How I Write a Research Paper (When No One Is Grading)

We tend to think we understand what we read - until we try to rewrite it in our own words. By doing this, we not only get a better sense of our ability to understand, but also increase our ability to clearly and concisely express our understanding. — Sönke Ahrens, How to Take Smart Notes

For those who yearn to bring back the student muscles on your own terms, I encourage you to find an activity that challenges you to do so. Writing is a way of reclaiming those skills and putting them to work on questions you actually care about. You're still: - Choosing a question - Gathering and weighing evidence - Forming a thesis - Making an argument - Communicating clearly to a reader