Thats the Way I Write....Research Papers

I find that research papers are some of the most important papers one writes in college. More likely than not you'll be researching something that has to do with your degree, which means you'll be learning something that you truly need, or truly want to know, which sadly enough I have found tends to be rare as an undergraduate. As one might think, since the outcome of this particular sort of writing is so important and rewarding, the process tends to be a bit more difficult, and the work a bit more complicated. What I have gather so far is that there are a number of steps to follow that make this process more organized, and more efficient.

First, find you topic. This may be relatively simple, especially in college, as they are often handed out to us. However you may find yourself with a broad concept or idea, from which you will have create your own topic. In either case it is important to be specific. There is no shortage of information in our multi-technical world today. If we choose a topic that is too broad, we need to boil it down to what is important, or of the most intrest to us. For example, you may be interested in tourism in the south west region of the United States. This sounds specific, but if you concentrate the bulk of your research on a specific event in a specific town you might get more information. If you choose an Indian arts festival in Santa Fe, then pick out a few trends that occur within that event, then you can compare that to some more statistics in other cities. Which will give a personal look at your topic, and open up some generalizations that may be useful.

Second, you have to start the research. Classes have taught us the importance of finding legitimate research. Dot-com sites do not prove to be as useful of a tool as a peer-edited journal. This does not however rule out the use of less legitimate sources such as dot-com sites, it is important though to uses these resources in a proper manner, and to always double check any "facts" from these sites. The primary point to remember is to site sources correctly, this is the part that I tend to have more trouble with, many research papers often entail the use of a number of different sources, which are all sited with different etiquette. What also can be tricky in this part of writing is knowing what to site, when, and how. I have found that the more that you site, the safer it is. Anything that is a fact that is not relatively well known, ought to be sited, and any concept, thought or idea, that is not your own should not be portrayed in a manner that makes the audience believe it is, and should always be credited to the original creator.

The third step is to start writing. At this point I gather the information I have and put the main points together in an order that will better help the audience to understand the research that I have done. This is a pre-writing step much like an outline. At this point the paper is planned, I have my research done, and my sources cited. So I can sit at the computer and start to write.

So the fourth step is to create the paper. At this point I write paragraph by paragraph, based on my outline. I often leave the intro and the conclusion meek, then come back to it. I focus most of my energy on the body of the paper. I make multiple drats, and review and re-read it a number of times before making it final. This part is all about being meticulus, being a perfectionist, and trying to stay focused on the subject matter. Again, I sometimes get caugtht up in language, trying to make it sound smart, rather than focusing on the point I am trying to get the audience to understand.

Research papers take time, and require the writer to not only be well informed, but thoughtful. The reader is writing what you wrote because he or she is expecting your opinion, your thoughts, and your attitude to come out in the piece. These things are just as important as gathering the unorganized information that is out there and constructing it to a form that help others to understand it. This entails what a research paper is, keeping this end in mind will help keep your means in check.

Mmm...Mmm....Elephant Bar

Here at UNM students really get used to the college lifestyle. We enjoy late nights, serious procrastination, cheap food, and more than anything cheap pints. As we progress though maybe it is time to explore ways outside of cheapness. I understand that money is always an issue among people our age, however sometimes it is necessary to spend that money, or perhaps have it spent on you.

There is a plethora of good places to eat for a cheap buck, but what else is out there? How about when your parents come to town and want to take you out…will really want to recommend the same pizza joint across the street that you ate at four times this week already? Or how would like to impress that new significant other that you met in your English class last week? Do you really think he/she wants another burrito from the two dollar burrito stand? Sometimes class is necessary. So where is the best place to go?

While Albuquerque has a number of fine dining and ethnic restaurants to choose from I find that the Elephant Bar gives the perfect impression.

The Elephant Bar is on Louisiana just past Indian School. It is mere hop onto the freeway from UNM, and in a few minutes you will find yourself in the beautiful new Albuquerque Uptown. If you find yourself waiting for a table at the Elephant Bar you have a number of different ways to spend your time. Enjoy an exotic drink at the bar while you wait, sit out in the patio and watch the shoppers go by in the crisp Albuquerque spring time weather, or perhaps you might even explore the new shops in the complex yourself.

Once you find your way to a table just sit back and enjoy the safari like décor, and some of the best trained waiters in Albuquerque, may I recommend you be seated with Andy, he has been the bet waiter I’ve had there yet. You might find yourself full after the incredibly tasty appetizers, a number of which you’ll have to choose from, but don’t stop yet, the meals and the desserts are even better.

So when you are looking for more than just the local pizzeria, or have a certain someone you want to impress, come check out the new Elephant Bar, it’s great food, class, and an intriguing atmosphere. It beats the serve yourself joints we college students tend to flock to, without that High Finance price.

Good luck fellow diners!
Lauren

First Blog Ever

Well, here it goes...
Not much of a blogger, don't keep a journal, or a diary, or the like so I don't know much of what to write about. Not sure if we should post materials from class? I'm not too comfortable just posting things on the Internet that I think about. I'd usually prefer to read what other people write. However, there is a first time for everything...anyway, its Spring Break now...so its seems as though posting our work on our blog is a trend among the students, clearly I should get to posting! Wish me luck!