Nebamun’s garden, fragment of a scene from the tomb-chapel of Nebamun (Around 1350 B.C.)

Back in March, we featured a post on how to research performing arts topics and we wanted to follow it up with a brief exploration into a few of the most well-received art history books and articles ever written. Art history majors might be intrigued to learn more about the recent contemporary art sale at Christie’s, which established 16 new world records with works by 20^th century modern art painters Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jean-Michel Basquiat selling for a combined $638.6 million.

We’ve included an excellent selection from the Questia archives to help students with their art history papers and finals but wanted to share additional works that might peak your interest.  In the words of E.H. Gombrich, author of The Story of Art, one of the most comprehensive books ever written on the subject of art history, “there really is no such thing as Art. There are only artists. “

Our understanding of art has evolved over thousands of years dating back to prehistoric times when early man first began painting or drawing pictures on cave walls.  What Gombrich maintains in his seminal work is how people today must take and review art on its own terms. For example, while discussing the various visual perspectives painted by the artist of “Nebamun’s garden, “ Gombrich says what mattered most to Egyptian painters was not prettiness but completeness. It was the artist’s task to preserve everything as clearly and permanently as possible.  Egyptian painters, therefore, did not set out to sketch nature as it appeared to them from any fortuitous angle, according to Gombrich.

In our continuous goal to serve undergraduates with the highest quality content, our librarians have selected five of some of the most influential and popular art history books and articles from the Questia archive and we’re making them available to you now.

Contemporary Art

Globalizing Contemporary Art: The Art World’s New Internationalism.

Associate Editor: Lotte Philipsen

Associate Editor Lotte Philipsen’s central theme is the globalization of the world of contemporary art. In particular, Lotte asks: How has ‘New Internationalism’ in the visual arts challenged the traditional Eurocentric paradigm of the art world?  The ‘New internationalism’, for Philipsen, places the achievements of the majority cultures of the world into the discourses, the exhibitions and the history of contemporary visual arts.

Medieval Art

Word and Image: An Introduction to Early Medieval Art.

Author: William J. Diebold

Author William Diebold writes about the nature of visual art in Europe north of the Alps from 600 to 1050.  Diebold’s book provides a conceptual foundation, the relationship between word and image in early Medieval art. This theme or relationship plays a pivotal role because in the early Middle Ages, writing and pictures were inextricably linked.

Asian Art

Early Buddhist Art of China and Central Asia. Volume: 1.

Author: Marylin Martin Rhie

Author Marilyn Martin Rhie explores the beginnings of Buddihsm and Buddhist art in China, which being obscure, present a challenge to decipher from the existing fragmentary evidences. Early Chinese Buddhist art has been vaguely understood but thanks to new materials and historical studies emerging from China over the last two decades, it is time to reassess the art from these early periods.

Women Artists

“Great Women Artists: A Conversation with Catherine Morris.” Afterimage

Author: Harry J. Weil

Author Harry Weil features an interview/discussion on the topic of feminist art. Weil interviews the third director and curator of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist art at the Brooklyn Museum, Catherine Morris.  According to Morris, “the participation and influence of women in the art is enormous.”

Art Forgery

“In the World of Forgery, No Work Is Sacred.” Art Business News

Author: Barden Prisant

The author writes about the worldwide problem of art forging. In the art world, forgery can occur in all categories from paintings to sculptures to prints and collectibles. According to U.S. memorabilia publisher, Ken Thimmel, the FBI estimates that fully 70% of the signed memorabilia in circulation is phony.

Richard Huish College Exam Hall

Not many of us like tests. But testing has long been seen as the best means for assessing intelligence and what students have learned from their instructors. So how is that view affected by the possibility of grade inflation in college? And is grade inflation really a problem, or has its impact been blown out of proportion?

Boosting learning

The whole purpose of college, and education in general, is for people to walk away with a certain mastery of a subject, as well as the ability to process new information as it comes to them. Professors, therefore, test to see if their students have an understanding of the materials and what areas might warrant more study. But is that the best way to boost learning?

“‘Cheating’ Can Be An Effective Learning Strategy” posted by Tania Lombrozo on NPR’s blog on May 20, 2013, looks at how UCLA ecologist Peter Nonacs sought to increase learning for his behavioral ecology class students by allowing them to use peers, books and the Internet to give the best answers to exam questions. Nonacs viewed it as students changing their learning goal, from getting a better score than their classmate, to providing the best answer.

Adopting mastery goals like these that focus on improving one’s own competence, according to Lombrozo’s post, might lead to greater learning and increase students’ willingness to tackle hard problems. She concludes, “So conceptualizing tests as opportunities for learning – consistent with a mastery goal – can itself improve learning, even if the tests take more traditional forms.”

Assessing intelligence … and grades

And with tests come grades. According to a new study, “Is the Sky Falling? Grade Inflation and the Signaling Power of Grades,” about grade inflation, the worry has been around for more than a century, with a Harvard University committee issuing a report on their concerns about the topic back in 1894. Scott Jaschik shared details on this new study in his May 20, 2013, post, “Missing the (Grade) Point” on Inside Higher Ed. The study published in Educational Researcher found that college GPAs had actually declined over the 30-year period of 1972 to 1992, from 2.73 to 2.33. Meanwhile, Jaschik sought a second opinion from Stuart Rojstaczer, a retired professor at Duke University, who believes that his research, and the data of others, shows that grade inflation is, in fact, a serious concern for higher education.

The downside of competitiveness

Whether or not grade inflation is a real concern, one issue that does seem to be pervasive for today’s college student is an increased level of stress because of grades. Higher Education in Transition: The Challenges of the New Millenium by Joseph Losco and Brian L. Fife, available at Questia.com, looked at a number of factors that have influenced higher education since 1966, from the women’s movement to a change in students’ values. Student stress is also one. They write that “there is good reason to believe that student stress may also have been exacerbated by competitiveness.”

Losco and Fife’s research shows that grade inflation is real and that it “has had an effect on students’ expectations.” They find that between 1990 and 1996, the number of freshmen with an A- or higher increased by nearly half (from 22.6 to 31.5 percent), and those with a C+ or lower went down from 19.2 to only 14.6 percent. What’s more a record number of students believe they will at least achieve a B average.

Interested in learning more about grade inflation? Questia.com has a range of full-text books and articles you can read on the topic. Assessing intelligence is undeniably complex. Testing will probably always be a part of the equation, despite any worries students and others may have about grade inflation in college.

Is testing a fair way to assess intelligence? Are colleges and universities inflating grades? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.

Here’s a checklist of things to do before handing in your term paper:

1) Don’t write a high school paper.

This is college now. The tricks you learned in high school to write a paper won’t cut it in the more academic world of college. “Old formulae, such as the five-paragraph theme, aren’t sophisticated or flexible enough to provide a sound structure for a college paper. And many of the old tricks — such as using elevated language or repeating yourself — will fail you now,” noted Karen Gocsik in “What is an academic paper?” on the Dartmouth Writing Program site at Dartmouth.edu.

2) Make an outline and follow it.

So it doesn’t sound like you’re rambling through 10-15 pages, do some research first, get a good idea of what you want to write about, make an outline and stick to it. This will make your paper sound professional.

3) Ask your teacher.

Pay attention to directions if your teacher or professor tells you exactly what he/she wants: How many pages, on what topic, how many sources needed.

4) Go with your research.

Research today is easier than ever with electronic resources. In addition to Google and Bing (stay away from Wikipedia), there are Worldcat.org, InfoTrac, OneFile, LexisNexis Academic, EBSCOHost and ProQuest. You can also find professional journals and international books and periodicals. Consult your school librarian or city librarian.

5) Evaluate the credibility of scientific information.

If your paper is for a science, medical, health or engineering class, make sure your science and math are correct. No one likes sloppy science. Get your information from a credible source, not from a place that has an agenda or passes off personal experiences or public relations as real science. “Unethical lobbying groups who have particular political or business interests can take advantage of this, and work to perpetuate the disconnect between scientific and public understandings,” reported Kristen St. John in “The Need to Teach about Ethics and Science, and the Credibility of Sources,” in Journal of Geoscience Education, February 2013, found in Questia.com.

6) Don’t plagiarize.

Yes, you’ve heard it before. But it’s really true. Plagiarism gets you nowhere. You need to learn to write your own ideas in a clear and persuasive manner. And, professors are on to you — they know how to scan your paper into plagiarism detection software. Matt Petronzio’s August 29, 2012, article “How to Detect Plagiarism Online” in Mashable.com highlights ten online services that check text for plagiarism, including TurnItIn, Viper and PlagiarismChecker.com, all geared toward college term papers.

7) Check spelling and grammar.

Don’t forget to spell check. But also don’t forget to proofread your paper. Your spell checker doesn’t know the difference between synonyms and homonyms. If your grammar is a bit fuzzy or English is not your first language, ask a friend to read over your paper for good measure. A second set of eyes never hurts.

8) Use term paper format.

In addition to grammar and spelling, presentation is important. For easy reading and so the teacher has room to make comments, format your paper with:

• an easy-to-read serif font, such as Times New Roman
• one-inch margins, double-spaced text
• a header or footer on each page with your name, paper title, page number and course name
• on plain standard white 8 ½ x 11 paper (no onion skin, pink paper with hearts or resume paper).

What are your tips for writing a high-quality term paper?

Study better next time

Maybe midterms didn’t go the way you planned. You realize you need to review test taking tips and attack the problem from a different angle. Here are few tips:

• Talk to the professor. Discuss the important points of the class material and how you can concentrate on those. If possible, bring your midterm and go over the questions you got wrong.
• Study with a buddy. Get tutored by a peer who understands the material. Ask each other sample test questions.
• Take a deep breath. It’s not the end of the world. Get a pizza, play a video game, unwind. This is a chance to learn from our mistakes and aim to improve our grade on the next test.

Study scientifically

Benedict Carey in the New York Times reported in “Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits,” September 6, 2010, that some counter-intuitive methods of studying actually work.

• Alternate your study location. Being in different environments helps improve retention of class material.
• Vary the material you’re studying. Do a little reading, then some vocabulary, then some math or problem solving. The different ways of thinking stimulate the brain. Nate Kornell, a psychologist at WilliamsCollege, explained that this strategy undermines the common assumption that intensive immersion is the best way to really master a particular genre, or type of creative work.
• Study in chunks. Don’t cram all at once. Space out your studying over a period of time to let your brain absorb the information slowly.

Take harder classes next term

Hey, maybe you aced your midterm exams. You’re really getting the hang of college, good study habits and taking tests. Why not challenge yourself to be the best you can be? See if there are one or two harder classes you can take next term. An organic chemistry class, a physics or math class, or just a more advanced version of an elective. Attempting a difficult class helps us learn to tackle challenging tasks and develop coping skills and strategies.

The age-old question arises: Should we take easy classes we know we can get better grades on, or take more challenging classes and possibly get lower grades? Which is better? “Taking too many easy classes can be construed that you can’t handle difficult subject matter,” said a blogger in the article “Are Harder College Classes Better For You Than Easier Ones?” on Tutorii.com. “[Then] there are times where you can garner more respect because you did take a challenging class that few others would take. It depends on how you present the academic record to potential interviewers.”

Improve your GPA

The general rule is two hours of study for every one hour spent in class. But to improve a grade point average (GPA), a whole lotta studying needs to happen. Professor Carl Zulaf of OhioStateUniversity found that a 40-hour increase in weekly studying was needed to achieve a one-letter increase in quarterly GPA. “A lifestyle change has to happen before an impact is made on a student’s grades,” said Zulaf in “Studying Still the Key to Academic Success,” in USA Today, April 2001 found on Questia.com. “The ability to use time is positively related to academic performance. But it takes a lot of commitment by a student to significantly increase the number of hours he studies.”

How did you do on your midterms? Do you think you’ll sign up for a harder class next term?

A lecture played on a Video iPod, via AV output onto an analog TV screen (Photo credit: Tama Leaver)

Lecture capture technology is an assistive technology in the classroom that allows teachers to record their lectures digitally for future replay. The technology uses screenshot software to record PowerPoint slides and notes or uses webcams to video full lectures and demonstrations. The benefits of this technology include student ability to review missed material and improve study habits; while detractors say it’s just another way for students to learn passively.

What is lecture capture technology?

Lecture capture is a way for instructors to record classroom lectures. Recordings can be just audio, audio with PowerPoint slides, cursor movements that track on-screen computer activity or a full webcam video recording. Playback can be on various devices such as iPods, computer screens or YouTube. Once recorded, teachers can edit material for clarity or removal of extraneous interruptions, and lectures can be uploaded within 24 hours. Information can be stored for a long time for future use by in-house students or off-campus students. According to consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, the lecture capture business was more than $70 million in 2011.

Benefits of lecture capture for students:

• Watch captured lectures to catch up if class is missed
• Review pertinent lectures for tests, research or term paper projects
• Repeat parts of lectures that were difficult or too fast to grasp during class
• Watch complicated demonstrations (i.e. for medical classes)
• Learn in a medium young adults are familiar with
• Cater to flexible student schedules
• Share classroom material with peers.

Benefits of lecture capture for teachers:

• Use the recorded lectures for online or remote classes
• Trim and edit lectures for concise 10-15-minute snippets of information
• Supplement resources to lectures
• Offer students more information outside of class
• Use for faculty training
• Collaborate with other instructors for a blended presentation
• Record presentations by visiting guest speakers and subject matter experts.

Unique uses for lecture capture technology

“Many students have the same questions on class material. Rather than write 15 emails back responding to student questions, I can screen capture a quick mini-lecture or example of the problem and provide to those students,” said Geri Mason, assistant professor of Economics at Seattle Pacific University, reported in “5 Innovative Ways to Use Lecture Capture Technology,” University Business, November 2012 found on Questia.com.

Drawbacks to lecture capture

Not everyone is singing the praises of lecture capture technology. Education technology expert Mark Smithers laid out some drawbacks of the practice in his March 11, 2011 blog article, “Is lecture capture the worst educational technology?”:

• Watching recordings of lectures perpetuates the passive learning experience. Smithers prefers more hands-on learning.
• The technology does not engage the student any more than sitting in a lecture hall does.
• Traditional class lectures are much too long for students to re-watch another time.
• Funding for lecture capture equipment could be put to better use. According to Tegrity Campus, lecture capture services can start at $10,000 for 250 hours, and about 80 percent of total cost of ownership is from online management and maintenance.

Other disadvantages:

• Lecture capture should not be a substitute for attending class and may encourage students to skip class.
• Teachers rely too much on the recordings and don’t explore or develop more modern teaching methods.

On the legal side, Educause Learning Initiative discussed some legal issues in a December 2008 post titled “7 things you should know about Lecture Capture.” “Some question who is responsible for providing the recording resources and who owns the intellectual property once the recording has been made. Using these systems for classes, conferences, and guest speakers might require a legal release…” reports ELI.

Other concerns are storage of the recordings, infrastructure when playing the recordings and using equipment, who should have access to the recordings and if the recordings should play on faculty websites.

What are the highest paying jobs in the US?

Let’s cut to the chase. Jobs in the medical field are the answer to this question 90% of the time. According to a Yahoo! News article written by Danielle Kurtzleben on March 29, 2013, “The 10 highest-paid jobs in America,” anesthesiology tops the list with an annual salary of $232,830. Other professions that made the list include:

• Surgeons
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Orthodontists
• Psychiatrists

According to the article, “The only non-medical workers that make it onto the list are chief executives, who come in at No. 10 with around $177,000 in annual wages, or around 24 percent less than the anesthesiologists.”

Although it is obvious that medical careers compensate nicely, remember that these numbers are not starting salaries, but a general average of all the workers in the field. You should also remember that these careers require more than just a Bachelor’s Degree. However, if science or medicine is your cup of tea, it may well be worth looking into these fields, since even family practitioners average $180,850 a year.

But I don’t want to wait years for a decent salary

Although medical professions are worthwhile, it can take a significant amount of time to build up a salary base. If you are looking for more instant gratification, consider reading an article posted on Scholarships.com titled “Top 10 highest paying college majors.” A few that made their list include:

• Computer Science
• Finance
• Information Sciences and Systems
• Engineering (in a number of fields)

In fact, it seems like Engineering might just be the hot new job trend, especially for graduates in the near future. Meghan Casserly describes “The 10 best-paying college majors — and why business isn’t one of them” in her January 25, 2013, article for Forbes. According to Casserly, “a STEM degree could be the fast-track to financial and professional success every new grad is dreaming of.” Meaning that if you have a talent or passion for science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics, you may have a better chance of landing that dream job post-graduation. And a number of colleges are picking up on this trend.

Your major should highlight your skills

Although it would be great to aspire to become an anesthesiologist, if you faint at the sight of blood, you should probably consider a different career. Yes, it would be fabulous to earn a six-figure salary, but it’s also important to do something you love. So, when declaring your major, take some advice from an article titled “Pick a college major with the tight information why should you go to college?” written for the Daily Herald on March 24, 2013.

According to the article, “if you want to open up a wealth of opportunities for yourself as you begin your career, it is important that you make yourself as marketable as possible — by choosing a major in college that best suits you.”

Have you declared a major yet? If so, which did you decide on and why? If not, which ones are you leaning toward? Remember, giving others insight into your decisions may just help them make up their minds!

Exercise recommendations

The concern about obesity and exercise starts as early as elementary school. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommends 150 minutes of exercise a week for elementary-age kids and 225 minutes of physical education for middle and high school students. Unfortunately, only 30 percent of high school students meet that goal, and the figure is less than 20 percent for the grammar school set. It is no wonder that child obesity rates have doubled since 1980.

A study conducted by Brad Cardinal, a professor of exercise and sport science at Oregon State University, addresses this concern at the college level in “Study: Physical education at college level is in bad shape” by Jack Kelly, posted on February 25, 2013, for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about Cardinal’s conclusions. “In 1920, 97 percent of college students were required to take physical education, the study found. Today, only 39 percent are,” Kelly reports.

The changes for colleges in terms of physical education requirements have developed as a result of a relaxing of academic requirements that started in the 1980s. Money has influenced the cuts in K-12 schools. But as Cardinal shares, saving money by cutting kids’ physical education may be worse for the bottom line in the long term. “Medical expenses related to obesity are expected to cost $344 billion by 2018,” Cardinal shared.

Ready, set, sweat

College actually offers a lot of opportunities for physical activity, from the on-campus gym to simply walking to class. The website kidshealth.org suggests some ways to incorporate more activity in “Getting Exercise in College”:

• Bike or walk to class, the library or the store.
• Park farther away than you normally would and walk.
• Choose the dining hall on the far side of campus.
• Try stretching, marching in place or walking around during study breaks.
• Take the stairs.

If you do opt for the campus gym, try to search out options that make exercising fun. If you like an activity, you are more likely to want to keep doing it. Another great way to make exercise a regular part of your college life is to include a friend in your workouts. Not only will involving another person make you more accountable, it will also up the fun quotient of your exercise time.

Don’t forget, even if you aren’t a super athlete, colleges offer a range of intramural and club sports that you can join in on for a little physical activity, as well as some social interaction.

Need more reasons?

Still not convinced that an important part of your college experience includes physical education? How about if you knew that studies have shown that exercising can make you smarter? Laura Schwecherl blogs in “Can Exercise Make Us Smarter?” for Greatist.com that “In two experiments with college students, acute and high-impact cardio exercise was linked to increased vocabulary, learning and reaction time.”

The question still remains as to exactly how much time you need to spend on physical education as a college student to get the best mental results. However, the odds are in your favor that any amount of exercising will help boost your energy levels and focus, all of which can’t hurt when it comes time to hit the books.

Want to learn more about the importance of physical education or how you can add more exercise into your daily college life? Check out Questia and the Health and Medicine topic page in the library for even more information.

Communication Skills Lab (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Most liberal arts colleges, but not all, have core requirements — classes that you’re required to take before graduation. These requirements typically include a little bit of everything (English, math, science) to give you a well-rounded foundation of academic knowledge from which to base the rest of your college years. In these classes you’ll study history books, science books, economic articles, modern literature and even perhaps an art journal — all to help give you an education in a field that might not be your major. Learn what classes are essential for your major and for college graduation from liberal arts colleges.

Here is some advice from Patrick O’Connor, in the HuffingtonPost.com article “How Strong Is Your College Knowledge?” posted February 26, 2012: “Some colleges have graduation requirements, including specific core academic courses all students must take, while others have no core requirements at all. Make sure you know the expectations … and think about how much flexibility you want or need in your college experience — and remember, less structure isn’t always a good thing for everyone.”

What classes are included?

Introductory level courses in English and math are the most common. Basic English composition is necessary so you can compose papers and structure your thinking and writing. A course in public speaking prepares students to speak to peers, colleagues, teachers and community members intelligently and informatively. Proficiency in English and communication skills helps students studying humanities, arts, languages, business, social sciences and law.

Basic math courses in algebra and statistics help develop critical and analytical thinking. Proficiency in math skills is required for students pursuing engineering, science, finance, computer, business and medical studies. There may be other required classes, such as history, social sciences, economics, business, literature, philosophy and science. Usually you will be allowed to select one specific course in each subject (i.e. for a science requirement, you could choose between chemistry, biology, physics, etc.).

In “College Curriculum Competencies and Skills Former Students Found Essential to Their Careers” by Andrew A. Zekeri in the September 2004 issue of College Student Journal, a survey of former students revealed key college courses. “The key skills needed to improve their careers are oral communication, written communication, problem solving techniques, motivating and managing others, and setting personal and organizational goals. These competencies should be considered essential or basic skills for college graduates at the end of their general education requirements.”

Why are there core requirements?

Learn basic skills — Core requirements help freshmen develop the basic skills to function in college. Introductory classes in math, English and science prepare students to go on to more specific classes in a chosen major. It also helps new students get acclimated to college life, feel comfortable learning on a higher level and excel.

Well-rounded education — Even though college is a place to hone a specific skill in an academic major, it is also a place to take a variety of classes in many fields in order to get a well-rounded education of higher learning. Core curriculum, as reported by CollegeView.com in their post “Core Courses: Fulfilling your degree requirements,” “can vary depending on the school, program, or degree. At some schools, students must fulfill a foundation of basic, general core requirements such as reading, writing, and critical thinking, regardless of the major they plan to pursue.”

When to take required classes?

Consult your college guidebook, your career advisor and your major advisor for help with this one — they can tell you what needs to be taken when, whether it’s in a specific semester or year. Some classes, like prerequisite English composition and basic math, must be taken in the first semester, since they are skills you will need to master before going further in school. Other classes (such as science if you are a business major), can be taken any time before you graduate.

Some students prefer to take all their required classes the first year to get a taste of different academic fields. Others concentrate on their major first, then take a bunch of electives the last year before graduation. The year before you’re ready to graduate, check your transcript and list of required courses to make sure you haven’t missed any essential classes and ask your office of records about any required audits.

Writer’s block  (Photo credit: photosteve101)

Writer’s block hits everyone at one time or another. We don’t all just wake up perkily and generate writing ideas. Even the most creative and the most dedicated of us can sometimes get stuck thinking of a term paper topic or idea for a science project. Once you know the causes of writer’s block, you can take steps to prevent it. One tip is to consult sources like history books, health articles, modern literature, recent science articles, or anything that fits your topic and can jump start your project. Another tip is to practice stress relief techniques to get the creative juices working. Read on for more writing ideas for stopping writer’s block before it starts!

Causes of writer’s block

One of the major causes of writer’s block is dwelling on it too much. If you’re worried about it, it just might come true. The more time you spend thinking about writing something or getting a project started, the more you’ll fall into a pattern of thought or expectations that you won’t be able to get out of. What’s needed is a plan, new experiences and out-of-the-box thinking.

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab (OWL) at www.owl.english.purdue.edu explains that writer’s block can be caused by:

• not enough preliminary planning, brainstorming or outlining. Start by writing down the primary ideas you want to express.
• a boring topic you’re forced to work with. Find an offshoot or aspect of it that interests you.
• being too anxious or stressed out to begin thinking clearly. Take a minute to stretch, breathe, close your eyes and mentally focus on something relaxing.

Before writer’s block takes hold

Writer’s Relief offers “Tips On How To Beat Writer’s Block” before it hits, in the November 28, 2012, HuffingtonPost.com:

• Before writer’s block takes hold, scout out places near you for inspiration that can jump start creativity: a café, park, library, shade tree, ocean view or busy street for people watching.
• If you’re feeling down about your writing, change your perception of the writing experience. Boost your spirits by making a list of your achievements and writings or projects you’re proud of.
• Before you start feeling stressed out about a writing project, do an activity that usually relaxes you: baking, jogging, a soothing bath, a crossword puzzle, etc.
• To inspire you and make your spirit soar, play a few tunes or read some poetry to get in the creative mood.

Or try these other suggestions before writer’s block strikes:

• Write down many questions you have about the topic: who, what, why, where, when. That will generate some topics for further exploration.
• Gather some friends who are in the same predicament and brainstorm ideas together. No idea is too silly — just throw out suggestions and create discussions.
• Speak to your teacher. Have them clarify the topic and point you to resources.
• Don’t talk yourself out of it. Doubt can overrun even the most diligent. Instead of a defeatist attitude, brighten yourself up with positive thoughts (and maybe some ice cream).

What if it’s too late?

If you already have writer’s block, try these tricks:

• Flip through the pages of any magazine. Look at the pictures, read headlines and read the ads. Your mind will wander and you’ll start thinking differently.
• Browse through Questia.com’s topic categories to find information on a variety of academic fields.

Paul Joe Watson in the January 30, 2013, article “Overcoming (Copy)Writer’s Block” in Business2Community.com suggests that you simply start with what you know. Brainstorm some ideas to start with, start writing and the rest will come in time as you develop your idea. Get to know the basics of what you’re writing. Create an outline, synopsis or major themes or goals that you want to cover. And remember: give yourself a break to clear your mind now and again. Have a cup of coffee, talk to someone or send off a few tweets. Then get right back in the game!

Writer’s block really have a hold on you? Think your paper is simply doomed? Check out our blog post, “Writing tips: Unique tricks to overcoming writer’s block” and get the creative juices pumping again.

What are some of your other tricks for preventing writer’s block? Tell us in the comments below!

English: Some of the basic elements of the scientific method, arranged in a cycle to emphasize that it is an iterative process.

There’s so much information out there, how do you know what to believe? On the Internet, anyone can say anything about any subject. So consulting reputable sources is the best course of action when you’re conducting research for a science project or paper. First, learn to spot the difference between real science and “bad” science before citing Internet sources. Then look to science books, recent science articles from major magazines or websites or a science journal from a government agency for your information.

The scientific method: observation and experimentation

There’s a saying that if you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes truth. Propaganda experts exploit this failing in human nature to their advantage. “Sometimes you come across a piece of content that’s so compelling, you’re dying to use it, but you’re not 100% sure because you don’t know the source is credible,” remarked Markham Nolan in his TED Talk “How to Separate Fact and Fiction Online.” “You have to do that investigative work,” he said, as reported in Mashable.com, in “4 TED Talks Every Journalist Should Watch,” by Margaret Looney for International Journalists’ Network.

Science is not politically biased. It is not conservative or liberal. As stated in Merriam-Webster, science is: knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method. The scientific method is a systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.

Good science, bad science

According to TED Talks, good science:

• can be tested and retested and verified
• is backed by experiments that generate enough data to convince other experts of its legitimacy
• is peer-reviewed by experts
• has been published in a reputable peer reviewed journal
• does not contradict the broad, accepted body of scientific knowledge

Bad science:

• is not based on repeated experimentation with similar results
• uses over-simplified interpretations of data
• explains results in imprecise or new-age language
• is generated by overconfident fringe participants who reveal the solution before the experimentation
• contradicts mainstream scientific fact

Bad science to watch out for

Watch out for science “facts” reported by people with an obvious political, religious or corporate bias. Their “scientific findings” tend to be created to further an agenda or increase profit, and their research is often funded by people or organizations expecting a certain result. Here are some examples of bad science that have been in the news lately:

• Organic food is no more healthy or nutritious than conventionally grown food, reported by researchers at Stanford University. The findings are being questioned because “the blogosphere is now filled with suspicions that Stanford downplayed the benefits of organic foods because they had received large donations from conventional agriculture giant Cargill,” reported Lynne Peeples in “Stanford Organics Study: Have Faulty Methods, Political Motivations Threatened Kids’ Health?,” September 13, 2012, in HuffingtonPost.com.
• Distortions of clinical trials for pharmaceutical drugs with company-funded researchers exaggerating the benefits or downplaying the dangers or inefficacies. Ben Goldacre, author of Bad Pharma: How Drug Companies Mislead Doctors and Harm Patients advocates for clinical trial transparency.
• Despite what some political candidates say, women cannot “shut down” the process of conception if they are sexually assaulted. According to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, each instance of rape has a 5 percent chance of resulting in pregnancy. That compares to 3.1 percent for consensual sex, reported in the journal Human Nature.

Excellent sources for science projects

Research reputable sources such as science books, recent science articles, encyclopedias, and science presentations at conferences. Other sources include:

• Questia Science and Technology research library and paper writing resource, which has hundreds of sources for science, mathematics, astronomy, computer technology, energy, life sciences, health and medicine, and social science.
• Government agencies, such as the National Academy of Sciences, National Institutes of Health, NASA
• Science magazines, such as Popular Science, Scientific American, Sky & Telescope
• Science websites, such as ScienceDaily.com, Science.gov, HowStuffWorks.com, ScienceDirect.com, Discovery.com
• Encyclopedias, textbooks and science books in the library

Consulting reputable sources is the best course of action when you’re conducting research for a science project or paper. Use these helpful hints and you’ll be well on your way!