The Oracle
For your Journey to Academic Success
Test -Taking
Tip #1
HAVE A PLAN
 Find out what will
be covered on the
test.
 Discover what kind
of questions will
be asked.
 Find out if you can
use notes or a
calculator.
 Ask questions
about the material
you do not
understand.
 If you missed class,
find out what was
covered on the
days you were
absent.
Issue 2, Page 1
January 2015
My Fellow UDC Firebirds,
Happy New Year and welcome to a new semester! We have some exciting,
new initiatives that we are “piloting” this Spring, such as SKYPE Advising and
Online-Chat Advising, scheduled to be implemented in February. In addition
to these new initiatives, we plan to continue other activities including our
successful Book Voucher Campaign and workshops focusing on Time
Management, APA Citations, Using the Library for Research, Using the
Internet for Research, and Study Skills.
The Academic Advising and Support Center has relocated to Building 39
Room 111 and 112. As a comprehensive resource for all students, the
Advising Center staff coordinates academic advising for freshmen,
sophomores, and students who have not chosen a major. Professional
Advisors in the Center are available to meet individually with students to talk
about their academic plans and related issues. The Support Center staff
conducts tutoring, skills-building workshops, and a variety of other services to
assist in student achievement.
 Form a study
group.
Office of Academic Advising & Retention
Academic Advising: BLDG 39, Room 112, 274-6899
Academic Support: BLDG 39, Room 111, 274-5938
aac@udc.edu | www.udc.edu/aac
Issue 2, Page 2
ARE YOU CONNECTED?
Academic Advising Center
To help you stay connected with your Academic
Advisor, we offer the following:

Email Alerts to notify you of appointments, updates,
incentives, programs, and workshops;

Text Messaging to remind you of your appointments,
upcoming programs, and workshops;

SKYPE meetings when you can not make it to campus
(Mondays & Wednesdays 11:00 am –12:00 pm, launching
February 2, 2015);

Online chatting to get the assistance you need, where ever
you are. (Tuesdays at 11:00 am –12:00 pm & Thursdays at
2:00pm –3:00 pm, launching February 2, 2015); Visit our
Webpage at http://www.udc.edu/aac

Facebook. Follow our page for updates, notifications,
incentive programs, and the latest student-related news
(https://www.facebook.com/aacudc);

Instagram. Follow our page (AACUDC) for the latest photos
from campus events, advising, and support center
workshops.
Office of Academic Advising & Retention
Academic Advising: BLDG 39, Room 112, 274-6899
Academic Support: BLDG 39, Room111, 274-5938
aac@udc.edu | www.udc.edu/aac
Issue 2, Page 3
Academic Support Center
Services Provided
The Academic Support Center (ASC) offers free services to help
undergraduates excel in their courses and academic careers.
Academic Workshops – Workshops on study, research, and writing skills are
offered each semester. In-class workshops can be scheduled by faculty.
Calculator Loaner Program – Students may borrow TI-83 Plus or TI-84 Plus
Graphing Calculators for the semester. Also, they may purchase AAA batteries.
Study Hall – Study space with 10 computers workstations
Tutoring – Free peer tutoring in core subject areas (writing in all disciplines,
quantitative reasoning, oral communication, technology, and foreign languages).
Reference Materials – Handouts, worksheets, style guides for academic writing,
using the internet, Excel, and other topics.
Referrals – Students are direct to specialized tutorial units on campus (e.g.
Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics. And Physics).
Professors Crews and Dessaso conduct a workshop on essay writing.
Tutoring Goals and Expectations
The goal of a tutoring session is to help students develop the skills and abilities in
the areas of critical thinking, reading, writing, foreign language, mathematics, and
public speaking. Students may schedule onehour appointments with a tutor. Walk-in
sessions are limited to 30 minutes. Students
should come prepared with the professor’s
written assignment, textbook and/or other
resource materials, and a draft paper or
outline.
Office of Academic Advising & Retention
Academic Advising: BLDG 39, Room 112, 274-6899
Academic Support: BLDG 39, Room 111, 274-5938
aac@udc.edu | www.udc.edu/aac
Issue 2, page 4
ONLINE WRITING RESOURCES
External Resources
Grammar & Mechanics
 Guide to Grammar & Writing (http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/) helps
students with grammar, writing, and the principles of composition. It also contains interactive quizzes and a log of questions asked by users with the answers provided by experts.
 Grammar Bytes (http://www.chompchomp.com/menu.htm) is an interactive website
providing information, presentations, and exercises on every aspect of common grammar.
Comprehensive Writing Information
 OWL (Online Writing Lab) at Purdue University (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/)
 LEO (Literacy Education Online) (http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/)
Sample Outlines
 MLA Outline (http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/rules6e/latest/lmcontent/ch07/
PDF/Hacker-Levi-MLA-Out.pdf)
 Outline Structure for Literary Analysis Essay HATMAT (http://tinyurl.com/mxp5fru )
Citation Style Guides
 Chicago/MLA/APA/CSE (bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/)
 Chicago (http://libguides.wwu.edu/content.php?pid=123723&sid=1063051)
Sample Formatted Papers
 Sample Chicago-style Paper
(https://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/1300991022_717.pdf)
 Sample MLA-style Literature Paper
(http://dianahacker.com/pdfs/Hacker-Peel-MLA-Lit.pdf)
 Sample MLA Research Paper (http://tinyurl.com/m7eb3cy )
 Sample APA Research Paper (http://tinyurl.com/o2jx8sb )
 Sample APA Research Paper 2 (http://tinyurl.com/6rjhkyx )
Office of Academic Advising & Retention
Academic Advising: BLDG 39, Room 112, 274-6899
Academic Support: BLDG 39, Room 111, 274-5938
aac@udc.edu | www.udc.edu/aac
Issue 2, page 5
Online Academic Resources cont’d
Test-Taking
Math
 Khan Academy (khanacademy.org) provides instructional videos and practice problems in mathematics, science, history, economics, and more.
 MathTV.com allows students to view videos of different instructors solving the same
math problem.
 MathVids.com uses certified math instructors to teach particular math lessons.
 Mathway.com helps students with particular solutions for math problems.
 Purplemath.com offers lessons emphasizing the practicalities rather than the technicalities, demonstrating dependable techniques, warning of likely "trick" questions, and
pointing out common mistakes.
Spanish Language
 StudySpanish.com provides tutorials on pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary,
verbs, travel, cultural notes, and idioms.
Test Taking Tip #2
Preparing for Test Day
Get a good night’s sleep before the test.
Eat breakfast and/or a well-balanced high protein meal.
List what you need beforehand so that you do not panic.
Get to the classroom early so that you can select the perfect seat, organize your materials, and RELAX.
 Take a few deep breaths and relax tense muscles.
 Do a brain-dump when you get the test. Write down information that is difficult to
remember such as formulas, keywords, dates, etc. Then you can relax and refer to the
information when you are taking the test.




Office of Academic Advising & Retention
Academic Advising: BLDG 39, Room 112, 274-6899
Academic Support: BLDG 39, Room 111, 274-5938
aac@udc.edu | www.udc.edu/aac
Book Voucher Incentive
Spring 2015
The Office of Academic Advising is giving away eight, $100 book
vouchers. All you have to do is: (1) meet with your advisor three times,
(2) visit the Academic Support Center, and (3) visit the Director of
Academic Advising and Retention (Building 39-110) by April 30, 2015.
1. Have you met your advisor three times ?
2. Have you completed and reviewed your Academic Plan?
3. Do you need Academic Assistance?
4. Have you scheduled a tutoring session?
Visit the Academic Advising and Support Centers in Building 39,
Rooms 111 and 112, or email the Center (aac@udc.edu) or your faculty advisor.
A Firebird on the RISE…
1. _________________________Advisor Date: _____________
2. _________________________Advisor Date: ______________
3. _________________________Advisor Date______________
4.______________________Support Ctr. Date: _____________
5.________________________Director Date:______________
Fall 2014
Book Voucher Winners
We are pleased to announce the Winners of the Fall 2014 Book Voucher
Incentive Program. Join me in congratulating our fellow FIREBIRDS!
Name
Ademoyege, Oluwatimilehim
Thompson, Danyielle
Alakwe, Emmanuel
Giron, Edwin
Okon, Brittany
Grant, Darlene
Gandique, Roxy
Sidi M'hamed, Brahim
College
CAS
CAS
CAS
CAUSES
CAUSES
SBPA
SEAS
SEAS
Major
Psychology
Music
Social Work
Architecture
Health Education
Business Mgmt.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering