The Cornerstone The Cornerstone February 2018 | Page 18

M
assigned.
any people across campus dread that fateful
day. The day when victory seems a distant
feat. The day when it seems like all hope
is lost. The day when research papers are
BY DAVIS HEDRICK
both finish high school and beyond, giving them lifelong
skills.
This skill of being able to interpret data goes well
beyond English class; it’s an important skill in other
subjects as well. Analyzing findings is a necessary part
of science and math, and is a major component of almost
every standardized test.
Students describe how their experience is oppressive.
For them, getting used to the constant grind of finding
data, interpreting the findings, and searching for the
right place to put it takes a toll on the student, especially The steps that students go through to express their own
at the high school level.
findings and personal opinions provide an opportunity
to develop their own voice.
However, many high schools don’t require research
papers. According to Kate Simpson, a full-time English “It does create that avenue for extended growth,” said
professor at Lord Fairfax Community College, almost
Christina Perez, English teacher. “You do actually
none of her students had ever written a paper around the see the growth from even first semester to second
length of 4,000 words. 40% of those students felt like
semester.” Though students might not see the rewards
their high school grossly underprepared them for their directly, they are present in the long run.
college experience.
In the midst of struggle, when piles of sources are
“The skills that [students] learned in English at OLu
asphyxiating, the Orange Lutheran staff is the best
over the course of four years were the things they
way to relieve that burden. Parsons described how the
needed in college,” said Julia Parsons, English teacher. English department is always excited to help. They know
“When students get to college, the number one thing
that the research paper is particularly important and if
that students have come back to tell me is that they were asked, the answer is always yes. Her best advice is to,
so equipped for their freshman English class.”
“ask for help and don’t get behind.”
Although seemingly daunting and unattainable, research
papers offer a variety of benefits that help the students
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