How to Write an Amazing College Paper

Doing any kind of assignment is hard. At least for me, I am a procrastinator. I also don't like doing essays because I never know when or how to start the introduction.

Once, I get started it is easy to finish. I have already written two papers out of 4 for my drama class. I would assume for my second English class I will be doing more. Here are my tips and advice when writing a college paper.

If you’re an incoming freshmen who has yet to experience writing a college paper yet, just you wait, you’ll become familiar with them very quickly.

In either case, nobody really wants to write them and everyone is looking for ways to make it as easy as possible. How I write my college papers from start to finish (my advice to you).

1. Pick your question.

Some of you may have a mandatory question assigned, and in that case, you can skip to the next section. If, however, you have a list of questions, or need to think of a question yourself, this is the place to start.

If given a list of questions, don’t just choose the one that seems easiest. Often, questions can be deceiving; the ones that seem easy can turn out to be much trickier or more nuanced than you expected. Choose the essay question that legitimately seems the most interesting to you, regardless of how difficult it is. It’s better to be energized by a challenge than to trudge through a question you find boring. Even if it is difficult, the professor will know that you took a risk and challenged yourself.

Coming up with your own question can be difficult. Take a look at the required reading for the course and the subjects raised in class lectures, and come up with a question for yourself that you find interesting, to which you don’t already know the answer.

2. Make a timeline.

This is like a schedule. Whether you have four days, two weeks or a month to write a paper, make a timeline for every step of the way.  Plan how long you plan to brainstorm on what you’ll write about, then how long you’ll research information and how many pages you’ll work on each week, day, hour etc.

Unfortunately, a schedule like this is often a luxury, and for some classes (or universities!) it’s just not possible. I have 5 classes this semester, I have essays to write every week and every 2 books in my other class. I usually only get to spend three to five days per essay. In that case, I still recommend one day for just research and then to divide the length of the essay over the days you have left.

3. Find all of your resources.

Nobody likes doing research.  Since you have to so some research one way or another in order to write your paper, do lots of research all at once.  It’s better to have more information than you have room for in your paper rather than to have to continuously go searching for more information.

Make sure that if your professor lists an author or book, you get your hands on that source, whether it’s at your library or via inter-library loan. It could make a big difference in your final thoughts on the topic, and your professor may be surprised if you leave the source out of your essay.

4. Note taking and writing your outline.

I prefer to take typed notes when I have the time, because they are cleaner and more organized than my handwritten ones. However, if you prefer to take notes by hand, that is fine and totally up to you.

If I am writing my notes on a computer, I use a Notebook Word document that allows me to put a different author in every tab. An alternative to this would be Google Drive or Evernote, depending on what you have access to. After this step, I write out a list of quotes and summaries as I read.

Yes, I know most people hate being told to make an outline but it really is a great way to keep track of everything that you want to cover in your paper and to make it organized.  You can use your own outline format.

5. KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING.

As you work on your paper, find a system to help you see what you’ve already done and what resources you’ve already used.  Not only does it help you keep track of everything, but it also helps to give you a visual of your progress.  I personally like to highlight things as they are completed or used.  That way I can still read them and have a very clear visual of what’s been done.

6. Writing the essay.

Now comes the hard part: writing the essay. If you made a good outline, this part will be a lot easier.

a. Reflecting on previous feedback

If you’ve previously written an essay for this professor, take a look at the feedback on your old assignments to see how to improve. Did you use too many quotes? Were you too wordy? Do your best to take that advice to heart in this essay. If this is your first time writing for the professor, just do your best and see some of my general advice below.

b. Which citation style to use

Always make sure to cite correctly – plagiarism, whether intentional or not, is a very serious offense, and could get you expelled.

Different disciplines require different citation styles. As a religion major, I most often use Chicago and MLA style. For a list of which disciplines require which citation styles, look here. If you’re still unsure, ask your professor!

c. General tips

There are plenty of things I could say here, but I’m going to stick to three pieces of advice. The first is to really engage with the subject of your essay. Really ask yourself the question that you’re trying to answer in your writing, and then do your best to make your essay’s answer as thorough and clear a possible.

Second, try to stay clear in your writing. Don’t get too creative with a thesaurus; clean, elegant writing is always the best way to go. Some great books on this are the Chicago Manual of Style and The Elements of Style by Strunk and White.

Third, try not to over-quote (my biggest writing sin!). Using too many quotes is the sign of an insecure writer. A tip for this is not to have any books or articles open next to you as you write; just go off of your notes and your memory. When you do use a quote, try to go for primary sources, and use a sentence before and after the quote to set it up and explain its relevance.

7. Editing the essay.

You finished your essay! Put it aside for a night if you can before taking a look. This will let you return to it with a fresh eye and a clear mind.
When editing, I find it most helpful to print it out and go through with a pen, crossing things out and marking them as I go. Look for any errors in grammar or citation, and try to make your writing as clear as possible. If necessary, ask a friend or tutor to look over it for you to see if they catch anything you didn’t.

If you struggle with grammar and citation, I really recommend you get a citation guide. Personally, I love the Pocket Style Manual, which was a required purchase at my college and which has saved my butt on more assignments than I can count. It includes sections on each of the major required styles in which to format your papers. There are school-specific versions and a general version, but the differences are pretty small. I recommend the general version of your school doesn’t have its own.

Finally, know when to put it down. If you’ve been editing your essay for hours and you’re about to throw it out and start over, stop. Have some confidence in yourself and your abilities. You didn’t come to college to be the perfect student – you came to learn. Your essay is probably much better than you think it is.

DON'T PROCRASTINATE!!!

How Do I Set Up my Planner for College

I am not always good at staying organized. I really used to have mental breakdowns because I didn't know what was due and on what day.

I know this because the first week of classes I was given all my syllabi outlined with their many assignments and told about the ones not on them and I practically died. Not because it was too much, but because I had no where to write everything down and keep it organized.

Well technically I did. I had a planner, but it just didn’t work for me. There wasn’t hourly planning, and I need hourly planning. I also didn't think about due dates and what not. So, I need a planner with planning times and space to write assignments and their due dates.

That’s how insane I felt.

I have been asked many times how I manage to do it all. Normally, during the semester, I have several classes, a part-time job, and a blog (aka a second job). And at the end of the day, I still manage to get As in most (or all) of my classes. How do I do it all? With my planner. This is the one tool that I use religiously semester after semester and I swear that it is the main reason why I am a successful student.

With the beginning of a new school year comes the time to prepare for the new semester. One of the things I love most about new semesters is setting up my planner. But in order for your planner to work for you, you have to set yourself up for success. Now I’m using the Writefully His planner and I love it.

Having a planner is the number one necessity to staying organized.

The Student Planner is different. It’s a printable planner that comes in three different layouts, and each of them is designed to help students succeed. When you buy the Student Planner, you can access to all versions of the planner! So you’re sure to find something that works for you. What’s even more awesome is that when you buy a dated planner, you get access to undated sheets from the other layouts to you can switch formats to fit your needs and lifestyle! It’s a planner that always works for everyone.

All formats include a goal section, student sheets to organize your semester and succeed, and reflection sections to help you live your best life!

The other part of the planner is the monthly layout. You wouldn’t think so, but I actually use this section very sparingly. I use it for presentations, tests and quizzes, school events, birthdays and other really big things I need to make sure I don’t forget. I also like to use the monthly layout to write things I’m interested in doing/attended but haven’t decided whether I want to commit to yet.

My favorite part of the whole planner is how the whole left sidebar is for to-dos. There’s one on the monthly and weekly pages. I didn’t include a photo of the one with the weekly layout because there was sharpie that bleed through the page before so it looked really gross.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m like to-do lists’ number one fan. It’s so convenient that there are two spots to write what you need to get done, because somethings aren’t as time sensitive (like wanting to go watch tv) and fit in the monthly list but not the weekly list. The monthly list is also useful for things you need to remember to do at the end of the month but you know about now. Like I have a friend whose birthday is in the last week of September, and I need to remember to order her gift, so I put it in the monthly to-do list so when that week comes around I know I already have it ordered.

Another thing with using a planner: color coding really helps.

I have 10 different colored pens I use for my planner, and each one has a different meaning. But I honestly don’t follow it very well. The only things I really keep up with is that red is school work, purple is school events, blue is friend/family related and pink is blog related. Having the different colors really helps to see what you should be spending your time on, and what you need to prioritize.

Color code each event in your life. Some people like to use different colors for each class, but I personally like to do things a little differently. For example, my color code for the fall semester went
like this:

Assignments – orange
Exams – blue
Work – pink
Internship – purple
Study abroad – green
Other stuff – yellow

Each color represents their own section of my life. Once you memorize which color corresponds to which section, you’ll be able to quickly glance at your planner and know what you’ve got going on.

Bonus tip: Use your planner!

The one way to ensure your success this semester is to actually use your planner! There’s no point in setting it up if you won’t end up using it. It’s a reflex for all successful college students (myself included), but it might not be your case. Don’t worry! If you’re not used to using a planner, just become accustomed to using it frequently. Take it out at the start of every class and have it on-hand. That way if your professor says a date that you need to remember, you’ll be ready to jot it down!

So let’s recap:

• Use a planner and take advantage of all of its attributes (hourly scheduling, top three and to-do lists, monthly planning)
• Use the monthly calendar for all your school assignments and big events
• Color code both to keep everything straight and avoid color overwhelm
• ^{_{Keep sticky notes handy for to-do lists, grocery lists and random strikes of inspiration}}

Dream College

My dream college is South Carolina State University. Most younger students don't understand what a dream college is. Most Likely because they just aren't to the stage in life about thinking what they want to do with their life after high school. Well, I'm not going to get into that with my post. I'm going to list the top 5 reasons I want to go to SCSU and why.

South Carolina State University

1. I want to learn how hard being on my own will be without actually being alone. I am in a wheelchair and right now I have both of my parents helping me and I know they won't always be here to help, I want to learn how hard life is being on my own.
2. It is diverse. I hope to learn about new cultures.
3. They have a great Journalism department. My major is Journalism in Mass Media. I eventually would like to own my own big media company.
4. It is out-of state, I don't want to stay in Illinois. I realize out-of state expenses cost more. I just feel like I'm not going anywhere in the state of Illinois. I refuse to move to Chicago because of the violence.
5. I want to get myself out there. You know, Go Big or Go home and I refuse to give up and go home. Getting my journalism skills out there is important to me.

College Application Tips

I am a sophomore in college this year. Time just flew by! I am super excited, to talk about application essays for college with you. I am, of course, not an expert when it comes to these things. However, I wanted to share with you some advice I've learned from my experience being in college as well.

Here are my tips when applying to college: 

Be aware of dates

Nothing can be worse than missing a submission deadline. I have all of my important dates for college mapped out to stay on top of things. Don't be a procrastinator, you don't want to be scrambling around late November to submit your application.

Brainstorm

Don't neglect to skip this part for your application. I find it difficult to just simply start writing an essay. Before you get to typing keep a list of bullet points of details and ideas. That way it will make your essay come much more easily.

Editing

When it comes to rereading your college application/essay, don't do it immediately after you finish. Save the document, and allow your eyes some time for a break. Once you're reading to reread, be sure to read it allow, I promise it will help you catch silly spelling/grammar mistakes!

Get Feedback

A new website that I have been using recently is called EditRevise. It essentially acts as your English teacher or your college admissions officer. EditRevise is an online service that can be used to provide feedback on your college app essays. After submitting my first essay draft, it took roughly (get it?) 48 hours until I got my feedback. (You can also pay a little more to receive the feedback within 6 hours, if you're in a hurry.) The comments I got back I found to be very helpful and detailed. I also liked how if a editor commented on a section, they would provide me with a sample sentence. With submitting three revisions of my essay, I found that it allowed me a great foundation for when I write my other essays.

I hope you found these tips to be useful, I am not an expert so I'd appreciate it if you have any advice to help me in this process!

What I Have in my Backpack

I started college last semester. It’s hard to believe I’m in college, for anyone even myself. It still hasn’t set in that I’m an undergrad. I mean wow! I have friends and family in college too. So between talking to all of them about essentials and knowing what I use and don’t use. I’ve narrowed down the absolute essentials for my backpack so that I’m not lugging around heavy items all day. So let’s take a peek inside my backpack!

What do I have in my backpack?

1. Backpack. I’ve had a Vera Bradley since my senior year of high school. I changed to a Vera Bradley bag that can also hold my tablet. It really comes in handy.
2. Water Bottle. I love my Camelback it’s an easy way to make sure I’m drinking enough water all day!
3. Planner. I found the cutest Blooms Day planner from Amazon and I’m loving it! Look out for a planner organization post soon!
4. Surface Pro 4. Of course I have to have my laptop for taking notes, doing homework, reading, and assignments! Maybe a little Netflix too.
5. Notebooks. I take all of my notes in 1 subject notebooks, nothing crazy, but it’s the best way to stay organized between classes.
6. Wallet. I have this for obvious reasons like paying for lunch or snacks, house key, shopping perks, etc.
7. Pencil Case. I love my pens! I have a ton of different ones and highlighters.
8. Headphones. I keep these in case I stop by the gym or need to listen to videos in the library!

What is one thing you have to keep in your backpack? Let me know below!

Why You Should Major in Journalism

Before I started college, I never even considered being a journalism major. I thought I'd be interested in Computers, English, or Business for other reasons. Finally, I realized that no other major can compare to journalism, because being able to express your opinion to an audience, no matter how big, is a feeling that can't be beat.

Being a journalism major is much more than just writing papers and finding different stories. It's making friends at your school paper, getting coffee so much that your local barista has your order memorized, and talking to people you wouldn't normally talk to, just to hear their stories.

These are just some of the greatest things about being a journalism major:

1. It's an excuse to drink as much coffee as humanly possible.

Because there is always a deadline to meet and nothing keeps you awake like three cups of coffee. You're usually up several nights all night finishing a column or post. Plus you can rack up enough points on the Dunkin Donuts Perks app to get free coffee at least once per week.

2. It's socially acceptable to be attached to your phone and computer at all times.

There is always an email to send, a call to make or a picture to take for an article. Even if you're playing Candy Crush while walking to class, people assume you're probably doing something important.

3. You can justify the hundreds of dollars spent on tattoos and piercings.

Communications employers typically don't mind them and they "express your artistic side."

4. It's amazing to think that the words you say have an impact on others around the world.

Someone from Australia could be in bed right now reading the words you write, or someone in Brazil could be on a train reading your article. Knowing that people take time out of their day to read the words you carefully choose means a lot and makes the midnight deadlines worth all the trouble.

5. You have automatic friends from the media clubs you're basically required to join.

Almost every journalism student is in an on-campus media club, so by the end of freshman year, you'll get to know pretty much everyone in your major. Plus, they're just as quirky and neurotic as you are.

6. You get to listen to some amazing and heartbreaking stories and experiences from others.

The "Humans of New York" account is just one example of learning inspiring stories from people you'd normally pass by on the street without a second glance. Everyone has a story, and getting to experience the most exciting, intimate or heartbreaking moments of someone's life is an experience that can't be beat.

7. You pretty much never need to buy textbooks.

Journalism is something that can't be taught out of a book (minus the dreaded AP Style book) so you save $200 per semester that can be used for buying more coffee or that paid Wordpress account you've been saving up for.

8. You can do almost anything after college with a degree in communications.

Every single company or corporation needs a communications department because that's how money is made. Even if at first it's just a basic secretary job, you'll never struggle to find work after college.

9. It is not an easy major by any means, but it is not impossible either.

Journalism has the stereotype of being an easy or "blow-off" major because we don't need to spend hours studying a textbook in the library. Just because we don't need to study much doesn't mean it's an easy major. The hours we don't spend studying we spend throwing ourselves into every media organization on campus. We're slaves to our editors and our computers.
On the other hand, even though it does keep us very busy, none of the work is impossible and most of it is very enjoyable.

10. You can do anything with writing.

If you're a strong enough writer, you can convince readers that the grass is blue. You can describe the scent of dew in the morning so well that readers actually feel like they're smelling it. You can paint a picture without ever picking up a paintbrush. When you write, even your most outlandish ideas are possible, and usually those are the ideas that make for the best stories.

My College Journey

The National Association for the Education of Young Children External link  (NAEYC) defines “early childhood” as occurring before the age of eight, and it is during this period that a child goes through the most rapid phase of growth and development. Their brains develop faster than at any other point in their lives, so these years are critical. The foundations for their social skills, self-esteem, perception of the world and moral outlook are established during these years, as well as the development of cognitive skills.External link
The National Association for the Education of Young Children  (NAEYC) defines “early childhood” as occurring before the age of eight, and it is during this period that a child goes through the most rapid phase of growth and development. Their brains develop faster than at any other point in their lives, so these years are critical. The foundations for their social skills, self-esteem, perception of the world and moral outlook are established during these years, as well as the development of cognitive skills.

As an Early Childhood Education major I love children and find joy in the small things.

I know getting a degree is a roller coaster. Although, throw the firefighter life into the mix and you’ve got yourself an entire theme-park full of too many options (or sometimes not enough), more stress than necessary, and maybe even a few tears every now and then. It probably sounds impossible to get through college while being in a relationship, but it’s very possible.

In fact I know it can be done, I’m doing it myself.

Here is my take with being an Early Childhood major:

The field of Early Childhood Education (ECE) is evolving and numerous education programs are keeping pace. This willingness and drive to grow, learn, question, adapt, expand and emerge are also important for prospective education students and professionals.

Right now, I am at Lincoln Land Community College. This college does have ECE as a major. So I am getting my general ECE courses out of the way first, then when I move to University I can go to an education school. This college classes for ECE are all over two and a half hours each.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO WHEN DECIDING WHAT ROUTE TO TAKE IS RESEARCH.

Honestly.

My original plan was stay put at the university I was attending until I graduated. As we are dating, I told my boyfriend all the time that I wasn’t going to marry him until I had at least an associate’s degree. I want to have some sort of gain in getting a job before I completely enter the firefighter life. Understandable right?

I am living with him, yes. Although, for some students it can be hard to find time to study. I find this being hard because unless I have help around the house I don’t get time to myself.

So, guess what I did?

RESEARCH!!!

I started looking into the schools in his area. I also started to look into online schools that offered my degree, how creditable each school was, what the degree plan looked like at each school, and whether or not online classes really were a good option for me. I am leaning more towards a Kindergarten teacher because I love teaching the future generations of the world.

As an ECE student it would be easier doing my classes online due to not being able to drive, time management, and overall it would be easier on me. Now I realize it is not a cup of tea, more like a shot of whiskey because online classes can be more intense.

How I figured out Early Childhood Education was right for me

I went for computer science to business to ECE. (Weird, right?) Computer Science your learn more about networking and the ins and outs of a computer, not the actual internet or social media, which is what interested me. Business I’m still open for just depends on my future, it works with my dream of ownership. Now I realize you don’t need a business degree to own a building, I feel it would help with having one.

Now a Journalism degree or an ECE degree I’m really interested in, I have been a blogger since I was 10. I love writing, finding out things, and giving advice. On the other side of the coin, this also goes along with teaching. This degree makes me a professional writer/teacher and I could write for different people and in other areas than just this blog.

ALWAYS ASK ABOUT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

Even if you don’t think you qualify, even if you didn’t fill out a FAFSA, and even if you’re too lazy or shy to walk up to the fiscal services building.

JUST ASK!!!

Simply asking saved me thousands of dollars on tuition this year.

Being in a junior college you might think “why does she need help it’s not too expensive?” true but being with a grant I got exempt, now knowing I am disabled help when I transfer. I didn’t know a lot of things I know now.

Ask the questions—it really can pay off.

DON’T GET DISCOURAGED.

It might not work out perfectly. In fact, it might not work out at all for periods of time. You’ll probably lose a few credits, and you might even lose a lot of credits.

Just keep swimming.

Keep doing your research, keep asking questions, and keep your mind focused on your ultimate education or career goals. With the right amount of determination and perseverance, nothing can ever keep you from earning that degree!

Why you should go for a journalism or an ECE major

Journalism is really fun! You get to write stories or about whatever is happening in your own words.

If you’re like me you’re curious about what happens in the world, have a thirst for knowledge. I constantly ask “why?” in my head, but as a journalist, I get to ask those questions out loud. It takes an inquisitive yet sensitive type of person to get information out of people. If you love to gossip or coaxed your older brother into telling you where your mom hid the Christmas presents as a kid, you’ll likely be a stellar reporter.

With ECE you don't always have to be a teacher, there are so many other opportunities out there! You get to help guide young children through all things.

RECAP:

• Look into schools where you’re going and online schools, if you’re willing to go that route.
• Find out credibility, what their degree plans look like, and get in touch with a counselor if you think you’ve found a good match.
• Don’t just research the place you’re going to next, but also look into the places you might be go to after that if necessary & if you know where your spouse could end up.
• Ask questions, especially about financial aid.
• Don’t worry if you have to take a semester or two off and don’t stress about a few lost credits. Keep persevering and reach your goals despite the obstacles.