Reflection paper - Essay Example

Challenges of writing a college level research paper As a begins to take a college they are faced with the reality that their grades to some extent depend on major research papers. Prior to joining colleges, many students have never experienced writing something more than just a few pages. The thought of writing a long research paper puts a lot of pressure in their minds. For most students, writing a long research paper is a challenging task in itself. First, the student has to understand clearly what the instructor’s expectations are.

In some cases, the instructions are not as clear as the student would love them to be. It is advisable to peruse through the assignment severally capturing words key like; evaluate, discuss, and classify. Being able to keep such words in mind while doing the assignment ensures that the student is aware of the task at hand (Head Web). It is worthy to note, in the absence of these keywords, and rather the instructions are to write a research paper. Then the course professor wants the student to give an argument and try to back it up.

Secondly, it is advisable for the student to note down whatever they know about the research topic. It will enable them identify gaps in their knowledge that can in turn assist in establishing reliable sources (Head Web). Students face challenge when looking for sources and understanding it. They may misunderstand a source and fail while evaluating it in relation to the study topic. Moreover, students should be able to identify authors bias in source materials clearly. Third, researching should begin early, and students should never delay writing.

Student could be taking several courses, and they might find it appropriate to delay long project and concentrate on more immediate ones. The student should strive to manage time effectively at this stage. After compiling all the research material there, is the temptation to postpone the actual writing and some weeks before the assignment is due. It would be wise to start writing an essay as the research process goes on. Fourth, students have to ensure that all the material compiled from other writers work need proper paraphrasing in students word.

In some cases, students might misrepresent an idea sourced from another writer and find it difficult expressing the authors original ideas. There is the challenge of plagiarism while trying to integrate cited material into the paper. Fifth, it is recommended to take a break from working on the paper after writing the first draft. Going back to the draft, student should ensure; that the main points are clear, enough support is presented for all claims, and the structure of the paragraphs make sense.

Students face the challenge of mixing up ideas and arguments hence denying their paper a smooth flow and clarity (Head Web). Finally, careful proofreading is an important aspect of writing a quality paper. When typing, spell checking can help to identify some typing errors but not all of them. Grammar should be checked to ensure proper construction of sentences and correct word usage. In conclusion, it is evident that writing a college research paper provides challenge to most students. With proper planning and careful research, students can overcome these challenges and deliver a quality paper.

Work citedHead, Alison. "Beyond Google: How Do Students Conduct Academic Research? First Monday 12.8 (2007): Web. 29 Dec. 2014. .