One of the most difficult things about a research project is time management. You can make out a time schedule and keep a research journal and/or log of your activities, or you can print out the following table and fill in the dates that your teacher gives you for deadlines and your own personal deadlines. Breaking the paper into manageable tasks makes the project less intimidating.

PROJECT TASK

DUE DATE

 PERSONAL TASK DUE DATE TASK DESCRIPTION ACTION TAKEN
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
FINAL DUE DATE      

You can use this log to plan your time. Use PROJECT TASK DUE DATE for the deadlines that your teacher assigns you and PERSONAL TASK DUE DATE for the actions you will need to complete the project tasks, for example, going to the library, setting aside time to read and take notes from sources. In the column labeled ACTION TAKEN, note what you did and the date you completed the task. You will work more efficiently if you plan your time wisely and note what you have done. In a long project, it is easy to forget what you have already done and inadvertently backtrack.