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![Learn to negotiate and advocate for yourself - as an adult/near-
adult, you need to stop letting your parents get between you
and your teachers/employers/etc. Far too many professors find
themselves getting e-mail from parents explaining why [name]
didn't get a good grade or do the homework! CC image from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcwathieu/2980385784/](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/pearlsofwisdompracticaladviceforseniorsfinaldraft-121126132517-phpapp02/75/Pearls-of-Wisdom-Practical-Advice-for-Seniors-7-2048.jpg)
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Pearls of Wisdom: Practical Advice for Seniors
This document provides practical advice from professors and librarians to help students succeed academically in college. It offers tips on communication, such as using formal language in emails to professors. Students are encouraged to utilize library resources, ask for help from librarians who are trained to assist with research. Additional advice includes attending class, taking notes, and reading the syllabus carefully. Critical thinking is emphasized as an important skill to develop.
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Pearls of Wisdom: Practical Advice for Seniors
- 1. Pearls of Wisdom: PracticalAdvice from Professors and Librarians for Academic Success in College Compiled by Buffy Hamilton The Unquiet Library Image via Microsoft Office Clip Gallery November 2012
- 2. Communication CC image viahttp://www.flickr.com/photos/geckoam/3181193844/sizes/o/in/photostream/
- 3. People using thewrong title (unfortunately professors vary tremendously in their preferred mode of address, but “find out what people want to be called and call them that" is a good general life lesson). When in doubt, use “Dr.” as your default choice. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanderlin/105314952/sizes/l/
- 4. Students using text-speakin emails and not recognizing that different modes of speech are appropriate for different contexts, and that professional email (which student/professor email is) requires more formal discourse. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericrice/840284432/sizes/l/
- 5. Get a "professional"email address (no "[email protected]) for dealing with faculty. Treat emails to faculty like formal correspondence; be respectful and think before sending. Do visit the professor during office hours to seek for clarification or discuss ideas about assignments (to make sure you are on the right track.) CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeshlabotnik/3584172834/
- 6. Consider what youwant your online presence to look like when you meet new friends in college: what is your digital footprint? CC image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmk7702/5897901526/sizes/l/
- 7. Learn to negotiateand advocate for yourself - as an adult/near- adult, you need to stop letting your parents get between you and your teachers/employers/etc. Far too many professors find themselves getting e-mail from parents explaining why [name] didn't get a good grade or do the homework! CC image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcwathieu/2980385784/
- 8. No one isborn knowing how to do everything in college— ask for help (librarians are great for this!) Image from Microsoft Clip Art Gallery
- 9. Ask for help/clarificationif you don't have a clue what your assignment sheet says; FOLLOW directions (this one is becoming painful). CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/b-tal/116220689/sizes/l/
- 10. Librarians and Academic Success CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesterpubliclibrary/3256457065/sizes/l/
- 11. Do not spendmore than 30 minutes searching for articles— find your librarian for help (usually they have an online chat you can use). Image from Microsoft Clip Art Gallery
- 12. Librarians are usuallyavailable in every discipline/subject area and invite student contact; most have LibGuides or other pathfinders for every subject area. Image via Microsoft Office Clip Gallery
- 13. Know that librarians have advanced degrees in information seeking and expertise in research. Utilize Image from Microsoft Office Clip Gallery their expertise!
- 14. Take a momentto be considerate/see things from someone else's perspective -- requesting help is a fantastic and much- welcomed idea, but requesting hours' worth of help at midnight is not. Perspective Keep in mind that your professors, librarians, etc. and Time want to help you but also have lots of other work to Management do. You need to do your own legwork in advance if at all possible, keep your requests within reason, and ask early enough that it's actually possible for people to help you. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/dawnashley/3160034081/sizes/l/
- 15. Let librarians helpyou understand the differences between research databases and search engines and when it is appropriate to use each. Search Database Engine
- 16. Colleges hire librarianssolely to help students find the information they need, whether for an assignment or personal curiosity. Librarians love to help! CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/yunir/6368886683/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/
- 17. Make friends witha librarian at your school your first semester, and you're good for the next four years! CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhaithaca/4959299189/sizes/l/
- 18. Ask for help. Do not suffer in silence! CCimage via http://www.flickr.com/photos/ucumari/580865728/sizes/l/
- 19. Take advantage oflibrary resources---human, print, electronic—and utilize them. Don’t be afraid to approach the reference desk in the library— you are not bothering anyone and librarians want to help. Visit the library f2f if you can and/or explore the library website if online. Image via Microsoft Office Clip Gallery
- 20. Do not writea DON'T wait Know and paper and until the last schedule then right minute before appointments before it's due the library or visit during begin closes to get the librarian’s searching for help with an and/or "source" to assignment. professor’s add to it. office hours. Images via Microsoft Clip Gallery
- 21. Try to have2-3 ideas for research topics and librarians can help you figure out which ones have more resources and will be more researchable. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/pyth0ns/6670386287/sizes/l/in/faves-10557450@N04/
- 22. A note forteachers in schools without a fully certified school librarian: Many freshman have little to no experience with databases/finding scholarly articles (especially in small and rural schools). Perhaps a few classes on this, with examples of school databases (if you have them, which some don't have), public library databases and college examples would be useful. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/hippie/2475849569/sizes/l/
- 23. Academics: Practical Advice Imagefrom Microsoft Office Clip Gallery
- 24. Go to class--evenif everyone else you know is skipping. Image via Microsoft Clip Gallery
- 25. Read and rereadtheir syllabus. Look for answers to questions in the syllabus first. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidsilver/3846379066/sizes/l/in/photostream/
- 26. The ability tothink differently and to write well is a most important skill. Consider taking a The knowledge that course in Philosophy one learns more to broaden and from his/her deepen your mistakes than thinking. successes. Coursework and Critical Thinking
- 27. The days ofreading and reporting are over. Add your own voice and perspective. A well founded and thoroughly thought out argument is the goal, not another book report. CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/shriekingtree/5225613954 /sizes/l/
- 28. You need tohave an informed opinion and that requires reading. It is amazing how many political science papers I get that are just based on someone's voice and perspective. "Iran shouldn't have the bomb!" OK, why? "Because I believe it is so!" Gugh. Image from Microsoft Office Clip Gallery
- 29. Think Listen Contribute DO THESE OFTEN AND REPEAT.
- 30. In college youshould be ready to probe an idea and not be as concerned about the right answer. There's rarely a single right answer. You are free to take ideas and connect them in a way that no one has ever done before!
- 31. Question, question, question--whois doing the telling and why? CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/bilal-kamoon/6835060992/sizes/l/
- 32. Take your learningto the streets. Visit a museum, take a side trip, check out an ethnic community different than yours. It's not all in books! CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/ejpphoto/3082552922/sizes/o/
- 33. Before registering forclasses, ask other students Other Tips for Academic who they think are the most engaging professors and then try to get into those classes. Be discriminating in shaping your education. Success Don’t let one bad grade defeat you; do not give up. Don’t rely on one method of communication with instructors/classmates. Become familiar with the course delivery platform (even when the class meets face to face, there may be an online Learning Management System).
- 34. Don't ask howlong a paper should be. If the professor/instructor has expectations, he/she will share them. If you can answer the question or complete the assignment cogently in a five page paper, then do it. Image via Microsoft Office Clip Gallery
- 35. CC image viahttp://www.flickr.com/photos/aliedwards/2441663229/sizes/o/
- 36. Thank You ToThese Academic Librarians and Educators for Their Contributions To This Document • Andromeda Yelton • Amanda Clay Powers • R. David Lankes • Max Macias • Andrea Gillespie Stanfield • Paula Barnett-Ellis • Lynda Kellam • Kathryn Venditti • Carolyn Foote • Peter Coyl • Laura Pearle • Patricia Buermann-Post • Alison Miller • Russell Palmer • Courtney Young • Andrew Shuping • Alicia Tapia • Jeff Brackett CC image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/vernhart/1574355240/sizes/l/