Metacognition: The 3 Step Plan

There are many steps on the way to a perfect paper. For me, I follow the same formula every time and it has proven very successful thus far in my career. There are three simple steps I follow that lead me to a full, and well-written paper. I love my way of writing and I wouldn't change anything about it. I feel that I sometimes surprise myself with how quickly I can get a paper done if the correct procedure is taken.

Step 1: Set the mood.
     This is the most important step. Starting a paper is always the hardest thing to do. I need to find the write place to write my work, so depending on the assignment, I chose the venue. Analysis papers are done in my room, scripts and personal essays are done in the living room, and term/research papers are done in the basement. This decision making has to do with the environment that each place has. My room is painted with stripes which to me reflect a linear thinking. My living room is bright and colorful, so writing creatively make sense in there. And my basement is very scarcely decorated, which helps me focus on long, strenuous papers. This step also involves choosing the appropriate music for the writing process. Music that is less vocal oriented is ideal to help keep the focus on the paper, not someone else's voice.

Step 2: Write the paper.
     This part is easy once Step 1 is completed. However, this takes the most time. There's not much more explanation here. It's important for me to have a "command center" while I'm writing. A "command center" involves having my laptop, a glass of water, and whatever I am writing about around me. This is another pro-focus step. Surrounding myself with the material helps me immerse myself into the writing process.

Step 3: Edit and print my work.
     This is the most gratifying step in the process. Editing requires pace and precision, but nothing feels better to me than seeing a full paper come out of that printer tray. Not much else to say about this step except that precision is key.

So there is my 3 Step Process. So far, it has worked with every paper I have ever written. Who knows if my formula needs to be tweaked? Perhaps it does, because even the most time-tested procedures can be tweaked to become that much more efficient.