In addition to the regularly scheduled reading and tests that are a part of college are MAJOR PROJECTS.  These are term papers, research projects, or other projects where the instructor gives students an extended amount of time to complete them.

The problem with MAJOR PROJECTS is that many students, too many students, do not allow themselves enough time to complete the projects, especially if the instructors do not provide students with class time to work on the projects..

Help is available for the students who wish to do well on these MAJOR PROJECTS.

The University of Minnesota provides an “Assignment Calculator” (http://www.lib.umn.edu/help/calculator/) that develops for students a timeline for completing the necessary activities that are a part of a MAJOR PROJECT.  The site also provides links to resources for each of the project steps.

In summary, the steps that students need to take in order to be successful with MAJOR PROJECTS are

Step 1: Understand your assignment

Step 2: Select and focus topic

Step 3: Write working thesis

Step 4: Design research strategy

Step 5: Find, review, and evaluate books

Step 6: Find, review, and evaluate journal/magazine/newspaper articles

Step 7: Find, review, and evaluate web sites

Step 8: Outline or describe overall structure

Step 9: Write 1st draft

Step 10: Conduct additional research as necessary

Step 11: Revise & rewrite

Step 12: Put paper in final form

Do not try to complete MAJOR PROJECTS in a few days; utilize the entire time that the instructors give in order to organize, research, write and revise drafts, and complete a quality final product.