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按部就班寫作論文的七大建議之二：善用截止期限
【學術專欄】
A writer peering ahead at an academic writing project should respect the task. It not only will require research and writing abilities, it will tax the writer’s endurance and concentration. Learning to become efficient and self-regulating as a researcher and writer is the reason for this series, “7 Ways to Pace Yourself through a Paper.” Each of the suggestions will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled.
若您即將致力於學術寫作專題，應該好好重視這項工作。這不僅需要研究與寫作技巧，也仰賴毅力與專注。「按部就班寫作論文的七大步驟」將教您學會如何自律，提高研究與寫作的效率。每項建議都會刊登在 TPS 粉絲專頁，並在最後集結於 TPS 學術電子報中。
Way # 2 – Embrace deadlines and use them
建議二：善用截止期限
Every project of every kind—physical or intellectual—has a starting date and a finishing date. The author of a paper can’t begin until a topic is assigned or approved, at which point the clock starts ticking. A date to turn in the paper also is given, which is when the work must be completed. While these two mileposts are helpful in guiding the overall progress of a paper, they are too far apart to keep a writer on course. Interim deadlines are the critical benchmarks.
所有類型的每個專題，無論是必須動腦或動手，都有開始與截止的日期。題目被指派或通過核准後，就能開始寫作論文，從那時候起時鐘就滴滴答答開始計時了。繳交論文的日期，也就是工作該完成的時候。開始與截止就像兩個里程碑，有助引導論文的整體進展，但這兩個時間相距太遠，無法幫助論文寫作按計畫進行。期中截止期限反而是更重要的指標。
The midpoint deadlines may vary according to the kind of paper being written. They also might be assigned by a professor with the expectation that the writer will show evidence at each checkpoint of continuing progress. Or a self-reliant writer might take the initiative to establish interim deadlines of his own. Whichever is the case, the interim goals—research done, outline created, first draft completed, and so on—can keep a writer steadily moving ahead.
隨著寫作的論文類型不同，期中截止期限也不一樣。期限可能由教授訂立，希望學生在每個時間點證明論文有持續的進展；若是獨立寫作論文，作者也可以主動訂立自己的期中截止期限。不論是哪一種期限，目標或許是完成研究工作、寫出大綱、完成論文初稿等等，都能讓寫作者不斷向前邁進。
A seasoned writer will see these interim deadlines as stepping stones, as helpful indicators of a project being on schedule… or not. They let a writer know when he can take a breather from the project or when he needs to put in some overtime. By maintaining a steady pace, the writer will not have to make up ground in a hurry. That kind of crunch-time research and writing should be avoided because it never results in a writer’s best work. Use interim deadlines to pace yourself.
對經驗豐富的作者來說，這些期中截止期限就像踏腳石，是種有用的指標，能知道專題是如期進行，或是進度落後。作者可以從中知道自己可以喘口氣休息一下，或者需要再加把勁。如果有穩定的進展，就不必匆匆忙忙趕進度。論文研究與寫作應該避免急就章，因為這種結果必然不理想。期中截止期限能幫助你按部就班進行。
若您即將致力於學術寫作專題，應該好好重視這項工作。這不僅需要研究與寫作技巧，也仰賴毅力與專注。「按部就班寫作論文的七大步驟」將教您學會如何自律，提高研究與寫作的效率。每項建議都會刊登在 TPS 粉絲專頁，並在最後集結於 TPS 學術電子報中。
Way # 2 – Embrace deadlines and use them
建議二：善用截止期限
Every project of every kind—physical or intellectual—has a starting date and a finishing date. The author of a paper can’t begin until a topic is assigned or approved, at which point the clock starts ticking. A date to turn in the paper also is given, which is when the work must be completed. While these two mileposts are helpful in guiding the overall progress of a paper, they are too far apart to keep a writer on course. Interim deadlines are the critical benchmarks.
所有類型的每個專題，無論是必須動腦或動手，都有開始與截止的日期。題目被指派或通過核准後，就能開始寫作論文，從那時候起時鐘就滴滴答答開始計時了。繳交論文的日期，也就是工作該完成的時候。開始與截止就像兩個里程碑，有助引導論文的整體進展，但這兩個時間相距太遠，無法幫助論文寫作按計畫進行。期中截止期限反而是更重要的指標。
The midpoint deadlines may vary according to the kind of paper being written. They also might be assigned by a professor with the expectation that the writer will show evidence at each checkpoint of continuing progress. Or a self-reliant writer might take the initiative to establish interim deadlines of his own. Whichever is the case, the interim goals—research done, outline created, first draft completed, and so on—can keep a writer steadily moving ahead.
隨著寫作的論文類型不同，期中截止期限也不一樣。期限可能由教授訂立，希望學生在每個時間點證明論文有持續的進展；若是獨立寫作論文，作者也可以主動訂立自己的期中截止期限。不論是哪一種期限，目標或許是完成研究工作、寫出大綱、完成論文初稿等等，都能讓寫作者不斷向前邁進。
A seasoned writer will see these interim deadlines as stepping stones, as helpful indicators of a project being on schedule… or not. They let a writer know when he can take a breather from the project or when he needs to put in some overtime. By maintaining a steady pace, the writer will not have to make up ground in a hurry. That kind of crunch-time research and writing should be avoided because it never results in a writer’s best work. Use interim deadlines to pace yourself.
對經驗豐富的作者來說，這些期中截止期限就像踏腳石，是種有用的指標，能知道專題是如期進行，或是進度落後。作者可以從中知道自己可以喘口氣休息一下，或者需要再加把勁。如果有穩定的進展，就不必匆匆忙忙趕進度。論文研究與寫作應該避免急就章，因為這種結果必然不理想。期中截止期限能幫助你按部就班進行。
