Tutor profile: Sara C.

When should you use a semi-colon?

A lot of people are nervous about using semi-colons because they're not sure where they should go. If a sentence is pretty much a carry-over from the sentence before - meaning that the ideas are the same and both sentences are necessary - use a semi-colon. For instance: Apples are a nutritious snack; they are rich in vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, and C. You should also use a semi-colon in lists when the items in the list contain commas. For example: We sent party invitations to my dad, Bob; my son, Tristan; and my husband, Larry.

Can you assist me in beginning my research assignment? I plan to do my research on climate change.

First, let's narrow down your research topic. Instead of simply "climate change," is there something you would be interested in focusing your research on? For instance, you could focus on how climate change affects a specific communicable disease, the effect of volcanoes on climate change, or how climate change affects what we eat. Once you've narrowed this down, create your thesis statement. This will state what your research is about and help you to stay focused throughout the process. Once we've done this, we can begin to look at discipline-specific databases and gather the information you will need.

What is the difference between a metaphor and a simile?

Metaphors and similes are quite similar in what they're trying to accomplish. Both are comparing something to something else. For instance, someone's smile and the sun. However, the difference is in the wording used. Similes use the word "like," so using this example, it would state, "Your smile is like the sun." Metaphors, on the other hand, do not use "like," so this example would say, "Your smile is the sun."