Project: Writing a Research Paper

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/academic-writing-capstone

Introduction

### Course Review: Project: Writing a Research Paper If you are on the journey to becoming a skilled academic writer, I highly recommend the "Project: Writing a Research Paper" course offered by Coursera as part of the **Academic English: Writing Specialization**. This capstone project is an excellent opportunity to synthesize and apply everything you've learned about writing, research, and critical thinking. Whether you are a beginner or someone looking to refine your skills, this course provides a structured yet flexible path to producing a comprehensive research paper. #### Overview The course is designed to guide students through the process of writing a research paper from conception to completion. Over several weeks, you will conduct research on a topic of your choice, outline your findings, draft your essay, and ultimately produce a polished final paper. The course cleverly incorporates deadlines throughout the project, ensuring that you're not only learning but also keeping pace with the demands of academic deadlines—an essential skill in both college and professional environments. #### What to Expect Throughout the course, you will engage in the following activities: 1. **Getting Started:** The first week lays the groundwork by prompting you to select an academic topic and refine it into a research question. This is a crucial step that encourages critical thinking and planning. By week’s end, you'll have a rough outline, giving you a structured start. 2. **Research and Annotated Bibliography:** The subsequent week focuses on research methodologies, where you will delve into sourcing academic materials and compiling an annotated bibliography. This exercise not only enhances your research skills but also reinforces the importance of evaluating sources, a key component of academic writing. 3. **First Draft and Introduction Paragraph:** The third week is pivotal, as you begin drafting your first paragraphs, including the all-important introduction. Submitting this for feedback opens the door to receiving constructive criticism early in the writing process, allowing you to adjust your approach before it’s too late. 4. **The Rough Draft:** By Week Four, you’ll work towards completing a rough draft with a minimum of four pages, alongside your Works Cited page. This draft serves as the tangible output of your research and writing efforts, and feedback at this stage is invaluable for further refinement. 5. **Revise and Rewrite:** The fifth week is dedicated to revision—arguably the most critical part of the writing process. You will focus on expanding your paper to at least seven pages, fine-tuning your arguments, and ensuring clarity and coherence in your writing. 6. **The Final Draft:** As you approach the finish line, you will polish off your draft, incorporating last-minute edits and improvements. Submitting your final draft not only culminates your hard work but also gives you a chance to learn through peer reviews, enriching your understanding of different perspectives. #### Personal Experience and Recommendation Having participated in this course, I have gained invaluable skills that have greatly enhanced my academic writing proficiency. The structured format helped me stay organized, while the emphasis on feedback allowed me to improve continually. The annotated bibliography was particularly beneficial, as it forced me to engage with scholarly sources meaningfully. I wholeheartedly recommend the "Project: Writing a Research Paper" course for anyone looking to sharpen their research and writing skills. The blend of guided steps, deadlines, and peer interactions creates an enriching learning environment. Whether you are preparing for college assignments or hope to improve your written communication skills for your career, this capstone project offers the perfect blend of theory and practice. Join this course on Coursera today and take a major step towards becoming a proficient academic writer!

Syllabus

Getting Started

In this Capstone project, you will combine all of the skills you've learned in the 4 courses of the Academic English: Writing specialization. This week, you will choose an academic topic to research and formulate an effective research question. By the end of this week, you should know your topic and have a rough outline of your research paper.

Last week, you learned about the assignment for this Capstone project, chose a topic, and created an outline. This week, you need to start researching and looking for source material. You will then create an annotated bibliography to submit.

This week, you should start your first draft. Try to write several paragraphs including the introduction paragraph, which you should submit for feedback.

This week, you should continue working on the first draft. Try to have at least four pages written when you submit the rough draft for feedback. Also, include your Works Cited page for feedback.

You're getting near the end. Keep up the good work! This week, you don't have anything to submit. Just keep revising and get that next draft to at least 7 pages. Then revise and revise again.

You're almost finished! In this final week, use the time to revise your research paper and edit it carefully. When you're finished, submit it for grading and review three other learners' papers. Then you'll be done!