This time of the year can be a bit of a blur for college and university students - not to mention their instructors! - who have a seemingly endless string of midterm exams, presentations and papers to deal with. No sooner do you hit the Print button on one paper when its time to face the blank screen of a New File for the next one.
In the midst of this crush, it's easy for panic to set in: Is this the right kind of topic to do? Have I narrowed my topic enough? Does this paragraph sound stupid? Since most instructors don't keep office hours after midnight, when many students are pounding the keyboard
Here's a list of FAQs collected from many years of teaching college writing courses.
Why do we need to narrow topics, anyway? I want to talk about a wide range of things.
In an earlier column the issue of narrowing topics was addressed. It's much more efficient to research and write about a focussed topic than to try to deal with a wide-ranging one.
After graduation you can go ahead and write the book-length treatise on your topic of choice, but for a term paper of limited length, don't bother attempting too much. You can all too easily fall prey to making generalizations and stereotyped comments, and to keeping on the surface of a potentially complex and profound issue. If you have many things to say, save some of them for another paper; that way, you'll have a pre-made list of term paper topics ready for when you need one next!
How do I know I've done enough research?
Your paper, most simply stated, must be adequately supported. So, if you feel that you have sufficiently backed up any claims or opinions with examples, data, etc., then you have enough. Sometimes it's hard to "see" your own paper, so leave time for a classmate, friend or instructor (if possible) to read through a rough draft. If they see any holes in your arguments, or if they feel unconvinced by your statements, then it may be time to find something more.
Can I change my topic? I'm sick of this one.
If you plan to spend several weeks researching and writing a paper, you really have to be in love with the topic. It's easy to say "Why did I choose this?" after many long hours in a poorly lit library, or after dozens of fruitless keyword searches on the Internet. However, if you change topics, your next one could prove to be equally tiresome. Try to stick with it, and consult your instructor for ways to fine-tune it if it just doesn't seem to be working for you.
In the midst of this crush, it's easy for panic to set in: Is this the right kind of topic to do? Have I narrowed my topic enough? Does this paragraph sound stupid? Since most instructors don't keep office hours after midnight, when many students are pounding the keyboard
Here's a list of FAQs collected from many years of teaching college writing courses.
Why do we need to narrow topics, anyway? I want to talk about a wide range of things.
In an earlier column the issue of narrowing topics was addressed. It's much more efficient to research and write about a focussed topic than to try to deal with a wide-ranging one.
After graduation you can go ahead and write the book-length treatise on your topic of choice, but for a term paper of limited length, don't bother attempting too much. You can all too easily fall prey to making generalizations and stereotyped comments, and to keeping on the surface of a potentially complex and profound issue. If you have many things to say, save some of them for another paper; that way, you'll have a pre-made list of term paper topics ready for when you need one next!
How do I know I've done enough research?
Your paper, most simply stated, must be adequately supported. So, if you feel that you have sufficiently backed up any claims or opinions with examples, data, etc., then you have enough. Sometimes it's hard to "see" your own paper, so leave time for a classmate, friend or instructor (if possible) to read through a rough draft. If they see any holes in your arguments, or if they feel unconvinced by your statements, then it may be time to find something more.
Can I change my topic? I'm sick of this one.
If you plan to spend several weeks researching and writing a paper, you really have to be in love with the topic. It's easy to say "Why did I choose this?" after many long hours in a poorly lit library, or after dozens of fruitless keyword searches on the Internet. However, if you change topics, your next one could prove to be equally tiresome. Try to stick with it, and consult your instructor for ways to fine-tune it if it just doesn't seem to be working for you.
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