How to Write a Research Project

[See also: How to write the background, theory, methods, analysis and discussion sections. How to write the introduction and conclusion. How to review the literature and how to structure a research paper. How to finish on time and how to reference properly. Part of the Craft of Research series. Full program here.]

February 2, 2023

The short answer is: one paragraph at a time. Write regularly and in moderation about things you know for people you respect. Write every day, five days a week. Don’t write more than three hours a day. Always decide the day before what you will say; make sure it’s something you know. Have someone who is qualified to tell you that you are wrong in mind as you write. Remind yourself that you really do want them to tell you if you are. Enjoy.

Here’s an older talk on some of the the same issues, and below you’ll find links to some writing that develops the ideas.

Further reading:

“Papers and Studies”

“The Paragraph”

“The Elephant in the Lobby”

“The Key and the Content”

“How Papers Work”

“How Paragraphs Work”

“How to Write a Paragraph”

“Writing Up And Down”

“How to Write Prose”

“How to Like Writing”

“Finding the Difficulty”

“Seven Little Disciplines”

“Composing the Moment”

Here’s the 2022 talk: