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Describe a typical day at your workplace.

How did you arrive in this field or job? Would you choose it again? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I read an article that said one of the challenges in your field is [ . . . ]. How does this issue impact you?

People have this impression [ . . . ] about your career. In what ways is this accurate or inaccurate?

What is something people don’t generally know or realize about your field?

I’ve been thinking about/hearing about [ . . .] in your field. What can you tell me about that?

How do publications or organizations help you in your field?

Before your interview, write out specific questions related to the theme or direction you plan to take in the paper. When you make arrangements, let your candidate know how much time you think you will need, and at the end of the interview, ask if you can contact him or her again in case you need more detail.

We’d be happy to help you write out questions before spring break! Or check out this handout of other suggestions. How to Interview for the Worker Profile

FIRST THINGS FIRST . . .WHAT IS IT?  An interpretation of an interview is common in various courses, such as criminology, education, counseling, communication, theology, and nursing. So your work on the CORE worker profile will help you develop skills in research, interviewing, observation, and analysis that you will use again. Writing consultants are familiar with your CORE worker profile and are anxious to help you.

WHICH COMES FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?   Should you choose a person or a vocation/work area first?  If no ideas for a person come to you immediately, you could do some research first–the egg first approach. For example, if you’re interested in social services, youth, and the law, read a little bit about what a “casa worker” is. Then find one to interview.  Of course, librarians will help with research; writing consultants can help too.

CHOOSING THE INTERVIEWEE    We’ll ask you the right questions to help you choose a person that might yield a good paper–the chicken first approach.  We can even help you frame the email that will land you the interview, if your choice is someone you don’t know well.

PLANNING THE INTERVIEW  Good questions are the key to a good interview. We’d love to help you before you go home for spring break. It

Good questions will elicit detail useful for the paper and make the interview lively and fun for both of you. Plan out questions ahead of time. Try some of these:

Describe a typical day at your workplace.

How did you arrive in this field or job? Would you choose it again? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I read an article that said one of the challenges in your field is [ . . . ]. How does this issue impact you?

People have this impression [ . . . ] about your career. In what ways is this accurate or inaccurate?

What is something people don’t generally know or realize about your field?

I’ve been thinking about/hearing about [ . . .] in your field. What can you tell me about that?

How do publications or organizations help you in your field?

What are the challenges you face in your job?

In what ways is this career better than others you could have followed?

In what ways does this career meet needs that you have–like psychological, physical, or spiritual ones?

How do publications or organizations help you in your field?

Check out our libguide for more help. You’ll find links to pod casts about the worker profile and other suggestions too.

The hardest thing about writing a literature review is understanding why you need one. The lit review prepares your reader for your own analysis or research. A lit review assures the reader you have looked at others’ research on the topic, and it summarizes that research in light of your study.

HOW SHOULD I ORGANIZE IT?

The first sentence should identify the topic or issue of concern so that the review has a focus. You will talk about the other articles as they relate to this focus. To organize the order of the articles, group them by some similarity.  For example,  the American Psychological Association guidelines (APA) suggest you can group articles in several ways within the body of your review: “Similarity in the concepts or theories of interest, methodological similarities . . .or the historical development of the field” (1.03, Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition). You should also mention conflicts you discovered, gaps in research, or a new perspective (Writing Center, UW-Madison).

Lastly, longer lit reviews often explain how you chose the articles–for example, the search terms, databases, or years.  You can also list other limiting criteria such as  research related only to adolescents, a particular racial group, or a theory or treatment.

HOW DO I WRITE IT?

After clarifying the problem, write in a simple WHO-DID-WHAT or WHAT-DID-WHAT pattern that uses the past tense:  Davidson et al (2006) examined the effect of . . .

Several studies examining childhood obesity focused on genetic influences (Jones, 2004; Goldstone, 2005; Alfi, 2006) concluding that . . . .

In their 2008 study that compared after school eating patterns of latchkey children to those of children in after school daycare settings, Zhang and Smith found a correlation between . . .

The generalizability of  Quantro’s 2006 study  was limited because the survey was based on a convenience sample; nevertheless, her conclusion that . . . .suggests the value of a more controlled study.

For examples and more detailed instructions, check with these writing centers:

MORE HELP

The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina: clear and detailed how-to

University of Washington Psychology Writing Center: lengthy discussion related to psychology lit reviews

Writing Center University of Wisconsin Madison suggestions: step-by-step guide through each part of the review

The OWL at Purdue: clear discussion and guidelines for a lit review in social work

• Do you see Antigone as a rebel? Loyal sister? Headstrong niece? Devoted disciple? Role model? We can help you dig deeper into Antigone’s character to get at the truth of her immortalized story.
• Do you love shows like CSI and Law and Order? We’ll help you navigate the crime scenes, interview the perps, and cross the yellow tape to determine the facts as you write your inquest verdict for the Antigone affair.
• Play Supreme Court Justice for the day as you consider Antigone and Kreon’s legal suits. We’ll listen to your arguments and help you write the judicial memorandum.

If you can’t find your prompt on here, don’t worry! Come visit us at the Writing Center and start the semester off right by brainstorming along with us!

~ The Writing Center Staff @ The Blue Light

Think carefully about a particular time in your life or a particular relationship you’ve had that dealt intimately with love in one of its many forms, such as philia or agape. Although your professor would like you to think about other forms of love besides romantic love, you might try looking at some of these relationships for interactions between these other forms of love as well.

Interesting stories usually have some element of personal transformation or triumph over adversity, so try thinking about a time that either you or someone you know experienced a kind of profound transformation or perseverance. Analyze this situation in terms of love: What forms of love are at play? Did love have any effect on the outcome in question? What were these effects? Could you or that person have transformed or triumphed without love? If you know of a story like this, tell it!

What makes this paper so useful and so timely is that it allows you to explore the various dynamics and nuances of love without many constraints. Take this opportunity to explore your own experiences and views of love in the context of your life, and don’t be afraid to venture out and make novel claims about it (so long as you back it up with evidence). This paper helps make what was previously a more abstract study of love more concrete by applying it to your own life and your own unique experiences. Explore, and have fun with it!

EG

GET A CORRECTED BOOK FREE:  If you purchased the 6th edition printing that has many errors, you may turn it in for a replacement. Call APA at 1-800-374-2721, ext. 5510 to fill out a form. You will receive a package label in email to return your error-ridden book.  Do not delay in making your call since the deadline is December 15.

If you are just purchasing a book now, check to make sure the books indicates it is a print run that has corrected the errors.

I’m Eric, and I’m back for another year at the Writing Center. This is my fifth semester consulting, and I really enjoy working with everyone who stops by.

I’m a senior this year majoring in philosophy and economics, so I’m fairly up to speed on MLA and writing standards for the humanities and social sciences. If you need help in one of these areas, I’d be more than happy to chat with you about it. I work Monday/Wednesday 3-5pm and Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-11:10am.

Now a little about me. I’m originally from NWI (the region!) and I live off campus this year. Some of my hobbies (or distractions depending on the day) include relaxing with friends, philosophy from the early modern period, traveling, and solving puzzles. I also enjoy anything off beat or original.

Happy writing!

Stop by (Christopher Center 1st floor), email (writing.center@valpo.edu), or IM for help.

Weekdays: 9-5
Evenings: Sun-Thurs 7-9
IM–until 10:30 PM Sun-Thurs

Check out our categories–You will find something to help you out, if you can’t come in.