Q: Find qualities that you admire in others and that you want to learn. If you can't think of any right away, think of people that you wish you were like and think about what it is about them that you like. Are they kind? Ambitious? Hard working? These are qualities you should look for. Think about the things that you don't like about yourself. Don't focus on things like your weight, because your body is really just the container you're in, it's not who you are. Things like weight should be tackled after changing stuff like your attitude towards others, your work ethic, and your skills. Think about what you want to change. These have to be things that you really do want to change. It's true what they say: the first part of solving a problem is admitting that you have one. Figure out what really means the most to you and what would be motivating enough to change your lifestyle. Talk to others that you trust, like lovers, friends, and family members. Tell them what you want to change about your life and why. They might have some good insight that can help you in bettering yourself, as well as a clearer view of who you are as a person. Start with small goals. Don't start with something like "stop smoking". Instead, try "smoke less". Breaking goals up into smaller goals will help keep you motivated and make your goals more realistic. Think about where these goals sit in your life priorities. This can really change how much effort you put into bettering yourself. If you don't set a deadline for a change, the goal will feel unreal and intangible, and you'll be less likely to complete it. Start! Don't just think about goals or what you want to do, go out and do them!
A: Identify qualities you admire. Identify your flaws. Decide what you want to change. Get input. Start small, work up. Decide on a timeline. Follow through.

Q: Make sure the bowl is large enough to hold the amount of hot dogs you want to cook. A glass or plastic microwave-safe bowl works fine. Use a fork to remove them from the hot water and drain the dogs on a paper towel before serving.
A: Fill a microwave-safe bowl half-full with water. Drain the hot dogs.

Q: This process is fairly simple, and you'll be able to use the jig every time you want to cut a piece of wood. Use a sheet of 1/4" plywood as your base. Cut a piece about 10" wide and about 4' long.(If your project is much larger, make the base longer to provide more stability.) Cut a piece of 3/4" plywood to form a "fence." The fence should be a few inches wider than the width of your saw's motor and should be as long as your base. Align the base and the fence at the ends and one long edge. Use wood glue and screws to glue the base and the fence together. Clamp the jig to the edge of a work table. If you don't have one, you can secure a large sheet of plywood to two sawhorses and clamp the jig to the edge of that. Align your circular saw with the fence and cut along the base. This will trim any excess and make sure the jig fits your particular saw perfectly. Mark the line you want to cut on the back side of the piece of wood: this will keep the front of the wood from splintering. Align the cutting jig with the line you just marked. Clamp the jig to the wood. Place the "good side" of the wood face-down. Circular saws cut clockwise, which means that most of the splintering happens on the side of the wood facing the blade. Pushing the saw away from you, move the saw steadily and slowly along the jig. You should have a straight cut!
A: Create a cutting jig for your saw. Use a pencil and a straightedge to mark your line on the wood. Place the wood and cutting jig on sawhorses or a work table. Align your saw with the fence on your jig.

Q: Organize the essay by creating a brief outline. Do this in sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. The standard is to have a five paragraph essay, one paragraph for introduction, three paragraphs for body, and one for conclusion. But you can also try having sections instead, allowing you to have as many paragraphs as you want for the body section of the essay. If you are writing the essay for a class, your instructor should specify if they want a five paragraph essay or if you have the freedom to use sections instead. A thesis statement is the key idea or theme for the essay. It states the purpose of the essay and acts as a guide for the rest of the essay. The thesis statement should appear in your introduction and be restated in your conclusion. For example, if you were writing a descriptive essay about your mother, you may have a thesis statement like: "In many ways, my mother is the reigning queen of our house, full of contradictions that we are too afraid to question." The introduction to the descriptive essay should set the scene and introduce the reader to the subject. Use the list of sensory details to describe the subject. Have a strong opening line that grabs the reader's attention. Then, end the introduction with your thesis statement. For example, if you were writing the essay about your mom, you may start with: "My mother is not like other mothers. She is a fierce protector and a mysterious woman to my sisters and I." If you were writing an essay about an object, you may start with: "Try as I might, I had a hard time keeping my pet rock alive." Use adjectives that express emotion. Be as specific as you can. For example, rather than use a broad adjective like "angry," go for a specific adjective like "rageful" or "tempestuous." Choose adjectives that will paint a clear image in the reader's mind. You can also use adjectives that connect to the senses, such "rotting," "bright," "hefty," "rough," and "pungent." For example, you may describe your mother as "bright," "tough," and "scented with jasmine." Metaphors are when you compare one thing to another. Use metaphors to show the reader what you think about the topic, rather than simply tell the reader how you feel. For example, rather than tell the reader, "My mother sacrificed a lot for us," you can use a metaphor like, "My mother is a workhorse. She hasn't taken a vacation in decades." You can also use similes, where you use "like" or "as" to compare one thing to another. For example, you may write, "My mother is like a fierce warrior in battle, if the battlefield were PTA meetings and the checkout line at the grocery store." Do not be afraid to express your emotions in your essay. Use first person "I" to discuss your feelings about the subject in detail. Do you feel joy, sadness, angry, or disgust with the subject? How do you respond emotionally to the subject? For example, you may write about your complicated feelings about your mother. You may note that you feel sadness about your mother's sacrifices for the family and joy for the privileges you have in your life because of her. Your conclusion should tie all the thoughts in your essay together. Restate your thesis statement in the conclusion and end with a strong final sentence. Do not add anything new to your essay in the conclusion. Simply evaluate your thoughts in the essay and wrap things up with a short, final statement. For example, you may end a descriptive essay about your mother by noting, "In all that she has sacrificed for us, I see her strength, courage, and fierce love for her family, traits I hope to emulate in my own life."
A:
Outline the essay in sections. Create a thesis statement. Write a strong introduction. Describe the topic with vivid adjectives. Use metaphors and similes. Discuss your emotions and thoughts about the topic. Wrap up the essay with a strong conclusion.