Contents
Tables and Checklists
Introduction
Step 1: Decide on Size
1st Problem: No specific length is assigned
Average Expected Word Length for Papers
Step 2: Tackle the Topic
2nd Problem: How to recognize an idea
3rd Problem: Teacher assigns too broad a topic
4th Problem: The assigned topic is boring
5th Problem: You don't know anything about the topic
6th Problem: You've got to find your own topic
Step 3: Adopt an Approach
7th Problem: You can choose any approach and you don't know where to start
1. You're giving directions
2. You're reporting events
3. You're explaining ideas
4. You're persuading
5. You're inventing a story
8th problem: Confusion over what abstract means
9th problem: You want to tackle two approaches
Words Commomly Used to Show Approach
Step 4: Test the Title
11th Problem: You're not sure whether the title cover certain ideas
Step 5: Pick a Point of View
12th Problem: Confusion between approach and point of view
13th Problem: Confusion between aspect and point of view
14th Problem: Graders look for originality
Step 6: Chart Your Course
Formal Outline Format
Average Expected Number of Ideas and Facts for Papers
1. Finding subtopics for diection-giving papers
2. Finding subtopics for reports
3. Finding subtopics for explanations of ideas
4. Finding subtopics for the persuasive paper
16th Problem: The topic is too specific for a long paper
17th Problem: Where to put ideas that aren't part of the main idea
Checklists for Organizing Papers or Sections of Papers
Step 7: Formulate your first words
18th Problem: The Introduction has to be extra special
Step 8: Build the body
Step 9: Conclude Concisely
Step 10: Check for Quality Control
Checklist for Editing
19th Problem: The paper's not the right size
Appendix: Edited first draft of paper