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Archive for August 1st, 2025

The Writer’s First Step: Understanding Assignment Directions

     Sitting down to research or write an essay is often a challenge, and a writer may wonder what to do if they do not understand the instructions included […]

Importance of Direction/Action Words: Understanding Assignments for Success

Action Words: Even the best students get stumped by assignment directions, but it helps to know what key action words actually mean.  For example, discuss, explain, identify, define, describe are […]

Overcoming Writing Anxiety

A blank Microsoft Word screen. Your fingers resting on the keys, waiting for the words to come out. A complete sense of doubt that this assignment will ever get finished. […]

Hypothetical Examples: Versatility and Simplicity

Writing is often a difficult process. Writers can face numerous issues, from a lack of specificity to insufficient length. What if there were a cure-all that could improve almost any […]

Building Academic Vocabulary: FUMP It Up!

Academic lingo often differs from everyday language. Sometimes scholarly terminology even stumps experienced researchers. Fortunately, anyone can learn unfamiliar words or phrases. Language teachers use an easy acronym: FUMP (School […]

That Naughty, Naughty Word “Plagiarize”: A Writer’s Death Sentence

If you do not see the podcast player, click here to listen. LaMont Durstein was excited about his midterm research essay for History 120!  This would be his first college […]

Better Research With Beam

Research can be one of the most difficult parts of writing—and it happens before the writing even starts! When gathering resources, it is important to consider the purpose of each […]

The Outline: Would You Build a House Without Blueprints?

If you do not see the podcast player, click here to listen. Louie LeRue spent much of five days researching and scratching out his Final Essay draft for his freshman […]

Turnitin as a Writing Tool: The Ins and Outs

If you do not see the podcast player, please click here to listen. Tools amplify human skills and abilities, making complex tasks like building houses easier and quicker, with more […]

A Shark Chomp versus a Mosquito Bite: A Primer on Mental Attitude in Writing

If you do not see the podcast player, please click here to listen. Wilia Caruthers was distraught!  Her first essay came back from Criminal Justice: An Introduction, and it was […]