Self-Determination Theory How It Explains Motivation

Self-Determination Theory How It Explains Motivation Theories Print Self-Determination Theory and Motivation By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on October 07, 2019 Edwin Jimenez / Cultura Exclusive / Getty Images More in Theories Behavioral Psychology Cognitive Psychology Developmental Psychology Personality Psychology Social Psychology Biological Psychology Psychosocial Psychology In psychology, self-determination is an important concept that refers to each persons ability to make choices and manage their own life. This ability plays an important role in psychological health and well-being. Self-determination allows people to feel that they have control over their choices and lives. It also has an impact on motivationâ€"people feel more motivated to take action when they feel that what they do will have an effect on the outcome. The concept of self-determination has been applied to a wide variety of areas including education, work, parenting, exercise, and health. Research suggests that having high self-determination can fosters success in many different domains of life. What Is Self-Determination Theory? Self-determination theory  suggests that people are motivated to grow and change by three innate and universal psychological needs. This theory suggests that people are able to become self-determined when their needs for competence, connection, and autonomy are fulfilled. The concept of intrinsic motivation, or engaging in activities for the inherent rewards of the behavior itself, plays an important role in self-determination theory. Self-determination theory grew out of the work of psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, who first introduced their ideas in their 1985 book Self-Determination and Intrinsic Motivation in Human Behavior. They developed a theory of motivation which suggested that people tend to be driven by a need to grow and gain fulfillment. Two key assumptions of the theory: The need for growth drives behavior. The first assumption of self-determination theory is that people are actively directed toward growth. Gaining mastery over challenges and taking in new experiences are essential for developing a cohesive sense of self. Autonomous motivation is important. While people are often motivated to act by external rewards such as money, prizes, and acclaim (known as  extrinsic motivation), self-determination theory focuses primarily on internal sources of motivation such as a need to gain knowledge or independence (known as  intrinsic motivation). Differences Between Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation According to self-determination theory, people need to feel the following in order to achieve psychological growth: Competence:  People need to gain mastery of tasks and learn different skills. When people feel that they have the skills needed for success, they are more likely to take actions that will help them achieve their goals.Connection or Relatedness:  People need to experience a sense of belonging and attachment to other people.Autonomy:  People need to feel in control of their own behaviors and goals. This sense of being able to take direct action that will result in real change plays a major part in helping people feel self-determined. Imagine a person who fails to complete an important project at work. If this person is high in self-determination, they will admit their fault, believe that they can do something to fix the problem and take action to correct the mistake. If that same person was low in self-determination, they might instead look for other things that they can blame. They might make excuses, assign blame, or refuse to admit that their own role. Most importantly, perhaps, is that this person wont feel motivated to fix the mistake. Instead, they might feel helpless to control the situation and believe that nothing that they do will have any real effect. How the Self-Determination Theory Works It is important to realize that the psychological growth described by self-determination theory does not simply happen automatically. While people might be oriented toward such growth, it requires continual  sustenance. Ryan and Deci have suggested that the tendency to be either proactive or passive is largely influenced by the social conditions in which people are raised.  Social support is key. Through our relationships and interactions with others, we can either foster or thwart well-being and personal growth. While social support is important, there are other factors that can also help or hinder the three elements needed for growth. Extrinsic motivators can sometimes lower self-determination. According to Deci, giving people  extrinsic rewards  for already intrinsically motivated behavior can undermine autonomy. As the behavior becomes increasingly controlled by external rewards, people begin to feel less in control of their own behavior and intrinsic motivation is diminished.Positive feedback and boost self-determination. Deci also suggests that offering unexpected positive encouragement and feedback on a persons performance on a task can increase intrinsic motivation. This type of feedback helps people to feel more competent, which is one of the key needs for personal growth. How Overjustification Reduces Intrinsic Motivation Self-Determined vs. Non-Self-Determined Behaviors While extrinsic and intrinsic motivation are often portrayed as separate and distinct, behavior is complex and people are rarely driven to act by a single source of motivation. People may often draw on multiple sources of motivation in the pursuit of a goal. If you are training to compete in a marathon, for example, you might be extrinsically motivated by a desire to gain approval from others as well as intrinsically motivated by the satisfaction you gain from the activity itself. Rather than thinking of motivation as being driven by either extrinsic or intrinsic rewards, it is often helpful to view it as a continuum between self-determined and non-self-determined behaviors: Purely self-determined behaviors tend to be intrinsically driven and are done for enjoyment, interest, and inherent satisfaction for the action itself.On the other end of the continuum are non-self-determined behaviors, which are performed only because they must be done. On this extreme end of the scale, there is a complete lack of control. In most cases, behaviors tend to lie somewhere in the middle of the continuum. There is often a varying amount of external motivation, which can also fuel a degree of internal motivation. People may engage in actions because they feel they have some level of personal control and the behaviors ultimately align with something that is important for self-concept. Most actions are not purely self-determined or non-self-determined. Instead, actions often rely on a certain degree of self-determination that may also be influenced by extrinsic motivations. Self-Determination in the Real World Self-determination can play an important role in how people function in many different areas of their lives. Feeling in control and intrinsically motivated can help people feel more committed, passionate, interested, and satisfied with the things that they do. In the Workplace: People who feel that they are able to have a positive effect at work tend to feel more engaged and motivated. How else can employers build self-determination in their workers? Managers and leaders can foster this sense of self-determination by allowing team members to take an active role.Offer employees responsibilities, provide meaningful feedback, and offer support and encouragement.  Employers should be careful not to overuse extrinsic rewards. Too many rewards can undercut intrinsic motivation (a phenomenon known as the overjustification effect), yet too few can cause employees to feel unappreciated. In Competition: In competitive settings such as sports and athletics, fostering a sense of self-determination can inspire people to excel. Athletes who feel that they are capable of achieving their goals and overcoming challenges are often driven to perform better.Excelling allows people to gain an important sense of competence and build mastery in skills that are enjoyable and important to them. Researchers have also found that people who have an internal sense of control are also more likely to stick to a regular exercise regimen.   In Social Settings Self-determination can also play an important role in social relationships. A sense of belongingness is critical in the development of self-determination. Forging close, affectionate relationships with other people can improve self-determination. Seek positive relationships with people who will support you in the pursuit of your goals.Offer support and feedback to the people who are part of your social circle. In School Settings Self-determined students are more likely to feel motivated to achieve. There are things that educators can to do help students foster a sense of self-determination and intrinsic motivation: Providing unexpected positive feedback when students perform well can help improve competenceAvoiding excessive external rewards for actions students already enjoy can help improve internal motivation How to Improve Self-Determination In order to strengthen your own self-determination, it is helpful to think about what a highly self-determined individual might look like. People who are high in self-determination tend to: Believe that they have control over their own lives. They have an internal locus of control and feel that their behaviors will have an influence on outcomes. When confronted with challenges, they feel that they can overcome them through diligence, good choices, and hard work.Have high self-motivation. They do not rely on external rewards or punishments to motivate them to take action. They engage in behaviors because they are good at setting goals and working toward those aims.Base their actions on their own goals and behaviors. In other words, they intentionally engage in actions that they know will bring them closer toward their goals.Take responsibility for their behaviors. Highly self-determined people take credit for their success, but they also accept the blame for their failures. Improving self-awareness, decision-making skills, self-regulation, and goal-setting abilities can encourage the growth of stronger self-determination. Steps you can take to improve your own sense of self-determination: Find Social Support Social connectivity is one of the main components of self-determination theory. Strong social relationships can foster motivation and well-being, while poor relationships can contribute to a poor sense of self and weak motivation. Deci and Ryan have suggested that it is the social environment that can either help or hinder a self-determined perspective. Strong social support offers opportunities for growth, while poor support can disrupt inner experiences. Gain Mastery Becoming skilled in areas that are important to you is a helpful way to build your sense of self-determination. Whether you have a strong interest in a hobby, sport, academic subject, or another area, learning as much as you can about it and improving your skills can help you feel more competent. The more you learn and practice, the more skilled and self-determined you will likely feel. A Word From Verywell Self-determination theory can be helpful in understanding the things that might motivate your behaviors. Being self-determined, feeling like you have the autonomy and freedom to make choices that shape your destiny, is important for each persons well-being. When you pursue things that are intrinsically motivated that are aligned with your goals, you will feel happier and more capable of making good choices. How to Improve Your Self-Control

Education Is The Most Powerful Weapon - 1373 Words

â€Å"Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world† (Nelson Mandela). United States. has a powerful educational arsenal, its community colleges. For the reason being, community college should be free for students of less fortunate and other students who cannot afford college after high school. If the government proposed free community college to the students, each and everyone will have the chance to get an education as well the opportunity to have a better future. Free community college is a really important matter that will not be solved in a year, It is an extensive idea of the United States and it s not a partial matter. It s an American issue about how we re going to be as one nation. Who are we providing for and†¦show more content†¦Students drop out of college, and the problem is usually time and money. Those who are able to take out loans for college also are required to pay the money back. Besides that, most employers do not allow work ers to change their schedule when student need to change it. Some students who drop out of college eventually return back to finish their degree, but most of them don t ever re-enroll back again. If the government proposed free community college to its students, everyone will happily attend college and get an education without the frustration of paying tuition fees or any other bills that have to do with college. Although, Government offers free education to students with great academic performance and talents, but are not considering all the students that cannot afford education. Another key difference between the students from a rich family and students of a poor family is that rich kids can attend college and get their education with no exasperation while the poor kids struggle to get their education. â€Å"The high sticker price of the universities is cited as a huge barrier to educating lower-income students while loans end up filling the gaps in student aid, which don t cover other associated costs. For instance, at a public university such as the University of California, Berkeley, the top public university in the U.S., tuition is $13,878. However, the total cost of attendance with books, supplies, room and board and transportation

How to Understand Mandarin Chinese Tones

While residents across China use the same written character system, the way the words are pronounced differs from region to region. Standard Chinese is Mandarin  or Putonghua, and it consists of five pronunciation tones.  As a student of the Chinese language, the hardest part to differentiate is first, second, and fifth tones.   In 1958, the Chinese government rolled out its Romanized version of Mandarin. Prior to that, there were several different methods to sound out Chinese characters using English letters. Over the years, pinyin has become the standard around the world for those wishing to learn to properly pronounce Mandarin Chinese. This is how Peking became Beijing (which a more accurate pronunciation) in pinyin. Using characters, people simply know that that character is pronounced with a certain tone. In Romanized pinyin, many words suddenly had the same spelling, and it became necessary to designate tones within the word to differentiate them. Tones are of vital importance in Chinese. Depending on the choice of tone, you could be calling for your mother (maÌ„) or your horse (mă). Heres a brief introduction on the five vowel tones in the Mandarin language using the many words that are spelled ma. First Tone: ˉ This tone is designated by a straight line over the vowel (maÌ„) and is pronounced flat and high like the ma in Obama. Second Tone:  ´ This tones symbol is an upward slant from right to left over the vowel (maÃŒ ) and begins in the mid-tone, then rises to a high tone, as if asking a question. Third Tone: ˇ This tone has a V-shape over the vowel (mă) and starts low then goes even lower before it rises to a high tone. This is also known as falling-rising tone. Its as if your voice is tracing a check mark, starting at the middle, then lower then high. Fourth Tone: This tone is represented by a downward slant from right to left over the vowel (maÌ€) and begins in a high tone but falls sharply with a strong guttural tone at the end like you are mad. Fifth Tone: †§ This tone is also known as the neutral tone. Has no symbol over the vowel (ma) or is sometimes preceded with a dot (†§ma) and is pronounced flatly without any intonation. Sometimes its just slightly softer than first tone. There is another tone as well, used only for certain words and is designated by an umlaut or  ¨ or two dots over the vowel (lü). The standard way of explaining how to pronounce this is to purse your lips and say ee then end in an oo sound. Its one of the hardest Chinese tones to master so it may help to find a Chinese-speaking friend and ask them to pronounce the word for green, and listen closely!

Comparing and Contrasting the Two Major American Political Parties Free Essays

In the United States there exists largely a dichotomy with respect to parties of political affiliation, and while other parties can and do exist, most people refer to the US as it is now as a â€Å"two-party state. † The two parties, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, have existed in our country for over one hundred fifty-three years each, and the struggle for power in which they both partake has been no small matter, becoming more and more hotly contested as time goes on. While both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party (GOP herein) seem starkly opposite at surface level, the two often have similar goals, aspirations and plans for our country, with the main point of contention being the methods by which such things are brought about. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparing and Contrasting the Two Major American Political Parties or any similar topic only for you Order Now Fiscally, the Democrats and GOP both want a free economy with as little national debt as sustainably possible, but, for the most part, the Democrats favor government action, and the GOP favors private action. With respect to social policy, the Democrats favor more progressive legislation, and the GOP favors more traditional legislation. As the US stands currently, in a recession, no American could disagree that everyone’s goal for the economy is to get out of the recession. The real question is â€Å"How do we do it? † Republicans say that we should cut spending, cut taxes and allow those cuts in taxes to promote job creation in the private sector: jobs come from businesses, and when the people who own the businesses have more money, they can hire more people to do more work, which would raise GDP and reduce the national debt. Democrats say that we should raise taxes to increase revenue, and use the increased revenue to sponsor various economic stimuli to promote greater productivity and job creation. This sort of top-down/bottom-up perspective has led many Americans to believe the motivations of the two parties to be a conflict of social classes, with Republicans representing largely the rich, and Democrats representing largely the poor. Undoubtedly, the largest differences between the two major parties exist in the social platforms of each. The GOP is composed mostly of those who are socially conservative, the Democratic Party, of those who are socially liberal, but there are certainly those within each party whose beliefs vary. The Democratic Party generally supports legislation promoting social tolerance, i. e. policies which limit the government’s ability to tell any person what to do, provided that they not infringe upon the rights of others. This amounts to policies in favor of things gay marriage and marijuana legalization and policies opposed to abortion restrictions, welfare drugs tests and public funding of religious institutions and schools. The GOP generally supports social legislation which maintains the status quo, protecting the foundation of America which those before us have provided. In this manner, the GOP usually favors legislation that protects the sanctity of marriage (i. e. ne man, one woman), prevents drug addicts from receiving welfare and prevents people from harming themselves with drug use, and the GOP generally opposes legislation that would allow any of the previous things to occur. Interestingly, however, the GOP strongly supports the exercise of the Second Amendment to its fullest capacity, opposing almost any gun control law, while the Democrats generally favor gun control with respect to some of the more dangerously liable guns such as assault rifles or even some semi-automatic rifles. In terms of demographics and geography, the Democrats and Republicans are quite contrasting. By and large, the Republican Party is most powerful in the South and Midwest, while the Democratic Party gains its power mostly from the North and the West coast. Republicans are more likely to be older, more wealthy, more religious and white (though this obviously does not mean all Republicans are white). Democrats are more likely to be younger, more educated and more ethnically varied than the Republican Party. These snapshots into the average Democrat or the average Republican must be taken with a grain of salt, however, as demographics and geographic are not causes of the party composition, but merely correlations which have been concluded. While the Democrats and Republicans have long been considered bitter rivals, and for the most part it is true, the two major parties in America are not quite as disparate and incongruous as many would think. They both have the same major goals for the economy, but only the methodology differs. They have different ideas for social policy, stemming from the more religious and more secular worldviews which most Republicans and most Democrats respectively hold. With the differences aside from both, the Democrats and Republicans in political offices do come together to prevent the one which they fear most: the success of any third party. Both parties will stop at nothing to maintain whatever power they each have. How to cite Comparing and Contrasting the Two Major American Political Parties, Essay examples

My Last Duchess And Musee Des Beaux Arts Essays -

My Last Duchess And Musee Des Beaux Arts The Poems "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning and "Musee des Beaux Arts" by W.H. Auden describes how people don't care about each other and that world is cruel. In "My Last Duchess" the guy is talking the messenger from the duchess about how he killed his wife and was happy about it, whereas in "Musee des Beaux Arts" the kid is dying in water but his father or not even the people in the ship care about him, they just let him drown in the water and lastly the poem "The Sick Rose" by William Blake has perfect metaphor reflecting the behavior and feeling of a human being by comparing love to an invisible worm, which destroys people lives. This three poem reflects people just don't care about each other and people have lost the meaning of love. In "My Last Duchess" the guy is describing to his how he killed his ex-wife and that he was happy about it. He liked a girl and girl was beautiful and young. She liked to flirt around and liked everything in this world. She liked all men and women. She smiles at everyone and like everyone around her. She smiled at the guy too but he is not happy about it because he thinks that she is his woman and she should not look at anyone else except him. Even the guy said to the messenger that, "Will't Please you sit and look at her?" (Browning 550), which shows she was beautiful and one's eyes would just stare at her for a long time. He also said, "Her mantle laps Over my Lady's wrist too much," or "Paint Must never hope to reproduce the faint Half-flush that dies along her throat" Parekh 2 (Browning 550) which shows she was courteous, disciplined and beautiful. She had a good heart, which loved everyone and made everyone glad but the author did not like the fact she considers everyone same as him and that she does not pay more attention to him than others. The author also gave her a gift but she considered all the gifts as the same and did not differentiate between a bad and a good gift. In other she did not care about author's feeling and the love that author had for her. The author says, "Just this Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss, Or there you exceed the mark" (Browning 550) which represents that she treats everyone equal and did not give more importance to author. She considers author as one of nine hundred men that she likes. And after a while she passed the author without a smile, and that offended author because he really liked her and she did not cared about him. The guy was angry with the lady and he commanded his men to kill her to show his power over the lady. The guy says, "I gave commands; Then all the smiles stopped together." (Browning 550) this shows that the author proved his power over the lady by killing her. The guy wants her command over the lady so he killed her and now he is regretting for his deeds. And now he asks the lady in the picture to come back to him. He says, "Will't please your rise?"(Browning 550) this shows the guy cares from her now, after she is dead. This whole scenario reflects that people don't care about each other. The duchess loved everyone but the guy wanted her but did not achieve her so he Parekh 3 killed her. This is a selfish and cruel world we live in. People just don't understand the feeling and the type of relationship that the other person is trying to follow. On the other hand the poem "Musee des Beaux Arts" shows that people around the world don't care about each other even if the person is dying. The kids father made him a like wings out wax so he could fly but he warned him by saying not to fly near sun or near water, but the kid flew near the ocean water and the wax melted and the kid fell into the ocean and was drowning. Although the kid was drowning nobody was even trying to help him save. His father was busy ploughing the field he did not care either. The sheep were grazing; the dog was scratching himself on a tree; the sailor was sailing his ship he did

These 30 ROFL Steven Wrights Funniest Jokes Are Crazily Funny

These 30 ROFL Steven Wright's Funniest Jokes Are Crazily Funny The Persona of Steven Wright: Deadpan, Dead Serious Comedian When he walks up the stage, the lackadaisical strut which is a Steven Wright signature makes the audience lean forward in rapt attention.  They know that something really big is about to happen. He paces up and down the platform, seemingly in no hurry, and without making eye contact with his eager listeners. The build-up to this climax can only be satisfied by a one-liner from the ace comedian as he cracks his first joke: Thanks! The sudden burst of laughter among the audience tells you that the comedian has struck a chord. And with a deadpan expression, eyes searching the room, Steven Wright lands another gem from his collection: I got food poisoning today. I dont know when Ill use it. With this funny quip, he has nailed it. The audience is now enraptured. The evening has just begun. What Makes Steven Wright Such a Hit With His Audience? One of the things you will like about Steven Wright, the famous American comedian, is that he does not make ribald jokes on race or color. Most of his humor revolves around his observations of day-to-day life. With Steven Wrights humor, you can see how ludicrous our lifestyles and beliefs are. Why Steven Wright Is Like No Other Standup Comedian Steven Wrights deadpan facial expression adds to the humor. His wacky frazzled hair balding in the center, overgrowing on the sides contribute to his humorous persona. He comes across as a laid-back performer, who happened to accidentally walk on to the stage.  It only takes a minute for the audience to connect with him. Once he is on stage, Steven Wright is a transformed man. He ensures that his audience has a bellyful of laughs, and they keep asking for more. Steven Wright does not come across as a comedian who is trying hard to please. He looks like he sleepwalked his way into the show. But given that he puts up this act every time with aplomb, it is anybodys guess how much work he puts into making every act of his act seem like a masterpiece. Steven Wright Short and Funny Jokes Are Classic Humor What makes Steven Wright stand out from his contemporaries and predecessors, is that he can create a joke with the fewest words in them. His signature Thanks! at the beginning of his show is proof that you dont need too many words to create a great joke. In fact, too many words kill the essence of the joke, when you spell it out for the audience. Another of his characteristic short one liner is: Lost a buttonhole.What are imitation rhinestones?If I ever have twins, Id use one for parts.I was skydiving horizontally.Whats another word for Thesaurus?I xeroxed my watch. Now I have time to spare.Is tired old cliche one? Steven Wright has a gift of great observation. His jokes usually talk about the absurdities of life. They often make you think, Now, thats really funny. Why didnt I think of that joke? His great ability to use  paraprosdokians with perfect comic timing makes him an instant hit with his audience. The Comedian, Actor, Director, Grammy Award and Academy Award Winner Steven Wright is a man of many colors. In 1989,  he won an Academy Award for a 30-minute short film he co-wrote with Michael Armstrong titled, The Appointments of Dennis Jennings. Prior to this,  Wright created a comedy album in 1985, which was titled, I Have a Pony. The album was widely appreciated and even nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. Read Some of the Funniest Steven Wright Jokes Here are some gems of humor from the famous comedian. These Steven Wright jokes are great conversation starters. I have seen many of these lines used as ice-breakers in training sessions, speeches, and Facebook status updates. Spice up your essays with a punch of humor from these jokes. Right now Im having amnesia and deja vu at the same time.One time, the police stopped me for speeding, and they said, Dont you know the speed limit is 55 miles an hour? I said, Yeah, I know, but I wasnt gonna be out that long.I broke a mirror in my house. Im supposed to get seven years bad luck, but my lawyer thinks he can get me five.The

How to Write a Descriptive Observational Essay

How to Write a Descriptive Observational Essay Your first task in writing a descriptive essay is to choose a topic that has many interesting parts or qualities to talk about. Unless you have a really vivid imagination, youll find it difficult to write much about a simple object like a comb, for example. Its best to compare a few topics first to make sure theyll work. The next challenge is to figure out the best way to describe your chosen subject in such a way as to relay a complete experience to the reader, so that he or she is able to see, hear, and feel through your words. Organize Thoughts Before Drafting As in any writing, the drafting stage is key to writing a successful descriptive essay. Since the purpose of the essay is to paint a mental image of a specific subject, it helps to make a list of all the things you associate with your topic. For example, if your subject is the farm where you visited your grandparents as a child you would list all the things you associate with that place. Your list should include both general attributes associated with a farm and the more personal and specific things that make it special to you and the reader. Start with general details CornfieldsPigsCowsGardenFarmhouseWell Then add the unique details: That spot by the pig barn where you fell in the manure.Playing hide and seek in the cornfields.Picking wild greens for dinner with your grandmother.The stray dogs that always wandered onto the farm.Scary coyotes howling in the night. By tying these details together you can make the essay more relatable to the reader. Making these lists will allow you to see how you can tie things from each list together. Describing Descriptions   At this stage, you should determine a good order for the objects youll describe. For example, if you are describing an object, you should determine whether you want to describe its appearance from top to bottom or side to side. Remember that it is important to begin your essay on a general level and work your way down to specifics. Start by outlining a simple five-paragraph essay with three main topics. Then you may expand on this basic outline. Next, you will begin to construct a thesis statement and a trial topic sentence for each main paragraph. The thesis sentence should convey your overall impression of your subject. Does it make you happy? Is it attractive or ugly? Is your object useful?Each topic sentence should introduce a new part or stage of your chosen topic. Dont worry, you can change these sentences later. Its time to start writing paragraphs! Beginning to Draft As you build your paragraphs, you should avoid confusing the reader by bombarding them with unfamiliar information immediately; you must ease your way into your topic in your introductory paragraph. For example, instead of saying, The farm was where I spent most summers holidays. During the summer we played hide and seek in the cornfields and walked through the cow pastures to pick wild greens for supper. Nana always carried a gun for snakes. Instead, give the reader a broad view of your subject and work your way into the details. A better example would be: In a small rural town in central Ohio was a farm surrounded by miles of cornfields. In this place, on many warm summer days, my cousins and I would run through the cornfields playing hide and seek or making our own crop circles as clubhouses. My grandparents, whom I called Nana and Papa, lived on this farm for many years. The old farmhouse was large and always full of people, and it was surrounded by wild animals. I spent many of my childhood summers and holidays here. It was the family gathering place. Another simple rule of thumb to remember is show dont tell. If you want to describe a feeling or action you should reinvent it through the senses rather than just state it. For example, instead of: I got excited every time we pulled into the driveway of my grandparents house. Try to elaborate on what was really going on in your head: After sitting for several hours in the back seat of the car, I found the slow crawl up the driveway to be absolute torture. I just knew Nana was inside waiting with freshly baked pies and treats for me. Papa would have some toy or trinket hidden somewhere but he would pretend not to recognize me for a few minutes just to tease me before he gave it to me. As my parents would struggle to pry the suitcases out of the trunk, I would bounce all the way up the porch and rattle the door until someone finally let me in. The second version paints a picture and puts the reader in the scene. Anyone can be excited. What your reader needs and wants to know is, what makes it exciting? Keep It Specific Finally, dont try to cram too much into one paragraph. Use each paragraph to describe a different aspect of your subject. Check to make sure that your essay flows from one paragraph to the next with good transition statements. The conclusion of your paragraph is where you can tie everything together and restate the thesis of your essay. Take all the details and summarize what they mean to you and why it is important.