Counterproductivity:

[rockymountaindem]

Here's how I've shot myself in the foot over the past three days...

I have a seminar paper due on the 19th. This is going to be the biggest paper I've written so far, ranging somewhere between 20 and 25 pages (yes, I know that's nothing, but the profs at my school never ask us to write papers that are too long because they don't want to read them all). For those of you keeping score at home, that's between 6000 and 7500 words. Since this is the biggest project I've ever undertaken, I decided to outline my paper first, although usually I just like to start writing and see where that takes me. This time I was afraid I'd get lost if I didn't make a map first. So, off I went.

The outline, which now covers half of the material I plan to present, is 8.5 pages long single spaced, and is currently longer than any paper I've written to this point, totaling over 4500 words. So, basically, I've written half of the paper in point form. Well, not so much, I've basically just numbered everything and left out transition sentences. I've also included all my citations. I guess writing it from this point will be a breeze, though, and I'm not going to waste any time outlining the second half. The worst part is I've got so much material I'm going to need to trim it down. Worst of all, I'm so burned out from the outline I've got no energy to write the paper itself. I guess I'll just do readings tonight.

All in all, while I like the outline, I kind of regret doing it. I'd be half done with my paper now if I'd just gone ahead and started writing like I always do :(

[Chan790]

1. Not really.

I did this for my thesis...same boat. I ended up 200 words short of goal and had to find material. It's actually the only right approach...if you had not outlined, odds are you'd have had to seriously edit the paper for flow and the such.