(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?

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!

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.

(Photo credit: mdmarkus66)

With technology providing many of us with easy research tools and downloadable books, we may not visit our local library as often as we used to. This month, though, you have the perfect excuse to get reacquainted with an old friend. Yes, it’s Library Lovers Month. Book lovers, take a moment to celebrate! Stop by your local or campus library, appreciate the resources it has to offer and check out some library books (pun intended).

Libraries have been around for centuries, but those in the United States date back to the 18th century when Benjamin Franklin provided the first social library, and William Rand opened the first circulating library. It wasn’t until the 19th century, though, that Horace Mann pushed for libraries in schools. Compiled together, this library history evolved into the structures we know and love today.

Unfortunately, the emergence of the Internet and the decline of funding have left libraries in desperate need. While financial contributions are always helpful — and tax deductible — there are other ways to support your library:

• Donate your used books or purchase a best seller and drop it off at your local library.
• Volunteer to help shelve books, check out patrons or read to preschoolers during story times.
• Join or start a Friends of the Library group.

We at Questia think that libraries — and books in general — are pretty fantastic, so we have compiled a list of five books that are all about, well, books. The best part is that we are granting free access to these works that focus on some of the best that literature has to offer.

Books Alive: A Profane Chronicle of Literary Endeavor and Literary Misdemeanor

Author Vincent Starrett begins this book by informing his readers: “THIS is not a history of literature; it is a book of gossip” (7). In this chronicle, the author tackles many different literary genres, including detective fiction, ghost stories and popular romances. Within the pages of text, the author explains how such novels became popular throughout the ages, and, in some cases, delves into mysterious circumstances surrounding literary history — like the unresolved murder of the infamous Christopher Marlowe.

[Starrett, Vincent. (1940). Books Alive: A Profane Chronicle of Literary Endeavor and Literary Misdemeanor. New York: Random House. Retrieved from http://www.questia.com.]

The Literary Detective: 100 Puzzles in Classic Fiction

Author John Sutherland teams up with cartoonist Martin Rowson to question — sometimes humorously — some of the most famous characters in literature. Featuring Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (“How does Victor make his monsters?”) and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (“Who betrays Elizabeth Bennet?”), among others, the author delves into the unknown parts of novels and provides his own answers to some of literature’s most intriguing plots.

[Sutherland, John. (1996). The Literary Detective: 100 Puzzles in Classic Fiction. New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://www.questia.com.]

Book Smart: Your Essential Reading List for Becoming a Literary Genius in 365 Days

Author Jane Mallison provides a list of over 120 books that she would recommend to her friends. For anyone who has ever been at a loss for what to read next, this author offers a large scope of titles and provides a brief summary and light commentary on all of them. A few of her favorites include The Things They Carried, The Importance of Being Earnest and The Metamorphosis.

[Mallison, Jane. (2008). Book Smart: Your Essential Reading List for Becoming a Literary Genius in 365 Days. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.questia.com.]

Books and Reading in the Lives of Notable Americans: A Biographical Sourcebook

If you have ever wondered which books famous Americans (both past and present) get their guilty pleasures from, then author John A. McCrossan has answers for you. Stars featured include Humphrey Bogart, with his obsession with murder mysteries, and Oprah Winfrey, whose love of reading helped her broaden her horizons and learn to better appreciate her heritage. This is a book about more than just literary works; it also tells the stories of some of the world’s most influential people.

[McCrossan, John A. (2000). Books and Reading in the Lives of Notable Americans: A Biographical Sourcebook. Westport: Greenwood Press. Retrieved from http://www.questia.com.]

The Battle of the Books: And Other Short Pieces

Best known for Gulliver’s Travels, author Jonathan Swift compiles an essay, some poems and a few satires in this anthology. It is the parodies, however — namely the first one — that discuss the importance, or lack thereof, of certain works of literature. In “A Full and True Account of the Battle Fought Last Friday Between the Ancient and the Modern Books in Saint James’ Library.” the books in question actually take up arms and fight. Maybe this will finally put to rest the debate of modern or ancient literature. Then again, maybe not.

[Swift, Jonathan. (1909). The Battle of the Books: And Other Short Pieces. New York: Cassell and Company, Limited. Retrieved from http://www.questia.com]

Visit Questia’s Library History page to find out more about the evolution of the public library. If not already a member, you can try Questia free for one day. Happy reading!

Mexican history

The seeds of Mexican independence were planted when on September 16, 1810 a priest named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, with a historic proclamation, urged his fellow Mexicans to take up arms against the Spanish government. Ending Spanish Colonial rule took Mexico down a long, difficult road towards establishing independence. Being forced to endure many civil uprisings, Mexico lost nearly half of its geographical landscape to the United States during a two year war ending in 1848.

We at Questia want to open the doors to our digital library by granting access to reference works on five books that explore Mexican history, tracing its roots back to the Mayans all the way through the fight for independence to the continuing challenges faced by today’s native population.

Mayan Civilization

In this second edition, author John S. Henderson has reorganized his research to take into account the vast new quantities of data about the Maya that was unearthed in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Epigraphers have put forward an avalanche of new interpretations of glyphs and readings of texts that provide a rich source of information for reconstructing the politics of Classic Maya cities. All of the new research has shifted basic perceptions about the Maya cultural tradition. [Henderson, John S. The World of the Ancient Maya. 2nd ed. Ithaca, NY: Cornell UP, 1997. Questia. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.]

Mexico under Spanish Rule (New Spain)

Author Susan Schroeder examines Mexico’s nonnative populations who, not uncommonly, still feel threatened and angry whenever there is a manifestation by indigenous groups to make known their grievances. Why this misplaced animosity toward Indians continues is difficult to understand but one can pinpoint a series of recent instigating events including the United States designating 1992 as the year of the American Indian. According to Schroeder, nonnatives’ qualms are rooted in the colonial era, when Spaniards worried constantly about Indian uprisings. [Schroeder, Susan, ed. Native Resistance and the Pax Colonial in New Spain. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska, 1998. Questia. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.]

Mexican War of Independence

Author Jaime E. Rodriguez examines the complex process of New Spain’s transition from a kingdom of the Spanish Monarchy to the First Federal Republic of Mexico. During his first ten years of research, Rodriguez  worked in the archives and repositories of Mexico City; the second decade he spent researching in the states of Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Yucatán, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Zacatecas in Mexico as well as in the archives of Madrid and Seville.  The overriding question Rodriguez explores is why one former colony, the United States, succeeded in establishing a stable government and a flourishing economy, while other former colonies, the Spanish American countries, endured political chaos and economic decline. [RodrÍguez O., Jaime E. "We Are Now the True Spaniards": Sovereignty, Revolution, Independence, and the Emergence of the Federal Republic of Mexico, 1808-1824. Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 2012. Questia. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.]

The Mexican War (U.S.-Mexican War)

The editors have chosen to spotlight the Mexican war diary of controversial Southerner, Lt. Daniel Harvey Hill, and 4th Artillery, USA. It is the day-by-day chronicle of young Lt. Daniel Harvey Hill, Company E, 4th Artillery, U.S. Army, from June 8, 1846, when he embarked for Mexico at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, to March 24, 1848, when he sailed back home.  The Mexico City campaign was among the most important military operations conducted by American arms prior to the Civil War, and Hill’s perceptive eye provides the reader with unique insights into the expedition. [Hill, Daniel Harvey. A Fighter from Way Back: The Mexican War Diary of Lt. Daniel Harvey Hill, 4th Artillery, USA. Ed. Nathaniel Cheairs Hughes, Jr. and Timothy D. Johnson. Kent, OH: Kent State UP, 2002. Questia. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.]

The Mexican Revolution

Authors Hodges and Gandy try to solve the puzzle of what happened to the Mexican Revolution? What happened to the social pact that was supposed to benefit the business community, the bureaucrat-professionals, the proletarian workers, and the landless peasants? The outcome of the Mexican Revolution is still a mystery. According to both authors, the revolution had not only been betrayed; an invisible hand had also remodeled the business corporation. Professionals not only seized the reins; they had become the corporations’ chief beneficiaries. [Hodges, Donald C., and Ross Gandy. Mexico, the End of the Revolution. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2002. Questia. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.]

Today, Mexico is not only one of the world’s largest economies, but its strong ties to the United States through its free trade agreements have enabled it to produce 1.7 trillion in overall gross domestic product (GDP) in 2011, and with Volkswagen’s latest auto plant opening in Mexico, the country seeks to become the world’s top car maker.

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:

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.

Common misspellings A-Z

A

Accidentally:   Think of the adjective first, then add –ly.

All right:          Two words. It will not be all right if you use “alright.” (Some linguists now debate that the slang version “alright” may be gaining more acceptance in both American and British English, but it may be best to avoid when in doubt.)

Argument:       Drop the “e” from “argue” and add –ment.

B

Believe:           Remember the rule: “i” before “e,” except after ”c.”

Business:         Add –ness to “busi.”

C

Cemetery:        All “e”s, no “a”s.

Completely:     Add –ly to “complete.”

Conscious:       Remember the –sc in the middle, and end with –ious.

D

Definitely:       Add –ly to “definite.” No “a”: think “finite,” but with de– before it.

Disappear:       That second “s” you think is there disappeared.

Discipline:       Like a disciple, you have to be disciplined to spell this right: think “sc.”

E

Embarrass:       Two ”r”s, ending in –ass.

Environment:  Throw in the sneak-attack “n” and you’re golden.

Exhilarate:       “e”s at the beginning and end; “a”s in the middle.

F

Fahrenheit:      The ”h” comes before the ”r.”

Fiery:               Fire, but fiery: switch the placement of the “r” and the “e.”

Foreseeable:    Foresee, with –able.

G

Gist:                No “j” in gist.

Glamorous:      Glamour (with “our “at the end), but glam”or”ous.

H

Harass:                        Only one ”r.”

Humorous:      An “o” on either side of ”r.”

I

Immediately:   Add –ly to “immediate.”

Independent:   No “a” in independence.

Irresistible:      Are you able to resist ending irresistible with –able?

It’s/its:             The contraction stands for “it is.” No contraction means it’s possessive.

J

Judgment:       Everyone will judge you if you leave an extra “e” in judgment.

K

Knowledgeable: Add –able to “knowledge.”

L

Liaison:           An “i” on both sides of the “a.”

License:           “c” first, “s” second.

M

Medieval:        It’s not evil to misspell medi”eval.”

Millennium:     Two “l”s, two “n”s, two “i”s and two “m”s.

Mischievous:   Remember: “i” before ”e”; ends in –ous.

N

Necessary:       The double “s” is necessary.

Noticeable:      Add –able to “notice.”

O

Occasionally:   There’s only one “s” for this occasion.

Occurrence:     Two “c”s and two “r”s make up occurrence.

P

Parallel:           The two “l”s are like two parallel lines, right between “para– “ and “–el.”

Pastime:           How do you pass the time? With only one ”t.”

Privilege:         First come the two ”i”s, then the two “e”s.

Possession:      You’ll use “s” four times.

Publicly:          Add –ly to “public,” and you have publicly.

Q

Questionnaire: I question the number of “n”s in this word.

R

Receive:          Again: “i” before “e,” except after ”c.”

Resistance:      Resis ends in –ance.

Rhythm:          No vowels. The second and second-to-last letters are both ”h”s.

S

Separate:         The only “e”s are at the end and the beginning.

Supersede:       No “c”s in this joint.

T

There/their/they’re: Are we there yet? They’re not. But, their car is.

Tomorrow:      Two ”r”s, no ”a.”

Tongue:           It’s like tong, but with –ue at the end.

Threw/through: The –w is for the verb; the –ough is for the preposition.

U

Unfortunately:            Ends in –ely.

Until:   Drop the extra “l” you’re tempted to use, and you have until.

V

Vacuum:          One “c,” two “u”s. Vacuum.

W

Weird: It’s so weird that this word breaks the “i” before “e” rule.

Which: The wicked witch cursed us, but which witch was wicked?

So many exceptions to English language rules, so little time to hang around memorizing them all. If you’re a student that spelling doesn’t quite come naturally to, consider printing this post out and adding in any extra words that you find to be particularly arduous!

UFO or a trick of the light?

Historical events have long been debated or explained as having secret plots and covert operations, but do these conspiracy theories have academic merit? Questia is home to a wealth of information and studies on a wide range of conspiracy theories involving everything from aliens to the supposed moon landing hoax theory. To offer insight on some of these topics Questia, the premier online research and paper-writing tool for students, is making the below books on conspiracy theories free for an entire month. For even more quality research, check out our topic page on conspiracy theories. Enjoy!

September 11

Fetzer, a founder of the “Scholars for 9/11 Truth” (a non-partisan organization of students, experts and scholars) examines the devastating events of 9/11 using scientific evidence to explain the mechanics of the twin towers falling. According to the 9/11 Commission Report (2004), the twin towers were destroyed from the combined effects of airplane impact and the ensuing jet-fuel based fires, which caused the steel in the towers to weaken and the floors to collapse. However, Frank DeMartini, the project manager mused that the buildings were designed to withstand this type of impact and the planes could not have caused enough damage to bring the buildings down.  Moreover, the melting point of steel is 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit, about 1,000 higher than the maximum burning of jet-fuel-based fires. [Fetzer, James H. The 9/11 Conspiracy: The Scamming of America. Open Court: 2007]

The notion that there is life beyond Earth has been around for years as well as the debate as to whether or not UFOs exist. Unidentified Flying Objects have been reported by people from all walks of life—from professional astronomers and pilots to truck drivers and students. Edward Ruppelt, who headed “Project Blue Book” or the U.S. Air Force UFO investigation, published his memoirs and included information on military encounters and the politics of the official UFO investigation. This piece offered a contemporary look at the UFO phenomenon and at official and unofficial attempts to handle the situation. [Denzler, Brenda. The Lure of the Edge: Scientific Passions, Religious Beliefs, and the Pursuit of UFOs. University of California Press: 2001]

JFK Assassination

Did Lee Harvey Oswald kill Kennedy? Many Americans have suspected a conspiracy was responsible for the late president’s death and that Oswald did not act alone. Rather, some suspect it was a cover up for a plot orchestrated by the Dallas Police, CIA, Cuban exiles, the Mafia or Texas oil millionaires, and carried out by assassins. The Warren Commission Report states that Kennedy was shot by Oswald, the lone gunman, who in turn was then murdered by Jack Ruby. However, theorists claim there are many questions left unanswered such as how there were only three gunshots yet four bullets and how Kennedy’s throat wound could not have been sustained from a gunshot from behind, since his wound to the back of his head would have propelled him forward, indicating he would have been caught in a crossfire from two different directions. [Knight, Peter. The Kennedy Assassination. Edinburgh University Press: 2007]

Alien Abduction

There is a vast amount of literature offering either personal accounts of alien abduction or those that debunk the phenomenon. A key study written in 1959 suggests the topic is merely a social-psychological phenomenon and is of the subconscious mental process. Another social psychologist, Lean Festinger, examined the theory but focused on cognitive dissonance the psychology of belief. Most recently, Psychologist Susan Clancy has argued that stories of alien abduction tend to serve a quasi-religious purpose. [Brown, Bridget. They Know Us Better Than We Know Ourselves: The History and Politics of Alien Abduction. New York University Press: 2007]

Moon Landing Hoax

Neil Armstrong took one giant leap for mankind with man’s first steps on the moon on July 20, 1969, but there are some people who believe NASA faked the whole Apollo Moon project. Bill Kaysing’s book We Never Went to the Moon details his findings that purported the NASA hoax theory. Most of his arguments result from the images NASA released from the mission such as that no stars are visible in the images. Another argument states that radiation from the Van Allen belts in space would have been lethal to the astronauts. [Plait, Philip C. Bad Astronomy: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Astrology to the Moon Landing ‘Hoax’. Wiley: 2002]

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.”