Tutor profile: Rachel D.

How should one best structure their paragraphs?

Duke University's Thompson Writing Program recommends that writers organize their sentences in their paragraphs using the MEAL plan: Main Idea (topic sentence stating the concrete claim the paragraph is advancing) Evidence (paraphrase or direct quotations from the source material you are using to support your topic sentence's claim) Analysis (your explanation and evaluation of the evidence) Lead Out (concluding sentence and prepares your reader to transition to the next paragraph/claim)

How do you get (and stay) motivated to study?

1) Set Goals (long term and short term goals). 2) Track your Progress (i.e. check things off) 3) Get Engaged in the classroom 4) Make connections between the assignments and your goals. 5) Create relationships and connect with others in your class.

What is the importance of Alexander Astin's I-E-O model in higher education?

Astin’s (1970) I-E-O model was developed to study student involvement in higher education. Astin’s model consists of three elements, inputs (I), environment (E), and outputs (O), and has been used to assess how the inputs and the environment affects student outcomes. Inputs are defined as student characteristics at the time they start college; environment is defined as the different educational experiences, people, policies, and programs that students are exposed to in college; and output is the student’s characteristics and outcomes after their college experience (Astin, 1970). A key finding of Astin’s study (1970) was that students’ involvement with their college environment affected student persistence.