The PA System

Using secondary sources effectively in your writing is an important academic skill to develop. It can be done by paraphrasing ideas from others or by using direct quotations from original sources. In either case, the source must be cited, and each referencing style has its own guidelines. Let’s take a closer look at these two … Read More

It’s Tuesday. You’re heading to play practice from soccer practice when you suddenly remember that today is exactly one week from the date your grades are due for your college application! You have only three or four assignments left . . . everything should be fine! You arrive home after soccer practice to discover that … Read More

MLA, APA – what do these letters mean? Chicago’s a city, right? The Modern Languages Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), and Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) are the 3 referencing styles used at Virtual High School. Each subject has a required style that should be used to properly cite the research used in your … Read More

The persuasive essay, the lab report, the informative presentation – all of these tasks involve putting forth your ideas in efforts to convince others or to reveal what you’ve found in your research. In all cases, whether in your science, music, history, English or other courses, the support you gather, that is, the information you … Read More

This month we are focusing on the growth mindset. Many people perceive intelligence as a fixed trait; however, research shows that intelligence is developed through experience and persistence. Adopting a growth mindset can lead to greater motivation and self-actualization.  Practice a growth mindset in the following ways:    Accept failure, and understand why every failure … Read More

December’s character trait, empathy, allows us to relate to others and their experiences. It also allows us to put our own lives into perspective by realizing how lucky we are. During the holiday season we practice empathy: we recognize that other people are not as fortunate as we are, and we go out of our … Read More

November’s character trait is perseverance. During November we reflect on the perseverance of those who came before us. It is also a time when the seasons are shifting, the days are getting shorter and we may be losing some of the motivation we’ve felt in the past months. In this important time of year, stay … Read More