Assignment Range: December 31, 1969 - December 31, 1969 (0 days)
Step 1: Understand assignment. Select topic.
Complete by December 11, 2060 (33218 days)
Note: The research and writing process is not always linear. Keep in mind you may need to go forward or backwards.-
Read through and understand your assignment
- How many pages does your paper need to be?
- Number of sources required?
- What type of source can you use? (magazine, journal articles, book, etc.)
- Do your sources need to be scholarly?
- Which citation style format can you use? (MLA, APA, or Chicago)
- Contact or visit your instructor's office hours with questions.
- Select a workable topic
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Conduct preliminary investigation into topic using Google or other web searches. Work to understand your topic and the issues surrounding it.
- Try a specialized reference book or encyclopedia. Or use one of our Reference Databases.
- Write down 5-10 keywords about your topic including terms, jargon, events, people, places, synonyms, etc. to use when you search for sources.
Step 2: Draft thesis or research question.
Complete by September 6, 2083 (8304 days)
- Revise and narrow topic as needed. Many students think this is one of the hardest steps!
- Get online or in-person writing support from the University Writing Center, located in the Learning Resource Center (3rd floor of the University Library)
Step 3: Find/evaluate evidence & sources.
Complete by September 29, 2089 (2215 days)
- Design your research strategy and try different keywords until you get results that are useful.
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As you conduct research, ask yourself:
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What can this source do for me? How will I use this evidence?
- As background or to provide a context?
- To introduce and situate your thesis within existing conversation on topic?
- To demonstrate the value of your working research question?
- To support or counter an argument?
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What can this source do for me? How will I use this evidence?
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Gather and read different types of sources or evidence.
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Books, journal, magazine and newspaper articles
- Search a subject-specific database to find articles in a specific discipline or subject (e.g. Business journals, education journals, health sciences journals, etc.).
- How do I find these articles?
- What is a scholarly article? (video)
- How to read and comprehend scientific research articles (video)
- Finding newspaper articles
- Websites and news (Spend time evaluating any site before using it for academic work)
- Specialized sources
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Books, journal, magazine and newspaper articles
- Can't find what you're looking for? Come talk to a librarian in person or online!
- Gather information on your sources for your bibliography.
Step 4: Critically read & evaluate sources.
Complete by June 15, 2109 (7198 days)
- Evaluate sources based on your research question or working thesis.
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Use critical reading strategies (PDF)
- How to read and comprehend scientific research articles (video)
- Take notes while reading your sources. Make notes in margins. Use tools to comment or highlight PDFs.
- Try close reading and read to write strategies.
- As you read the articles you may find they don't fit the scope of your assignment/thesis. Conduct more research to fill in gaps as needed (see step 3).
Step 5: Develop structure and write first draft.
Complete by July 24, 2143 (12457 days)
Keep in mind there are mnay ways to approach writing your first draft. You do not have to start at the beginning. Instead begin drafting segments or chunks. Concentrate on writing your rough ideas and not on revising.- Polish or refine your thesis statement as a response to your research question.
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Organize your thoughts and your paper's structure. Try the following techniques:
- Developing an outline
- Diagram such as brainstorming, concept mapping, idea trees or quadrants.
- Talk out your structure. Record yourself talking about your topic and ideas.
- Become familiar with the Academic Essay Structure (PDF)
- Draft additional segments. Develop connections between segments.
- Take breaks. Use breaks as a way to keep your brain and your writing fresh.
- As you incorporate others' ideas or words into your paper be sure to cite your sources with in-text citations. Ask your instructor if you are unsure on which citation style to use (e.g. APA, MLA, etc.).
- Get online or in-person writing support from the University Writing Center, located in the Learning Resource Center (3rd floor of the University Library)
- Need a computer? Use one in the University Library or campus computer lab.
Step 6: Revise & rewrite--focus on content.
Complete by March 15, 2157 (4983 days)
- Get online or in-person writing support from the University Writing Center, located in the Learning Resource Center (3rd floor of the University Library)
- In light of your draft, you might need to revise your thesis
- Use the revision checklist from U of Minnesota's Center for Writing
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Draft your bibliography or works cited page.
- Make sure you know which citation style to use. Ask your professor if you are unsure.
- Consider using a citation manager tool (like Endnote or Zotero) to help with your citation. Always double check your citations for accuracy if using one of these tools.
Step 7: Polish & put paper in final form.
Complete by July 10, 2259 (37371 days)
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Editing and proofreading strategies (PDF)
- Grammar help from Grammar Girl and Towson University.
- Punctuation tips
- Editing your essay
- Writing an effective title (PDF).
- Resources for non-native speakers
- Double check citations and formatting:
The Assignment Calculator acknowledges the work of the following institutions that it links out to: University of Minnesota, University of North Carolina, Harvard University, Colorado State University, University of Wisconsin, Purdue University, Towson University.