What does one do when the words stop flowing? Every exerted effort ceases to produce results, while the time is ticking and the deadline is approaching. Every ounce of inspiration has faded, every planned thought slips the grips of one's preconceived mind. Panic sets in...
Here are some practical ideas for defeating writer's block, once and for all:
- As time permits, put the project aside and do something refreshing.
- Take a step-by-step approach, setting attainable goals.
- Free-write in order to promote creativity.
- Establish a solid foundation of material.
- Re-read through source information.
- Choose a topic that impassions.
- Pray, commiting it to the Lord.
- Ask for another's opinion.
- Do not be such a critic.
- Read a favorite author.
- Listen to music.
- Exercise.
- Re-focus.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Shortcuts for Sources
I have found throughout my years of taking classes that “less is more.” I am all about finding shortcuts that will make life easier, giving me more time to spend on things I really enjoy. (I like writing papers, but compared to spending time with friends or going to see a movie … who are we kidding? Academic writing doesn’t stand a chance.) So here are a few tidbits that may be helpful.
In most classes, when writing a paper or online discussion board posting, nearly every submission includes a quote or paraphrase from the main text which requires a reference. After putting my source in its proper format (APA, Turabian, etc), I save the reference in a Word document for that class. That way, the next time I use that source, I do not have to format the source again. I just copy and paste it, insert it at the bottom of my posting, or add it to the list of references on the reference page.
The same idea can be implemented when doing research papers. Let’s say I am interested in researching nonverbal communication expressed in movies in the 1950s. I begin researching online scholarly articles. Have you ever tried to go back to an article you found, and it has disappeared? Well I have, and to save me time – and sanity – any article that smells remotely interesting to my thesis statement is copied and pasted into a Word document.
I also make sure I include all necessary information for the citation in that same Word document. I may not need that source, so I don’t put the information in proper format, but if I do decide to use it, I have all the information there: the actual article and the citation information. This keeps me from having to “double” my work, remembering a week later, “Hey, I think I read something interesting online . . .” and having to re-research for that same document I had already found.
Saving files so I know what is in them is helpful as well. I may save the file with the name of the article and author, which triggers my memory to what is inside that document. This saves me time because I don’t have to keep opening and closing documents to remember what’s in each of them.
Just remember, copying and pasting are your friends. Happy Researching.
In most classes, when writing a paper or online discussion board posting, nearly every submission includes a quote or paraphrase from the main text which requires a reference. After putting my source in its proper format (APA, Turabian, etc), I save the reference in a Word document for that class. That way, the next time I use that source, I do not have to format the source again. I just copy and paste it, insert it at the bottom of my posting, or add it to the list of references on the reference page.
The same idea can be implemented when doing research papers. Let’s say I am interested in researching nonverbal communication expressed in movies in the 1950s. I begin researching online scholarly articles. Have you ever tried to go back to an article you found, and it has disappeared? Well I have, and to save me time – and sanity – any article that smells remotely interesting to my thesis statement is copied and pasted into a Word document.
I also make sure I include all necessary information for the citation in that same Word document. I may not need that source, so I don’t put the information in proper format, but if I do decide to use it, I have all the information there: the actual article and the citation information. This keeps me from having to “double” my work, remembering a week later, “Hey, I think I read something interesting online . . .” and having to re-research for that same document I had already found.
Saving files so I know what is in them is helpful as well. I may save the file with the name of the article and author, which triggers my memory to what is inside that document. This saves me time because I don’t have to keep opening and closing documents to remember what’s in each of them.
Just remember, copying and pasting are your friends. Happy Researching.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
