As I embarked on my journey to write my Honors Senior Thesis, I believed that I had harnessed the experiences necessary to write without a problem. Since I am an accounting major, there aren’t long writing assignments or research projects that I am assigned and as a result, I thoroughly enjoy the structure that the University Honors Program offers with most classes having a 7–8 page paper due as a midterm or a final. That being said however, the longest paper that I’ve ever written may have been 12-13 pages and with a maximum of 10 sources (don’t fact check me on that).
This thesis calls for a minimum of 20 pages and upwards of 40 pages of writing— so, not exactly what I’m used to.
I believed that my linear writing process (though hectic in the writing and revising process) would hold me steady. After the first week— I realized that this is not the case. As a result, I revised my writing process to include the idea of asking questions more thoroughly throughout the thesis writing process. Additionally, I revisited my time-management techniques and made revelations to adjust my previous notions of writing. Finally, I leveraged the use of citation software to aid me in the multitude of sources that I would look through.
1. NEW STRATEGY – CONSISTENTLY ASKING QUESTIONS
Prior to working on this long research paper, my writing process was fairly linear: create a research question, gather sources, write thesis, create detailed outline, start writing, revise, write, revise, turn in. This methodical approach to writing was my secret formula for all writing assignments. However, as I began my research and finalized 10 sources, I wrote my outline, then spoke with my Honors Senior Thesis Director. Through this meeting, I realized that my research and outline didn’t quite match up. There were gaps in the general information that I was trying to communicate and given the heavy topic (Taxation as a Means of Redistribution in the United States and Canada) I needed to revisit my research question. Revisiting and creating new research questions, I made sure to do this whenever I sat down to work on this writing assignment. This quickly turned into my new writing process: asking a question, gathering sources, asking a question, gathering sources, writing, adding to my outline, revising my writing, so on and so forth. This process is not linear as I once thought it was for shorter assignments. The basis of this new writing process is asking questions which, though fairly straightforward, is what I am relying on for the next several weeks as I finish writing.
2. NEW STRATEGY – TIME MANAGEMENT FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME
As other students generally do, I have come to realize that time management is an ongoing process that at times, I will struggle with. In continuing to work toward a healthier relationship with writing, I generally work in smaller chunks of time where I work in bursts or flash research, then take a break or go through the rest of my day. However, since starting my research, I have realized that I am genuinely interested in writing for my thesis which means that I don’t notice how much time has actually passed by since I sat down and started working. If I employ my traditional “sprint” writing/research, I am unknowingly interrupting my thought process so that the next time I sit down to research, I forget where I left off. As I continue working on my thesis, I have generally experienced that I work better in longer periods of blocked off time. Allowing myself this uninterrupted time is crucial in developing my research questions and furthering my own writing process.
3. RESEARCH TIP – ZOTERO
Zotero is a research WIZARD, also known as a citation and PDF editor software. I have never really worked with more than a dozen sources— so within my first week of researching where I compiled 10 sources, I realized that I needed to strategize a better system for keeping these sources organized.
Zotero is typing…
Zotero is an application available for PC and IOS that takes any and all sources, and compiles them to help you research better. With the Chrome Extension, I’m able to find an online article, click on the extension, save it to a folder in the Zotero database that also links the PDF/ or online website. In the database, I can access the PDF and edit it with annotations, tag the source with a color and a phrase/keywords, and add in my own notes. At the moment I have over 20 sources and keeping them all organized as I continue to write my thesis is one of my priorities. Having a leverage on this organization, I am able to more efficiently plan my outline and research topics that I have questions on. (No, Zotero did not pay me to speak kindly of them.)