In recent years I've supervised countless undergraduate research papers and numerous senior theses. Not surprisingly, I repeat myself about basic research and writing hints, suggestions, and outright warnings. This handout, “Write Tigers Write!” prepared for the “tigers” at Princeton and The Colorado College (the mascot is the same), attempts to help the novice researcher and is, as well, an act of self-protection.

What follows are suggestions and cautions for students writing a research paper. My suggestions are merely that. They are personal, general and speak more about writing than about research.

Make no mistake about it. Research and writing are demanding work even for the professional. You won't hear professional scholars or writers boast about the easiness of their craft. No matter how much they love it, and they often love it more than anything else, they find it demanding, exacting, lonely and often painful—if they really work at it.