Research paper. The two most dreaded words for the college student. How do you navigate these academic trials (and is it possible to even enjoy them)? Research is a time-consuming process, yet one that is important to do well. Good research is, of course, a protection against plagiarism, but it is more importantly an opportunity for you to explore something that deeply interests you!
Category: Writing Process
In my experience, no writing process is linear—in fact, it’s far more likely that the product of your written efforts will take a life of its own as words come together on the page. And though I will not deny that some people, after a sleepless night and caffeine overconsumption, can crank out a five-page research paper in three hours, my writing process requires a lot of flexibility of thought.
In my three years as a Blog Editor with the Writing Center, I’ve collaborated with writers on a variety of article genres: opinion-based pieces, reflections, book reviews, interviews, how-to guides, and more. And, as a seasoned editor of blog posts, I’ve seen just how complex this style of writing can be.
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It’s Time to Select Your Topic
We’ve all been there. The essay has been on the syllabus since day one. Ten days before it’s due, the professor starts sneaking in comments every few classes about the turn-in date. We tell ourselves, “Oh, there’s still time.” Why is it so hard to get started?
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Songwriting: A Loose How-To
Think of your favorite song—what do you like most about it? The lyrics? The melody? The baseline hidden beneath the final mix?
A song is much like a poem written to the movement of a melody—imagery, harmony, and simile merge to relate creator to consumer in a way that transcends the use of words alone.
Simply put, a song is a combination of thoughtfully constructed parts that, once put together, amplify one another.
Let us begin with the cornerstone.
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I Can’t Believe I Wrote That!
If we are being completely honest, as students, we tend to write papers for classes with no intention of ever opening the document after we hit the “Submit Assignment” button. We set it aside in our pile of completed tasks and just move on to the next one. For me, there’s the added difficulty that nearly every time I look back on my old writing, I can’t help but think to myself, “I can’t believe I wrote that!”
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Expressive Writing as Self-Care
Do you want to grow in self-awareness? Do you want help breaking self-destructive thought patterns? Do you want help facing overwhelming emotions? If you answered “yes” to any of these, expressive writing is a simple yet powerful way for you to move in that direction. As a college student, you may be fully aware of how writing is a way of thinking and reasoning. However, writing can be more than a way of thinking about academics: it can be a way of thinking about life. This article will give you some tips on how to use writing as a tool for self-care.
This article by guest author Phoebe Prinz ’24 won a Spring 2021 First Year Writing Award in the blog post category.
Timed writing can certainly be nerve wracking. With the strategies in this post, you can confidently prepare for any timed writes you may face during midterms season and beyond.
As we grow as writers, our writing process changes, too. After transitioning to college and navigating the constraints of COVID-19, you may find that your tried-and-true strategies no longer work as well as they used to—and that is okay!