How to: Write a Better Paper

Step 1: Do Your Research
The internet is a useful tool, but so is the Rod Library. The library has not only books, but archives of scholarly journals and newspapers to help you in that research. In addition, there are reference librarians on staff to help you out with research when you don't know the next step or are just stumped.

Step 2: Document Resources
Keep a list of every source you consult. You can even do this by putting the citations in your outline so that you have them in one place and know where you want to use each one in your paper.

Step 3: Create a Structure

Most papers are meant to present a thesis statement, so make your point clear at the beginning. Also write a few sentences explaining how you'll support that point.
Then, give detailed examples to support your ideas and support them with references. Wrap those examples up with a brief conclusion.
Once you have initially expressed your thoughts, expand or compress them to allow for the length of the assignment.

Step 4: Tailor your Style
How you write will depend on the subject matter and guidelines given to you by your professor.

• Humanities Papers: Focus on text analysis, so include quotes from your class materials and readings mixed with your own ideas.
• Scientific Assignments: Usually require quantitative data, maybe in the forms of graphs or charts
• Creative Writing Courses: May call for prose - whether autobiographical, fictional, or another form.

Step 5: Develop Your Voice
While keeping it formal, find a way to integrate your unique understanding of the material. With practice, you'll find your writing personality.

Step 6: Polish It Up
Use spell-check and other editing functions. Reading out loud to your self is a great way to catch typos. You should also ask a friend, family member, or tutor to read it because they will catch typos you may miss.

Congratulations on writing a GREAT paper!

Adapted from "6 Ways to Ace Your Next Paper" from Student Health 101. Retrieved from http://readsh101.com/uni.html

{What can I do with an interest in: Health Care}

Possible Personal Characteristics: Analytical, caring, team players and excellent communicators

Majors

• Chemistry: Students will focus on the fundamental building blocks of life and how they work. Students will also focus on how these materials function in the natural world.
• Athletic Training: Students will learn how to recognize, prevent and assist with physical rehabilitation when there is a physical injury caused by physical activity.
• Health Promotion: Health promotion promotes the health of the general public using a wide variety of methods in a wide variety of settings. This major helps students acquire the skills and abilities to develop, implement and evaluate health education programs in a wide variety of settings.
• Gerontology: The multidisciplinary study of the issues associated with aging and the aging process. One setting focuses on long-term care facilities and another focuses on the broader study of aging.
• Movement & Exercise Science: Exercise science majors study the science of human movement. They also learn how to help people live healthier lives through exercise, rehabilitation, and nutrition.
• Biology: Students will focus on the study of living organisms. Biology can focus into a wide variety of careers from being in the health field to field biologists.
• Communicative Disorders: Students will first focus on the basic anatomy and physiology of speech and auditory systems. Students will then move into treatment and diagnosis of problems in speech and hearing.
• Psychology: Psychology is the study of human and animal behavior (normal and abnormal) and the cognitive, emotional, social and biological processes related to that behavior.

Minors: Biology, Chemistry, Gerontology, Health Promotion

Certificates: Substance Abuse Counseling, Global Health, Environmental Health

Career Possibilities: Social Worker, Doctor, Case Manager, Physical Therapist, Health Teacher, Marketing, Elderly Service Provider, Psychologist, Speech Language Pathologist

Stop Hitting Snooze

Most students identify as being "night owls." Yet, most students have responsibilities (like class) in the morning. As the saying goes, "The early bird gets the worm." But how can you get everything done and still be a morning person?

Perks of Being an Early-Bird:

• Peace and Quiet
  
• Time for breakfast, reflection, and a nap later on
• Increase productivity
• Time to yourself

How Do You Become an Early-Bird?:

• Start Gradually: Adjust your schedule in increments
• Prepare Ahead: Set out clothing, review your schedule and make lunch (if you need to) the night before
• Exercise: Exercise increases alertness
• Get Consistent Sleep: Adults aged 17 and up need 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Studies have shown that a regimented schedule, especially on weekends is essential
• Set an Alarm: Try using your favorite song for motivation or setting two alarms - 15 minutes apart - to ease yourself out of bend. When you get up, open the blinds!
• Enjoy Breakfast: A healthy meal will help you energize. Prepare something that combines protein, whole grans, and some fruit

Making the most of mornings can help you maximize your day and go to bed feeling satisfied.

Article taken from Student Health 101 from University of Northern Iowa's Wellness and Recreation Services http://readsh101.com/uni.html

{What can I do with an interest in: Politics & Government}

Possible Personal Characteristics: Critical and abstract thinking and the ability to foresee implications of actions

Career Possibilities: Lawyer; Politician; Marketing Director; Foreign Affairs Officer; Policy Advisor; Research Analyst; Administration Assistant; Special Agent; Public Relations; Social Scientist

Majors

• Political Communication: Students will focus on basic communication skills and how those influence and can be effectively used in the political domain. Various topics can includes: advertising, mass media and image management. Jobs in this area include public relations for governments and non-profit organizations, campaign management, political journalism in electronic or print media, political speech writing and advertising, survey research, and public opinion consulting. Students who have been active in debate teams, newspapers, student government or community organizations will find that this major allows them to combine their interests in these activities with their academic coursework.
• Social Science Teaching: Students prepare to teach a broad range of social studies including the fields of economics, geography, history, political science, sociology, anthropology, and psychology.
• History: Students will learn to analyze and interpret a variety of histories, details and timelines. Students will use a mixture of different resources to examine the history.
• Public Administration: Students will center on public policy by interpreting and evaluating the policies within the government framework. Policies focused upon include federal policy, state policy and local policy. Students take a mix of administration, management and policy courses complemented with a required internship in a public organization. After taking a set of core courses in American politics, public administration and quantitative methods, students concentrate on courses in one of the following areas of public administration: general administration, state and community planning, public law, public personnel, public policy and public service, or international public policy.
• Political Science: Political science is the study of government and governing systems. Today political scientists are interested in many of the same normative questions that engaged ancient scholars, such as how should governments be structured and how should power be distributed. In addition, modern political scientists are concerned with accurately measuring and explaining a wide variety of political phenomenon, such as voting behavior and international conflict.

Minors: Business communication; International business; International affairs; Political science; Politics and law; Women’s and gender studies

Certificates: Inequality; Leadership foundations; State and local government; International peace and security

Having a Blast on a Budget

You want to be able to have fun with your friends but you don't have a lot of cash because, let's face it, college students usually don't. Here are some great tips for having fun while keeping it affordable.

1. Carry only the amount of cash you wish to spend and leave debit and credit cards at home. You can't spend what you don't have!
2. Identify the difference between necessities and luxuries. Do you really need to by that coffee or can you make it at home?
3. Carpool or take public transit to get to where you want to go in the Cedar Valley.
4. Get separate checks: Only pay for your own food when dining out, especially if you choose lower-cost options than your friends.
5. Use your student ID: Many businesses offer deals for students. Ask if they're not advertised.
6. Find group discounts: Many businesses in the Cedar Valley offer group discounts for large groups of people. Some even offer discounts for just more than 1 person.
7. Join a club: Student organizations plan free and low-cost events. 
8. Look in the community for free or discounted movie screenings and cultural events. There are even apps that locate them.
9. Attend school events: UNI offers art events, plays, concerts, and others at free or very low prices for students. CAB events are free to students and are always doing great things. Did you know that their movie nights come with free popcorn?!
10. Take charge: Plan low-cost activities with friends so the suggestions aren't always for options you can't afford.

Adapted from 10 Tips for Having a Blast on a Budget from Student Health: 101 http://readsh101.com/uni.html

{What can I do with an interest in: Children and Youth}

Possible Personal Characteristics: Enjoy working with a younger population, like being in a leadership role, and are responsible and caring

Majors

• Leisure, Youth, and Human Services: LYHS allows students to move from theory to application. The focus areas are: Nonprofit Administration, Outdoor Recreation, Community Recreation Services, Therapeutic Recreation, and Tourism
• Psychology: Psychology is
  
  the study of human and animal behavior (normal and abnormal) and the cognitive, emotional, social and biological processes related to that behavior
• Communicative Disorders: Students will first focus on the basic anatomy and physiology of speech and auditory systems. Students will then move into treatment and diagnosis of problems in speech and hearing. The undergraduate major in Communicative Disorders is designed to provide the academic preparation and experiences required for admission into a graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology.
• Special Education: Programs provide teacher candidates with the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills, and attitudes, and learn the best practices necessary for becoming effective teachers responsive to the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families
• Social Work: Students will develop the skills and knowledge to work with a diverse population. Graduates of the social work program find jobs in child and adolescent social work, family practice, probation and parole, medical social work and working with the aged
• Family Services: The discipline of Family Studies explores patterns of family functioning and how relationship processes and other contextual factors influence individual development and behavior
• Early Childhood/Elementary Education: Students will learn to teach and work with children from infants through elementary. Provides teacher candidates with the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for becoming teachers who are responsible, reflective decision makers in a global society.

Minors: Coaching; Leisure, Youth and Human Services; Family Studies; Psychology

Career Possibilities: Child Psychologist; Coaching; Education Administrator; Childcare Worker; Counselor; Special Education Teacher; Preschool Teacher; Audiologist; Speech Pathologist

{What can I do with an interest in: Computers and Technology}

Potential Personal Characteristics: Good communication skills, enjoy programming and repairing computers and systems

Majors

• Electrical Engineering: EET is a broad-based, technically-oriented education that emphasizes the application of today’s technology to solve problems, design and develop products, and improve processes, procedures, equipment and facilities
• Graphic Technologies: Students gain knowledge and experience with technology necessary to produce the millions of imaged products from start to finish. They also learn about successful management and supervision to operate business enterprises
• Technology Education: Includes organization, resources,
  
  processes, and management technologies. These studies take place within the disciplines of mathematics, science, industrial management, and production
• Management Information Systems: Students will focus on the business processes of organizations and the information technology utilized in those organizations. MIS students learn to design, implement, and maintain effective information systems in organizations
• Networking and System Administration: Students will be responsible for the administration and troubleshooting of critical network systems and learn how to troubleshoot computer hardware. They will also learn to install and manage various server platforms and offer customer service to users and environments
• Technology Management: Students will learn IT management philosophy, system development, and business strategy. They will utilize available technology and determine the technological strategies that will best suit the needs of the business
• Electronic Media: Students will study how to use electronically mediated communication and the implications of doing so. It is a broad based program that provides students with a strong foundation in media production and management
• Computer Science: Students will theorize, develop, and maintain exciting, cutting edge computer based technologies. They will also solve problems, create new technologies, conduct research, and create innovative ways to apply computer technologies

Minors: Computer Science; Educational Technology; Technology Management; Electrical and Electronics Technology; Graphic Technologies

Certificates: Cartography and Geographic Information Systems; Software Testing; Computer Applications; Technology management

Career Possibilities: Software Developer; Computer Programmer; Business Analyst; Web Master; Engineering Technician; Computer Scientist; Lead Technician; Database Administrator; Educator; Construction Supervisor; System Analyst