Papers & Essays: Crash Course Study Skills #9

Writing research papers is an essential skill in your career as a student, and this week we’re going to help you do that like a pro. From figuring out where to begin, to finding the best systems, to breaking out of “research recursion system” (maybe just figuring out what that means), we’ve got you covered.

Resources:

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[Person-ccff]

1) brain dump (get down all you ideas)
2) the research process (Wikipedia, google scholar etc.)
3) annotate the important parts of the material (two sources for each main point)
4) first draft (don't be a perfectionist just finish the draft)
5) Edit (make sure it communicates the message as effectively as possible, and edit by printing the paper)
6) Get FEEDBACK (ask if statements make sense)

[trentonm]

You didn't have to drag me in the first 10 seconds of the video 💀

[-ax-]

T minus 9 hours. Word count 65/1600. Wish me luck!

[DecayingReverie]

Another thing that I would recommend: if one of your professors will look over your paper before you turn it in, DO IT. I have had many professors who will look at the paper and annotate it with things they thought needed improvement. I made all A's in college (with the exception of one class) and a big part of that was having professors looking at my work.

[Jesterisim]

wow... i actually use the brain dump method myself. i call them writing dumps and fill it with every point, idea or whatever i think of relating to my paper. and then later on i just build on them and paste it into the actual document organizing them together like a puzzle piece. i'd have a hard time starting my papers before i started doing that but now i don't really stress as much as i use to.

[RGLove]

don't worry, I'm not procrastinating an essay...I'm procrastinating a lab report, 2 math assignments, and a midterm :)
(also, I too find it really useful to use different places to write different stages. If I start my brain dump in the same doc. that I intend to write my final draft I freak out and try to make it perfect first try)

[TheRealE.B.]

Wow, I wish they spent more time teaching you how to actually *write* in middle school and high school English classes instead of settling for basic literacy and trivia about Shakespeare.

[Blackdrose]

It's 2019 and CC is still as helpful as ever!

[kkilinahe]

Bull sh*tting essays is a true art form. And I get plenty of practice.

[aneyz]

This is just a suggestion, but I would love to see a video on Presentations. Stuff like, Professional slides, and speaking as well as maintaining posture and Clear speaking.

[thomasking]

SIMON... YOU’RE ONE OF THE BEST TEACHERS IVE EVER HAD

[armorsmith]

Question about your prewriting section: how do you handle the situations where:
1) you don't know what the goal of an assignment is and can't get clarity on it?

2) you don't know how to do the analysis of the data you have access it? (For example, if you are given the assignment to predict the outcome of a war between two nations when given statistics on their military forces, info about the terrain, weapons, doctrine, etc...)

[earl-grey-milk-tea]

I find brain dumps a good way to kick start the process (and I try to do this asap after receiving the assignment) so that the task isn't so intimidating/off putting, then I'm less likely to procrastinate on it (lol). It seems to subconsciously reassure me that hey, you actually know a fair bit about this topic. Or hey, you at least know what you don't know about this topic.

Some thoughts on alternative ways to brain dump:
My brain dumps aren't that structured - most of my big writing tasks are in humanities subjects, so mindmaps work best for me since i can draw arrows all over the place and make the links I need.

I'm also better at explaining and developing initial ideas when I'm talking to someone, so I turn on a voice recorder and literally talk (to myself or someone else). If you're talking to someone else, they can also challenge you or help you develop things if they're good at asking questions. This is great for stuff with more abstract ideas, or bigger projects.

[tessat]

I read that Bill Bryson book, "A Short History of Nearly Everything", while I was in the hospital in labor waiting to give birth to my son. I figured it was my last chance to read a grown-up book for the foreseeable future. It certainly helped pass the time.

[thesexydevil]

I paused the video on "you are watching a youtube video, look at you life look at your choice." I just had an intense conversation with my dad. We were taking about my grade, the stress he and my mother give me, and how they are bad parents. How they can't hold a grudge expect me to be there for them when im to busy and dont respect them. I'm currently doing weeks of homework for a advance class i dont need to take in the span of a few days. I'm taking classes i that are way advance and i dont have a leghole in because of how i was raised. That's my life. That's my choices. I did my worst and i did my best. I'm currently doing homework, and i'm watching this video.

[christopherrawnsley]

Wow schools can’t even teach us how to write essays😂

[purokuha]

I just wrote myself a simple step-by-step guide to writing essays, based on this video. It's going to help me a lot in the future! Thank you!

[Lurker]

Your Breath of the Wild reference hit me in the feels... It's so true.. :(

[bonson]

''Sorry Professor, my friend Mario was impaled by floor spikes while trying to save a kidnapped woman. I have to visit him at the hospital''.

[lorrainechase]

Absolutely love these advices - I use them each time I write the papers by myself. When I don't, I totally rely on the academic writers with experience. I prefer small companies as big and popular websites are too pricey for me. I recently used @t, and I am totally satisfied. They treated me really well and the paper was great.