The Best Schools For An Rn

A Bachelor of Science degree in nursing requires four years of study.

The "U.S. News and World Report," in their "Best Careers for 2011" survey, ranks nursing as one of the most in-demand careers. A two-year associate degree in nursing will lead to an entry-level position in a health care facility or hospital. The four-year Bachelor of Science in nursing degree opens the door to employment in research labs, distinguished hospitals, and facilities around the world. This degree requires two years of a liberal arts/science education coupled with two years of nursing study.

University of Washington School of Nursing

America's number one nursing school, according to the "U.S. News and World Report's" ranking profile, is the University of Washington's School of Nursing. Located on a research-oriented campus in Seattle, the school works closely in the health care environments locally, nationally with the National Institute of Health, and abroad. It is also aligned with a health care facility. The four-year bachelor program includes two years of a liberal arts/science education. The final two years are dedicated to nursing studies. Application information sessions are held quarterly. Students can also choose to study abroad through the school's International Opportunity programs.

University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

A strong research base and the integration of a liberal arts education with the sciences is the focus of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Nursing in Philadelphia. Students also have the opportunity to pursue dual degrees with other departments within the school. The four-year program leads to a bachelor of science in nursing degree. The university owns and operates a clinical practice for the elderly, working with patients to help them maintain an independent lifestyle. Semester-long study abroad options are available as are research opportunities.

New York University College of Nursing

New York University's College of Nursing is located in lower Manhattan. Its educational base focuses on teaching students to work as nurses in a global society, linking health problems with health care. The school has a strong research environment. The liberal arts/science curriculum taught in the first two years of a four-year program is designed to teach students beyond the basics of the laboratory. The clinical education of the last two years introduces students to world-wide medical environments. Admission is through the university's undergraduate program and prospective students must satisfy the technical requirements of the college.

University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing

A part of the state of Wisconsin's health care system, the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Nursing was established in 1924. Research is a priority of the four-year nursing program as the school links with health care partners around the world. A hospital, children's hospital, and cancer care center are utilized for clinical practice. Once the initial two years of liberal arts/science study have been completed, students have the option of continuing their nursing component at the Madison or La Crosse campuses. Freshmen entering the university must have a strong science background to be admitted to the school's pre-nursing program.

Tags: health care, School Nursing, liberal arts, arts science, liberal arts science, with health, with health care

Get A Student Loan As A Minor

Not everyone that goes to college is a legal adult. Many are still just under the age of 18, and there are always the whiz kids who somehow make it to college even younger! If you need to pay for college and are under 18, there are still ways for you to get loans. Here's get a student loan as a minor.

Instructions

1. Research your options. There's a lot of money out there to assist you for school.

2. Talk to a financial aid advisor. They are very familiar with the process and may have recommendations that you have not considered.

3. Get a co-signer. Have a parent, grandparent or any other person in good credit standing to assume responsibility for the loan if you can't handle it on your own.

4. Visit the FAFSA Web site (see below) and fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Federal loans (like the Stafford loan) do not require a co-signer. The minimum age to be eligible for federal aid is 16.

5. Get a parent loan (like the PLUS loan). These are loans for education from the government that are given to the parent of a student. These are need-based as well, and will depend highly on the cost of attendance.

6. Understand all the terms of the loan. Young borrowers do not have a lot of experience with borrowing money and building credit.

Tags: under there

Get Help Paying A Gas Bill In Chicago

Chicago has brutally cold winters, and with the rising costs of gas, some individuals are finding it more difficult to pay increasing heating bills. There are many low-income families and people who survive on a fixed income, and these individuals may need assistance in paying these high costs. There are resources available for residents in the Chicago area to provide the assistance that some people desperately need.

Instructions

1. Apply for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding through the CEDA program. This is the most common program known to Chicago residents. CEDA is the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County. LIHEAP funding comes from the Federal Government, and is allocated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to each state as a block grant. According to CEDA, throughout September and October, applications will be accepted for homes with senior citizens and disabled residents. Beginning October 1st, applications will be accepted for homes that are currently disconnected due to lack of payment. All other households meeting the eligibility guidelines can apply on and after November 1st. Most applications are processed within 30 days.

2. Apply for the Share the Warmth Program. This program, for customers who use People’s Energy as a gas provider, is administered through the Salvation Army, and provides households experiencing difficulties paying their heating bills with up to $200 in assistance if they qualify.

3. Apply for the Nicor Gas Sharing Program if you are a Nicor Customer and are ineligible for other heating assistance programs. This program, also administered through the Salvation Army, is provided as a one-time grant and is funded by contributions from Nicor Gas' customers and employees. You must fall between certain income guidelines to qualify for this program. During the 2007-2008 winter season, the grant increased from from $300 to anywhere between $400-$450 per qualifying customer.

4. Seek assistance through the People’s Energy Corporation if your gas services have been disconnected. Through their Good Samaritan program, low-income customers to get their heat reconnected by paying 20 percent of their past-due amount, or $250, whichever amount is less. To qualify for this program, a utility customer must have an annual income that does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty line.

5. Enroll in the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge (REACH) program. This 6-12 month program helps low income LIHEAP clients who are in crisis with their utility payments. REACH provides financial education, energy conservation assistance and case management, to help customers maintain a regular cycle of bill payment.

Tags: accepted homes, administered through, administered through Salvation, applications will, applications will accepted, Energy Assistance, heating bills

Write An Easy Essay Paper

Many people think that writing an essay is a complex task that only experienced writers and good students can do. However, it is not hard to produce a quality essay if you follow an organized outline. This does not limit your creativity. It allows you to express your ideas clearly and logically, and those are the distinguishing characteristics of a good paper.

Instructions

Write a Basic Essay

1. Decide on a topic and a writing style for the essay. Informational essays are good when you're first learning to write, because so many resources are available for research. Other common styles are persuasive, argumentative and demonstrative essays. Topics should be specific. For example, if you write about cats, narrow the topic to "How Cats Hunt Their Prey" or "Personalities of Cats".

2. Organize your paper. An essay consists of three main parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The introduction is typically a short paragraph with a thesis (topic) sentence that tells the reader what the following paragraphs will explain. In a basic essay, the body will usually be three paragraphs. Each paragraph should describe or explain one main point about the topic. The conclusion is a short paragraph that summarizes the topic. It is similar to the thesis, but does not restate it.

3. After you have written the essay, read it over. First, read for clarification. Do your sentences relate directly to the topic and support it? Do ideas flow in a logical order, or are they random and out of context? Get someone else to read your paper. If he doesn't understand something, ask why. Then make revisions if needed. Next, check your essay for grammatical errors. Do all sentences express a complete thought and have proper punctuation? Are there any run-ons or fragments? Do not rely solely on the spelling and grammar check in most software programs to alert you to mistakes. Check for these errors yourself.

4. If you are handwriting your essay, write a final draft that includes the corrections and changes made in the previous step. If you are typing your paper, edit and revise as you go. However, check the final copy, as well. It is easy to overlook last-minute mistakes.

Tags: your paper, short paragraph, your essay

Belford Degrees

Belford University, located in Humble, Texas, offers online degrees based on life experience or an equivalency test. According to Belford, life experience includes: education; job experience in any field; participation in professional or non-professional organizations; volunteer or community service activities; independent reading, writing, viewing or listening; employment-related training or workshops; and lifestyle, hobbies, travel and personal goals.

Belford is accredited by the Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA) and the International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities (IAAOU), however, neither of these accrediting agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as genuine accrediting agencies, rendering their accreditation meaningless. In addition, Belford University, aka Belford High School, has an F rating on a scale of A+ to F with the Better Business Bureau for deceptive practices, and the Office of Degree Authorization at the Oregon Student Assistance Commission declares Belford University's degrees as "fake".

Associate's Degrees

Belford University offers an online life experience associate's degree. Applicants must either have at least two years of relevant life or work experience, or pass an online equivalency test administered by Belford. There are 180 areas of study for the online associate's degree, including: aerospace engineering, radiology technology, industrial technology, special education, psychiatry, journalism, pharmacology and neuroscience.

Bachelor's Degrees

Belford University offers life experience bachelor's degrees to students with at least four years of work or life experience in their desired major. In the absence of such experience, Belford offers an online equivalency test. A minimum passing score on this test satisfies the requirements for the degree program. Belford offers life experience bachelor's degrees in 180 subject areas, including: advertising, health administration, fire protection, hypnotherapy, real estate, licensed practical nursing, mass communications, mathematics pharmaceutical sciences, warehouse management, naturopathy and women's spirituality.

Master's Degrees

The online master's degrees offered by Belford University require at least six years of relevant life or work experience. If you have no relevant life or work experience, receiving a minimum passing score on Belford's online equivalency test qualifies you for the life experience master's degree. Belford offers life experience master's degrees in 180 subject areas, including: administration of justice, forensic science, mechanical engineering, aerospace management, physical education, aviation, organizational behavior, psychology, veterinary medicine, teaching and social work.

Doctorate Degrees

Belford's online life experience doctorate degrees require at least eight years of life or work experience. If you can't satisfy this requirement, you also have the option of either submitting a doctoral thesis for review or passing an online equivalency test. Belford offers online life experience doctorate degrees in 180 different subject areas, including: economics, international relations, health sciences, religious studies, software engineering, horticulture, sound engineering, electrical construction and theater arts.

Tags: life experience, Belford University, equivalency test, Belford offers, life work, life work experience, offers online

Get Emergency Veterinary Advice Online

The general rule for finding emergency veterinary advice online is: the more popular your pet, the easier it will be. For such popular pets as dogs, cats, certain rodents and fish, there is a wealth of information already available. If you have a more exotic pet, you will have to take the time to research what online communities already exist.

Instructions

1. Find an online library with good information about your particular pet. A general purpose pet website such as Healthypet.com will have articles about a wide variety of different critters, but you also want to find something specific to your own animal. For example, if you are a dog or cat owner, a website like Web-DVM allows you to research your animal and email questions to a veterinarian.

2. Start by looking at the FAQ. Unless your animal is suffering from an extremely rare condition or has been the victim of a serious accident, you will probably be able to find information from pet owners or experts who have gone through the same thing.

3. Make friends in the community before you run into trouble. Most online animal communities, such as Ferret Village, are linked to FAQs and articles, as well as bulletin boards and chat rooms. Go in and introduce yourself to other pet lovers, and share your own knowledge. That way, if your critter does get into trouble, you will know who to go to for help.

4. Find expert pages. Use a search engine, such as Cuil.com, to find the page of an expert willing to answer your questions. For dog and cat fans, there are plenty of sites. Although there are fewer exotic pet owners, they often make up in enthusiasm what they lack in numbers. Chances are, there is someone out there with a website dedicated to giving emergency veterinary advice online.

5. Find a page dedicated to emergency veterinary advice on an ask the experts website. The website Allexperts, for example, allows you to ask a veterinarian questions about animal medical problems.

Tags: emergency veterinary, emergency veterinary advice, veterinary advice, your animal, advice online

Write A Conclusion Or Discussion Section For A Lab Report

No matter what the scientific field, lab reports all have similar elements. One such attribute is the inclusion of a discussion or conclusion section. Many feel intimidated when composing this section because it requires the most critical thinking. The main purpose of the conclusion and discussion section is to comment on the results mentioned in the lab report.

Instructions

1. Use elements from the introduction in the conclusion. Their structure must be similar. If you are having difficulty writing the conclusion, re-read the introduction for ideas about what to write.

2. Include an analysis of the results when writing a conclusion or discussion section of a lab report. Link the results to what you read in the literature, review or other sources mentioned in the introduction.

3. Discuss whether or not the results supported your hypothesis. If they did not, discuss why not.

4. Suggest biases that may have affected the experimental design. Discuss how they can be eliminated in the future. Discuss the possibility of using a different methodology or design.

5. Write about how the experiment can be improved in future replications.

6. Discuss the significance of the experiment, if it resulted in the creation of new knowledge, added support to a recently developed theory or aided in the formulation of new questions to be researched. Consider also that the experiment may have been a complete waste of time.

Tags: conclusion discussion, conclusion discussion section, writing conclusion

What Is Fafsa Drn

Federal forms use numbers as identification tools.

In the United States, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the starting point for receiving student financial aid. According to the U.S. Department of Education, students need to "use it to apply for federal student financial aid, such as the Pell Grant, student loans, and college work-study." Submitting this five-page document online triggers the immediate assignment of a data release number.

DRN Definition

The data release number (DRN) is a four-digit number assigned to the application by the U.S. Department of Education when the FAFSA has been submitted. The DRN is automatically designated by a computer when the financial aid application is submitted online or when encoded by personnel when the form is received by the Department of Education.

Purpose

The DRN is used to get help from customer service representatives and make changes to the original information given in the FAFSA. Using the DRN, students can change their e-mail address, mailing address, and phone number. Additionally, the DRN is used to change or add to the list of prospective schools where data is to be sent.

DRN Location

The DRN appears below the confirmation number on the confirmation page of the electronically submitted FAFSA. Federal submission instructions also state: "It is printed on the lower left-hand corner of the paper Student Aid Report (SAR) and in the upper right-hand corner on the electronic SAR."

Usage

There are two basic ways to use the DRN to change information or release information to schools. Any school not listed on your original FAFSA can request your data if you give them your DRN. The school will be given an electronic copy of your SAR information. After you receive your copy of the SAR, you can contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) and provide your DRN to request a change to your SAR. These changes can only be to your basic information such as address, phone number, or school code.

Warning

Do not confuse the DRN and the FAFSA PIN. Both are 4-digit numbers, but the PIN, used along with your name, Social Security number, and date of birth is used to establish your identity on the FAFSA website. Students are warned to never divulge the PIN to anyone because it is a password to personal FAFSA financial information. The DRN can be shared with schools because it is used to change school codes and other nonfinancial information.

Tags: Department Education, address phone, address phone number, data release, data release number, phone number

Write A Cheerleading Resume

Whether you seek to coach cheerleading, join a cheer team or work for a cheer organization, you need a targeted resume.

Whether you seek a spot on a professional cheerleading team, a cheer coaching job or an administrative position for a cheerleading camp, team or association, it's important to create a resume that focuses specifically on your related experience. A cheerleading resume should highlight your experience in cheerleading, coaching, volunteering or working at cheerleading competitions, as well as any athletic, dance, team, teaching or other relevant activities. Your cheerleading resume should not exceed one page unless you have extensive experience. Include a cover letter that demonstrates your understanding of and preparedness for the skills and responsibilities required for the position you seek.

Instructions

1. Choose or create a cheerleading resume template that is easy to read, with margins no smaller than ½ inch and a typeface no smaller than 11-point font. (See References 1)

2. Type your complete contact information, including a professional email address, at the top of your resume. Do not use a font larger than 14-point for your name. Though confidence is essential in cheerleading, convey confidence through your words and layout rather than through font size or colors.

3. Write a brief objective statement beneath your contact information. If you seek to direct a youth cheerleading camp, for example, state that clearly in your objective. A recruiter or hiring manager should be able to tell exactly what you want. If your objective is vague, like "I seek to return to the world of cheerleading," skip the statement altogether.

4. List relevant experience in reverse chronological order. If you seek to coach cheerleading, include all your teaching, coaching and leadership experience inside and outside of cheerleading, as well as your personal experiences in cheer, dance, performance and competition. For each item, concisely describe your role and the duration of your participation.

5. List schools, cheer camps and cheer workshops you have attended. If you did not participate in cheerleading in high school or college, simply list the school's name, city and state or country. If you were on a dance or cheer team, list the team and your years of participation under the school's information.

6. List other work experience or extracurricular activities if the previous sections are brief and you have not yet filled a page. Cite unrelated experience to demonstrate you are well-rounded and have other skill sets that may be applicable to cheerleading.

Tags: cheer team, cheerleading camp, cheerleading resume, cheerleading resume should, coach cheerleading

Master'S Degree In The History Of Jewelry

Your master's degree studies might focus on the social significance of jewelry.

You have many options for pursuing a master's degree in the history of jewelry. Take your degree at a college that focuses on design history and decorative arts, or at a history or anthropology department that offers a focus on jewelry.

Coursework or Thesis Options

Some schools offer master's degrees that consist entirely of coursework, while others combine coursework with a thesis project. If you want to do a thesis, make sure your prospective school offers that option. Check faculty web pages for professors who specialize in the history of jewelry.

Design School Degrees

Pursue your master's at a design school if you are interested in hands-on studies. Parsons: The New School for Design in New York City, conducts its classes in the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, where students receive hands-on experience in museum procedures.

College/University Degrees

A college or university master's degree will probably require you to focus more on the textual and historical records concerning jewelry rather than on objects.

Goals

Choose where you'll study based on your career goals. If you want to pursue an academic career, a master's degree at a college or university will maximize your chances of getting into a PhD program. A design-based degree is more likely to lead to a career in museum or gallery curation.

Considerations

Most thesis supervisors will want you to focus on a specific time frame or type of jewelry. Academic studies of jewelry include Margaret Nickelson Wright's "Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing" and Adriana Calinescu's "Ancient Jewelry and Archaeology."

Tags: master degree, college university, degree college, history jewelry

Compare Community Colleges With Fouryear Colleges

Compare community colleges with four-year schools to determine where you want to continue your education.

Choosing between a two-year community college and a four-year college or university may be an overwhelming decision. There are many important factors to consider when comparing community colleges and four-year schools, including admissions, courses, degrees, student body and tuition costs. Know which factors are the most important to consider when comparing colleges.

Instructions

1. Compare admissions policies. Anyone who seeks an education may attend community college. Qualifications to attain your associate's (two-year) degree typically include a high-school diploma or equivalency certificate. Once students enroll in a community college, they will have to take placement tests to determine their class and skill level. Four-year colleges often require a paper or electronic application as well as a high-school diploma and transcript. Some may require SAT or ACT scores, additional subject tests, recommendation letters and essays.

2. Compare courses. Look up course listings between the community college and four-year school you are considering. Most community colleges offer liberal arts and science-focused courses, and the possibility of vocational and technical training. Four-year school curricula vary with liberal arts, science, engineering, law and medical preparation, and more. After completing required course work at a two-year community college, you will receive an associate's degree. Upon completion of required courses at an accredited four-year university, you will receive a bachelor's degree in your specialty.

3. Consider tuition costs. Community college tuition is generally the most affordable option for higher education. While four-year institutions can be many times more expensive than community colleges, many colleges offer merit-based and financial-need scholarships to help students pay for school.

4. Read reviews about the student body. Community-college students are usually part-time students, typically only able to commute to campus, as very few community colleges offer housing. Four-year student bodies vary from permanent students to commuters. Read reviews as to what other students and faculty say about the student body. If you can, talk to people who went to the schools you are looking at for information on first-hand experiences.

5. Use an online college compare service. Many official organizations offer college comparisons, with ratings on schools based on admissions, costs, requirements, and what other people say about the school. Research multiple schools and make up comparison charts to determine the school right for you.

Tags: community colleges, colleges offer, community college, student body, about student, about student body

What Are The Leading Learning Management Systems

Learning managements systems help connect all concerned parties.

Learning management systems are programs or templates for organizing learning materials, delivering information to students, tracking student attendance and responses, tracking teacher responses and, finally, awarding grades to students. Some management systems deliver portions of these functions, while others deliver all of them. Some are designed primarily as a lesson plan and grading system that can be shared with parents, while others provide ways for the teacher to post complete lessons, share discussions and even host online, interactive sessions.

TeachErease

TeacherEase is used in elementary and high schools. It provides lesson planning tools for the teacher, access to local, state and national standards on which to base lessons and tracking for attendance, grades and even behavior. It includes a centralized database through which parents can access lesson plans and student grades, as well as teacher comments.

Blackboard

Blackboard is a learning system used by many colleges. It includes online bulletin boards through which the instructor can post instruction and assignments, and receive materials from students. It also provides chat-type functions, which allow for groups to meet in real-time. Many colleges also include access to reference resources for students.

Moodle

Moodle is an open-source learning system. It includes many of the same features as Blackboard at a more modest licensing cost. It allows instructors to post material, open student discussion groups, receive student material and track grades. It also allows for real-time conferencing, email communication and the ability to post links to reference materials.

Desire2Learn

Desire2Learn was founded in 1999. It is sufficiently flexible to be used by elementary and high schools, as well as by institutes of higher learning. It has many of the same features as the other three systems, but emphasizes that it can also be accessed through mobile media, such as Blackberry or Android.

Tags: elementary high, elementary high schools, high schools, learning system, management systems, many same, many same features

Avoid Procrastination Before A Final Exam

Procrastination is the Achilles heel of every struggling college student. It can make you pull an all-nighter to write a paper that was assigned four weeks earlier. Procrastination before final exams is the most practiced and yet most destructive of all.

Instructions

1. Know what is expected of you. This begins the very first day of class. Each professor hands out a syllabus that outlines everything that you need to know about the class. It includes a schedule, which will contain the date of the final exam. The syllabus also has a goals section in which the professor gives you a general idea of what you will need to know for finals.

2. Take notes. This doesn't mean simply writing down everything that comes out of the professor's mouth. Jot down items that are of importance. Especially take notes on items that the professor specifically says will be on the exam.

3. Review the notes daily. Take some time every day to go over your class notes outside of your homework time--even if it is only ten or fifteen minutes. This will help to familiarize you with the material and reduce the need for cramming before the test.

4. Do your homework. This includes reading the book.

5. Ask questions in class. Make sure that you are comfortable with all of the information. If there is a question, ask the professor either in class or outside of it. You may also influence the final in the process, by giving feedback or exposing a point of confusion for everyone. The professor will either explain better or revamp the test.

6. Make every test during the semester a practice test. Professors give at least one test every semester. Use it as a practice run. Focus on the incorrectly answered questions. They are your weak points, so study them to strengthen your knowledge on the subject.

Tags: everything that, items that, need know, semester practice, your homework

Grad Schools For Creative Writing

There are multiple areas of study in a Creative Writing degree.

There are dozens of graduate schools that offer masters degrees in creative writing. Many encourage emphasis in multiple genres such as poetry, short stories or non-fiction while others allow degrees in one specialized area. Programs culminate in a Master of Fine Arts and always require published work for consideration of graduation. Most programs offer comparable courses and all require the faculty to submit articles or written works on a regular basis. Location is often a factor people consider when searching for the best school. This article examines a few in the Western United States that have been highly rated for their quality of life.

University of Idaho

The University of Idaho, home to 21,000 students and located in Moscow, offers technology-based education in a small-town setting. Its picturesque campus is in the heart of the Palouse region of Northern Idaho. UI offers small class sizes by accepting only 10-15 applicants each year. Its diverse students can designate a specific genre such as fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction, but multiple areas are recommended. The three-year program requires 54 credit hours including publishing, literary theory and editing. Scholarships and assistantships are available and the application deadline for admittance is January 15. Tuition for a two-semester year is $6,100 for residents and $17,800 for out-of-state residents as fo 2011. UI has a visiting writers series and a literary magazine.

University of Utah

In 2010, the University of Utah, located in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountain range in Salt Lake City, was named one of the top five Ph.D. programs in the country for Creative Writing and Literature by "The Atlantic Monthly." Its guest writer series draws top poets and authors and is offered to over 30,000 students. Courses across genres are required of all graduate students and provide expert knowledge and insights from the diverse faculty. Applications for 12-15 graduate students are accepted each year and they comprise the editorial staff of Quarterly West and are required to work on the Western Humanities Review. The two-year program requires genre-specific courses, workshops, studies in theory and practice equaling 27 credit hours, and six hours of thesis research. Special research and outreach projects include community writing and family literacy projects. Fellowships and teaching assistants are awarded based on varying factors such as merit, gender and genre. Tuition averages $4,500 per semester in 2011.

Colorado State University

Located in Fort Collins at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado State University's enrollment is about 26,500. In 2010, the beautiful city was named the sixth best place to live by "Money Magazine." The school of Fine Arts offers the intimacy of a small graduate program with the intensity of an expert faculty and stresses cross-genre studies including poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, women's studies, literature and teaching. Fellowships are available for students with past teaching experience. 2011 annual tuition is about $9,100 and the degree requires 48 credit hours including 12 hours in thesis work.

Arizona State University

ASU, the largest university in the nation, is located in Mesa and is home to more than 66,000 students. The Master of Art Creative Writing degree requires 48 credit hours which includes a mixture of writing and literature courses. More than 250 students are accepted into the program each year but classes remain small and focus is on combining faculty and students in writing workshops, mentoring and professional development. Graduate tuition is $7,100 per year as of 2011 and assistantships are offered to every poet and fiction writer in the program. The school hosts a Distinguished Writer Series and teaching abroad program. Students have opportunities to edit Hayden's Ferry Review.

Tags: Creative Writing, credit hours, each year, requires credit, requires credit hours

Write A Classification Essay Nurses

Writing a classification essay requires concentration.

A classification essay is an essay in which a writer sorts a topic into categories and gives examples that fit into those categories. The goal is to establish connections between different things. Drafting this type of essay can help you to hone not only your writing skills but also your organizational and analytical skills. The topic of nurses is a suitable subject for a classification essay because it is a large idea that easily can be broken down into multiple groups.

Instructions

1. Determine at least three categories you want to use to describe nurses. For example, you can make one of the categories in your classification essay about critical care nurses, while the other two cover rehabilitation nurses and holistic nurses. Research information about different types of nurses by visiting websites such as that of the American Nurses Association or the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.

2. Write the introduction of your classification essay on nurses. Mention that your topic involves nurses, and explain that you will classify nurses based on various types who specialize in a particular work setting or type of treatment. Then, mention your three categories.

3. List your first category--the category you consider to be the least important one. For example, if you choose to mention holistic nurses first because they deal with less life-threatening situations, describe the common duties this type of nurse performs. This might include providing aroma therapy and massages, for example. Then, state your second category, such as rehabilitation nurses, and explain how these health care professionals care for people with temporary and permanent disabilities.

Finally, acknowledge what you deem to be your most important category--critical care nurses, for example--and elaborate on why this category is so important. Explain how critical care nurses care for patients with acute injuries or illnesses that require close monitoring and extensive medication therapies. List the same number of duties/characteristics for each type of nurse so that you support each category equally with examples.

4. Draft the conclusion to your classification essay on nurses. Summarize the categories you analyzed.

5. Read over your classification essay out loud. Correct any errors you see in spelling, grammar, punctuation or word usage. Go over your categories' examples and see if you can reword anything or insert other possible examples that will make your categories, and subsequently your essay, stronger.

Tags: classification essay, your classification, your classification essay, care nurses, classification essay

Write A Cover Letter For A Teaching Post

Tailor your cover letters to make them school-specific.

Competition for teaching posts can be fierce, particularly if you are applying for a position at an elementary school. High school English and social studies teachers also will find that competition can be rather stiff. To obtain a teaching post at the school of your choice, your resume will need to stand out. Write a spectacular cover letter and chances are your resume will rise to the top of the pile. Be specific and positive about the skills you can bring to the educational table and you may get an interview.

Instructions

1. Find the name of the principal of the school and address the letter to that person, making sure to spell her name correctly. Check to make sure you have the current principal's name by calling the school secretary and asking, as the school's website may be outdated.

2. Mention your most relevant experience in your letter. Tailor your description of this experience to the teaching job description. Many principals simply scan resumes and could skim over the experience that makes you the most feasible candidate.

3. Tell the principal why you want to work on his campus. Specify if you enjoy working with students from that particular age group or economic background. Mention any special programs that the school has that you are interested in becoming involved with.

4. Note any special skills you have. Make it easy for a principal to identify you as a person who can take on an extracurricular activity, which is an unspoken requirement of many teaching positions. Show that you are able to coach basketball or be in charge of the yearbook to open doors.

5. Check your cover letter for readability. Make sure your letter is in a standard font, such as Times New Roman, Calibri or Ariel. Match the font with that of your resume. Have a grammar-savvy friend proofread your letter. Correct any errors, as a letter for a teaching post is essentially a sample of your writing skills.

6. Print your cover letter on white or cream-colored paper. Check to make sure the addresses in your heading are correct and that you have included your contact information. Mail or hand-deliver the cover letter along with your teaching resume.

Tags: your cover, your letter, your resume, Check make, Check make sure, cover letter

Information On Fashion Merchandising

Fashion merchandising can be a fun and creative field.

The fashion industry is highly competitive when it comes to careers. Fashion merchandising, which deals with the business side of the industry, is no exception. The field demands much from those who enter it but the payout can be big for anyone interested in fashion. With the proper education and drive, a job in fashion merchandising can be within reach.

Identification

Fashion merchandising deals with the planning, distribution, promotion and production of items for the fashion industry. This could be contained within a specific company, such as a department store, or it could be more widespread, such as the distribution of a line of clothes from a designer to various buyers across the world.

Careers

Fashion merchandising positions vary depending on where they are offered and what particular duties are required. This leads to many different job titles in the field. Assistant and head buyers, for example, work for larger stores and meet with marketing representatives (fashion merchandising workers who market products by a particular designer) to choose what and how many pieces to buy for stock. Other careers in fashion merchandising are in market research, fashion and product coordinating and operation management.

Workplaces

The typical venues that hire individuals in fashion merchandising are retail businesses of all sizes and apparel manufacturers. There are also other venues that require fashion merchandising skills. These include magazines that have a fashion section, fashion design studios, advertising agencies, textile mills and newspapers. Basically, any venue where fashion merchandise is talked about, marketed, bought or sold will utilize fashion merchandisers.

Education

Many art and design schools offer degrees in fashion merchandising, which starts at the certificate or associate level. For entry-level positions, though, a bachelor's degree is needed. This can be in fashion merchandising but people with business degrees will also have a foot in the door. Higher level positions require three to five years of experience, depending on the position, and/or a master's degree in fashion merchandising or an MBA.

Salaries

Fashion merchandising salaries vary depending on the employer, experience and position title. As of October 2009, entry-level merchandise buyer assistants made between $40,384 and $51,004 annually. Senior merchandise buyers with four to six years of experience made significantly more: between $81,948 and $124,728 per year. Other positions have salaries that fall between these two ranges.

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Fashion Designing Colleges In Australia

Fashion-designing colleges in Australia offer a wide range of programs for students interested in pursuing an entry-level job in the fashion industry or working toward a career in fashion merchandising, textiles, fashion marketing or fashion design. Colleges in Australia cater to citizens of Australian and New Zealand, as well as international students, and admissions requirements vary by school and program.

Colleges

Colleges in Australia that that offer fashion-design degree, certificate or diploma programs include: Raffles College of Design and Commerce, the University of Technology Sydney, Queensland University of Technology, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Gordon Institute of Fashion Design and Technology, the Whitehouse Institute of Design, Canberra Institute of Technology and the Kangam Batman Institute of TAFE.

Admission Process

Students interested in applying to a fashion-design college in Australia as Australian or New Zealand citizens must submit a paper or online application, pay a nonrefundable application fee, submit certified or notarized copies of academic transcripts, award certificates and original English language proficiency test results. Some fashion-design schools in Australia, such as the Queensland University of Technology, require an audition or the submission of a portfolio for certain programs.

Students interested in applying to a fashion-designing college in Australia as international students may need to complete an English language proficiency test, show proof of completing all academic coursework requirements and research requirements depending on where they have already completed high school or college-level studies and, in some cases, provide evidence of relevant work experience. International students will also need to obtain a visa from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and satisfy all financial criteria and other requirements before submitting their application.

Programs

Fashion-design colleges in Australia may offer a diploma, an advanced diploma, a certificate, a bachelor's degree or an associate's degree in fashion design or textiles. Some programs include a work-study component where the student can gain skills in the field and receive college credit.

Diploma, advanced diploma and certificate programs in fashion design, fashion merchandising and textiles teach students to develop their creative skills in design, computer applications and workshop methods to take an entry-level job in the fashion industry or to work independently.

Associate's and bachelor's degree programs in Australia offer in-depth training and hands-on experience for aspiring fashion professionals. Schools such as the Queensland University of Technology offer bachelor's degree programs in a fashion-design studio setting and include classes about fashion history, fashion trends and computer-aided design techniques.

Degree programs in fashion design prepare students to take assistant positions in the fashion industry upon graduation.

Courses

Courses offered at fashion-designing colleges in Australia include garment construction, pattern making, computer-aided design technique, visual presentation skills, fabric and materials, clothing construction techniques, fashion forecasting, fashion trends in Australia, fashion history, fashion theory, fashion collection development, color theory, fashion marketing, fashion business communications and global fashion industry trends.

Costs

The costs of tuition, room and board at fashion-designing colleges in Australia in 2009 vary significantly depending on the location of the school and the diploma, degree or certification program the student enrolls in. Some schools offer scholarship programs based on merit.

According to UniGuru.com, the average cost of a Bachelor of Arts degree in fashion and textile design at Curtin University of Technology is approximately AUS $63,600 for tuition alone. The average cost of a Bachelor of Applied Science in fashion and textile merchandising at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology is AUS $20,160 for the entire course program. The average cost of a diploma in applied fashion design and technology at South Western Sydney Institute is AUS $24,460 for the entire program.

Tags: University Technology, colleges Australia, fashion design, fashion industry, Australia offer, average cost, bachelor degree

Clear A Digital Cable Box

Clear a Digital Cable Box

A digital cable box receives and processes television programming from a cable subscriber service. Most cable companies monitor use of the box via a computer connection, which can also be used for troubleshooting. Sometimes the digital box might lock up, lose the signal or drop some of the television channels due to a power outage or an electrical surge on the line. When this happens, resetting the cable box in many instances can solve the problem without waiting for a technician from the cable company to knock on the front door.

Instructions

1. Turn on the power button on the digital cable box.

2. Unplug the electrical cord from the wall outlet, then disconnect the cable from the back of the box by turning the coupler on the end of the cable counter-clockwise to remove it from the jack.

3. Wait at least 15 seconds, then reconnect the cable line to the back of the box and plug in the electrical cord.

4. Press the "Power" button on the cable box, which will reset and begin reprogramming itself automatically.

Tags: Clear Digital, Clear Digital Cable, digital cable, electrical cord, from cable

Job Description Of Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical engineers design products, such as a artificial organs.

Biomedical engineers are creating the future of medicine. The robotic arm used during surgical procedures is an example of a biomedical engineering breakthrough, according to CollegeBoard.com. Biomedical engineers improve prostheses, or artificial body parts; are constantly improving the accuracy of diagnostic procedures; and are figuring out easier ways to take medication. Biomedical engineering is an exciting and innovative path that combines engineering with the science of the human body.

Roles

According to Collegeboard.com, some roles include spending time in the lab conducting research or experimentation; testing or repairing biomedical equipment; working as a part of a team of scientists or other biomedical engineers; and using a computer and writing reports pertaining to research findings.

Salary & Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics biomedical engineers earned a national average rate of $39 per hour and an average salary of $81,120 in 2008. The national median salary ranged from below $47,640 to above $121,970.

According to the BLS, biomedical engineers are expected to experience an employment growth much faster than average at a rate of 72 percent through 2018. Job prospects are excellent due to the growing interest of the biomedical field. Also, the aging population is growing, and the need for improved medical equipment and devices will spur on the need for biomedical engineers.

Employment

According to the BLS May 2008 data, medical equipment and supplies manufacturing employed the most biomedical engineers with an average salary of $83,760. Other industries that employed high numbers of biomedical engineers included scientific research and development services; pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing; general medical and surgical hospitals; and navigational, measuring, electromedical and control instruments manufacturing. Management, scientific and technical consulting services offered the highest pay with an average salary of $101,270.

Environment & Hours

Biomedical engineers can be found in laboratories or office buildings. According to CollegeBoard.com, they may be figuring out ways to grow organs within a sterile laboratory. Like other types of engineers, they may be conducting research or writing reports inside a well-lit and comfortable office. Most engineers work the standard 40-hour work week. During project deadlines, biomedical engineers may work longer hours, into evenings and weekends.

Education & Training

Engineers enter the job field with a bachelor's degree in their engineering specialty, according to the BLS. In this case, a biomedical engineer would pursue a degree in biomedical engineering. According to CollegeBoard.com, this major would take 5 to 6 years to complete. The workload would consist heavily of math and science. Students spend much of their time working on projects inside the laboratory where research may get published. A biomedical engineering major may spend a summer or a semester doing an internship. Some courses that a biomedical engineer major takes are the same courses required for medical school.

Tags: biomedical engineers, average salary, According CollegeBoard, average rate, biomedical engineer

Report Fafsa Money On Federal Income Tax Returns

FAFSA student money must be reported on your income tax return.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is a form that can be filled out by students who attend colleges and universities in the U.S. The information on the form is used to determine the student's eligibility for various types of federal student financial aid. Because the amount of financial aid a person may obtain can be substantial, it's important to remember that you must report your FAFSA money on your federal income tax return. Doing this involves merely knowing how much FAFSA money you received and knowing where to enter the amount on your tax return.

Instructions

1. Wait to receive a Form 1098-T from your school. This form reports the federal grants and loans you received during a given school year. You do not report the full amount of FAFSA financial aid you received on your income taxes -- report only the amount of money listed on Form 1098-T.

2. Write the amount of money you received as shown on Form 1098-T under the "Income" portion of your federal tax return. Again, do not write the full amount of financial aid you received.

3. Add the amount from Step 2 to your other income reported on W-2 forms provided by your employers and 1099 forms that you receive from other payers to determine your taxable income for a given year. Then, fill out the remainder of the tax form to determine the tax refund that you will receive or your tax liability that you will owe to the IRS for that year.

Tags: Form 1098-T, amount financial, amount money, FAFSA money, financial received, full amount

Find Word Roots

Find Word Roots

Identifying the root of a word can lead to a better understanding of how the word is best used. Because there are many words in the English language with overlapping meanings, the root of a word can be used to determine which word best applies to a particular context.

The process of identifying word roots has more to do with stripping away additional word elements than directly locating the root. This is because there are so many more possible roots than there are extra word elements like prefixes and suffixes.

Instructions

1. Identify any prefixes. Prefixes appear at the beginning of a word and are usually two- to four-letter formations like "re," "pre" and "post," but they can be shorter or longer in some cases. If you are unsure of a suspected prefix, look it up in the dictionary and see if it is listed as a prefix.

2. Identify any suffixes. This step works exactly like Step 1, but rather than identifying prefixes at the beginning of the word, you identify any suffixes that might be at the end of the word. Common suffixes are "ly," "ing" and "er." If you are unsure of a suspected suffix, look it up in the dictionary and see if it is listed as a suffix.

3. Rewrite the word without prefixes and suffixes. The result should be the word root you are looking for.

4. Research the root word to identify its language of origin and meaning if you want to further your understanding of the original word's proper use.

Tags: root word, beginning word, dictionary listed, Find Word, Find Word Roots

What Are The Criteria For Applying For A Guaranteed Student Loan

Guaranteed student loans started in 1965, according to FinAid.

The criteria for applying for a guaranteed student loan depend primarily on a student's financial need, proof of U.S. citizenship and enrollment in college. Guaranteed student loans are offered by the federal government and state governments, according to CollegeScholarships.org. The loans provided through the Federal Direct Student Loan Program include The Stafford Student Loan and Parent PLUS Student Loans, the Graduate PLUS Loan. States provide their own student loans based on financial need. The states work with lenders to provide insurance for the student loans through the Federal Family Education Loan Program, according to CollegeScholarships.org.

Financial Need

According to the United States Federal Student Aid website, guaranteed student loans are based upon financial need. Financial need must be proven by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is used to determine a student's total financial need by subtracting how much a student's family will contribute to their education and how much student aid from scholarships and Pell Grants a student will receive from the total college tuition. Loan limits are determined by the government and your financial need and the type of loan you apply for. Stafford Loans limits are usually $5,500 for the first year and increase annually as a student's education progresses. Repayment of the loans usually start about six months after graduation

High School Degree

Students applying for guaranteed student loans must have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. Since both are a prerequisite to be accepted into college, these prove that the student has fulfilled requirements to be accepted into a university. For students that were home schooled, the state establishes a test or may ask that you complete six credit hours of course work for a degree before an application for student aid is considered, according to the U.S. Federal Student Aid website.

Enrolled

To be considered for a guaranteed loan, a student has to be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a university and prove that they are working toward a degree. Students can apply for guaranteed loans through most university's student financial aid or accounting offices after they have been accepted to the program, and, in turn, decide to attend the university. The papers for financial aid will be signed in the financial aid or accounting office shortly after course registration is finished.

U.S. Citizenship

To receive a guaranteed loan a student must be able to prove they are an American citizen or an eligible noncitizen. The FAFSA documents will require a student's valid Social Security Number and Permanent Resident Card, Passport or Resident Alien Card. Convictions of a crime may hurt chances of both permanent citizenship and the ability to obtain a guaranteed loan, according to the U.S. Student Financial Aid website. The Dream Act in California that was passed in September 2011 would alter the current law to allow undocumented immigrant students to apply for state-funded scholarships and financial aid in order to encourage them to obtain citizenship and become productive members of the society with higher paying jobs, according to the legislation.

Tags: financial need, Federal Student, guaranteed loan, Student Loan, student loans, student loans, accepted into

Open A Bank Account When You Are On A Student Visa

Foreign students attending a U.S. university have more paperwork to complete before attending their first class. Many universities provide foreign advisors with detailed orientation packets to help students navigate through immigration, campus and financial requirements to ensure a smooth transition to college life. When a student visa, college identification card and housing are secured, a student can open a bank account at an on-campus institution. The on-campus branch provides special programs for students and faculty and is in a better position to understand the needs of new students to establish good financial habits.

Instructions

1. Meet with a bank officer at your campus bank. Complete the application for a checking account (if desired, a savings account application may be completed at this time as well).

2. Check that your co-signer also completes her section of the application(s).

3. Submit your student ID, passport, student visa and proof of housing to the bank officer. The bank officer may make photocopies of the documents in addition to writing down the information. Make sure these items are returned to you.

4. Endorse and submit your funding in the presence of the bank officer and submit these for depositing into your account(s). Note that checks from out-of-state banks or foreign banks take one to three weeks to clear. Ask the bank official when he expects the funds to be available and do not issue checks until you have available funds. Traveler's checks are usually treated as cash deposits for immediate funding.

5. Check that you receive a set of starter checks and keep these in a safe place until your imprinted checks arrive.

Tags: bank officer, Check that, student visa

Write An Action Scene In Fiction

Write an Action Scene in Fiction

A well-written action scene is suspenseful and taut. It pulls the reader into the action and makes him see, feel and taste everything that is happening. An effective action scene pulls together all the elements of good writing. It should have the flow and pace of a good action movie, using words instead of visual images to get the point across. There are many things a writer can do to create an action scene in fiction that will keep readers on the edges of their seats.

Instructions

1. Map out the scene. Determine all the particulars in the scene before writing it. Who will be in the scene? What will happen? Why does it happen? What type of action will it involve? Will it be a shootout, a car chase or something else?

2. Set up the scene before it happens. For instance, if there is a showdown between the protagonist and the antagonist at the end of the story, create tension between the characters that will lead to the action. Write the plot in such a way that the showdown becomes inevitable and suspenseful.

3. Don't cheat the readers. Create an action sequence based on what the readers already know about the characters. If the characters are superhuman, then show them using their skills during the sequence.

4. Put the action sequence in a setting that will make it more suspenseful, such as the edge of a cliff or in a crowded theater. Describe the setting or foreshadow it earlier in the story so that readers will already be familiar with it when the action scene begins.

5. Start the action slowly. Build up the tension before the action begins. This will make the scene more suspenseful. The scene can build with narrative description or it can involve the protagonist's interior dialogue. Once the tension reaches a level where something must happen, then begin the action.

6. Choose language and sentence structures carefully. Elevated language or complex sentences will slow down the action and make it sluggish, while direct language and short sentences will make the action lively. On the other hand, long sentences can slow down parts of the action effectively in the same way slow motion is used in the movies. It all depends on what is needed for the scene to make it effective.

7. Show, don't tell. For instance, during a car chase, use words to describe sights and sounds, such as screeching tire wheels or the roaring engines. Show how the characters react physically to the action. Make the character feel his heartbeat quicken or wipe sweat from his eyes. Don't say that the character is frightened or is hurt when he gets an punch to the jaw. Make the readers feel it.

Tags: that will, will make, action scene, action scene, action sequence, more suspenseful, scene before

What Do With A Law Degree In Teaching

A law degree provides a wealth of opportunities.

A Juris Doctor (J.D.) opens the field to a myriad career opportunities. Many law graduates seek big money working in the legal department of large corporations or law firms. Other attorneys head for public service, toiling as public defenders and possibly aspiring to becoming a judge. Although practicing law is the norm for many attorneys, some lawyers choose to become educators and advisers so they can pass along their knowledge and love of the law.

Law Professors

A law degree is the first step to becoming a law professor. However, a degree alone won't land you a teaching job. Many law schools, especially top schools, hire attorneys with experience practicing law in addition to being published in reputable law journals, such as the "New York Law Journal" or "National Law Journal." Some schools look favorably upon candidates with federal government work, such as positions as a federal law clerk, work at the U.S. Attorney's office or the federal public defender.

Like attorneys, law professors work within different disciplines of the law. Determine if you want to educate students in a hands-on or traditional academic setting. For example, clinical law professors educate students about hands-on courtroom criminal and civil law tactics. These professors arrange mock trials, witness cross examination and jury selection clinics. Academic professors teach legal theory, and discuss contracts and constitutional application within the surroundings of a lecture hall or classroom.

Some attorneys maintain a job at a law firm or in public service while teaching as an adjunct professor. Typically an adjunct teaching job is a supplemental position and does not provide opportunity for tenure or a full-time teaching position. Attorneys teach classes based on their legal concentration, such as immigration attorneys teach immigration law or public defenders teach criminal law.

College Professor

A law degree comes in handy in the academic world in general. Courses pertaining to legal matters outside of law school need professors with strong legal backgrounds to teach courses in journalism, medicine, economics and philosophy.

To teach subjects other than those offered in law school, applicants must have a certain number of credits or an undergraduate degree in a specific subject. For example, if your undergraduate degree is in economics and you have a J.D., you could qualify to teach economics at the university level. Every university requires different qualifications so check with the school before you apply.

Consultant

With society becoming more litigious than ever, some attorneys are opening their own businesses as educators and consultants to educate the public on legal issues.

For example, corporations hire a staff attorney to teach and advise employees and senior management on employment law issues. The staff attorney holds seminars and classes for existing and new employees to review issues of discrimination, sexual harassment and theft.

With a law degree in hand, attorneys with dynamic personalities become motivational speakers or conduct educational seminars open to the public on legal matters that include tax law, personal injury law or immigration issues.

Tags: attorneys with, educate students, legal matters, public defenders, public legal, public service

Label The Skeletal System

Labeling the skeletal system can help you learn the names and locations of the bones.

Learning the names and placement of the bones in the skeletal system is an integral part of any anatomy class. Practicing labeling the skeletal system is a great way to learn and remember the intricacies of the human skeleton. With 206 bones creating the framework for the human body, labeling the skeletal system correctly requires patience and a desire to learn and retain the information.

Instructions

1. Break-up the human skeleton into the following sections: axial skeleton, which consists of the skull, sternum, ribs and vertebral column, and the appendicular skeleton, the shoulders and surrounding bones, and the pelvis and surrounding bones.

2. Label each part of the axial skeleton on an unlabeled printout of the human skeleton. Write the name of each bone clearly off to the side and draw a line from the name to the bone to pinpoint the exact location of the bone on the skeleton.

3. Write the name of each bone on a small piece of paper and attach the papers to a model of the skeleton with pushpins or tape.

Tags: human skeleton, skeletal system, Write name each, axial skeleton, each bone, labeling skeletal

Cite Apa Online Journal Articles

Cite APA Online Journal Articles

The rules and regulations for citation styles change constantly as educational organizations and accepted practices and standards in the industry change. However, citing APA online journal articles involves adhering to a set of guidelines by the APA, MLA and other associations commonly referred to when writing college papers and other documents.

Instructions

References and Works Cited Lists

1. Gather the pertinent information on the APA online journal article you need to cite. Write down the journal article authors, the title of the article and publishing journal, the date the article was published and the date you retrieved the online journal. You'll also need the name of the database or organization from which you retrieved the APA online journal.

2. Open a word processing software application such as Microsoft Word to help you format the citation for the APA online journal. A hanging, right-indentation of about a half-inch should be set for all lines following the first. This indentation is standard in both APA and MLA citation formats.

3. Start the online journal article by first writing the names of the authors. In both MLA and APA-citation formats, author names should be inverted (author's last name first followed by first and middle names or initials). A citation of an online journal article with two or more authors should start with the first listed author of the article. An example of an APA-style citation is "Doe, J.W." and MLA-style is "Doe, John Wilkes." Note the use of initials with APA style and full names with MLA citation style.

4. Continue writing the second part of the citation by following APA or MLA-specific guidelines. For APA style, write the year of publication enclosed in parenthesis followed by a period; an example would be (2002). The second part of MLA-citation styles says to write the title of the journal article in quotations, being sure to capitalize the major words of the title; place a period at the end of the article title before the ending quotation mark.

5. Write the article title next if using APA guidelines or the journal title if using MLA guidelines. For an APA online journal article being cited in APA style, capitalize only the first word of the article along with proper names following the title with a period. Here is an example of an title cited in APA style: "Talking to pet companions helps depression patients in the United States." If using MLA citation styles for this part, italicize the publishing journal, following it with a period.

6. Continue the next major part of the citation by writing the publishing journal in italics if using APA-citation style, followed by volume/issue and page information. The journal title and volume/issue information are written in italics and are followed by commas; page references end with a period. For MLA citations, this part of the reference includes the volume/issue information formatted with periods followed by the year of publication in parentheses and pagination information if available. If no page references can be found for the online journal article, the reference "n.pag." is used to denote that.

7. Write the final part of the online journal article citation. This information is the date of access and retrieval information and is common to both APA and MLA-citation styles in particular situations. For MLA-style, the date of access is appended at the end of the citation; URL information is not required. For APA-style citations of online journal articles, URL information is not required if the article also appears in print publication; in this case the reference "[Electronic Version]" gets placed after the article title. In APA-citations, DOI (digital object identifier) references are required when available; the DOI appends to the end of the citation like this: "doi:0123456/789012345."

Tags: journal article, online journal, online journal article, article title, publishing journal, volume issue

What Colleges Accept Transfer Credits

With the cost of a college education continually rising, many students choose to enroll at community colleges (also called junior colleges) for two years either to earn an associate degree or to take courses that fulfill general academic requirements. Once completed, these courses often qualify as transfer credits at four-year universities so that a transfer student may begin taking major courses upon enrollment at the four-year school.

General Rules

The better question to ask is "which courses are accepted for transfer credit at most colleges?" As a general rule, courses taken at community colleges that are accepted by four-year institutions are those that are not remedial in nature, not taken toward the fulfillment of a terminal technical certificate or degree and for which the student receives a high letter grade (at least a C or better). Enrolling in a nationally accredited community college as opposed to one with only regional accreditation will improve your chances of your courses being accepted for transfer credit.

English Course Credits

English is one of the two subjects that many community college students are often disappointed to find that the four-year college of their choice requires them to retake. Many colleges will not accept transfer credits for English courses that only prepare students for college writing; colleges generally only accept college-level English composition courses for credit. English as a second language courses or basic writing courses often will not transfer.

Math Course Credits

Math is another subject which causes frustration for transfer students. Most colleges will only accept math courses for transfer credit that consist of college-level algebra or higher. Elementary or intermediate algebra courses are often not accepted for transfer credit.

Plan Ahead

To make sure that your community college course credits transfer to the four-year college of your choice, find out what courses that four-year college accepts for transfer credit. Contact an admissions counselor at the college of your choice as well as a junior college and find out exactly what is required and what junior college courses fulfill the four-year requirements. Take those courses, study hard enough to make at least a C, an you'll avoid unpleasant surprises.

Tags: transfer credit, accepted transfer, accepted transfer credit, community college, courses often

Gmat Sentence Correction Tips

The GMAT will test your ability to improve incorrect sentences.

The Graduate Management Admission Test is used for entry into many Master of Business Administration programs. In addition to reading comprehension questions, issue and argument essays, critical reading questions and problem-solving exercises, the GMAT includes a verbal section containing sentence correction tasks. These exercises measure your ability to recognize and correct improper uses of grammar and stylistic errors.

Test Structure

For each sentence correction task, you will be presented with a sentence that has an underlined portion.This section may contain elements (often two or more) that need to be changed, or it may be correct. Choices of substitutions for the underlined words follow the sentence. Choice A is always identical to the underlined portion of the sentence; if the sentence appears to be correct as it stands, choose answer A. If the underlined portion contains errors, choose an answer that corrects all of those errors without introducing new ones. Since the GMAT is timed, work as quickly as possible.

Parallel Construction

When you analyze a sentence, look out for parallel construction errors. Parallel construction uses the same pattern of words to indicate that two or more ideas are equally important. To prepare, you might want to read Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which contains many examples of parallel construction. When King says, "We will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together," he is using parallel construction by employing the infinitive for all of his verbs.

Idioms

Compare the use of prepositions such as "to," "at," "in," "with" or "for" in the underlined portion and the answer choices. If they differ, it's possible that an idiomatic expression is being used. Brush up on the correct use of idiomatic expressions like "agree on" and "in the likelihood that" by studying a list of idiomatic expressions.

Word Usage

Some words in the English language have a strong similarity to other words and are easily confused. The GMAT may test your knowledge of when to use one word over another similar, but incorrect, word. One example is the use of the words "lay" or "lie." A child may lie to a teacher, or he may be lying in bed. A hen lays eggs, while the girl laid the plates on the dinner table. Other words that are easily confused are "affect" and "effect," "healthy" and "healthful," and "uninterested" and "disinterested."

Pronouns

Pronouns like "he," "she," and "they" replace nouns and must agree in number and person. Words like "everybody" and "everyone" are singular, so a sentence should read, "Everybody should do his best," not "Everybody should do their best." If a sentence starts out in the first person by using "I," it should not switch to the second person ("you") or the third person ("she").

Using pronouns in an ambiguous manner can lead to unintended humor. Consider the sentence, "Children can be harmed by prescription drugs, so it is best to keep them locked away." The noun described by the pronoun "they" is not clear. It is therefore not apparent whom or what should be locked away--the drugs or the children.

Tags: underlined portion, choose answer, easily confused, Everybody should, idiomatic expressions

Online Mfa Creative Writing Schools

Online MFA Creative Writing Schools

According to the Freelance Writing website, only two schools offer a full online MFA degree in creative writing; other online programs require at least a minimal amount of time on campus. That being said, however, there are some very good online MFA degrees in creative writing that have what they call "limited residency" requirement. In other words, you can do much of your coursework online and only have to go to the physical campus for a few classes. Many of the classes at the campus are presented as an extended workshop so you do concentrated work in a relatively short amount of time.

National University

National University offers an MFA in creative writing with no residency requirements. Students take one month-long course at a time and create a publishable piece of work as the final project. Focus areas include fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry and screenwriting. "This program is excellent preparation for a professional career in writing, working in the areas of publishing or filmmaking, and is the minimal academic qualification appropriate for those who desire to teach writing at the college or university level," according to the school's website.

University of Texas at El Paso

The University of Texas at El Paso is the other fully online creative writing MFA program. Students in this program also create a publishable piece of work as the final project. UTEP is unique because its MFA in creative writing is a bilingual program. In addition to preparing students to be successful in the publishing market, the program also turns out graduates who are prepared to teach creative writing in bilingual educational systems.

Wilkes University

The MFA in creative writing at Wilkes University can be achieved in just one year with a minimal residency requirement of two eight-day workshops. In this program, students have to choose one of two paths: publishing or teaching. Students also choose an area of concentration in creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, screenwriting or playwriting.

Vermont College of Fine Arts

The Vermont College of Fine Arts offers MFA degrees in creative writing and writing for children and young adults. The low-residency creative writing program was established in 1981. Students are only required to be resident for two 10-day periods per year. The program has tracks in fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction. Students have to complete five residencies and four six-month semesters to meet graduation requirements.

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