The Calculator’s objective is to keep you on track by providing general due dates and direction for the steps of the research process. It is not designed to replace your instructor’s specific deadlines or directions.

When using the Calculator, you may discover that you need to return to earlier steps in the research process as you work on your assignment. For example, you may decide to change your thesis statement based on what you find in your research, or you may find that you need additional research to support a claim while writing your paper. This is a normal and expected part of the research process.