research4–6 hoursIntermediate

Research + Publish a Deep-Dive Article

Maps to: Journalist · Analyst · Author · Researcher · Editor

You're going to pick a topic you care about, find a real angle, research it (verifying every source yourself), and publish a 1,500 word piece that actually argues something. The skill is building an argument you can defend: finding what the sources actually support, writing it in your own voice, and cutting any claim you can't back up. That's the core of journalism, having a real point and proving it rather than just summarizing, and doing one tells you fast whether that kind of thinking is your kind of work.

How this shows up on a resume or college app

I researched and published a long-form piece on [topic], finding a specific angle, verifying 10+ primary sources, and writing the argument in my own voice. I learned the difference between summarizing what AI generates and actually thinking, which is the only thing that makes writing worth reading.

When you finish, BuildMe drafts your Common App activity description from what you actually built.

Start this project

The plan

1
Step 1
Pick a topic + find your angle
Pick a topic you care about, then find a SPECIFIC angle: a contrarian take, a 'why does X actually happen,' a local spin on a big story, a myth to bust. The angle is your claim; everything serves it.
2
Steps 2–3
AI-assisted research + verify sources
Research with AI and a cited search engine, capturing 10+ primary sources. The rule: verify every source yourself, because AI invents citations, and a piece built on fake sources is worse than no piece.
3
Steps 4–5
Write the prose yourself + cut the AI-summary
Write the piece. AI can help structure, but YOU write the prose. Then do the judgment work: read your draft and cut everything that's AI-flavored summary instead of your argument. The question at every paragraph is 'what's MY claim here?'
4
Step 6
Publish + get reads
Publish on Medium or Substack, share it, and get at least 5 real reads. See what people push back on; that's your next piece.