I'm a junior in environmental science. This semester I have to write my first "real" research paper. Like, not just summarizing other people's work, but actually proposing original research. 20 pages. Literature review, methodology, the whole thing. I'm supposed to have a research question and hypotheses and everything.
I have no idea what I'm doing.
I've read examples from previous years. They look like they were written by actual scientists. I feel like a child pretending to do science. Every time I try to write, I get stuck. My research question feels stupid. My methodology feels impossible. My literature review is just a list of summaries with no real synthesis. I'm starting to think about hiring someone. Not to do the whole thing necessarily, but to help me structure it. To show me what a real proposal looks like. To maybe write a draft I could learn from and then adapt. Is that a thing? Do people do that?
The problem is I don't even know what to search for. "Write my research paper" feels too broad and also sketchy. But "help me understand how to write a research paper" doesn't find actual people who can help.
Has anyone here hired someone to help with a research paper? Not to cheat, but to actually teach you? Like a tutor who knows how to structure this kind of writing? Where do you find those people? I'm also worried about cost. I'm a broke student. I can maybe afford a few hundred dollars but not thousands. Is that realistic for real help? Or am I dreaming?
Also, what about using editing services that specialize in academic work? Do they just fix grammar or can they actually help with structure and argument? I need more than just proofreading. I need someone to look at my draft and say "this part doesn't make sense" and "your methodology has a huge gap" and "you need more sources here."
If anyone has recommendations for actual legit services or people who can help with research papers, please share. I'm drowning over here.
I have no idea what I'm doing.
I've read examples from previous years. They look like they were written by actual scientists. I feel like a child pretending to do science. Every time I try to write, I get stuck. My research question feels stupid. My methodology feels impossible. My literature review is just a list of summaries with no real synthesis. I'm starting to think about hiring someone. Not to do the whole thing necessarily, but to help me structure it. To show me what a real proposal looks like. To maybe write a draft I could learn from and then adapt. Is that a thing? Do people do that?
The problem is I don't even know what to search for. "Write my research paper" feels too broad and also sketchy. But "help me understand how to write a research paper" doesn't find actual people who can help.
Has anyone here hired someone to help with a research paper? Not to cheat, but to actually teach you? Like a tutor who knows how to structure this kind of writing? Where do you find those people? I'm also worried about cost. I'm a broke student. I can maybe afford a few hundred dollars but not thousands. Is that realistic for real help? Or am I dreaming?
Also, what about using editing services that specialize in academic work? Do they just fix grammar or can they actually help with structure and argument? I need more than just proofreading. I need someone to look at my draft and say "this part doesn't make sense" and "your methodology has a huge gap" and "you need more sources here."
If anyone has recommendations for actual legit services or people who can help with research papers, please share. I'm drowning over here.
