Papers & Essays: Crash Course Study Skills #9

Summary

This video script offers a structured approach to writing a compelling research paper, emphasizing the importance of a pre-writing phase to unearth initial insights and questions. It advises against the common pitfall of endless research, suggesting a method to gather and annotate sources effectively. The script encourages embracing an 'awful first draft' to overcome perfectionism, followed by a two-stage editing process focusing on content and technicalities. It concludes with the value of fresh eyes and targeted feedback for refining the paper.

Takeaways

• 📝 Start with a pre-writing phase before diving into research to uncover initial thoughts and questions about the topic.
• 🧠 Pre-writing helps in making connections and bringing up memories that can be useful for the paper.
• 🔍 Focused research follows pre-writing, guiding you to find relevant information more efficiently.
• 🎨 The pre-writing phase is not about creating a perfect draft but about getting ideas out without the pressure of perfection.
• 🗑️ Embrace the 'awful first draft' concept to overcome perfectionism and allow for creativity.
• ⏱️ Use a timer for a brain dump session to quickly write down all thoughts and questions related to the topic.
• 📚 Utilize sources like Wikipedia for citations, Google Scholar, journal databases, and even popular science books for research material.
• 🖋️ Make personal copies of sources and annotate them to highlight relevant sections for easier reference during writing.
• ✂️ Edit in two stages: first for content to ensure arguments support the thesis and flow well, and second for technical aspects like grammar and formatting.
• 👀 Have others review your paper for fresh perspectives and specific feedback on the content rather than just minor errors.
• 🗣️ Read the final draft out loud to catch any awkward phrasings or errors that may not be apparent in silent reading.

Q & A

What is the recommended first step in writing a research paper according to Simon Peyton Jones?

Simon Peyton Jones recommends starting with a pre-writing phase before doing any research.

Why is the pre-writing phase beneficial for the paper writing process?

The pre-writing phase helps to uncover knowledge you might not realize you have about the topic and leads to more focused research by providing questions and preliminary arguments.

What is the purpose of a brain dump during the pre-writing phase?

A brain dump is used to get all thoughts and ideas about the topic onto paper or into a document, helping to identify questions, main points, and potential resources for research.

Why should the first draft of a paper not be a polished piece?

The first draft should not be polished because it's a big project that requires an initial messy stage to allow for creativity and flexibility, similar to an artist creating a sculpture.

What is 'research recursion syndrome' and how can it be avoided?

'Research recursion syndrome' is the tendency to get stuck in a loop of constantly looking for more sources. It can be avoided by setting a limit on the number of sources per main and tangential point and consciously deciding when enough research has been done.

Why is Wikipedia not a good source but still useful for research?

Wikipedia isn't a good source for direct citation due to its editable nature, but the citations listed at the bottom of articles can lead to high-quality sources like scientific studies and reputable journals.

What is the significance of annotating material during the research process?

Annotating material helps to highlight relevant sections and add notes that will assist in developing arguments during the writing of the final draft.

What does the adage 'Write drunk, edit sober' actually mean in the context of writing?

The adage suggests that the initial act of creation should be free of scrutiny and restraint, allowing for a free flow of ideas, and that editing should be done with a clear and focused mind.

Why is it recommended to write the first draft in a different place than the final draft?

Writing the first draft in a separate place helps to embrace the messiness of the creative process, making it easier to edit and refine the work later without the pressure of perfectionism.

What are the two stages of editing a paper and what do they focus on?

The two stages are the content edit, which focuses on the overall message, narrative flow, and argument support, and the technical edit, which focuses on spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and formatting.

Why is it important to have multiple sets of eyes review your paper?

Multiple reviewers can provide fresh perspectives and catch errors or inconsistencies that the writer may have overlooked, as well as offer valuable feedback on the clarity and effectiveness of the arguments.