The document discusses the process of writing a researched essay in college. It emphasizes that college aims to foster critical thinking through exposure to provocative ideas and inquiry. When writing researched essays, students should engage in the academic process of investigation, analyze the products of inquiry from sources, and join an ongoing scholarly discussion. The main challenges are finding one's own voice among sources, properly citing sources to avoid plagiarism, and developing a clear thesis that synthesized evidence. The document provides guidance on starting the writing process through selecting and recording reliable sources, developing a working thesis, and connecting evidence before revising and editing the final paper.