process that puts you in control of your academic workload. Whether assigning research projects, writing essays, or preparing presentations, delegating tasks allows students to focus their energy on areas where they can make the most significant impact. 

STEP 1 – To Begin, Open the Essay Pro App 

Login to your EssayPro account and click on the ‘Homework planner’ tab in the menu on your right. There, you will see the ‘Tasks’ that are demanding your attention and ‘Exams,’ where you can set notifications for the upcoming tests.

In the ‘Tasks’ menu, you will see a list of assignments set in ‘To do,’ ‘In progress,’ and ‘Done.’ You can display them as a ‘List’ or ‘Board.’ You can add due dates to new or existing tasks if there are changes in your schedule. To proceed, hover over the plus icon to add a new task and click on it.

STEP 2 – Specify the Details of Your Assignment 

As you add the task, you will have to specify a task name, subject, and due date. You can also add a detailed description or upload a file with instructions. There’s also a possibility to set up a reminder and receive a notification. As you create a task, it will be placed at the bottom of your ‘To do’ list.   

Voila – a new task in the planner is created! Set it ‘In progress’ as you start working on it, and move it to ‘Done’ once it’s finished. But what should you do when the tasks in ‘To do’ begin to pile up? Let’s move to the next step!

STEP 3 – Delegate a Task So One of Our Writers Fulfills It Shortly

Click on a task you can’t do personally because of the lack of time or other important duties planned for the day. In the menu that just opened, there will be a question – ‘Need help with your task?’ Click on the plus icon. 

There, you’ll have to provide order requirements, order details, and order visibility. Just as you do when placing orders directly on the website. Confirm your order, and you’ll be directed back to the main screen of your EssayPro account. Great news – you can now move your assignment from ‘To do’ to ‘In progress!’ 

Ready to boost your college prowess with a new homework instrument? Start planning for free , and in just a few taps, you'll have expert writers at your fingertips, ready to bring your vision to life while you focus on other important aspects of your student life.

11 Tips on How to Make an Essaypro Homework Planner Work for You

Here are some of the best tips that will improve your experience with using EssayPro’s student planner, turning it into a vigorous instrument that promotes effective learning and meticulous time distribution:

• Configure your planner to reflect your style and preferences.
• Set a regular time for planner updates to build a habit.
• Be honest about task durations to avoid overcommitting.
• Clearly mark high-priority tasks using a distribution system that works for you.
• Set up reminders that will notify you when tasks or exams are due.
• Divide larger assignments into smaller, manageable tasks for better tracking.
• Allocate time for breaks, leisure, and self-care for a balanced schedule.
• Utilize your planner to track study sessions, jot down key concepts, and set goals.
• Check and adjust your planner regularly for flexibility and adaptability.
• Visit your planner daily to prevent assignments from piling up.
• In case this happens, delegate forthcoming tasks to professional essay writers.

Can’t Decide Which Planner App to Choose?

Try the EssayPro app – a nifty homework planner application that integrates seamlessly with our writing platform

How Do You Plan for Homework?

What is a homework planner, what is the best homework planner app for college students, related articles.

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Navel Gazing

John dickerson’s notebooks: the power of four numbers.

Noticing longer, gray lockboxes, a soul-crushing teacher, Georgia O’Keeffe and more are explored in this week’s audio essay from John Dickerson.

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Episode Notes

In this week’s essay, John discusses the art of attention and how to develop the skill of slow-looking.

Notebook Entries:

Notebook 75, page 8. September 2021

Notebook 1, page 54. June 1990

-        Magna carta 1215 at Salisbury

-        Girls skipping

-        The Haunch of Venison

-        Chris

References:

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

A Little History of the World  by E.H Gombrich

Artist Jeff Koons

“ The Art of Divination: D.H. Lawrence on the Power of Pure Attention ” by Maria Popova for  The Marginalian

“ Gabfest Reads: A Woman’s Life in Museum Wall Labels ” for Political Gabfest

One Woman Show  by Christine Coulson

“ Grammy-winning artist Jason Isbell talks about the craft of songwriting and his latest music ” for CBS News

A Journey Around My Room  by Xavier De Maistre

“ Just think: The Challenges of the Disengaged Mind ” by Timothy Wilson, et.al for  Science

“ Our Rodent Selfies, Ourselves ” by Emily Anthes for the  New York Times

One Man’s Meat  by E.B. White

Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.

Email us at  [email protected]

Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit  slate.com/navelgazingplus  to get access wherever you listen.

About the Show

Political Gabfest host John Dickerson has been a journalist for more than three decades, reporting about presidential campaigns, political scandals, and the evolving state of our democracy. Along the way, he’s also been recording his observations in notebooks he has carried in his back pocket. He has captured his thoughts about life, parenthood, death, friendship, writing, God, to-do lists, and more. On the Navel Gazing podcast, John Dickerson invites you to join him in figuring out what these 30 years of notebooks mean: sorting out what makes a life—or a day in a life—noteworthy.

John Dickerson is host of CBS News Prime Time With John Dickerson , co-host of the Slate Political Gabfest, host of the Whistlestop podcast, and author of The Hardest Job in the World .

Ramadan reimagined in 2024: Reporter's notebook

A Muslim American celebrates hopeful signs of wider acceptance.

I was a teenager during 9/11.

It was a very challenging time for many Americans, including Muslim Americans like me. My generation felt as if we had to walk on eggshells in the aftermath of the attacks. But unlike the generation before us, who often could not be openly Muslim in America at all, mine learned we had to carefully shape our own narrative, and own our identity.

The latter is what I saw this Ramadan, the Islamic holy month – but far louder and clearer than before.

It was the first time I saw Muslim influencers, Muslim chefs, Muslim artists, Muslim business owners, Muslim entertainment industry employees, and Muslim community organizers enhancing and re-shaping celebrations, to meet a moment and an evolving Muslim American community.

While some Muslims might remain wary of alienating parts of America who feel negatively about them, especially during this time of high tensions in the Middle East, others appear to be taking a leap forward, inviting people to understand them through their culture and their craft.

Just as other holy observances, such as Christmas and the Hindu festival of Diwali, have evolved from holidays to weeks-long seasons, so too did the spirit of the Muslim holiday Eid – the final day of Ramadan – evolve for me this year.

Eid is scarcely covered by American media. But social media was flooded with images, many of them arguably enabling the further acceptance of Muslims in America.

MORE: Breaking fast in a tent amid war: How some in Gaza are observing Ramadan

I watched influencer Aysha Harun create a whimsical iftar meal exploding with colors and meaning for her half-a-million followers and guests, in an effort to redefine how the world sees Muslims gather for the evening meal that breaks the daily dawn-to-sundown fast of Ramadan.

I discovered the U.K. women's clothing brand Karen Millen through their Eid Collection. And in what felt rare for an American brand, I watched as the trendy cookware company Our Place released their first Eid collection.

In my eyes, Eid's appeal, and mainstream acceptance, appeared to be widening.

At popular LA restaurant Pijja Palace, its Indian owner turned over the restaurant to his Muslim sous chef for a ticketed six-course iftar open to the public. My family watched in awe as a diverse, sold-out crowd packed the tables and bar to experience what once felt like just our traditions – ones we once practiced in private.

At Muslim visual artist Aadil Abedi’s inaugural Chand Raat event, celebrating the eve of Eid, non-Muslims outnumbered Muslims – something he said was intentional to help inform his friends about his religion. The drinks covering a table had a touch of watermelon radish. “Simple light touches to nod to the [Palestinian] colors,” said Abedi.

I missed it at the time, but prominently on display in the center of that table was an olive branch in a large vessel.

MORE: What to know about Ramadan, Islam's holiest month

And I watched as my own professional community gathered in celebration. Two Muslim employee resource groups from media giants hosted an iftar for hundreds of Muslims in Hollywood – the biggest narrative-shaping industry of them all, and one that arguably has partly shaped how the world thinks about Muslims. Despite the irony of working in a business that communicates messages to millions around the world, Muslims – who make up only a fraction of the Hollywood workforce – often express that they feel unheard.

Organizers made it clear, however, they would not be silenced, with passionate speeches about Palestinian deaths. I saw some of the symbolic visuals around the room as representative of deep pain, isolation, and exhaustion.

One of the most powerful moments for me, however, was one of the most somber.

The iftar held by NewGround, a group led by executive director Aziza Hasan and associate director Andrea Hodos – Palestinian and Jewish, respectively – brought together dozens of Muslims and Jewish people.

Hasan guided us through an exercise after dinner. Citing the late cognitive neuroscientist Emile Bruneau , she cautioned that while empathy is a powerful emotion, extreme empathy for our own group can sometimes lead us to distrust and even dehumanize others, because we may perceive them as dismissing our pain.

Guests were then directed to think about a person in the Middle East whose story they wanted to share.

We went around the table, Muslims and Jews together sharing emotional stories about people of both cultures who had affected their lives. There was zero judgment – only kindness and understanding among strangers, and respect that everyone wanted the same thing.

When it feels like the world’s attention is focused largely on the division between these groups, inclusive moments such as these feel profoundly significant.

For me, this Ramadan is the first time I’ve celebrated Muslim holidays in such an open way. It sometimes feels as if my religious group is the last to be able to make such progress in America. It feels good that we can include others as we do – the same way they are now more often offering us a seat at their tables.

Perhaps bringing everyone together at the table, regardless of faith and cultures, is something all of us should do more of. And acknowledging pain – and sharing joy – that is not just our own.

Zohreen Shah is a Los Angeles-based national correspondent for ABC News.

Related Topics

• Muslims In America

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Critic’s Notebook

How a Virtual Assistant Taught Me to Appreciate Busywork

A new category of apps promises to relieve parents of drudgery, with an assist from A.I. But a family’s grunt work is more human, and valuable, than it seems.

Credit... Illustration by Cari Vander Yacht

Supported by

By Amanda Hess

• Published April 24, 2024 Updated April 25, 2024

I recently downloaded a virtual assistant that promised to ease the burdens of modern parenthood. The app is called Yohana , and it offered to handle a pile of tasks on my behalf. It suggested enlisting a professional to wash my windows, scheduling a lesson with a “private sports coach” or planning a “stylish and sustainable” Earth Day party featuring décor, recipes, activities and party favors, none of which interested me. Finally it volunteered to produce a “chef-curated menu” for Passover.

Well, sure. I was already planning on attending a friend’s Seder, and at least this task did not involve Yohana siccing an expert on me or making me host an elaborate event. So, I agreed to the Passover idea. Yohana assigned the “to-do” to a faceless assistant identified only by a first name. The next day, she sent along a confusing list of menu options that included a recipe for ham mini quiches — a provocative choice.

Yohana is one of a growing crew of virtual-assistant apps that combine artificial intelligence and human labor to help parents manage their family lives. For $129 a month, Yohana promises to “offload joy-stealing tasks, improve your family’s well-being, and find more breathing room in your schedule.” Ohai ($26.99 a month), a text-based “A.I. household assistant,” wants to “lighten the mental load of Chief Household Officers,” and Milo ($40/month, with a wait list), an “A.I. co-pilot,” hopes to calm “every form of family chaos.”

These apps are styled like cutesy helpmeets, and their names — Yohana, Ohai, Milo — would be at home on a Brooklyn day care roster. Though pitched to “busy parents,” they implicitly target affluent working mothers who are struggling to manage household tasks on top of work and child care, and who might even be convinced to spend some (though not too much) extra cash to make them go away. But when I gave Yohana a spin, I found that I did not want to do the things she can manage, and that she cannot manage the things I want to do. She made me start to believe that the busywork I might delegate to a machine is actually more human, and valuable, than I realized.

Mothers have long been served fantasies about how robots will relieve the drudgery of housework. In the first episode of the animated sitcom “The Jetsons,” from 1962, Jane Jetson tires of pressing all the buttons that automatically cook and clean for her, so she buys Rosie the robot maid to run her smart house instead. In 1965, General Electric urged housewives to “Let a Mobile Maid Dishwasher give you priceless time for the wife-and-mother jobs that really count.”

And yet automation has failed to eliminate the burdens of those “wife-and-mother jobs.” In a culture that promotes ruthless competition and intensive mothering, a mother’s tasks (the ones that “really count”) are capable of expanding endlessly.

The feminist campaign to demand “wages for housework,” which also captured the maternal imagination in the 1960s and ’70s, represented the flip side of the automation fantasy. As Barbara Ehrenreich documented in her 2000 essay “Maid to Order,” that campaign dissolved as professional women instead opted to pay other women to clean their houses for them, often under lousy conditions. Now a modern wealthy mother can have it all: She can use her phone to command a robot-esque “assistant” to hire a human cleaner on her behalf, without having to actually look anyone in the face.

In their brand copy, these apps speak of lifting loads — “mental loads,” “invisible loads.” They suggest that the central challenge of parenthood is bureaucratic. Families should be “about love, not logistics,” Milo says.

But in a bid to banish bureaucracy, these services add layer upon layer. They suggest we hire more helpers, schedule more activities, plan more events. (An Earth Day party with recyclable décor? No. Private sports coaching? Absolutely not!) When I signed up for Ohai, it texted me every morning, asking if it could add a workout to my schedule.

I don’t need help scheduling more things to do; I need to do less. Often these services suggest that users throw money at that problem (which is not very helpful if one of your problems is that you do not have enough money). The apps transform parents from workers into consumers, translating our to-do lists into shopping lists. Somebody is still performing our “joy-stealing” tasks, and it may be a call center worker or one of the many other invisible laborers who make artificial intelligence systems seem to run automatically.

The boundary between the human and the artificial is slippery; Yohana emphasizes that it employs “actual humans (not A.I. chatbots) that can do the grunt work,” though according to Forbes, those humans are using generative A.I . to assist them with our tasks. When these services style themselves as “worker bees,” “secret helpers” or “fairy godmothers,” they lean on the iconography of fantasy to obscure the grimmer reality of farming out your “grunt work” to an anonymized labor force.

The work that these services hope to eradicate (or at least obscure) is feminized. It’s “women’s work,” and indeed, most of my Yohana helpers had feminine first names. One of the most helpful things a virtual assistant can do is assign family burdens more equitably among its members, a duty commonly demeaned as “nagging.”

Last year, Meghan Verena Joyce, the chief executive of another task delegation service, Duckbill, argued that “with its capabilities for efficiency and customization,” artificial intelligence “could play a crucial role in easing the societal and economic burdens that disproportionately affect women.”

In an illustration on Yohana’s website, a typical user is portrayed as a bespectacled woman who wears a baby in a sling, anchors a square of wrapping paper under a foot, balances a bowl of dog food on a lifted leg, stirs a pot with one hand and types on a computer with the other. She resembles Rosie from the Jetsons, each mechanical limb firing autonomously in order to labor more efficiently. We are familiar with A.I. helpers, like Apple’s Siri, which are modeled after feminine stereotypes, but here it feels as if the opposite is happening: A mother has been recast as a robotic being, her work dismissed as rote and easily outsourced.

In the few weeks that I spent as a virtual-assistant taskmaster, I realized that much of the busywork claimed by the apps is actually quite personal, often rewarding and occasionally transformative.

For instance, when I asked Yohana where I could shop locally for a child’s birthday party, it spat out links to Amazon toys instead. And when I asked if it could find a worker-owned cooperative cleaning service (there are many in New York City ), it did not; instead it linked me to the profile of an app, Quicklyn, hosted on another app, Thumbtack. An app can suggest a volunteer opportunity that welcomes children, but it can’t do what my neighbor did, which was add me to the WhatsApp group organizing mutual aid for the nearby migrant shelter. It can direct me to a national database of registered caregivers but not to the teenage babysitter who lives three floors above me.

When I alerted my Yohana assistants to some of these issues — the Passover ham, the Amazon links — they dutifully fixed them, though it’s hard to imagine a worse use of my time than reforming the stranger I’d hired to fix my life through my phone. These services may be able to plug users into corporate-mediated experiences, but no amount of machine learning can simulate neighborhood bonds. “Grunt work” can be central to building community, but only if you do it yourself.

Amanda Hess is a critic at large for the Culture section of The Times, covering the intersection of internet and pop culture. More about Amanda Hess

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