Almost Done!
The final version of my research paper is due on Wednesday and I am almost finished! I am currently proofreading and making minor edits, winding the process down. For this last set of edits, I had to re-work my introduction again, much to my chagrin at first. I realized, however, after making said edits that they were entirely necessary. In fact, my introduction now fits well with the rest of my paper, much more so than it did when I first wrote it. I also finally fully developed my argument and also discovered a methodology that suits my paper perfectly.
The editing process was difficult at times. If my post from last week was any indicator, I had some low points and doubts about myself as a historian and writer. And yet, despite those growing pains, I am quite proud of the (almost) finished product and I feel that I have improved tremendously, not only in my writing but also my skills as a historian. I can now write without using passive voice and this is HUGE for me. I never paid attention to passive voice versus active voice prior to beginning this project and now I see passive voice everywhere (including this post, ironically enough). Avoiding passive voice definitely makes for a much more enjoyable read.
Lastly, I have to admit that I came into this project thinking it would be a breeze. I have written tons of papers in the past and it typically is not much of a struggle for me. This project, however, pushed me out of my comfort zone and proved to be one of the most difficult challenges I have faced in graduate school. As I mentioned above, however, I truly think this process has allowed me to grow tremendously and I am grateful it pushed me the way that it did.
April 12, 2015 @ 3:39 pm
Nice reflection, Laura…despite that pesky passive voice! It’s difficult to explain to students, thesis or research paper students, the difference between those undergraduate research papers and the level of research and analysis required in graduate school. In some ways you were hampered by not having a research seminar as well as the methods class. But I am now looking forward to this revision! (And isn’t it amazing that just as we think we’ve found it all — someone presents a paper with info we “really” have to add!)