How to Ask for a Reference Letter, Part II: The Template – Jodi Glickman – Harvard Business Review

How to Ask for a Reference Letter, Part II: The Template – Jodi Glickman – Harvard Business Review.

 

This is a nice article on how to ask for a reference.

Be sure to give 4 weeks to write the reference.

Give a list of all schools, programs, dates.

 

Writing in digital age

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/education/02cheat.html

Grading Students

Within some minutes of posting college level students grades for the semester, I already have my first email…

“Prof. Striano. Why did I get a …..  ”

I’m sure more of these will come.   Ironically, the email did not even follow instructions for contacting Professor, correct subject heading… so my assistant likely deleted it.  (see section on contacting professors).

Also see section on it is advised not to:

During or in relation to class, it is not advised to:

1. provide written or verbal excuses in person or in writing

2. leave notes under professor’s office door or leave notes with assistants

3. hand in assignments at a time except during class when asked by professor, or unless advisedotherwise by your professor or teaching assistant

4. arrive late

5. use the internet or phone during class

6. skip class

7. fall asleep or put your head on the desk

8. write unprofessional emails or letters or phone messages

9. come to office without an appointment, unless during office hours

10. treat your classmates or professor in an unprofessional or disrespectful manner

11. use class equipment for non-class related work

12. have food or liquid near equipment

13. ask to be removed from a group that you selected to work with

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One third of your final grade is reduced for each occurrence of the above. For eachindividual occurrence. For one occurrence, an A goes to A minus, a C plus to a C. Fortwo, an A goes to B+ etc.

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I. Class participation: 30 percent of your grade

Writing Clear Concise Sentences. Reading the literature

As a top researcher, you must be able to write up your papers quickly and effectively.  One way to do this is to write in a direct and active way. Here is a sentence that I received  today. It makes me want to cry.  (: Luckily I can blog about my pain instead!  Yes, I’m in pain…but that is why I call my BLOG….. YES!!  NO PAIN. NO GAIN!

OLD:  It has been shown that infants younger than six months of age are capable of following their caregiver’s direction of attention and by the first year, typically developing children are competent non-verbal communicators (Trepagnier, Sebrechts, Finkelmeyer, Stewart, Woodford, & Coleman, 2006).

Here is my problem with the sentence:  If it has been shown that infants younger than 6 months follow attention – why don’t we state at what age infants do  it?  Why is the author here focusing on 6 months?  Is there a rationale?    Do we care that it has been shown that.. ? Or do we care that infants follow gaze?   What is with all of the clauses?   Avoid clauses. Write in an active way.

Write in short active sentences. Before I even begin to process this sentence I can tell it is too long and that I will be lost.  As someone who studies infants in the first days and months –  I want to jump out of a TALL building when I read something like the above… Maybe that is the aim of some… But let’s assume it is not the case in this example!   “By the first year, infants are competent non-verbal communicators”  Where did  we get this idea?    There is evidence that newborns are excellent non-verbal communicators. Are we just going to ignore the first 6 months of postnatal human  development? Even by 3 month infants pick up upon 1 second delay in interaction…. is this not a non verbal cue?  My point here is that if you become an excellent writer, people will remember what you write… and maybe even believe it!

Back to the sentence… Infants are sensitive to faces, voices, touch… is this not non-verbal communication?   All of this makes me wonder if the students read papers from my  lab – not to mention other labs.  I’m not even going into all of the evidence that infants are sensitive to joint attention in the first year (see Hoehl, Striano, etc.).

NEW: I would write the sentence as:  Three month old infants follow gaze…. Or..

Young infants follow gaze..   Young infants follow other’s attention… or or..  Give it a shot!

Lab 4: Research Methods SPRING 2010

We have high expectations at at Hunter College Psychology Dept.  Students must complete four APA projects and papers.  For the final lab, students must develop their own research question, run a study from start to finish, write up the paper according to APA guidelines, and then present the study to class!

No wonder I called this BLOG, No pain. No gain. This is no easy feat, but by this point of the course, my students know that research methods is like riding a bike. They know how to do it.   At the moment, they are beginning to collect their data for  the final project.  I am here to help them when problems and questions arise.  They can also use this entry to write about how their projects are going, ask questions, and get answers from me, the TA, and classmates!

What is the question,  Why is it important, What is new… Not sure what instrument to use? Not sure how to proceed?  Ask yourself, WHAT IS MY QUESTION?

I have high hopes for this group of students!  They have excellent ideas and passion. Read more about it right here!

Top 2 weekly time wasters!

THIS IS A BIT OF A FOLLOW UP FROM THE TALK I GAVE AT GAIN WORKSHOP: MAKING THE RIGHT MOVE: BECOMING A YOUNG INVESTIGATOR IN GERMANY. ONCE YOU GET TO GERMANY AND WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR MILLION EURO PRIZE YOU WILL HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT TIME MANAGEMENT. ONE WAY TO MANAGE TIME IS NOT TO LOSE TIME.  DELETE MAILS (AND DON’T BLOG ABOUT THEM!). DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO!!! 

WHO WOULD RESPOND TO SUCH EMAILS?  CERTAINLY NOT A TOP RESEARCHER LIKE YOURSELF! LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE EMAILS FROM THIS WEEK…. 

Professor,

Would you be available for interview regarding mentoring in the upcoming weeks? Please let me know at your earliest convienence. Thank you.

Sincerely,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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DO YOU EVEN KNOW MY NAME? WHO ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? DID YOU DO SPELL CHECK?  CONVENIENCE  IS SPELLED WRONG… SO FAR YOU’RE NOTHING BUT A TW (Time Waster).

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Dear Dr. Striano,

I am a psychology major in the XXXXXXXXXX , aspiring to become an elementary school psychologist. Considering the critical role early development plays in all aspects of life, I was interested in participating as a research assistant in your Infancy Research lab. Unfortunately, I read that a six month commitment is required. I am pregnant and due in August, so a commitment of that length at this time would not be possible. However, I was considering volunteering my child as a participant once he is born. I would appreciate meeting with you to discuss this possibility, and perhaps any other ways I may be able to volunteer.

Thank you for your consideration,
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IS THERE ANY INDICATION HERE THAT YOU READ MY PAPERS?  THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE RESEARCH THAT MY LAB IS DOING?  SO, YOU WANT TO WORK IN MY LAB BUT CAN’T EVEN COMMIT TO 6 MONTHS?  I SHOULD TAKE YOU ON BECAUSE YOU HAVE A CHILD?  I’M ALREADY GETTING EXCUSES BEFORE THE START DATE… NO WAY… NO WAY… DON’T GO BACK AND READ IT AGAIN… JUST PRESS DELETE!   SO YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH ME SO THAT YOU CAN EXPLAIN AHEAD OF TIME WHY YOU CANT DO THE WORK? OR MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK FROM HOME? YOU WANT AN EXCEPTION?  YOU EXPECT TO HAVE A BABY AND TIME TO DO YOUR CLASSES AND TIME TO COMMIT TO MY LAB…  DON’T CHANGE YOUR RULES.. DON’T LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS.. TO BE A TOP RESEARCHER IN GERMANY (OR IN US) YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE QUICK DECISIONS AND STICK WITH THEM. MY DECISION HERE: NO.

How to give a short presentation (tips)

Class, You have a powerpoint presentation next Wed on your LAB 1. Plan ahead. Have fun.

https://professorstriano.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/shortpresentation.ppt

Boot CAMP!

On Tuesday we talked about the reasons that it is important to come to class on time.   Let’s think about what we would rather be doing at 9 am on a Tuesday morning.  When I asked you that question, you answers varied … but we all pretty much agreed that we would rather be doing almost anything than sitting in a 95 degree windowless room learning about research methods!  Coffee in bed anyone?  Dunkin Donuts Please!!!  Sleeping?  Traveling?   Intimate time with your husband, wife, or lover?   Painting? Golfing? Surfing?  Singing?  But rather we find ourselves in research methods class!   In the basement of Hunter College… Did I mention it is 95 degrees…

The fact is, you are not the only one’s taking research methods this semester.  Thousands of students across the country are doing the same thing. Some of them are not taking care of families.  Some of them do not have to work to fund their education.  The students at Columbia, NYU, UMass, Harvard , UCLA…

How are you going to stand out in this crowd?  You all took research methods? You ALL have degrees in Psychology.     Those who survive my  class will begin by sitting up straight, coming to class on time, smiling and nodding even  when you are fantasizing about all the things you would rather be doing. Imagine working in a business and putting your head down on your desk… Imagine coming into the office 10 minutes late each day… and giving your boss some pitiful excuse…   What would happen?  You would get the “Boot!”     Research Methods Class will prepare you for the real world.  You will learn how to present data, to ask questions, and to present yourself.    You signed up for this class and you have to be here so use your time wisely.   It is no wonder I called this blog — NO PAIN, NO GAIN!  See you next week with your innovative ideas for our first Lab!   Review your statistics… and think about the tips I gave regarding the best ways to ask meaningful questions.