What kinds of difficulties do you have in writing papers? (ADD-related and otherwise; sometimes it is hard to tell what difficulties are ADD-related and what aren't).

AND...

What do you find works for you when you write your papers? What tricks and tips have you learned from your own experience that you can offer other students?

I have never had a problem writing papers. Whether it was for a computer science class, management class or business class. I write like I talk. If I need to have a 4-5 paper, I end up having a 15 page paper and have to totally cut it down. Which is very hard for me to do because everything I wrote seems important.

Even at work, I put wayyyyyyyyyyy too much information into what I am working on and then have to make it more consise for the reader. When I write something, I believe in the saying "It's better to have and not need, then to need and not have".

Also, when I write a paper, it's best for me to type it in a word document. I do not correct any typos while I am "creating". This way, I am able to get my thoughts out and can later go back and change, reword and correct it.

I am adhd. I am not sure if add would be different as far as paper writing. I have a zillion thoughts all the time. Enough that I could write a paper for everyone in the class. :)

i get off topic alot i just got done with a reaserch on power over etherenet since it had so many ways tis technology can be used i inderctly made twenty topics at once.

Spelling and Grammer the high school i went to was an sbh school not excusing it just saying it doesn't help when you haven't been taught english in about 20years always was my worst subject.

I have never had a problem writing papers. Whether it was for a computer science class, management class or business class. I write like I talk. If I need to have a 4-5 paper, I end up having a 15 page paper and have to totally cut it down. Which is very hard for me to do because everything I wrote seems important.


^^ hehe, that would be your prob...

not like thats a bad one to have...better than not being able to write anything down


I just get way off topic and go off on tangents..and then my teachers are always like umm...good argument...but umm...has nothing to do with the thesis...so now i just write, then figure out what my argument is, and then write the thesis

I get a great idea, talk passionately about it with family and friends, sit at the computer.... that's as far as I get.

Until this week. I did it and handed in all 10 pages due. It was 30 minutes late, but I got an A!!!!! It's the first paper I've ever completed.

Oh, I was so wrapped up in the 'A' paper that I never even started on another one due the same day. But who cares--I finished it and got an A!!! :cool:

For me, it is VERY hard to get started on a paper. After many years of pain filled experiences with writing, I've formulated a plan that I follow religiously when I need to write a paper:

1) I take my Adderall
2) I go to a computer lab! Sitting at my computer is the bane of my paper writing existence.
3) I write out an outline. This helps SO much, it's unbelievable.
4) I take semi-frequent breaks.

Good luck!<o =""></o>

I'm actually supposed to be writing a paper right now. I have a 7-10 page research paper due in about six hours (1:30pm). I only have a rough draft of the first three pages, but I'm not really worried.

When I write papers I have to wait until pretty much the last minute because I only write well when I am under extreme stress. Knowing me, I will probably say what I already have on the paper I'm doing now is crap and start over at 11:00 and write the whole thing in an hour and a half.

I drink when I write. I know it sounds funny, but it got me through my first couple of years of college. I would have a couple of drinks to calm me down and I felt like i focused better as well. I am not talking drink to the level of intoxication, just so u a very very slight buzz. It really gets u to focus!

I drink when I write. I know it sounds funny, but it got me through my first couple of years of college. I would have a couple of drinks to calm me down and I felt like i focused better as well. I am not talking drink to the level of intoxication, just so u a very very slight buzz. It really gets u to focus!
I've tried this one, although it's very out of character. Tried it once while on the brink of a nervous breakdown over several very late papers. Did nothing for my ability to concentrate, but stopped me from freaking out a little I guess. Overall very counterproductive. I tried it again one night when I just had a lot of work to do and was very hyper and jittery, didn't work so well. Not something I would recommend on the whole. And if you have to do it a lot, I could see how it could turn into alcoholism.

I find if I break it down into small parts I have the best success. I start with a rough outline. This keeps me on task and allows me to work on the paper even if I only have a few minutes.

on the subject i'm not sure if other office products have it office 2003 has alot of new editing features that will help you alot more to revise grammer and stucture that thing save my butt i hope won't know untill the grade is in, thought i would mettion it.

I am quite obsessive about quality in paper writing. It generally takes me about 1-2 hours per page to write, but the results are generally good. That includes all of the screwing around that I do, playing video games, etc.

When I write papers I have to wait until pretty much the last minute because I only write well when I am under extreme stress.
I am exactly like that, even if I try to write papers days or weeks early the qaulity of it just stinks bc I know it isnt due soon so I dont focus completly. My other problem is motivation, actually sitting down and doing it on the computer and even when I sit in front of the computer it sometimes still takes me hours to get motivated, sometimes I am distracted by the internet or I just stare at the screen, IT SUCKS! It also seems like it takes me longer than other ppl to write papers, based on how long they say it took, it always seems like it took me longer, probably because I get distracted so much during a paper. I have yet to find an awesome way to do it, So far I just rely my procrastination and last minute focus.

Whenever, I'm on the computer to write the paper I go way off and I've never really tried the outline idea but I think it would work well for me.

Other problems that I do face are procrastinating!!! NUMBER 1!!!!!!!!
Other than that, I kinda get through because remember we're add we're creative.

Yes there are times when I do go vague and offtopic!!!

I don't want u to all think I have a problem with drinking, its just that when I was in school in a dorm setting and needed a break I found that was the best way to calm me down and help me write a paper.

Hope that clears up any confussion!

It's alright Casper! I wasn't refering to you directly when I was saying how I see how drinking while writing papers could turn to alcoholism.

The thing is, alot of people with ADD become addicted to various substances like alcohol, cigarettes, and illegal drugs because they find that they can calm down and be more focused with them. They find that they can write their papers after drinking or smoking whatever, or write that song, or whatever. I've got one relative who is fairly obviously an alcoholic and fairly obviously has ADD, although I don't think he recognizes either. My bet is that he uses the alcohol as a sort of self-medication.

I just wouldn't want someone to go down that path beginning with a little beer to calm down and write papers in college. Much better to get some professional help from someone who can semi-supervise the taking of ADD meds that aren't addictive, won't kill your liver, and won't impair your driving ability.

That's all.


Anyway, it's good to hear lots of people's thoughts on what helps with paper-writing.

I find if I break it down into small parts I have the best success. I start with a rough outline. This keeps me on task and allows me to work on the paper even if I only have a few minutes.
That's what helps me the best. Now if only I could start with the outline and skip the freaking out part... :)