MARRY: Your topic, i.e., you are going to spend a lot of time, energy,
thought -- a lot of YOURSELF -- on this topic. Might as well choose an
interesting one you can live with intimately without getting tired of it
or bored with it. Get a topic that excites you, that you will become emotionally
involved with, psychologically compatible with and excited about. Do not
even think of a divorce in the near future, though some marriage "adjustments"
may well have to be forged. Once sure about your topic, immediately...
FIND: Good, modern secondary books that deal directly with your topic.
Scour them. Use their notes for Interlibrary Loan, if not for the Library.
Move RIGHT AWAY on Interlibrary Loan items because who knows when these
items will show, or if they will. Then...
POINT: The bibliographic search to bring materials to you to deal with
this question -- primary and secondary works. Surround yourself with books
like you would a warm, comfortable blanket. When you emerge from the blanket,
NOTE everything seems important. Think about an essay which recounts what
scholars have said on your topic (the Literature Review). MAKE COMPUTER
BACK-UPS REGULARLY for all your computer work. It saves time later
if, when ideas come to you, to...
NOTE: Your thoughts as they arrive, especially while reading. Include
a full, accurate citation with page numbers. Using note-cards will be helpful
because you can spread them out in front of you, making convenient re-arrangements.
Or, use a word processor which makes writing easier since ideas and citations
are already typed and can be copied from the Note file to outlines, text
& endnotes.
CRAFT: An outline. I recommend a long outline which lists everything
in your notes on the topic, and a one-page outline so that you can see
your entire project from beginning to end at a glance.
WRITE: Using notes and outlines, the Literary Review, present your evidence
with your evaluations of each piece, your arguments on the topic, your
approach to the issues, and your conclusions.
EDIT: Unceasingly -- it is a process, not a single task. Make your meaning
lucid and logical. Spend words like a miser. Edit again and again until
it looks good to you, then let a critical friend read it carte-blanche,
i.e., INVITE critical responses to the paper. Remember, negative responses
are aimed at your paper, not at you. Judge if they merit
your attention. Dealing constructively with criticism may be a most crucial
lesson to learn in this thing called Life.
FINISH: Read it, re-read it, edit as necessary, then stop, copy it, turn it in. Take a well-deserved rest. Put on a name-tag and re-introduce yourself again to your loved ones!