Guest Student Writer: Research Tips
Research: the dreaded word every student hears their professor announce. Whether it be a paper or a speech, all of us have been victims of having to scour the library’s databases in order to grab the necessary sources needed for our projects. While sometimes doing research may be tedious, there are a few tips and tricks out there to help make the process a bit less difficult and make the overall process more pleasant.
The first tip is one everyone has heard before. Start your research early! I have had many professors announce immediately after the project to start our research early. It’s easy to say you’ll do it later, but when you’re visiting the databases provided and find articles that could be helpful but are unavailable, there unfortunately isn’t time to use the interlibrary loaning system. While that may be one wall you’ll face through dreaded procrastination, another would be the difficulty of gathering resources for an unsuccessful topic. I personally am a major perpetrator of procrastination, and it definitely affected me on a paper in which I changed my topic last minute and was left with mediocre sources and therefore, a mediocre paper. Sifting through loads of information a night or two before the paper’s due date isn’t a fun process, so it’s very important to jump the gun and get it done.
Another major tip I could offer would be to find a topic that really interests you, if the option is available. Some of my best papers were topics that were abnormal but interesting. One example was a paper I wrote about cults. While it’s an unusual thing to consider, it was extremely fascinating to me personally. Researching something unusual but interesting can make the information search more palatable. Being interested in your topic makes finding information fun, rather than a chore.
In essence, while research can at times be tedious, there are many ways in order to prevent the panic that is usually associated with it. The research process can make or break a paper, speech, etc. so taking the time to make sure your sources are together and properly cited can make the research process much more manageable in the long run.
Mya Watts is studying graphic design at PVCC. Her favorite class so far has been photography, and she loves any form of art. She spends her free time watching YouTube, reading, or hanging out with friends. She has no pets, but her friend has four cats that she absolutely adores.
The first tip is one everyone has heard before. Start your research early! I have had many professors announce immediately after the project to start our research early. It’s easy to say you’ll do it later, but when you’re visiting the databases provided and find articles that could be helpful but are unavailable, there unfortunately isn’t time to use the interlibrary loaning system. While that may be one wall you’ll face through dreaded procrastination, another would be the difficulty of gathering resources for an unsuccessful topic. I personally am a major perpetrator of procrastination, and it definitely affected me on a paper in which I changed my topic last minute and was left with mediocre sources and therefore, a mediocre paper. Sifting through loads of information a night or two before the paper’s due date isn’t a fun process, so it’s very important to jump the gun and get it done.
Another major tip I could offer would be to find a topic that really interests you, if the option is available. Some of my best papers were topics that were abnormal but interesting. One example was a paper I wrote about cults. While it’s an unusual thing to consider, it was extremely fascinating to me personally. Researching something unusual but interesting can make the information search more palatable. Being interested in your topic makes finding information fun, rather than a chore.
In essence, while research can at times be tedious, there are many ways in order to prevent the panic that is usually associated with it. The research process can make or break a paper, speech, etc. so taking the time to make sure your sources are together and properly cited can make the research process much more manageable in the long run.
