Thursday, October 1, 2015

To begin, just start: 5 steps to writing a research paper

I won't lie to you, I am a procrastinator. Not because I would rather be laying on my bed watching Netflix, or because I have many other things to do, but because I just don't know where to start!


Step 1: Coffee.


Step 2: Decide on your topic. Make it specific, make sure you can get the required page limit out of that topic, and stick to it!


Step 3: Make a web. Put your topic in the middle and on the outside write at least 5 main areas of interest to expand upon.


Step 4: Make an outline. Here we will get more detailed. Use your "outside web" ideas as main topics for paragraphs or sections of your paper, then expand on those more in your outline, becoming more detailed. By this point you should be able to see your paper unfolding in front of you!


Step 5: Research what you don't know. Get the research topics from your outline!


Step 6: Write a CRAPPY first draft. Sit down, take a deep breath, and type away! The hard part is
over!


Most Important Step!
Step 7: Take that crappy first draft to the writing center! Located in Eicher hall. Peer tutors are there ready to read your paper and help you in any way they can! They can even tell your professor that you went to them (Professors like seeing that you are trying ;)).


Step 8: Revise your paper with the corrections from the writing center.

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