How to write a bombdiggity literature review or research paper in three easy steps.

1.      Do the research first. If you have a general topic research will help you refine your topic. While doing research, create 3 ½ inch file cards for each resource with the name of the resource, the information that you think will be useful to your paper, and maybe even a quote or two that really strikes your fancy. I like to number the cards (say you need 15 resources for your paper, you would have 15 cards).

2.      Do your bibliography first. There are lots of great tools for this, but I use KnightCite off the Calvin College website – there is a link to it from CMU’s library site:  ocls.cmich.edu. If you have that bibliography cited and formatted you will love yourself later for being so organized.

3.      Break the paper into sections: Introduction, body (or literature review), and conclusion and decide how long each section should be. With your research easily accessible, you can pound that bad boy out in a few hours. When citing resources I just put the number of the appropriate 3 ½ file card at the end of the sentence where the citation goes. Then after the paper is written, I go back and enter in the name and date APA style. Its easy as pie and I like pie.

Sunday, September 27, 2009 4:36:55 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  
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I don't have too much to chat about right now - I'm on break until the end of August and am relishing the free time and relaxation. I was feeling pretty burnt out at the end of the Summer I semester. Now, I'm getting geared up for Fall I and I'm surprised that I'm getting excited about it! I enjoy the stimulus of learning new information and figuring out how to apply it in the workplace.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 10:16:37 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  
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I love this website - www.mindtools.com. It is a great resource for nuggets of information about time management, stress management, creativity and more. Today I read this quote, "Concentrate on results, not being busy." This is such a great concept to apply to schoolwork. Sometimes when there is a BIG project to work on we allow ourselves to get sidetracked by little, unimportant things. We would rather tackle these small, easily accomplished tasks than deal with the uncertainty and apprehension of our BIG task. For example, I had a 4000 page paper to write and I spent so much time fruiting around with my research and notes that I ended up writing the brunt of the paper the night it was due. (I hope my professor doesn't read this) I allowed my apprehension about this BIG project to guide my actions, and worked on "busywork" instead of striving for the results as I should have. So, don't let fear get you down, tackle that BIG project and get some results! Carpe Diem!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 12:24:07 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  
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Hello Friends and Happy Fourth of July weekend!

Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a girl who never thought she would finish college. Then she met a wonderful man who encouraged her to pursue her dreams. Not only did she finish her bachelor's degree, she went on to work on her Masters degree! While she was going to school, her hubby decided he would go to school (here I will interject with a platitude - upon marriage some people say that two people can live as cheaply as one - as a student that whole scene just really doesn't work out). Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, her hubby decided to go to school and she had a lovely time planning his courses (she was the organized one) and finding cheap books on Amazon. The end.

I'm just kidding, that's not the end. When a husband and a wife attend school at the same time and support each other it is a wonderful thing. However, it can be a strain. Sometimes we both need to be on the internet at the same time. Sometimes we need to buy an expensive textbook and it puts a strain on our resources (the expensive textbooks are always his for some reason). Sometimes we get crabby and snap at each other because papers are due and we are feeling overworked and underfunned (I just made that word up, feel free to use it yourself). Sometimes, I resent the fact that I work full-time and he works part-time. So, my advice to married couples attending school together follows:

• Never argue about anything that you won't give a crap about in five years. When you think about it this way you are more likely to look for the optimal compromise than trying to "win" every tiny squabble.
• Don't procrastinate about schoolwork - it puts a strain on you and a strain on your partner.
• Don't give up! You (and your partner) didn't come this far to give up now - have faith in your own abilities and your spouse's abilities.

Wednesday, July 01, 2009 1:13:43 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  
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I think one of the things about being "off campus" is that we don't always ask for help when we need it. We work, we have families, and we're used to doing things for ourselves. Going to school doesn't have to be a solo effort though, and CMU makes it easy to get help. The library services for off-campus students are a great example. Do you know they will read your papers and make suggestions? Or that you can ask for help with research through the online portal? When I started at CMU we were lucky enough to have an instructor who knew how helpful these services are and scheduled a librarian to come tell our class about their services. I was really impressed! So, ask for help! There are so many people and services for off-campus students, its silly not to use them!

Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:54:25 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  
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