Creating a Schedule
If your instructor doesn’t assign a series of small assignments or deadlines for your research project, create your own. Small assignments may take only a week or two, but a full research paper may take several weeks or an entire semester to complete. (Refer to the chart under The Research Process to help you plan.)
Learning by Doing Planning Your Personal Schedule
Learning by Doing
Planning Your Personal Schedule
In accord with your instructor’s guidelines and deadlines, plan your research schedule so you’ll be motivated and organized. Identify tasks, define specific checkpoints, plan to meet all deadlines, and allow extra time for unexpected problems. Align your schedule with your class, work, family, or other time commitments so that it helps you reserve the many hours that your project will require. Discuss your plans with classmates, making realistic adjustments as needed.
Research groups, in class or at work, require cooperative effort but can produce deeper and more creative outcomes than one individual could achieve. If your project is collaborative, you’ll need to make agreements with others and meet your commitments. Your team might consolidate all its work or share the research but produce separate papers or presentations. With your instructor’s approval, divide the tasks so that all members are responsible for their own portions. Then agree on your due dates and when to assemble for group meetings.