(Photo credit: Ken Whytock)

For some the writing process is cathartic, while for others it’s more like torture. As a college student, having good writing skills is more critical for certain majors than others. However, once college is over, to compete in today’s job market, good writing skills aren’t an elective — they are a MUST. We could all use a lesson or two on how to brush up on our writing. Here are some useful tips on how to become a better writer.

Listen with attention

How many people do you know who are good listeners? I’d bet not all that many. Listening is a highly undervalued skill, but it can do wonders in helping your writing to get better. Like novelist Chuck Wendig says in his terribleminds.com blog post, “25 ways to become a better writer,” a good listener can tell how words sound on the page (be advised this post has some naughty language).

“We read with our ears as much as with your eyes and so it’s critical you know what sounds good as well as what reads well,” Wendig writes. “Sit down at a bar, listen to a conversation. Turn on an audio book or a radio show. Listen to a stand-up comedian deliver jokes and stories. Write it down if you must — see how it lays on the page.”

Read aloud

Hearing yourself reading your own work out loud may seem strange at first, but once you get used to it, you’ll notice right away those areas of your writing that just don’t jive. If it doesn’t read well while you’re reading it aloud, it probably needs some tweaking.

Dave Kerpen, CEO of Likeable Local and NY Times best-selling author, posted to LinkedIn February 21, 2013, in “Want to be taken seriously? Become a better writer,” how reading out loud has saved him.

“It’s great to hear my writing the way others will ‘hear’ it as they read,” Kerpen said. “Especially since tone in emails is difficult to convey, it’s valuable to say what you’re writing aloud, and then consider a quick edit, before you put it out there.”

Honor your inner weirdo

Stretching that proverbial writing muscle takes some creativity. Whether you’re writing a term paper, thesis or presentation, we can all benefit from some off-the-wall hilariousness. Have an idea for a sci-fi romantic comedy? Jot down a short story or let the ideas flow. The point is to just let the words flow and it’ll be much easier to get back to that boring assignment you’ve been circling for days.

Let the criticism fly

So you know that I know that we are our own worst critics. Sometimes those criticisms are true, but usually they are inflated insecurities floating around in our heads. To get some perspective, it’s always a good idea to tap a friend for some good advice on said work in question. Encourage honesty and keep your trap shut, and you might just get the real answers you’re looking for.

Proofread like your life depends on it

Think no one will notice a couple of typos in that email you sent with your resume? Well, maybe if if the reader is your mom. Otherwise, good luck with denial. The worst case scenario is your potential new boss will zoom in on the error and not hire you. Nothing feels worse than telling yourself, “If I’d only…” We’ve all been there. One of the best ways to avoid this scenario is to get in the habit of proofreading your work, all the time. It’s amazing how even one pass over can save you from disaster.

In a March 9, 2013, post to the Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, “Be careful what, how you write,” Anita Bruzzese Gannett interviewed Helen Cunningham, author of The Business Style Handbook, to get the skinny on the benefits of proofreading.

“Take time to proof your writing,” Cunningham said. “Read over your emails before sending to make sure they’re well written, and ask a colleague to review important messages or reports. Never put anything in writing that you would not want to see on the front page of a newspaper.”

For more information on writing, visit Questia’s topic page on Communication.

 What tips/exercises have helped you to improve your writing?

How far back does the oldest human (hominid) date from?

A)     250,000 years
B)     500,000 years
C)     1,000,000 years
D)     2.3 million years
E)     4.4 million years

Before I give you the answer (and before you search it online), you might want to know that back in 2005, National Geographic launched its Genographic Project. National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Spencer Wells and his team of renowned international scientists began using the latest in genetic computational technologies to analyze historical patterns in DNA from participants around the globe to obtain further insight into our genetic origins.  The project is ongoing and you can participate and discover the migration paths your ancient ancestors followed thousands of years ago.

Ardipithecus ramidus

And the answer to question #1 is E. Named “Ardi,” (short for Ardipithecus ramidus) an international team of paleontologists discovered the oldest known skeleton of a potential human ancestor in Aramis, Ethiopia back in the early 1990’s. Some debate still remains whether Ardi is indeed the oldest human ancestor ever found. According to Tim White, paleontologist at the University of Berkeley’s Human Evolution Research Center, “It’s not a chimp. It’s not a human. “

Pop Quiz question #2.

What time period is generally considered the dawning of the Industrial Revolution?

A)     1760
B)     1780
C)     1800
D)     1820
E)      1840

Richard Trevithick (1771-1833)

Before we pick a date, let’s quickly remind ourselves of the one of the most influential and unsung heroes of the Industrial Revolution, Richard Trevithick.  A British inventor and mining engineer, it took years of experimentation and frustration for Trevithick to finally bring to life the world’s first high pressure cylindrical boiler and the first full-scale working railway steam locomotive, all around the turn of the 19^th century.

Did you answer question #2? It was Arnold Toynbee, famous 19^th century British economist and social reformer, who is first credited with describing England’s economic development from 1760 to 1840 as the “Industrial Revolution.” Answer A.

To encourage further study and learning on the major historical developments of humanity’s past, Questia is opening its doors to five of the top most researched history books and articles from our library. These books and articles were individually selected by our librarians and each one will spur you on as you plow into your history studies.

Prehistory: A Very Short Introduction

Author: Chris Gosden

This VSI to prehistory will introduce the reader to four and a half million years of human existence. Many of the familiar aspects of modern life are no more than a century or two old, yet our deep social structures and skills were in large measure developed by small bands of our prehistoric ancestors many millennia ago. Chris Gosden invites us to think seriously about who we are by considering who we have been.

Women’s Influence on Classical Civilization

Editors: Fiona Mchardy, Eireann Marshall

Written by an international range of renowned academics, this volume explores how women in antiquity influenced aspects of culture normally though of as male. Looking at politics, economics, science, law and the arts, the contributors examine examples from around the ancient world asking how far traditional definitions of culture describe male spheres of activity, and examining to what extent these spheres were actually created and perpetuated by women.

The Oxford History of Medieval Europe

Editor: George Holme

Covering a thousand years of history, this volume tells the story of the creation of Western civilization in Europe and the Mediterranean. Now available in a compact, more convenient format, it offers the same text and many of the illustrations which first appeared in the widely acclaimed Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval Europe. Written by expert scholars and based on the latest research, the book explores a period of profound diversity and change, focusing on all aspects of medieval history

The Industrial Revolution in World History. Edition: 2nd

Author: Peter N. Stearns

This concise, accessible new edition from noted historian Peter N. Stearns examines the industrial revolution as a global phenomenon, in terms of causes and results extending through the 20th century and into the present.

The “New” Cold War History and the Origins of the Cold War

Author: Joseph M Siracusa

Siracusa writes his own analysis on the meaning and significance of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. In 1998, the United States Congress passed legislation recognizing the dates of the Cold War as starting in September 2, 1945 and lasting until December 26, 1991.

For more information on human history, check out Questia’s topic page on archeology. 

Performers at the US White House celebration of Cinco de Mayo May 4, 2007 

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday that has come to be synonymous in America with margaritas, Mexican food and an all around good time. But how much do you actually know about Cinco de Mayo history? For instance, what does Cinco de Mayo commemorate? If you’re not certain, we’ve got you covered. Check out some of these fun facts about this spring date, discover popular Cinco de Mayo celebrations and learn how to make some authentic Mexican fare. ¡salud!

Five facts about Cinco de Mayo

True, Cinco de Mayo is over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t brush up on your trivia and knowledge for next year. Here are 5 fun facts about this May holiday:

1. Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of El Día de la Batalla de Puebla or The Day of the Battle of Puebla — it does not commemorate Mexico’s Independence (this is on September 16).
2. This date is more popular in America than it is in Mexico–in fact, Cinco de Mayo is “a regional, not federal, holiday” according to a Patch.com article on May 05, 2013, “Five Things You Need to Know About Cinco de Mayo.”
3. In America, celebrations range from Chihuahua races in Chandler, Arizona, to the Festival de Fiesta Broadway in Los Angeles–in Mexico, people celebrate by reenacting the famous battle against Napoleon III in 1862. You can view “Cinco De Mayo History Brought to Life” on USA Today‘s website.
4. Margaritas weren’t around on the original Cinco de Mayo–this popular Mexican drink wasn’t invented until sometime in the early-to-mid 20^th century.
5. The exact translation of Cinco de Mayo is “five of May”–”quinto” is actually the Spanish word for “fifth.”

Need more fun facts about Cinco de Mayo? Check out HLNtv.com‘s “11 facts you need to know about Cinco de Mayo,” posted on May 05, 2013, by Makenzie Bowker.

Celebrate!

Across the United States, a number of cities and towns celebrated Mexican American heritage with food, dancing, music and more. Here is only a sampling of the festivals that took place over the May 05 weekend:

• Dallas, Texas, held a parade and festival filled with authentic food, drink, music and a number of free events — there was even a Little Miss Cinco de Mayo pageant. The Dallas Morning News offers more detailed information about this year’s events in “Your guide to Cinco de Mayo festivities in Dallas for 2013.”
• San Diego, California, offered three full days of fun and festivities in the “2013 Old Town Fiesta Cinco de Mayo,” where stages featured mariachi bands and flamenco music.
• Saint Paul, Minnesota, got into the spirit of things with “Cinco De Mayo ’13,” a festival filled with family events and live shows.

If you weren’t able to attend a celebration this year, try to put one on your to-do list for next year. Better yet, inquire at your campus to find out about events your college might sponsor and get involved.

Let’s eat!

Even if you can’t attend a Cinco de Mayo festival, you can still get into the spirit of the day by concocting your own Mexican dishes and drinks if you are 21+. There are a number of websites out there that can help you create quick, tasty, homemade salsa in just a few minutes. For instance, the food network has an entire section dedicated to Cinco de Mayo. From “Quick and Easy Mexican Recipes” to “10 Cinco de Mayo Margaritas,” you’ll be creating traditional dishes and drinks in no time. The best part? You have an entire year to perfect your cooking!

So, what did you do for Cinco de Mayo? If you didn’t do anything, let us know what you hope to do next year!

To learn more about Mexico and this country’s history, visit the Mexican History page on questia.com.

Author Toni Morrison, 1986

With Black History Month on our minds, we determined Questia’s top 5 most-read African-American authors. To celebrate February, we’ve unlocked the reference books to these authors on Questia, the online research tool and library of over 77,000 academic books and 4 million journal articles, so everyone can read our free online books for the month. Some are novels, some are non-fiction and some are reference books. Leave a comment telling us which one’s you were inspired to read and what you thought!

Richard Wright:

An author of controversial novels, Wright penned the best-seller Black Boy in 1945, which remains a vital work of historical, sociological and literary significance. The seminal portrayal of one black man’s search for self-actualization in a racist society paved the journey for other successful black writers. [“Shouting Curses”: the politics of “bad” language in Richard Wright’s ‘Black Boy.’ Jennifer H. Poulos.]

Toni Morrison:

A Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, Morrison is most celebrated for her novels with epic themes and richly detailed characters such as in The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon and Beloved. [Toni Morrison’s World of Fiction. Karen Carmean.]

Zora Neale Hurston:

An American folklorist and anthropologist, Hurston authored novels, short stories, plays and essays. Her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God was written during her fieldwork in Haiti with the Guggenheim Foundation, which provides grants to professionals in the creative arts. [Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life. Lori Robison.]

Frederick Douglass:

A strong public speaker and leader in the abolitionist movement, Douglass also authored several compelling autobiographies which detailed his experiences in slavery. [Life and Times of Frederick Douglass: His Early Life as a Slave, His Escape from Bondage, and His Complete History. Frederick Douglass.]

Alice Walker:

An American novelist, Walker penned the critically acclaimed novel The Color Purple for which she was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. She was involved in the Civil Rights movement and marched in the 1963 March on Washington. [Alice Walker: 'Color Purple' Author Confronts Her Critics and Talks about Her Provocative New Book. Charles Whitaker.]

Our personal favorite author from the list right now is playwright August Wilson. Inspired by the area of Pittsburgh, Wilson created many plays focusing on his favorite neighborhoods. In an online article in “Afro” entitled “Morgan State to Premiere August Wilson’s Jitney,” the author mentions the series of plays Wilson wrote about Pittsburgh: “Penned by late playwright August Wilson, ‘Jitney’ was a part of Wilson’s series of 10 plays that was entitled the ‘Pittsburgh Cycle.’ Each was set in a different decade and depicted the comic and tragic aspects of the African American experience in the 20th century. Wilson ultimately received two Pulitzer Prizes for the series.”

What are your favorite African-American authors? Are there any missing here that you think should make our top five list next year? Tell us in the comments!

If you peruse the Questia site, you will find a diverse selection offering users:

• More than three thousand full-text online books across a wide range of communications subjects
• More than one thousand full-text academic communication journals
• More than 900 magazine articles and 200+ newspaper articles

For example, on argumentation and advocacy, you’ll find 366 articles from more than 77 issues. Questia features more than 1,500 issues of Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly and more than 1,000 issues of Journalism History. Questia also offers 521 articles from the Business Communication Quarterly, more than 1,000 issues of Journalism History, as well as 410 articles of Women’s Studies in Communication.

Below are just some of our most popular communication books covering topics such as argumentation, interpersonal communications, and business communication that you’ll find on Questia:

Interpersonal Communication

Authors Hargie and Dickson provide an essential reference for the study of interpersonal communication. The book is concerned with the identification, analysis and evaluation of a range of skills that are employed widely in interaction. Detailed accounts are provided of fourteen areas, namely: nonverbal communication; reinforcement; questioning; reflecting, listening; explaining; self-disclosure; set induction; closure; assertiveness; influencing; negotiating; and interacting in, and leading, group discussions.

[Hargie, Owen, and David Dickson. Skilled Interpersonal Communication: Research, Theory, and Practice. 4th ed. London: Routledge, 2004. Questia. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.]

Organizational Communication

Organizational communication (business communication) is one of the fastest growing of academic disciplines. Contributors Holiday and Kullman seek to critically examine the true impact of key current themes in management for the practice of communications. The book examines the wider context of management and the crises faced by organizations. One of its key features is that contributors have been drawn from a wide variety of countries, including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway.

[Tourish, Dennis, and Owen Hargie, eds. Key Issues in Organizational Communication. London: Routledge, 2004. Questia. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.]

Intercultural Communication

The Routledge Applied Linguistics Series provides a comprehensive guide to the key areas in the field of applied linguistics. The target audience for the series is upper undergraduates and postgraduates on language, applied linguistics and communication studies programs as well as teachers and researchers in professional development and distance learning programs.

[Holliday, Adrian, Martin Hyde, and John Kullman. Intercultural Communication: An Advanced Resource Book. London: Routledge, 2004. Questia. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.]

Political Communication

Modern political communication research is very much an interdisciplinary field of study, drawing on concepts from communication, political science, journalism, sociology, and other fields. Editor Lynda Lee Kaid stresses theoretical overviews and research synthesis with the goal of bringing together the major thrusts of research and theory in political communication. This handbook approaches the field of political communication with an organizational structure that relies on six divisions, including theory, political advertising and debates, news media coverage, public opinion, international perspectives, and the impact of the Internet.

[Kaid, Lynda Lee, ed. Handbook of Political Communication Research. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2004. Questia. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.]

Argumentation

Argumentation is an introduction to analyzing, evaluating, and presenting oral and written argumentation. It is based on a series of basic insights from the pragma-dialectical theory of argumentation. The book deals with the identification of differences of opinion, the determination of unexpressed premises, the exposition of argument schemes, the analysis of the structure of argumentation, the evaluation of the soundness of argumentation, and the detection of fallacies as violations of rules for critical discussion.

[Van Eemeren, Frans H., Rob Grootendorst, and A. Francisca Snoeck Henkemans. Argumentation: Analysis, Evaluation, Presentation. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2002. Questia. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.]

Instead of searching for communication journals on trends, advocacy, and/or interpersonal communications, start searching through the books and articles on Questia.

Watch the short video below to learn how to perform basic and advanced searches through Questia:

School of Athens

What is the philosophy of education? It is the philosophical study of education and the problems surrounding it. Since the time of Socrates, philosophers and educators have discussed many issues which are trouble contemporary philosophers of education. What is the aim or purposes of education? Who should be educated? Should education depend on natural interests and abilities? What role should the state play in education?

Greek philosophers Plato, Socrates and Aristotle are among the major figures who laid the foundations of educational philosophy. They debated on different subjects in the past that are important for philosophy of education even now.

While teaching, Socrates engaged the others in dialogue. His method excluded writing, but focused on dialogues where series of questions are discussed by the teacher and the student until the analysis goes as far as both can take it. This way of teaching is known now as the “Socratic method.”

Plato’s way of teaching was tailored to create competent adults to meet the needs of the state. Through this functionalist model Plato developed his image of education in the context of the ideal state. His ideas suggest that there is no inherent conflict between the individual and the state. In Plato’s view educators could work to develop people who are useful to the state.

In Aristotle’s view, people had to be trained or educated according to their place in life. They should excel in their tasks and in line with their function. Aristotle believed that no matter if one is a leader, an artist or a housewife, they have their talents and virtues, but these features differ in every one of them.

Aristotle’s work is also interesting for modern educators due to his moral thought. Aristotle taught that children should be trained in morally appropriate modes of conduct. The model of moral education he established is widely popular today.

The ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 to 1778) are also attractive for present-day philosophers. He believed strongly in the freedom of the human spirit.

John Dewey (1859 to 1952) is also among the most influential names in the area of educational philosophy. Throughout his lifetime Dewey wrote many books and articles in nearly all branches of philosophy, including logic, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of science, ontology aesthetics, political and social philosophy and ethics.

For Dewey, philosophy of education was the most fundamental and crucial branch of philosophy, and all other branches were dependent on it. He perceived philosophy of education as philosophy of life. Dewey often put education as a synonymous of growth, though this view met a lot of opposition. He insisted that growth was the ultimate aim of education.

Others who devoted part of their work to philosophy of education include Avicenna, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, John Milton and Maria Montessori.

If you are writing a paper on this topic, you can find and cite high-quality, scholarly research in the Questia library, which contains the books and journal articles as well as magazine and newspaper articles needed to complete most college-level, core-curriculum course assignments.

Selected books and articles on Philosophy of Education

From Fallacy to Integrity: Dewey’s Call for a Philosophy of Experience
O’Neill, Linda. Journal of Thought, Vol. 41, No. 3, Fall 2006

Non-Western Educational Traditions: Indigenous Approaches to Educational Thought and Practice
Timothy Reagan. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2005 (3rd edition)

An Educational Philosophy Guides the Pedagogical Process
Petress, Kenneth C. College Student Journal, Vol. 37, No. 1, March 2003

Fifty Major Thinkers on Education: From Confucius to Dewey
Joy A. Palmer; Liora Bresler; David E. Cooper. Routledge, 2001

Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education
John Dewey. Macmillan, 1921

Visit Questia’s topic page on the philosophy of education for more information. If not already a member, you can try Questia free for one day and conduct research into philosophy and education in our more than 75,000 books and 9 million articles.

Martin Luther King Jr. Monument

Since 1986, the U.S. federal government has observed a national holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights activist whose nonviolent message and words of hope helped to create a vision for a future of racial equality. Martin Luther King Jr. also advocated for social change and justice, and a great number of people list him among their heroes. In 2011, the Martin Luther King Memorial monument was erected on the Washington National Mall.

Since their establishment, some have wondered: does a holiday or a monument honor King’s legacy, or undermine his message by normalizing it? And just how do people identify heroes?

 A study in heroes

If you are asked to name your hero, you are likely to name not a person who exemplifies heroism, but an idol, according to recent studies done by Professor Scott Allison of the University of Richmond. The question evokes a personal preference – wish fulfillment. When people are asked to name some heroes, removing the personal element, some of the top three are Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr., three visionaries who advocated nonviolent social change.

Peter A. Georgescu, writing in Huffington Post in a January 6, 2013 article “Heroes Aren’t Just Idols,” discussed Allison’s work, writing, “In my view, an idol can inspire you to do something exceptional or creative, yet a hero can teach what it means to choose the good through self-sacrifice…. what really counts is how a hero’s example of selflessness becomes an enduring model for a way of life, to many other people.”

Allison lists eight traits that heroes have, called “the Great Eight,” which include:

• Smart
• Resilient
• Charismatic
• Selfless
• Inspiring

An interesting point of Allison’s studies are that some of these character traits are found equally in villains or criminals – only heroes, however, are selfless and inspiring.

The need for social change

Recognizing those selfless and inspiring qualities heroes represent is one thing; emulating them is another. Also writing for the Huffington Post, Father Paul Mayer complained that by honoring King’s life and message with a holiday and a memorial, people have given themselves an excuse to ignore the call to action King preached. In his January 14, 2013 article, “A New Climate Vision on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday,” Mayer described how King also criticized America’s four great dangers: “racism, poverty, militarism and materialism.” Mayer went on to say, “In fact, King’s analysis of our society offers one of the toughest critiques of capitalism, the military-industrial complex and the unequal distribution of our wealth between the 99 percent and the 1 percent.”

Rather than merely paying lip service to King’s message, some groups are working to imitate King’s focus on the moral issues of the day. According to Mayer, the Interfaith Moral Action on Climate group observed Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday by hosting a “Pray-in for the Climate” outside the White House. The group includes Buddhists, Evangelical Christians, Catholics, Moslems, Jews and Hindus, among others. As Mayer explained, “They have concluded that, were he still alive today, he would join them in declaring that climate change is one of the greatest moral issues of our time.”

Other groups focus on King’s call to serve others. The Corporation for National and Community Service, along with the federal government, has emphasized that Martin Luther King Jr. Day is not a day off, but a day on — a day to volunteer and help others. The 2012 volunteer turn out for the Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service topped 100,000 on 1,500 projects. Smaller groups, such as college sororities or student organizations, also use the holiday to promote volunteerism in their communities.

Touched by a monument

While Mayer says that monuments and holidays allow individuals to “receive a dispensation” from the real work of making King’s vision a reality, others have been greatly touched and inspired by those concrete memorials. In a January 16, 2012 article in the Florida Times Union, “Martin Luther King Jr. Day; A Monumental Experience,” a reporter recorded the thoughts and feelings of people who had been to see the monument on the National Mall.

For some, the monument remains a call to action. As Anita Shepherd wrote, “I found myself choked with emotions and humbled at the opportunity to share in the experience and the moment with its historical significance. America selected its first black president and built the first memorial to a person of color on the National Mall. The collective pride of the people in their accomplishment and their leaders was marked with respect. I am a stronger and better person for the service of my country and reminded of the greatness and power of our collective actions.”

For more information on social justice, visit Questia’s topic page on human and civil rights.

Get the big picture

A great way to get an overview of your topic is to visit Questia, the world’s largest online library where you can read full-text articles and books on hundreds of subjects. Within the topic of communication you’ll find such categories as:

• Film
• Legal and ethical issues in journalism
• Advertising
• Linguistics
• Written language

You can continue to drill down by category and gain a focus that will frame your approach and make research and writing easier. For example, in the category of legal and ethical issues in journalism you will find several sub-categories including the fairness doctrine. Further exploration will present you with books and articles such as The First Amendment under Siege: The Politics of Broadcast Regulation by Richard E. Labunski.

You’ll be able to read a sample from the book including this excerpt from the Introduction, “The special position that the First Amendment is granted in our system is a recognition of the paramount importance of the free exchange of ideas to self-government. Freedom of speech and press provisions of the First Amendment are designed to prevent interference with the exchange of information if citizens are to make intelligent decisions when choosing public officials and shaping policy.”

Find your resources at school

If you’re a student or teacher, be sure to check with your school librarian for a list of available resources. Many libraries subscribe to research databases such as EBSCO and LexisNexis where you can search for and read articles from a multitude of sources.

You may also find that your school hosts a web page with a list of online resources such as one from the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Department of Communication Studies. Its list of resources related to communication studies includes links to sites on advertising, digital media, and visual communication.

On the Web

The Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism creates its annual State of the News Media report, which in 2011 included a survey on how people use mobile technology to get local news.

A great resource for those interested in journalism is JournalistResource.org where resources abound for journalists, instructors and students. If you’re interested in research, you may want to read John Wihbey’s interview of Alison Head in his January 27, 2012 post titled, “Research chat: Information scientist Alison Head on student habits.” Head, a lead researcher of the University of Washington’s Project Information Literacy examines how students seek information.

“Yet educators may be surprised to learn that the most difficult part of course-related research is the beginning of the process, especially framing a research problem. When we surveyed more [than] 8,300 students at 25 U.S. institutions in 2010, more than 80% of respondents reported they had the most difficulty getting started on course-related research assignments. Another 66% could not define a research topic or narrow it,” Head explained.

Trade associations

College students who are preparing for a career in communications or journalism would do well to join a professional association such as the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s). Students can usually join such organizations at a discount rate and take advantage of numerous resources as well as the chance to meet and make connections with those who are established in the industry.

The 4A’s site hosts three blogs, one of which, the Inkblot is, “Less of a blog and more of a journal of ideas and observations, this is a place where industry professionals can share their thoughts on the state of the industry, where consumers can learn more about the creators of the products, brands, and campaigns they interact with every day, where advertising executives can mete out their knowledge and expertise, and where clients can visit to gain perspective on the effectiveness of campaigns.”

Enjoy!

Bate, David. Photography: The Key Concepts. New York: Berg, 2009. http://www.questia.com/read/120769912.

Bennett, Paul. Abnormal and Clinical Psychology: An Introductory Textbook. 2nd ed. Maidenhead, England: Open University Press, 2006. http://www.questia.com/read/118349566.

Doyle, Christine E. Work and Organizational Psychology: An Introduction with Attitude. Hove, England: Psychology Press, 2003. http://www.questia.com/read/108122715.

Holzer, Harold, ed. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates: The First Complete, Unexpurgated Text. New York: Fordham University Press, 2004. http://www.questia.com/read/120747706.

Laird, Sally, ed. Voices of Russian Literature: Interviews with Ten Contemporary Writers. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1999. http://www.questia.com/read/120737022.

Moreno, Francisco Jose. Before Fidel: The Cuba I Remember. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 2007. http://www.questia.com/read/120684318.

Nankivell, John H. Buffalo Soldier Regiment: History of the Twenty-Fifth United States Infantry, 1869-1926. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2001. http://www.questia.com/read/120745787.

O’neil, Judy, and Victoria J. Marsick. Understanding Action Learning. New York: AMACOM, 2007. http://www.questia.com/read/120712825.

Thompson, Graham. American Culture in the 1980s. Twentieth-Century American Culture. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2007. http://www.questia.com/read/120737282.

Willis, Roy, and Patrick Curry. Astrology, Science, and Culture: Pulling Down the Moon. New York: Berg, 2004. http://www.questia.com/read/120752336.

Enjoy access to this free reading for a whole month, and have a wonderful holiday!

Find a topic, form a plan

Before you do anything else you need to decide what you will write about in your term paper assignment. Your teacher may have given you a list of requirements; be sure to read these and get all your questions answered before you start working.

You also need to know what kind of term paper your teacher wants. Examples of common types of papers can be found at the A+ Research and Writing site maintained by the Internet Public Library (IPL).

Term papers typically fall into categories such as:

• Research paper
• Essay
• Argumentative or persuasive essay
• Compare and contrast
• Narrative essays

Next, examine the possible topics that you can write about. A great site for researching topics is Questia, the premier online research and paper-writing tool for students. One helpful text is Shortcuts for the Student Writer by Jay Silverman, Elaine Hughes, and Diana Roberts Wienbroer.

The authors suggest that, once you’ve found your topic, you make a list of main points that might be in your paper along with any details that come to mind. Then start grouping the ideas into categories. You can do this easily with a computer or by hand with index cards.

“Then make a new list with the related points grouped together. Decide which idea is most important and cross out ideas or details that do not relate to it. Arrange your points so that each will lead up to the next. Be sure each section of your essay has examples or facts to strengthen your ideas.”

Freewriting

Teachers don’t just want you to repeat what others have said; they want to know what you have to say. A helpful technique to get you started is called freewriting. Here’s how it works. You set yourself a goal of writing non-stop for 10 minutes jotting down:

• What you know about the topic
• What interests you about the topic
• What questions you have about the topic

The questions you have will help form the backbone of your term paper and will give you a focus for your research.

Allen Brizee described a freewriting process that he called “prewriting” in his June 8, 2011 post for the Purdue Online Writing Lab titled, “Introduction to Prewriting (Invention).” To help get your ideas flowing Brizee suggested, “Brainstorm. Gather as many good and bad ideas, suggestions, examples, sentences, false starts, etc. as you can. Perhaps some friends can join in. Jot down everything that comes to mind, including material you are sure you will throw out. Be ready to keep adding to the list at odd moments as ideas continue to come to mind.”

Writing the introduction

It’s easy to get writer’s block, especially if you try to write your paper from beginning to end. Oddly enough, it’s easier to write the introduction to your term paper at the end of the process at the same time you write your conclusion. The purpose of your introduction is to, well, introduce what you’re going to say in your paper. You can do that best after you have already written the body of the paper.

Writing the introduction and conclusion at the same time allows you to:

• Introduce your topic and tell your reader what they will learn by reading your paper
• Summarize and bring together all of your main points in your conclusion where you will echo the promises that you made in your introduction.

The Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (CRLS) Research Guide has several Tip Sheets with advice for writing papers. Regarding the introduction, the writers said, “Start with a couple of sentences that introduce your topic to your reader. You do not have to give too much detailed information; save that for the body of your paper. Make these sentences as interesting as you can. Through them, you can hook a reader and get them very interested in the line of thinking you are going to develop in your project.”

At this point you have your intro and conclusion along with a list of main points to expand on. Now that your juices are flowing, you can complete the body of your paper with style and confidence.