Posted on: July 4, 2016
By Jessica Messerer-Trosin As a university student, it’s easy to procrastinate. You plan to read your textbook today, tonight, or tomorrow. But it turns into never. The same thing happens with written assignments. You plan to start two weeks before it is due to give yourself time to edit and revise it; what actually happens…
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Posted on: June 21, 2016
There is a growing trend for students to take a year off between high school and university, electing instead for a gap year—but is there value in the gap year or are students better off jumping feet first into post-secondary education?
Read morePosted on: April 5, 2016
by Jessica Messerer-Trosin Quotations are one of the most important parts of your paper. Not only do they provide evidence to support your thesis, but they also show that you have done your research. Here are four ways to introduce your quotes: Use a full sentence (independent clause) followed by a colon. Benjamin Franklin inspired…
Read morePosted on: April 1, 2016
by Jessica Messerer-Trosin The “Salami” Technique • Try to break a large, daunting task into smaller jobs that you can easily accomplish—just like a salami needs to be sliced to be eaten. • Slice your project into small, manageable tasks that can be completed in 15-20 minutes each. • When you complete a task, cross it off your…
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Posted on: March 15, 2016
by Jessica Messerer-Trosin Writing a summary is a common assignment for first-year English students, yet the idea of condensing a 10-page academic article into 500-750 words can seem like a daunting task. It doesn’t have to be. To ensure your summary is a success, here are a few easy steps to follow: If possible, print…
Read morePosted on: March 7, 2016
by Danielle LaRocque What is a substantive editor? A substantive editor, in short, is someone who edits a piece of writing as a whole. In substantive editing, you do not worry about specifics, such as grammar and mechanics, but rather, the bigger picture including structure, meaning, and consistency. The best way to address substantive issues is…
Read morePosted on: February 15, 2016
by Jessica Messerer-Trosin One of the most important aspects of writing—some would argue the most important aspect—is revision. With revision comes the improvement of clarity, the discovery of grammatical errors, and the growth of your entire essay. One easy, effective (and often neglected) strategy for revision is reading your paper out loud. When you read your…
Read morePosted on: February 2, 2016
by Jessica Messerer-Trosin Here’s the situation: A professor or fellow student has recommended the Writing Centre, and after some deliberating, you’ve registered for an appointment. You’re a little bit nervous because you don’t know what to expect, but you’re excited to be getting some help on your writing assignment. Here are a few things to…
Read morePosted on: January 19, 2016
by Mackenzie Cassels One of the most frightening moments in a university student’s life is opening up a blank Microsoft Word document. It’s plain scary to see a clean white page and blinking cursor waiting for you to write hundreds (or even thousands) of words. How on earth do you overcome the paralyzing fear associated…
Read morePosted on: January 12, 2016
A running head, also called a page header, is a line at the top of each page of a document that gives the reader important information. For APA format, the running head includes a shortened version (no more than 50 characters) of the title of the document IN CAPITAL LETTERS, as well as the page…
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