0 0 4 12B - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, March 31, 2005 Stdiu "V Tutor gives advice for writing papers By C. C. Song Daily Arts Writer Coffee, Red Bull, all-nighters ... What do these things have in com- mon? They are all associated with a project that bothers students - the final paper. In an effort to do sal- vage their grade in a course, stu- dents always strive for their best on this assignment and hope that it will assist them in getting a better grade on their final transcript. But that grade does not come with- out effort. Students have heard the warning from professors, lecturers and GSIs about not starting a paper the night before its due. date. Still, many refuse to listen and often run into difficulties getting started. If troubles arise when brainstorm- ing, there is a place on campus where can always go help - the Sweet- land Writing Center, located inside Angell Hall. The tutors and peer tutors are very willing to help students think of top- ics that they would be interested in "Sometimes students won't discover the real thesis they want until they're halfway through the paper. - Ben Taylor LSA sophomore and peer tutor at the Sweet- land Writing Center writing about. "The most daunting thing about writing is the thesis," said LSA sophomore Ben Taylor, a peer tutor at the Sweetland Writing Center. His advice for students is to try to write an organized paper and not think too much about the thesis at first. SHUBRA OHRI/Daily LSA junior Katie Lorenz tutors LSA freshman Adam Lax at the Sweetland Writing Center during the peer mentor session. The Center is located in G219 Angell Hall. "Sometimes students won't dis- cover the real thesis they want until they're halfway through the paper, or even when they are almost done with the paper," he said. Taylor also suggested that students could go back and change the thesis a little bit to fit the paper instead of altering the whole paper to match the thesis. Students are advised to write about something they feel passionate about, so they shouldn't let one sen- tence distract them from that topic. Students who start the paper at the last minute are advised to sit down and take a deep breath. This is where an outline can be essential to a paper, even though many students are not in the habit of making one. According to Taylor, a good paper has good organization. but when students are under pressure, they often start throwing words into their papers. Taylor advises people to relax, jot down the main points you want your paper to have and try to outline what you want the para- graphs to look like. It's important to remain calm and think clearly to write a paper, Taylor said. Additionally, when writing the paper, be comfortable - but not too comfortable. Play some music that will allow concentration and relax- ation at the same time. Do some stretches to let the blood flow better. If caffeine is needed to stay awake, be careful not to over-consume. The staff at the Sweetland Writing Center recommends that students always plan the paper before typing it on the computers The number of pages needed to write might seem daunting, but it will be a lot easier to tackle the paper with a plan. Most importantly, remembering that there are people available to help - be it friends, professors or tutors at the Sweetland Writing Center - is always beneficial. If students aren't afraid to ask for assistance, they can more easily write a paper they can be proud of. I WEEKEND MAGAZINE. WE'VE GOT THE 'WRITE' STUFF, BABY. SHUBRA OHRI/Daily -- LSA junior Will Bornstein types a paper for his political science class in Angell Hall yesterday. AM ". ______ iiiuu Ask II I r wow Dear Career Counselor, I know that intemships are the all- important gig these days, but I plan to be in Blissfleld, MI forthe summer for family reasons. ALL the intemships listed on Mploymentlink and general. job boards (monster.com, wetfeet.com, intemshipsusa.com) only list things in big cities. -Dissed in Blissfield Dear Dissed, Network by telling family, friends, old teachers, etc. that you are looking for work this summer. Next, find organizations in Blissfield and neighboring towns that may need your help over the summer.Think broadly - if you are looking for an internship to build on your business/ office skills, consider doctor or dental offices where you learn managerial and professional skills. Have your resume ready, contact employers by phone and visit them to create the perfect fit! The Career Center can help you construct a plan. Dear Career Counselor, I'm a junior who plans to attend graduate school. I'm told I need recommendations from my professors for my application. All my classes so far have been taught by GSIs. How can lget letters from professors when I don't know any? -Frantic to find Faculty Dear Frantic, The most compelling references are provided by people who know you best; and can speak highly of your abilities, motivation and suitability for graduate school. You still have time to take upper level classes or independent study from professors. GSIs who know you well and can address your fitness for graduate school, are able to write strong letters of recommendation. An alternative solution that many students use is to have GSI letters co-signed by professors for additional credibility. To open a reference letter file at The Career Center, go to http:// careercenter umich.edu/students/ refletter/index.html. E-mail your career question to "Ask the Career Counselor" at careercenter@umich.edu Mh Career Cetr www~c ew eraMs d 32** *74-6-76 FOOD FOR THOUGHT Hanoi Jane On Nov. 21, 1970 Jane Fonda, "Hanoi Jane" to Vietnam vets, told a University of Michigan audience of. 2,000 students, "If you understood what communism was, you would hope, you would pray on your knees that we would some day become communist." Gary Lillie & Assoc.,Realtors www.garylillie.com ==m _._.-.-_. -__....... _____.