LEO Individual Student Topic

I chose this topic because I always seem to have trouble managing my time when it comes to writing papers. So to begin I’ll list the general amount of time it takes to complete such a task and then list some general guidelines or steps in completing a paper

According to LEO: Literacy Education Online http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/writeproc.html

A research paper may take 5-8 weeks

A longer paper, or one that is 10 pages plus, could take up to 3 to 5 weeks.

A shorter paper, or one that is about 3 to 5 pages in length could take up to 1-2 weeks.

Then you have a short theme or paper that is 1-3 pages that could take up to 1-2 weeks as well.

If you’re anything like me you freak out about a larger assignment and push it off till the last minute. And then from there you’re cramming to get it done which leaves more room for error. (Then the panicking begins)  I believe it’s a great idea to spread the task of writing a paper over the deadline you are given. That way you’re not overwhelmed and you leave yourself with plenty of time to complete the assignment.

Now here are some guidelines when it comes to completing a paper efficiently. These guidelines are also from the LEO Website. http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/writeproc.html

First finding the topic is a very essential part of your paper. If you are given some wiggle room and are allowed to pick your own topic it is very helpful to pick one that you can relate to or one that you find interesting. This alone can really help the flow of a paper.

Second it is important to have a good thesis. The thesis is the most important part of your paper. It tells the reader exactly what your paper is going to be about in one sentence.

Third it is important to generate details. Obviously the bigger the paper the more details, facts, and examples you have the better. It will give your paper more depth and credibility which is what your goal is. Now if you’re writing a shorter paper (1-3) pages you can kind of skimp out on some detail. Keep the key facts or just overall story line a little broader so you can stay within the guidelines.

Fourth it’s always a good idea to draw up an outline of your paper. It gives you a direction to go so you can keep your paper organized and focus on other aspects of the assignment.

The last 3 or so steps on the LEO website mainly consist of just taking a break from your paper and continuously coming back to revise it. It’s pretty much a guarantee that every time your re read your paper you’re going to find a small mistake, something you want to change, or just something you want to add. It also never hurts to have other people and fellow students to go over your paper.

So to sum this up it’s a good idea to know about how long to put aside for writing a paper and to have certain guidelines to go about tackling it.