Rockville Campus
51 Mannakee Street
Rockville, MD 20850

Germantown Campus
20200 Observation Drive
Germantown, MD 20876

Takoma Park Campus
7600 Takoma Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912

Become a Mentor

Keep Beacon requirements in mind when creating assignments.

Click here for the Beacon Information flyer and paper cover sheet.

Length -Maximum length for submissions is 5000 words or about 20 typed, double-spaced pages.

Starting Point - Create assignments that encourage research and analysis appropriate to your discipline. Encourage original ideas. Beacon submissions must show the results of research, reflection and original perspective.

Subjects - There are 18 subject areas. Work with students to find the category most appropriate to their paper topic.

Research Documentation - References must follow the guidelines for the discipline.

Make students aware of the conference and its goals and guidelines. Put Beacon information on your syllabus, make announcements, point out posters, encourage students to visit the Beacon web site.

Identify scholarly papers. Contact the students and encourage them to revise and submit their papers.

Take the initiative. Encourage students to keep in touch with you about the revision process and paper submission. Here are some suggestions:

• Collect a list of names of students who might submit papers along with their addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses. (This saves time and prevents delays if you don't have to stop and look them up.)
• Have students address envelopes to themselves so you have envelopes ready to send reminders.
• Send students information about Beacon format and deadlines, suggestions for working on their papers, and information about when you will be available if they have questions.

Help students revise their papers. Mentors should read the papers carefully and advise students on ways to improve their papers and develop their presentation.

Help students prepare the final draft. Make students aware of the submission guidelines and make sure they have all six copies ready and a copy on disk. Check that the copies are complete and in order and that the student's name is only on the cover page. Sign the submissions and get them sent off in time to meet the March 1st deadline.

Help students prepare for the presentation. If a student you mentored is selected to present at the June conference, it is important to help the student be prepared to present. Since many of the students have not presented at a conference, give them the benefit of your experience. Make them aware of ways to present themselves and their papers in order to make the best impression. Consider some of the following:

• Talk to students about how best to present the material. Each presenter is allotted a maximum of 20 minutes. Students may use or combine the following presentation approaches:

o Prepare a presentation developing their major points
o Use visual aids (posters, Powerpoint, transparencies, video tapes etc.)
o Read their papers

•Help students prepare for public speaking. Remind students that the presentation is an important part of what is judged at the conference along with the written paper. A presenter who reads with head down and is barely audible will not do as well as one who stands and looks at the audience and speaks confidently. Everyone can benefit from some good public speaking advice.

• Consider setting up practice sessions. Student presenters benefit from opportunities to present in front of an audience - at a faculty meeting, a special event, a student club, or just in front of an informal gathering of students and faculty. The experience of speaking in front of people will help the students relax and gain confidence and provide valuable feedback from listeners.

Attend the conference to support the students and share in the experience. Attendance at the presentation helps build students' self-confidence and reinforces the importance of a mentoring relationship.