Writing Research Papers: Part Two — Formatting Your Paper

Once you have decided on a topic for your paper and developed an outline and thesis statement (get tips in Part One of our guide to writing research papers), you are ready to begin writing the paper itself. Here are some tips on structure and format. Starting point: the introduction   Introductions should get the…

Writing Research Papers: Part One — Your Topic and Outline

Research papers can be intimidating for many college students. That’s understandable. Writing a research paper takes some work and may require skills that are new — or perhaps have gone rusty. Crafting a good research paper involves planning, organization, research, writing, and editing. Time management can also play a critical role, as these assignments often…

Writing Tips: Use Email in an Effective and Appropriate Way

For most of us, email is an essential staple of daily life. We use it to keep in touch and stay informed. Email is one of the top methods of communication for business, personal, and school purposes. There are some pitfalls and concerns you should keep in mind when communicating via email, however. Netiquette is…

Writing Tips: Preparing an Effective Discussion Post

Discussion posts are a staple of online courses. This important element of the course structure provides a venue where class members can exchange ideas, discuss their interpretations of specific course topics or materials, and brainstorm creative approaches to problem solving. People sometimes underestimate the value of discussion posts, but they can serve as a valuable…

Free Return Shipping for Library Materials in Spring 2021 Semester

As a Penn State World Campus student, you have access to virtually all of the materials from the Penn State University Libraries. There is a collection of millions of print materials at Penn State, as well as the ability to borrow from other libraries, and it is likely that you may need to request a…

5 Online Learning Myths You Need to Leave Behind in 2020

Penn State World Campus Student Advisory Board member Arianna Lynne Fangonilo shared these thoughts on common myths and misconceptions about online learning. As technology advances, we find that many brick-and-mortar services and physical products are accompanied (or even replaced) by virtual counterparts. Bank tellers can be replaced by ATMs outside of business hours. Junk mail…

If the Cap Fits, Wear It

Penn State World Campus Student Advisory Board member Lisa Curtis shared these thoughts as she reflected on her experience as a student achieving her goal. For as long as I can remember, I’ve heard that it was important to get your priorities straight. Time and time again, it sounded like there was a winning combination of…

Student Involvement Opportunities and Benefits

Several of our students recently participated in an online panel — hosted by Julie Fitzgerald, co-curricular program coordinator,  and Karen Armstrong, career counselor — in which they shared insight into their experiences with clubs and organizations and why they feel student involvement is such a valuable part of the Penn State World Campus experience.