I hope you all have started off the year on a high note. I'd love to hear how all of you guys are doing so don't ever hesitate to either e-mail me or send me one of those popular myspace messages. The next edition of Steve's Sphill will most likely be typed in the office as I am now able to head back to work at the beginning of next month. I am very excited about jumping back into UBMS and getting to come out and see all of you.

Let's get busy on the fundraising guys. We HAVE to sell some magazines! The more you guys sell, the better summer we will have. I am going to try my best at doing this and I hope you all are committed as well.

If you guys need anything at all, get ahold of me. Keep up the good work Gang.....Go Bucks and WhoDey!

The Keys to Effective Writing

Tips for Tackling Your Essays and Papers

Writing skills are essential for succeeding in high school, college, and on the job. If essays and papers stress you out, keep in mind, writing is not just an end result, but also a process that helps you develop your ideas and think logically.

Get Started

Begin by brainstorming topics, collecting information, taking a lot of notes, and asking a lot of questions. Keep your notes and sources organized as you go.

When developing your topic, look for patterns and relationships. See what conclusions you can draw. Try discussing your ideas with classmates or your teacher. A new perspective can help shake up your thinking, and keep your momentum going.

Organize Your Writing

Develop an outline to help you stay on track as you write, identifying your main points and your conclusions. Keep in mind basic essay structure:

The introduction should give your reader an idea of the essay's intent, including a basic statement of what the essay will discuss.
The body presents the evidence that supports your idea. Use concrete examples and avoid generalities.
The conclusion should summarize and make sense of the evidence you presented in the body.

Draft Your Essay

You may find as you write that you end up with a different idea from the one you began with. If your first topic or conclusion doesn't hold water, be open to changing it. If necessary, rewrite your outline to get yourself back on track.

Other important writing tips:

Keep your audience in mind.
Write for the general reader, unless your teacher tells you otherwise. "The general reader" refers to anyone of average intelligence with a fairly sound, basic education.
Get acquainted with the vocabulary.
Become familiar with the vocabulary of your subject. For example, when writing about fiction, drama, and poetry, critical writers use words such as syntax, tone, attitude, voice, speaker, and thesis.

Refine and Proofread

When you're done with the rough draft, take a break so you can come back to your writing with fresh eyes. Ask yourself:

Is the writing clear?
Do the ideas make sense?
Are my ideas supported by evidence?
Are all of my requirements fulfilled?
Did I avoid repetition?
Have I used proper grammar and spelling?
How does it sound read out loud?

Leave enough time to show your draft to others—use your school's writing center, if possible. A fresh perspective can help you polish your paper, and catch inconsistencies and mistakes.

What you read influences how you write and can become your teacher without you being aware of it. Keep this in mind when choosing between Teen People and challenging novels like Great Expectations.

Note sure what to read? If you liked a book you read in class, ask your teachers to recommend others like it, or read more by the same author. For ideas on great reading check out our 101 Great Books list.

Reading is also a great way to conquer writer's block. Reading helps exercise your mind and get your ideas moving again. Of course, a great way to prevent writer's block is to write more.

Write More

You've heard it before, but this advice never gets old: practice makes perfect. The more writing you do, the better you'll get. And as your skills improve, so will your enjoyment. Here are a few ways some students write outside the classroom that you might want to consider:

Keep a journal of your thoughts and the events of the day
Start a zine with your friends on topics important to you
Write letters to the editor of the magazines and newspapers you read

When you're in the habit of writing—no matter what kind of writing it is—papers and essays won't seem as difficult.

For more information, visit www.collegeboard.com.

Entering Students

To apply for admission, students can submit a paper application, complete the on-line application, the "click and print application", the Common Application, or the Kentucky Mentor, including the essay question.
(Please note: Our "click and print" application is in Adobe Acrobat format [PDF]. If you do not have the free Adobe Acrobat plug-in, please visit Adobe.com).
Request a copy of your most recent high school transcript from your guidance counselor. Have your counselor mail it to the Office of Admissions with the Counselor's Evaluation and Recommendation.
Send your official ACT and/or SAT score reports to the Office of Admissions. Scores may be updated through February 1 of your senior year if you retake the exams. ACT and/or SAT score report labels appearing on official high school transcripts are acceptable.
Ask a teacher from your junior or senior year to complete the Teacher's Evaluation and Recommendation. Have your teacher mail it to the Office of Admissions.
If you have taken college or university courses during high school, have an official copy of your final transcript forwarded to the Office of Admissions.

When you take the standardized test, please remember to send your scores to Transy. Our codes are: ACT – 1550, SAT – 1808.

2006-2007 Cost of Attendance

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Paid directly to Transylvania University
Tuition/Fees	$ 20,950
Room/ Board	$ 6,850
Total	$ 27,800

Other estimated expenses
Books/Supplies	$ 900
Transportation	$ 750
Personal	$ 1,250
Total:	$ 2,900

Total cost of attendance	$30,700