Summaries can be really useful as a quick reminder of an article’s main points to use when revising for an exam or to bring to class. They are also helpful before delving into the original as a road map. WikiSummary is a free database containing over 600 summaries of scholarly research in the social sciences. At the moment, the categories seem limited to political science but there are also some classic economics and sociology pieces that you can find by looking under keywords or using the search function for the article title or author. Hopefully it will expand as I find it to be a great resource! Just remember, these are summaries written by authors for their own personal use and, therefore, there is no guarantee that they are accurate or complete. And, if you haven’t already read it, be sure to check out Rebecca’s related post on how to use Wikipedia.

Whether you need glasses to see far away or close up, almost everyone needs glasses at some point. Even if you only wear yours on days when you can’t get going early enough to put in your contacts, glasses can be stylish. They can reflect your style, your mood, and what makes you unique.

Eyeglass stores have huge markups however, making a simple pair of glasses suddenly cost hundreds of dollars. You don’t have to pay that. There are a number of excellent sites online where, with your prescription and a measurement called pupillary distance (PD), you can order a new pair of glasses and have them delivered for $20-$100. And there are FAR more frame choices available online than you will find at your local store.

The process is simple:

1. Get your eyes checked; you should do this every year regardless. Your Doctor will give you a prescription. Ask them to measure your pupillary distance or follow these instructions to do it yourself.
2. Try on frames to get a feel for the shapes that look good on you. For example I look dorky with frames that go up at the outer corners, but great in very rectangular frames. Get to now what looks good but you DON’T have to buy them yet. If you find a pair you absolutely love, write down any brand or model numbers and take a picture of yourself so that you can remember the details. If you have a pair you love now, then take detailed measurements (in millimeters) to use when selecting other frames.
3. SHOP! Top sites include:
   • 39 dollar glasses
   • Goggles 4U
   • Optical 4 Less
   • EyeBuyDirect
4. The site will walk you through entering your prescription, faxing it to them and choosing options. Personally, I always go for anti-reflective coating (better for looking at a computer), anti-scratch (since I’m rough on them) and UV protection.

At the prices you will find on these sites you can buy a different pair for every day and every mood. Not to mention prescription sunglasses and sport glasses.

Want more information on buying glasses online (and coupon codes for some of the sites above)? See the glassyeyes blog.

Sometimes I get so caught up in writing a paper that I lose sight of the overall structure, particularly if it’s a long one! When I am trying to evaluate the logical sequence and coherence of the arguments in a rough draft, I make an outline of what I have written. I usually include all of the main sections of my paper and the specific arguments under each, but it can be as skeletal or as detailed as you need. This can be helpful even if you already made an outline before you started drafting because the process of recreating your outline from the draft will enable you to a) focus on the overall picture and b) compare what you produced with what you intended to see what works best. I’d love to hear how this method works (or doesn’t) for you!