WRITING CSS PAPERS

Since the CSS demands that large quantities of materials be read, you might not always finish the assignments. In terms of unfinished reading, the main idea is to get from the materials what you need to formulate a cogent argument on your topic. Clearly the more reading that anyone does will enrich the thoughts and ideas that will develop in the paper. If you decide that you can’t do all the reading, it is worthwhile to at least open the remaining materials and quickly skim over them, referring to the table of contents, the introduction and the conclusion to find information that will be useful in your writing. (Kristine Krieg)

Don’t be afraid to experiment. This is your chance to try out ideas and arguments. Try supporting an idea that you don’t agree with. Try writing your paper in the form of a parable. Think Hitler might be a Keynesian? Argue it! You’ll probably learn more from an unsuccessful experiment than a safe cop-out. (Unknown)

However, your thesis need not sound like an earth-shattering discovery. After all, we are just beginning to study these subjects. It is unlikely that we will discover much that our professors do not already know. That is not to say, though, that we cannot make a convincing point in our own way. So don’t hesitate to pick a thesis that sounds unoriginal if it is what you really want to discuss. You are thus relieved of the pressure of breaking new ground. You will benefit greatly from giving thought to the obvious questions of the week, and you should feel comfortable doing so. (Michael Birnbaum)

Accept that you will write some lousy papers. For each tutorial you’re writing nine papers, and you won’t always be on. We all have hard weeks sometimes. The most successful CSS students are those who take adversity in stride and don’t stress too much. (Unknown)