Advice From Past HDFS Students

  • Actually do the reading assignments. Many HDFS courses are reading-heavy, which can be overwhelming. But staying on top of your work will help you to be a more informed writer.
  • Spending more time researching will help you when writing a paper. Having really good sources that are relevant to the topic will make it much easier to write a clear research paper.
  • Attend your professor’s office hours if you need help getting started. If you’re confused about an assignment, have questions, or simply want to bounce ideas off of someone, your professor is going to be a great resource.
  • Make friends in the major. This might not seem related to writing, but having people who you feel comfortable discussing class content with will help you to get motivated to do assignments.
  • If you’re really having a difficult time with an assignment, contact an HDFS student who works at the tutoring center or at the writing center. These students have likely taken the course you’re in and can help you understand information.