FN2187Traitor
138319
3447
102
Nov 20, 2017 1:11 AM
FN2187Traitor
138319
3447
102
KingBeardy
College? I was taught that in Year 8!
Smokinsalmon
"And follow a natural thought progression." Say no more, absolutely no more advice needed!
MentalFest
This is just a paraphrased simple version of what they actually teach you in English class... are you guys surprised by this???
Fooby
So, you shouldn't examine the counter-arguments? Ideas never go longer than one paragraph? Real ivy league method there.
nonamejanie
It’s essentially the 3 point, 5 paragraph essay but an extended version. My teacher taught me in High school same way. Works like a charm.
NicNac225
3-5 page papers used to scare me. Then grad school happened and 10 seems like nothing
fartharder
I dunno, that sounds like a lot of work.
MapleSyrupFreedomTacos
Thanks OP! I'm currently struggling hard with my final paper. This post gave me hope!
Dingus2
Wow, that's almost exactly what they teach you in English 101!
TotallyNotYourTeacher
That's what we try to teach all the tok, but somehow it doesn't sink in.
TotallyNotYourTeacher
That will get you a solid B. If you want an A, you have to know a bit more.
superfeathers
It's called an outline, and they taught this in what, elementary? middle school at latest?
IAintCheatin
Freshman year in high school for me... I turned out alright
MountainsGandalf
No! This is bad advice. Maybe 3-4 points with ample support. No one needs 14 points unless you're writing assembly instructions.
UsernameNotTakenYet
So... 78 ideas that support my thesis, eh? ... sure
popejubal
Or you could have multiple theses as well. I bet a paper with 95 theses would go over like gangbusters!
TheyDontKnowAndYouCantTellEm
All sales & marketing: Clearly state your 3-5 key benefits.
TheyDontKnowAndYouCantTellEm
Which, for some companies, requires they actually talk to customers and find out what those 3-5 key benefits actually ARE.
WashedOutWreckingBall
.
OmnibusLatinName
The, and I mean THE, most hated activity in school. I'd rather give a presentation to the class.
AngryTeacher
If each paragraph is 1/2 a page, chances are your ideas aren't being developed. Source: I'm an English teacher and I graded 20 essays today
AngryTeacher
This is assuming double spacing.
SuperKamiNico
Fellow instructor here. I graded 38 college freshman papers this weekend. There is no "good formula" for a paper. Writing goes beyond that.
nosoupforoldmen
Doesn't matter how simply it's explained, I still hate writing essays.
BipolarsaurusRx
I thought this was common knowledge for college students.
kellycorn
An writing body paragraphs is easy if you do it in the CSE format. First sentence make your claim, follow up with support, and then explain
crsdoom
is thit something "clever"? How else are you going to write?
Mack1986
If a single paragraph is half a page you already failed
CairoLen
Why?
Korbenik
I must find a way for this to help me in engineering, this is a brilliant thought process.
PCLoadLtrWTF
I found that quotes take up a lot of space in essays. Also you can essentially write what Wikipedia says if you cite their sources
squintish
Ideally you would cite the original source, not wikipedia. But nothing at all wrong with quoting the opinions of scholars, to support yours.
PCLoadLtrWTF
Yeah you use the citation Wikipedia uses, the original source
PaintedSlate
SkeuomorphicallyInclined
I was an English teacher and I spent literally half my time trying to convince people that this was how to do it.
Spencer1K
Its never understanding how to structure the essay that was hard, it was always being creative enough to come up with all the ideas needed
popejubal
1/ Most writing that I've done doesn't require significant creativity. It requires me to think through the specific topics I want to cover.
popejubal
2/2 That's because I'm writing a paper about a topic like "Should the US government significantly expand space exploration?" or something.
shhep
Do you really write essays like that in USA? I'm pretty sure, I'd get C- for an essay full of half page long paragraphs, at most.
prfesser
Writing is easy. You stare at the screen until little droplets of blood come out on your forehead.
etymologia
And you irresolutely know you're a failure and wish you were dead.
DobbyLivesHere
Ah, the Gethsemane Method. Very nice.
dankmemesnsteelbeams
As someone who just wrote a 9 page paper for class, where was this last week?
azazyel
My advice "Tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them and then remind them of what you told them."
potatoardvarkhybrid
just like with my sex crime murder victims except there is no part 3
Vergenbuurg
Thank you, Mojo Jojo.
GrapesOfBath
My advice “give them a little of that ol’ razzle dazzle.”
coffey64
Also works when communicating to any company's sales department.
RSEVB
My Dad told me that years ago.......works great!
BilldeTurlock
OBG!
LUML3Y
Same thing when making a lesson plan
seeingsalty
This was the hardest part. I'm a woman of few words and don't like to repeat myself. It showed in my essays and I always graded poorly.
IAintCheatin
Same problem. I just need to hope my professor will accept a well-written 6-page paper instead of a 9-12 page.
CryoSleeping
Same. Especially in the dumb ass discussion boards... *respond to two classmates*... I get to the damn point.
IATTM
Et tu?
PaintedSlate
But please don't use this format for research papers. That style is for a specific persuasive context. Makes you sound clueless outside it.
PaintedSlate
The takeaway from the above advice is to plot out your substance first. Just make sure the structure you choose suits the purpose.
Spidey209
I a research paper not objective -> substance -> summary\conclusion?
PaintedSlate
Not in the same ways or with the same conventions. Objective, for example, doesn't really telegraph much. It justifies instead.
IATTM
Except...abstract its telling them what you're going to tell them, the body is telling them, and the conclusion tells them what you did...
Durango
If you're doing a review, maybe. Otherwise, most research papers also discuss the results after presenting them, formulating new hypothesis
76Tromboners
My trouble is starting. I just hate looking at a blank word document.
surprisedthisnameisnttaken
https://youtu.be/tLoBn53AbME
Velexis
Just start with "Yo fuckface, this is what we gun' learn today!" and then just remember to remove it before handing in.. Or don't
binaryecho
Use a mindmap to write a paper. Way easier to visualize and organize.
NICEUSEOFWORDSSIR
Start with a broad truth that aligns with the overall topic of your paper. Funnel it down to your thesis statement. 3-5 sentences.
EMTsaidwhat
Write a brief outline on paper first, that way you have something to type so the doc isn't blank
WardSharlow
Just start writing the first thing that comes to mind. Don't bother structuring until you have a couple pages of loose ideas.
GuW69
Start with a paper and a good ballpoint pen, make a draft, then use the computer and sort it out, works for me
sheetascastle
I always copy a quote from an article I intend to cite. Then build a paragraph/section around it. Rinse/repeat. Add intro/conclusion @end
shadow0519
I found it helpful to just begin writing whatever words in my head surrounding the assigned topic. Begin somewhere. Edit later.
leftbanana
Type the word "The ". Now it's not a blank page; it's the start of your introduction.
kevinallover
Start with Lorem Ipsum, then replace all the Latin words with your own words.
Spongybunny
I usually write the shitties intro paragraph in the world, just to get past it and start the paper. Then go back afterwards and fix it up.
IamNOTatomato12
Kust write what comes to mind and fix it later. Don't worry about how it sounds, you can always reorganize and revise
IamNOTatomato12
*just
ImMrLiteral
What I learned in boating school is
droppedapianodownamineshaft
SAME. Writing has always been a painful process for me, it honestly fucks me up.
OldWolfe
I started with stream of consciousness just to break the white of the page, mostly cursing the assignment. Then structure, then flesh out.
ImNotRacistBut
The worst place to start is the introduction, since you have nothing to introduce.
Reviire
Yeah. What I did when i was writing essays, was start out with a general outline. I'd have one sentence per paragraph that stated the idea
Reviire
that the paragraph would follow. I'd research those ideas and put additional information that supports those ideas, then i'd
Reviire
make links from that information to future paragraphs.
dougpeck
I always put down "buttholes," giggle like a child for a second, and that starts me off pretty good.
Dredd26
That "God how do I even start this" and then the ramblings that come after..
igetanxiouscomingupwithusernames
A journey of 1000 words begins with the first "asldkgna;sldfgknast.'
kedtheduck
I can do everything but the intro and conclusion.
BronzeLeaguePro
Get some thoughts up. What do you think? Then rationalize what you think, and make it into 8 reasons...
Shoe1ess
I actually love that feeling. Something so romantic about the possibilities. And then the deadlines set in
PatrikLilja
I start with pen and paper, writing ideas. Then paragraphs without regards if it will be in the beginning or the end of the text. 1/2
PatrikLilja
Do the introduction first to get an outline. Then rewrite the entire introduction as a finish.
beaglefeatures
The amount of essays I began with "Once upon a time" is ridiculous. But it worked for getting past that blank page fear.
Bekaww
I always start somewhere in the middle, not at my introduction :) Helps me!
mkyner
Open a word doc and add a title. You've started, and are halfway there; the other half is simply finishing.
mkyner
I know this seems stupid, but I found this to be a useful psychological trick for approaching assignments.
BatmanAndCradleRobin
I start with bullet points
calcifear
Worked for me, maybe for you: make a template filled with lorem ipsum for a whole page. Select first paragraph and start typing.
coffeecloakit
Always write your intro last. I start with a swearing intro about how much i hate it , to be errased and replaced with real intro later.
HenryFondle
Just write. Start in the middle. I've found that just getting the content down makes editing and joining it together go much easier.
HaberdasherInGold
Spend more time with your materials. Type up quotes you’ll need and piece together how you’ll use them. You don’t have to write your 1/x
HaberdasherInGold
papers linearly. If you are going to use counter arguments, list those out and then prove them wrong. Writing is a process, and 2/x
HaberdasherInGold
devoting the proper time can seem daunting or even wasteful. Get to know your material and let yourself mull it over as you go. x/x
Germanswisscheese
Write drunk, edit sober
loser9999
your essay was on plant growth. What does Israel have to do with that?
JustARandomStrangerOnTheInternet
seems like a really good way to piss sober me off
TheComputerScientist
I tried this every night before a paper was due senior year. Ended up falling asleep by 8 pm and just hashing it out 3 hours before class.
TheComputerScientist
Don't actually do this people, class was easy and I'm pretty decent at writing papers. If I didn't have comp sci, I'd be an English major
auserwithaname
Username definitely checks out
NurseJoyButWithoutTheJoy
Do your introduction LAST. This gives you the freedom to develop your paper according to your thesis. Start anywhere, you can go back later.
PaoloVargas
Copy paste some old writing on top
floralcurtains
The shittiest draft in the world is still easier to edit than no draft
CPatricoo
Write your thesis. Explain in very broad terms what you will say will support that thesis. Then do what OP says. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
rusrsdude
Still sounds difficult difficult lemon difficult.
rocketpanda
Watch out for the demodogs.
EmporioIvankov
#JusticeForBob
ALargeAgglomerationOfAtomsSuperficiallyResemblingAUser
I hate writing the thesis first, I don't want to constrain the ideas I choose to convey to the contents of some single statement 1/2
ALargeAgglomerationOfAtomsSuperficiallyResemblingAUser
writtend before the rest of the paper. I start by listing ideas, fleshing out and elaborating, then stringing it together and concluding. /2
ALargeAgglomerationOfAtomsSuperficiallyResemblingAUser
That said, different strokes for different folks, do whatever gives you the best result.
hardfarts
I feel you. I graduate in less than a month, and all the papers are driving me crazy. I hate word, and I often scream myself into the intro.
UvuvwevwevweOnyetenyevweUgwemubwemOsas
Try LaTeX
laNikiNt
Never write the intro first. Outline, body, intro /conclusion (they're basically the same thing)
hardfarts
I'll try that. Thank you.
JustARandomStrangerOnTheInternet
i organize my thoughts with memes. make a meme for each idea and there. you've started before ever looking at a piece of paper
blueseconomist
Always, always, always start with an outline
Dunmaglas
Start with an outline, organize your selected quotations (evidence) into that outline, fill in the blanks.
kedtheduck
Outline like a rough draft, right? Cause I've always written my essays down then when I'm typing them in marking and editing it as I go, 1/2
kedtheduck
Then return for the final edit on what's been typed down
blueseconomist
More like a numbered list of all major components, divided into subcategories. I try to go as deep as I can into the subcategories.