Just when you think you've finally got it, the powers that be go ahead and change everything on you. Ah, such is life . . .
Guess what? Now that we've all mastered the APA format, it is being updated!! The sixth edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association will be available this July.
While this may at first appear to be a setback for those of us who have highlighted and bookmarked our APA manuals to death, there are definitely some positive points worth noting. First, the new manual will have an expanded section for online sources, aiding us all immensely in this age of modern technology. Second, the new manual promises to be more user-friendly so that we can all find answers to our questions quicker and easier. Finally, in what will be lauded as the most brilliant stroke of genius since the one space after the period rule, the cover of the new manual will now be blue instead of black. So forget reaching for the imposing black manual of the 5th edition, and start treating yourself to the helpful blue skies of the APA 6th edition.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
It's getting warmer
It's getting warmer. It's more likely that you will be writing papers on your laptop outside or on the beach. It's time to enjoy the sun. It's time to enjoy spring. It's time . . .
Remember to run spellcheck. Remember to consult the Sentence Variety and Punctuation charts. Remember to bring your work into the Writing Center for additional coaching. Remember . . .
When the weather outside gets nice, spring fever could be knocking at the door. But stay the course, finish your tasks, and in about a month you will reap the reward.
Consider the weather today:
The sky was dark and foreboding. Rain hung in the air.
Birds were not chirping. They all had stopped to stare.
The wind, it bellowed and howled, threatening from all around.
The people hustled and bustled, their shadowed faces covered in frowns.
But then the sky was opened. The sun began to shine.
The rain melted away, and Spring shouted, "It's time!"
So if your assignments are mounting and causing you gloom and doom,
Remember that there is sunshine out there and you'll be celebrating soon!
Happy Spring!
Remember to run spellcheck. Remember to consult the Sentence Variety and Punctuation charts. Remember to bring your work into the Writing Center for additional coaching. Remember . . .
When the weather outside gets nice, spring fever could be knocking at the door. But stay the course, finish your tasks, and in about a month you will reap the reward.
Consider the weather today:
The sky was dark and foreboding. Rain hung in the air.
Birds were not chirping. They all had stopped to stare.
The wind, it bellowed and howled, threatening from all around.
The people hustled and bustled, their shadowed faces covered in frowns.
But then the sky was opened. The sun began to shine.
The rain melted away, and Spring shouted, "It's time!"
So if your assignments are mounting and causing you gloom and doom,
Remember that there is sunshine out there and you'll be celebrating soon!
Happy Spring!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The Final Step
One time, I was dining with a certain someone who shall not be named at a certain restaurant that shall not be named as well. We finished a great meal and were walking to the car when I noticed something out of place. I couldn't believe what I saw, so I just started laughing. He looked down at his shoes saying, "What? What?" until finally he discovered the restaurant napkin still gracing his trousers. Ah, such is the risk we take when we fail to perform a final check.
In writing, checking over your paper before you submit it is crucial. Often times there are spelling errors or missing words or letters that your word processor will not catch. This should be your final check: read over your paper out loud word for word without letting your mind fill in any blanks; you must read exactly what is on the paper. This will ensure that you will be able to hand your papers in without the proverbial napkin on your pants.
p.s. If you ask us, we will tell you who the accidental napkin nabber is.
In writing, checking over your paper before you submit it is crucial. Often times there are spelling errors or missing words or letters that your word processor will not catch. This should be your final check: read over your paper out loud word for word without letting your mind fill in any blanks; you must read exactly what is on the paper. This will ensure that you will be able to hand your papers in without the proverbial napkin on your pants.
p.s. If you ask us, we will tell you who the accidental napkin nabber is.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
getting there
hurrying by
weaving through
red light green
changing hue
over bumps
slowing speed
drawing close
to the need
powered door
take a right
Writing Center
now in sight
weaving through
red light green
changing hue
over bumps
slowing speed
drawing close
to the need
powered door
take a right
Writing Center
now in sight
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Pain and Pleasure
I am reading a personal development book* that discusses how humans tend to avoid pain and pursue pleasure. Without long-term thinking, this is often done to our detriment: short-term pleasure can lead to long-term pain or vice versa. For example, the short-term pleasure of eating junk food may lead to the long-term pain of being overweight and unhealthy. On the other hand, the short-term pain of sacrificing time and money to pursue an education may lead to the long-term pleasure of being able to work in a field that excites you.
So what does this have to do with writing? Sometimes we avoid the short-term pain of getting our writing critiqued or spending the time for a writing center appointment to get help on our papers. It is easier to just hand it in. Or maybe we know that writing is a weak area and we would highly benefit from the Academic Writing Seminar semester-long course, but it is painful to sacrifice the time and admit that we need the instruction. But here is where the switch must be made. Think about the long-term pleasure that you will feel not only passing your classes but excelling in them. Imagine how you would feel if you could spend half the time working on a paper and still achieve a better grade. Would it be worth some short-term pain to achieve this long-term pleasure? What about avoiding the long-term pain of failing a class or missing out on that promotion or opportunity due to poor writing skills? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves.
So stop by the Writing Center this new year. We can help you avoid the pain of tomorrow by helping you with your writing skills today.
*Anthony Robbins, Awaken the Giant Within
So what does this have to do with writing? Sometimes we avoid the short-term pain of getting our writing critiqued or spending the time for a writing center appointment to get help on our papers. It is easier to just hand it in. Or maybe we know that writing is a weak area and we would highly benefit from the Academic Writing Seminar semester-long course, but it is painful to sacrifice the time and admit that we need the instruction. But here is where the switch must be made. Think about the long-term pleasure that you will feel not only passing your classes but excelling in them. Imagine how you would feel if you could spend half the time working on a paper and still achieve a better grade. Would it be worth some short-term pain to achieve this long-term pleasure? What about avoiding the long-term pain of failing a class or missing out on that promotion or opportunity due to poor writing skills? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves.
So stop by the Writing Center this new year. We can help you avoid the pain of tomorrow by helping you with your writing skills today.
*Anthony Robbins, Awaken the Giant Within
Monday, October 13, 2008
Cast Your Vote
It's almost time to cast your vote. No, I'm not talking about the presidential election--I'm talking about the style manual competition. What style manual is best: MLA, APA, or Turabian? Manuals will be judged according to three different categories: 1) ease of use, 2) clarity, and 3) the "cool" factor. To vote for your favorite style manual, simply go to the Writing Center website (www.regent.edu/writing) and click on the link "Style Manual Vote" on the reverse side of the page.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Carpetry and the Academic Writer
I have to replace the flooring in my house. It is amazing what kind of damage a simple 30 or 40 gallons of water will do if you don't notice it. So, it is time to look at flooring. There are more types than I ever expected: wood, linoleum, pergo, tile, carpet . . . and each of those has a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, etc. Personally, I like something soft under my feet in the morning, so I always go for carpet. However, price is always an issue, so it has to be cheap. Thus, I don't have any Persian rugs, but if I could afford it, it would be perfect for me. Why? Well, let me tell you.
Down through the centuries, Persian rug makers have been considered the best in the business. There artwork is of the highest quality, and rugs can sell for thousands of dollars. This raises a question, though. What is the meaning of the famous term, "Persian flaw"? Well, it goes like this . . .
Persian weavers recognized that their skills was renouned throughout the world. Many cultures considered their rugs to be perfect. They realized, though, that only God could make anything completely perfect in every respect. Thus, they would purposely put a flaw into every carpet they made so that there was no chance that anybody--including themselves--would think they had made something perfect.
In a similar way, every person has something that prevents them from being completely perfect. (Of course, we all have more than a single flaw, but go with me on this for the sake of the analogy). This term is often used to describe something that is not major but that is still noticeable. This would be considered that person's Persian flaw.
My Persian flaw is proofreading. It doesn't matter how many times I proofread something I have written, there is always a single error that slips through. Either I accidently type a singular when I want a plural, or I add an extra consonant or vowel, or I put an extra period between sentences. This especially happens when I have written something that is going to somebody in an important position. I have realized this, so I regularly have someone else proofread anything significant. (Of course, it seems that my Persian flaw includes picking people who also miss just one thing).
As an academic writer, you, too, have a Persian flaw--something that you need to watch out for in your writing. Knowing what that is will help you take steps to overcome the problem. I guess that there is only one Persian flaw in academic writing that can't be easily fixed: the belief that you don't have one.
P.S. Did you notice the Persian flaw in the first sentence of paragraph 3? It wasn't put there on purpose--honest. It just got by me.
Down through the centuries, Persian rug makers have been considered the best in the business. There artwork is of the highest quality, and rugs can sell for thousands of dollars. This raises a question, though. What is the meaning of the famous term, "Persian flaw"? Well, it goes like this . . .
Persian weavers recognized that their skills was renouned throughout the world. Many cultures considered their rugs to be perfect. They realized, though, that only God could make anything completely perfect in every respect. Thus, they would purposely put a flaw into every carpet they made so that there was no chance that anybody--including themselves--would think they had made something perfect.
In a similar way, every person has something that prevents them from being completely perfect. (Of course, we all have more than a single flaw, but go with me on this for the sake of the analogy). This term is often used to describe something that is not major but that is still noticeable. This would be considered that person's Persian flaw.
My Persian flaw is proofreading. It doesn't matter how many times I proofread something I have written, there is always a single error that slips through. Either I accidently type a singular when I want a plural, or I add an extra consonant or vowel, or I put an extra period between sentences. This especially happens when I have written something that is going to somebody in an important position. I have realized this, so I regularly have someone else proofread anything significant. (Of course, it seems that my Persian flaw includes picking people who also miss just one thing).
As an academic writer, you, too, have a Persian flaw--something that you need to watch out for in your writing. Knowing what that is will help you take steps to overcome the problem. I guess that there is only one Persian flaw in academic writing that can't be easily fixed: the belief that you don't have one.
P.S. Did you notice the Persian flaw in the first sentence of paragraph 3? It wasn't put there on purpose--honest. It just got by me.
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