Students on Twitter: Why You Must Join and How to Start
It seems hard to put the genie back in the bottle. It has something to do with college students being hooked to social media and Twitter in particular. It's not a bad thing, as they can use this app to renew their enthusiasm in coursework.
It's not true that there's no joy in studying especially paper writing. If you want to lessen your time in researching, then log on to Twitter. Don't be surprised if your professors have their own Twitter accounts and post links to resources that are related to your assignments. This is another way of exchanging ideas, if not points of view, and it can be an enriching experience for open-minded individuals. It's another thing if you decide to follow your professors, though. It's OK if you don't follow their accounts, as you rather not be guarded all the time. You must be aware that Twitter is like traveling through different worlds, getting lost after learning new ideas. Think of Lyra and Will, the protagonists of "His Dark Materials" trilogy, standing outside at midday and watching as the bright daylight fade and dim until an eerie twilight covers the houses, trees, and park. It must not be confused with your favorite "Games of Throne" character warning everyone, including the viewers, about the coming of winter. It would make you nervous, as wintertime could make the pandemic much worse. And then you heard the honking of horns and the banging of pots and pans. The exhausting wait for the election results has come to an end. You looked at the window and saw your neighbor carrying a rainbow-colored flag that read PACE. You were confused until it dawned on you that she hailed from Italy. (PACE is the Italian word for PEACE.) It would be refreshing to listen to a grownup, your old man said. You compared Donald Trump's tweets to an abyss, where there was a huge space down there. You don't like it, and you wished that you could close it up. The administrators (of Twitter) somehow did it.
It's time to sigh a relief and look at Twitter in a different, if not positive, light.
6 Tips for Tweeting (and Starting a Conversation)
Select your areas of interest and add a few more in the "About You" section. You initially like to follow your course mates, so you can make your account private. It's a good start. As a matter of fact, it's ideal in your current situation. (Your professor asked you to write an essay on Henry James. You wanted to analyze "The Turn of the Screw" after watching "The Haunting of Bly Manor" on Netflix. It happened that one of your course mates was thinking of the same thing. Your professor can approve both of you writing about it. You had a hunch that your other coursemate might not have seen "The Innocents", Jack Clayton's big-screen adaptation of the novella, after checking his tweets.) This exercise requires a flexible approach, and you can benefit from following other accounts. It doesn't have to be users who are huge fans of Modern Literature or those who have extensive knowledge of Gothic fiction. Think of loneliness, of being different from the rest. You can relate to it, if not there's a student in the dorm who feels that way. The same thing applies to teenagers struggling with anxiety and cabin fever. It's not uncommon during the pandemic.
Find resources, if not create it. And then share it. Learning wouldn't be fun and rewarding if you don't share it with other users. This act of generosity can inspire other (college) students - and enlighten them. It can be a link to a news feature, which you find more than interesting than the others. It can also be a passage from a book that you read not long ago ("I just have to keep up on not knowing" - "Serpentine"). You must not worry about your course mates getting some ideas for the next assignment. (That is the idea behind it.) If you meander the Internet long enough, then you can create your own.
Resources also give you some practical ideas. It doesn't have to be a description of the northern lands, which will prompt you to wonder if there will be a Christmas Fair (next month). Think of how to become a better college essay paper writer after reading a number of articles from The New Yorker. It would make you wonder if double-major students are a miserable bunch. (You can't imagine having essays for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.) Some students rather look at it as a new perspective, which you agree.
Always change the topic of conversation. One of your followers shared a link to an informative article on spider plants. They can reduce indoor pollutants, which give you an idea. (You can make passing on it on your next assignment. "The Amber Spyglass"? Persuade your professor.) It can also be your dorm mate's remark about pizza as a way of life. (Everyone will agree on that.) It might be a compelling news report on low-income families to be given $400 a month. (Your tutor seems to know of someone in your department.) Outside views will make you look at your essay papers differently. It should help you lengthen your essays, if not add a thought or two that can pique your professors' curiosity. Don't be hesitant to try it.
Think before you post. Not all users will share your enthusiasm for Philip Pullman's works, even if you post some links on some (scholarly) articles on Metatron in popular culture. But be mindful of your Ps and Qs. (Your professors might see it.) It's better to keep your political views to yourself. (The election results have shown how divisive we are.) And your obsession with harpies and the land of the dead may turn off some horror film buffs. The pandemic would be enough. In the meantime.
Use hashtags. If your post is related to books, then #teamliterature is a good start. It doesn't have to be a trending topic (like Trump), if not essential hashtag(s) that other students will keep on using. It won't take a minute to figure out the other hashtags that you can use (in this exercise). It pays to be creative, as it can connect you to a fascinating mind. You can learn more from this user.
Still Waiting
Some tweets won't get likes and comments, if not retweet. Don't get upset over this minor detail. You can tweet about air quality and ventilation in your department, but make sure that it's related to molds, stuffy air, or scratchy throats. It can also be a lesson on soaking your toothbrush in flour and warm water. (A Chemistry major might be clueless on Becky Sprague.) You can also organize the "Guess Our First Snow" Contest (December 1? December 12? December 30?). Changing topics will lead to more followers. Narrow it down later. Questions?
