Tutors 21 | - Freelance Writer
May 07, 2018 | #1
The foundation of proper college academic writing is built during the High School years of a student. The early seeds of research skills, analytical thinking, and proper academic writing are developed through opinion essays and simple research topics in the Social Sciences, History, and World History classes. While research papers are assigned, there are no real lessons being taught that would prepare a student for the college counterpart of his high school research tasks. That is why freshman college students needs to be given some guidelines to help them deal with the sudden change in writing style and research expectations. There are several steps that students need to follow to achieve the collegiate level of research writing. Let's have a look at the steps that students need to take to develop a college appropriate writing level.
The professor will cast a wide net when assigning a research topic. It is up to the student to narrow down the topic into a doable essay Consider the required information for the research paper. Develop a research outline that you feel your professor will approve. Make sure it still ties in directly with the original topic to a certain extent otherwise the approval will not be forthcoming. Learn to expect the unexpected. Pre-empt the questions your professor might have about your research proposal and prepare a possible response. Lack of planning results in a scattered research paper. It won't be coherent because it won't have cohesive content.
Class lectures haphazardly typed on your laptop in an almost alien language may work for you but it most certainly won't work in a research paper. Don't use spelling shortcuts that create sentences even you won't be able to decipher when doing research. Remember the specific information you note from other sources will be pivotal in the development of your research. So, no text-speak, no emojis. Spell it out in complete sentences.
A research paper is meant to add to the knowledge of others in terms of additional or the most current information regarding specific topics. The reason students are assigned research papers is because the professor wishes to have the student become familiar with proper self -study techniques and, allow the student to learn how to differentiate between factual and assumed information. The difference? Factual information is based on reliable and verifiable information. Assumed information, is information a student takes as fact from sources like Wikipedia.
Read the information you have collated and turned into the research paper. Compare it with the brainstorming notes and outline. Make sure nothing has been missed from the list in the research. When that has been perfected. Move on the to checking of spelling, sentence development, and punctuation. Hammer those little mistakes down then review the content again. Look for areas that can be improved of portions where information can be added. Repeat the process. Once the student is satisfied that all the I's have been dotted and the T's crossed, the research paper is ready to go.
Writing the perfect research paper isn't difficult. The student just needs to build upon the research and writing skills that were developed in high school. Adding patience and attention to detail to the mix will result in a very well developed and executed research paper.
Brainstorm and Outline: Plan the Approach
The professor will cast a wide net when assigning a research topic. It is up to the student to narrow down the topic into a doable essay Consider the required information for the research paper. Develop a research outline that you feel your professor will approve. Make sure it still ties in directly with the original topic to a certain extent otherwise the approval will not be forthcoming. Learn to expect the unexpected. Pre-empt the questions your professor might have about your research proposal and prepare a possible response. Lack of planning results in a scattered research paper. It won't be coherent because it won't have cohesive content.When Doing Research, Take Specific Notes
Class lectures haphazardly typed on your laptop in an almost alien language may work for you but it most certainly won't work in a research paper. Don't use spelling shortcuts that create sentences even you won't be able to decipher when doing research. Remember the specific information you note from other sources will be pivotal in the development of your research. So, no text-speak, no emojis. Spell it out in complete sentences.
Make Sure the Writing is Informative
A research paper is meant to add to the knowledge of others in terms of additional or the most current information regarding specific topics. The reason students are assigned research papers is because the professor wishes to have the student become familiar with proper self -study techniques and, allow the student to learn how to differentiate between factual and assumed information. The difference? Factual information is based on reliable and verifiable information. Assumed information, is information a student takes as fact from sources like Wikipedia.
Read, Revise, Edit, Repeat
Read the information you have collated and turned into the research paper. Compare it with the brainstorming notes and outline. Make sure nothing has been missed from the list in the research. When that has been perfected. Move on the to checking of spelling, sentence development, and punctuation. Hammer those little mistakes down then review the content again. Look for areas that can be improved of portions where information can be added. Repeat the process. Once the student is satisfied that all the I's have been dotted and the T's crossed, the research paper is ready to go.
Writing the perfect research paper isn't difficult. The student just needs to build upon the research and writing skills that were developed in high school. Adding patience and attention to detail to the mix will result in a very well developed and executed research paper.