Research, Citations, and Papers OH MY!

Starting your Search

• Figure out keywords
  • Internet is really good at finding key terms as generally searched
• Use limiters/ find full text
• Identify permalinks/ stable URLs

Getting into Research

• Create a “Research Notes” document
  • to organize what you have found from your research
• REMEMBER to always check the auto generated citations
• Again, record permalinks/ stable URLs

Saving your Research

• General Principle of Organization applies to all platforms (file explorer, google drive, etc.)
• Save and Label all PDFs
• Numbers keep things in order
  • Dates instead of months → chronological
  • See example:

If you have any further question talk to your TRIO academic counselor or go straight to the experts aka the librarians!

 

Outstanding with Outlining

The importance of outlining:

• Organizes your thoughts
• gives you a place to start
• Alleviates the stress of starting a paper
• And it can show you how much work is already done 🙂

When starting your outline

• look for target words within the prompt to further understand what it is the your professor wants
  • Persuade
  • Narrative
  • Argumentative
• Brainstorm ideas
• “Write a shitty first draft to get shit out”- Erica Salmonson, visiting instructor of English

Don’t forget transition words, here are just a few:

• First of All
• Therefore
• In conclusion
• Lastly
• Afterwards
• On the other Hand
• In Addition

“Google is your friend” – Erica Salmonson 

Click on the link below to download your own working outline template!!

Creating an Outline

If you have any further question talk to your TRIO academic counselor!

Credit Scores

Credit Reports are a Transcript of your Credit

• • Credit Scores are your GPA
  • Scores are somewhat hard to move up but very easy to move down
  • lead to :
    • Different approvals (Jobs)
    • Different rates (Salaries)

Understanding Scores

• • • 3 Different Reports
      • Experian
      • Transunion
      • Equifax
    • Different Scores
      • Depending on who is looking, scores could be different
    • Black Box
      • Formula not Public

#1 Check Your Credit Report:

Identity theft and false information can ruin your credit without you doing anything wrong

Sample Credit Report: What to look for

https://www.experian.com/credit_report_basics/pdf/samplecreditreport.pdf

Terminology

• • • Late Payment
      • Being late on a payment that is reported
      • Most significant way to hurt score
    • Credit Limit
      • How much available credit you have
      • Lenders want to see you not utilizing it all
    • Average Age of Accounts
      • Shows history of using credit well
      • Better to start now rather than later
    • Hard and Soft Pull
      • A check of your credit
      • Hard is when you initiate. Soft is when you don’t.

 

Scores Tell Lenders if they Can Trust You!

 

#2 Build Your Credit:

Starting now with easy things can help build a history of being trustworthy

What you can do now!

• • • Appy for a credit card (secured)
    • Buy at least a few things each month and pay it off every month
    • Never carry a balance (treat a card like a debit card)
    • Set up AutoPay!

Benefits

• • • Approved for Things
      • Smaller Security Deposits
        • Apartments
        • Utilities
        • Phone
      • Loans
        • Home
        • Car
        • Personal
    • Rates are lower & Advantages are better
      • Credit Card
        • Rewards
        • Low/No Fees
        • Purchase Protection
      • Pay less on a mortgage
      • Pay less on a car loan
      • Pay less for insurance

#3 Take Care of Report and your Score Will Follow

All the things you are doing are to make a more attractive history (transcript) to show lenders. Score is just a number!