High school and university students, this is for you! The semester is newly upon us, but you may have already heard mention of research papers in your future. Instead of waiting until the week or day (!) before your work is due, let’s think about this task now. Read on for some strategies to help make the research and writing processes more productive and less stressful.
Manage your time
Producing high-quality research papers in university can be a time-consuming process, so you should begin by thinking through your tasks and scheduling work blocks into your calendar. Everyone is different, and you will discover what works best for you as you go, but it’s never a bad idea to err on the side of caution and schedule in plenty of time for each step of the research, writing, and editing process.
Before you start, read the instructions
Look at the assignment requirements. How many secondary sources should you be using? How many pages are needed? What’s the paper’s scope? Does the assignment require performing any experiments or data collection? By carefully reading the instructions, you will get a better sense of how much time you will need to devote to your research paper.
Research typically takes longer than you might think, particularly as finding the right material requires sifting through many books and journal articles. The first results aren’t always the right ones, so devoting several hours to research over a few days makes sense (especially for beginners).
Plan out your writing and editing sessions
Writing can also take time (this is an understatement). It’s best to think of your writing tasks in terms of manageable sections. Break your essay into parts, estimate how long each will take you to complete, and assign each task a space in your calendar.
Never jot down “Write essay” on your to-do list: it’s far too big a task and, if you’re like most people, much too intimidating. Instead, break it down into parts: “Write the introduction in 30 minutes,” “Spend 20 minutes working on footnotes #4 and 5,” or “Take 15 minutes to write a transition sentence between paragraphs 3 and 4.” These tasks feel doable and once one task is done, the next one feels a little closer within reach.
Finally, set aside time for editing and formatting, so the paper you hand in is not only informative and thoughtful but also looks great (no typos!).
Conduct effective brainstorming and research
As stated above, research can be an involved process. Give yourself some time to think. Make a mind map, scrawl ideas on a piece of paper, pace the room a bit—anything to get your thoughts flowing.
Depending on your specific paper’s requirements, you may need to consult a variety of primary and secondary sources. Get to know your school’s online databases, which are accessed through the library site, and use Google Scholar to find reputable sources.
Skim a source to see if it might be useful for your purposes. If it seems promising, read it carefully, taking detailed notes. Throughout this process, ask yourself, “How does this address my research question? Does it bolster, complicate, or disprove my argument?” Based on your answer, you may need to tweak or re-think your main claim.
As you research, you may find it helpful to produce your citations as you go. Instead of losing track of your sources, you can simply enter the information in a citation generator like this one and copy and paste the citation into your Works Cited section. When you finish your first draft of your paper, you’ll already have much of your Works Cited page finished.
Make peace with the writing process
Writing can be frustrating. You might encounter writer’s block, when you can’t seem to identify what to say or how to say it. You might not know where to begin. Identify those times of the day you work best (morning, afternoon, evening?) and schedule in times for breaks, naps, and daydreaming. Sometimes, you’ll be writing at a quick pace, while other times you’ll be lucky to get a few words out. Be patient and keep your eye focused on the prize—a very specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound prize, right?
Refine your written pieces through editing
The best writing emerges from several drafts, so plan to go over your writing with a fine-tooth comb. Use targeted editing to isolate particular aspects of your writing. For example, I might go through my paper first looking to ensure I’ve fully addressed my topic. Are any of my paragraphs a little skimpy on analysis? Then I might go through the paper again looking at sentence structure. Are my sentences varied? Do they flow? Are they properly punctuated? Next, I might return to the paper with the aim of improving some of my vocabulary choices. Are any words used much too often? Is my language formal and expressive? Targeted editing helps you remain focused on the issue at hand, allowing you to catch less successful
As always, if you’d like to work on your writing, I *ahem* know some writing coaches eager to help. To book a one-on-one appointment, contact the office at info@optionssolutionsed.com or at 604-922-8456.
