WHAT IT COSTS TO WRITE

AN ESSAY?

How much time and money a median student needs to write a 1500-word essay, if following the internet recommendations?

Research - 7.5 hours

"Researching for an essay is the most time-consuming process. It should take you 10-15 hours of research time to write a 2,000-3,000 word essay."

- University of St Andrews

Clarification - 20 minutes

"If you don't understand the assignment, if you're having trouble developing a topic, or if you're worried that your topic may stray from your assignment, ask your professor for guidance."

- Swarthmore College

First Draft -
37.5 minutes

"Do write the first draft as rapidly as you can."

- Academic Help

"The average word-per-minute typing speed is only 41.4 words in one minute."

- Ratatype

Rewrite - 1.5 hours

"You want to make sure that your ideas are coming through clearly, that the logical structure of the essay flows well, that your transition sentences work well, etc."

- University of St Andrews

Citations - 1.5 hours

"Edit the second draft for citations/references. At this stage you want to make sure that your sources are properly documented and formatted appropriately."

- University of St Andrews

Proofreading -
45 minutes

"As a guide, it normally takes between half an hour and an hour to proofread a 1,000 word document."

- Proofs-positive

Snacks:
bananas - $1.65

"University of Rochester researcher Joshua Geiger says that fruit provides the best energy for evening study periods between 7:45 and 9:45 p.m."

- SFGATE

Breaks -2 hours 48 minutes

"The most productive people work for 52 minutes at a time, then break for 17 minutes before getting back to it."

- The Muse

Catnap - 30 minutes

"Even a short sleep lasting 45 to 60 minutes produces a fivefold improvement in information retrieval from memory."

- University Saarland

Snacks:
Protein Bars - $8.30

"To keep your neurotransmitter levels up, obtain your protein in the form of a protein-packed nutrition bar or whip up a high-protein smoothie."

- SFGATE

3 Cups of coffee - $10.80

"Caffeine improves short-term memory and those who take 200 mg of caffeine before study session were able to retain learnt information for more than 24 hours."

- Johns Hopkins University

Sushi - $12.85

"When you're on the verge of a nervous breakdown, after you realize that you have no idea if what you're reading in your stats textbook is even English, sushi can be the perfect mood booster."

- Odyssey Online

Water - $4.72

"Freeing up of attentional resources occurs when people quench their thirst."

- Frontiers In Human Neuroscience

Another Person -Priceless

"Whenever possible, arrange for reviewers (such as your parents or friends), and let them know when they can expect a draft."

- Time

Drink with friends - $5

"Connecting a reward to a period of effective study not only gives you a mental break, but will motivate you to want to study effectively the next time."

- JMC Academy
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