It’s research paper season! If you have not written one of these long essays, the task may seem daunting. However, do not be discouraged. There are many ways to make this paper easier to manage and help you be successful.
- Stay on top of deadlines! Teachers make it really easy to not procrastinate by setting deadlines for you to follow. These deadlines are essential to not fall behind or procrastinate. Make sure you turn in your works cited, thesis, and other components of your paper on time to receive guidance from your teacher that will make you more successful.
- Find good sources! Your paper will revolve around your sources, so it is important you double check them and take detailed notes. JSTOR and Gale both have lots of helpful resources to help you do your best work.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Your teachers are the ones who will grade your paper, so take advantage of their help and get their insight each step of the way. The Writing Center is another great tool stacked with upperclassmen who have written these papers before and are more than willing to help you out.
- Check your word count! Because this is one of the longer essays you will write this year, the word count can seem intimidating. My strategy is to check the word count of my first body paragraph to see how long it is. This will tell me if I am on track to be over or under the word count.
- Choose a topic you find interesting! If you don’t find your topic interesting, you are more likely to procrastinate or write a paper with no meaning. Aim to have a topic you are passionate about or interested in and this will greatly elevate your topic.
All in all, the research paper is totally manageable and I’m sure everyone will do great. Utilize some of these tricks, ask for help, and do not procrastinate or get discouraged.