Tutor profile: Eric B.

What makes for a strong paper?

A strong paper contains a thesis, which is thoroughly discussed and explored. Frequently evidence to support this thesis is generated and synthesized by thorough exploration of literature, with generous citation of sources. Depending upon the genre, it may or may not be appropriate to use personal anecdote, which can strengthen an emotional appeal. Otherwise, it is usually best to let numbers and trends speak to the strongest sense of evidence, and guide logical conclusions throughout the paper

Describe a way that you prepare for a challenging exam

I commit to taking strong notes in class, and rewriting them within a week of taking each note. Once I am two weeks out from an exam, I start transposing those notes to a new, clean notebook. Once those are transposed, I highlight and annotate those transposed notes. Once done, I read and study and, when able, attempt to teach those subjects to classmates.

Describe the process for how voltage-gated sodium channels behave when a cell is depolarized (i.e. during the action potential).

When sufficient stimulus is applied to a given neuron, voltage-gated sodium channels open, permitting sodium ions to enter the cell and completely depolarize the cell. As sodium ions enter, the inactivation channel of the voltage-gated sodium channel closes, blocking the pore, and preventing further entry of sodium ions. Once the cell returns to resting membrane potential, the channel closes, and the inactivation gate releases.