So I'm in this class that has no tests/final but does require a 20 page research paper. I'm very sure there are a lot of classes like this out there and i just wanted to know how difficult is it really to write one of these kinds of papers? (given that you don't procrastinate) I'm just a little anxious given that i havent written one of these papers before.
Same here, except I have 2 other 5 page papers to write and my research paper only has to be 15 pages. Anyways, all I can suggest is start early. Set a goal of writing something like 2 pages a week and it won't be such a burden.
definitely you need to start NOW. think of topics and do some preliminary research to see if you can get enough information to cover 20 pages. try to pick a topic that you would have genuine interest in researching/writing about. have a good plan/outline and keep to a schedule.
i had a 20pg research paper for my cluster seminar last year. i hated it. ended up with a C in that class.
What course is it? When I majored in English, that was pretty much the norm rather than the exception and, at least for me, I loved it. I wouldn't suggest writing 2 pages a week. Rather I'd organize it much differently. To me, writing is the last thing you do. I always had Plan A and Plan B. Come up with a list of topics to research, and from the list, pick two. Plan A is topic 1, and Plan B is topic 2. That way, when you start to research, if it gets too complicated, or you start coming up with dead-ends, you can quickly change over to Plan B. Then start the research and the outline and finally, in the last two weeks, start writing the paper. It should write itself.
One more thing -- and this was just for English, but I'm guessing you could use the same thing for any other course: I found that C papers were simply regurgitation of material in your own words (of course, if you were going to USC, that would be an "A" paper) :-). B papers generally include a little more academic thinking, and A papers are those where you think out of the box.
Good luck and think "fun", not "chore". To me, it's like an open book test, and an opportunity.
thanks guys,
actually the course that i'm taking is an honors course called science and society. and its about...well the title. haha and i guess i'm just a little anxious because i have no idea how the professor grades because he is actually an MIMG professor not a humanities one.
has anyone taken the class i'm taking btw?
how long does it actually take to research this kind of paper? to write? because we don't officially discuss it until 3 weeks before the quarter ends. like 8th week.
can anyone answer my original question of how long writing/researching these kind of assigments take? i know its probably different for each class of course, but i just wanted to get a general idea. thanks
yea i did something like this my sophomore year from chemistry....it was like college level no joke....but the thing is it will be a breeze if u have all ur research organized and outlined and highlighted...I think it took me about 2-3 days to actually write the paper and edit. The research and organization is the hardest part..
Well it depends on the paper topic. However I've knocked out 20 page papers in the course of a weekend (Friday-Sunday). In the same note though I've had smaller papers take me several days. It all depends on the density of the subject.
