Writing a research paper can seem like an intimidating task, but taking it step-by-step and being organized can help make it more manageable. Here are some key things you should do when writing a research paper:
Choose a Topic
The first step is choosing a topic for your research paper. This can sometimes be the most difficult part of the process, but it’s important to select something you find genuinely interesting. Doing research on a subject you’re passionate about will make the writing process easier. You’ll also be able to dive more deeply into the topic. When selecting a topic, check with your instructor to ensure it’s appropriate and allows you to meet any criteria or requirements for the assignment.
Conduct Background Research
Once you have your topic selected, it’s time to start researching. Visit your school library in person or search their online resources to find books, scholarly journal articles, and other credible sources that relate to your topic. Use keywords and search functions to locate as much relevant information as possible. As you conduct your initial research, take thorough notes, writing down quotations and properly citing sources. Be sure to record bibliographic information like author, title, publisher, date of publication for each source so they can be properly included in your reference list later. During this phase, you’re looking to gather general information about your topic and determine what specific questions or angles you want to focus your research paper on exploring.
Develop a Working Thesis Statement
After conducting some initial research and familiarizing yourself with your topic, you’ll want to craft a working thesis statement. A thesis states the overall argument or central idea of your paper in one sentence. It tells the reader the focus and purpose of your paper. Your thesis may change and evolve as you research more, but having a working thesis helps guide your information gathering process. Be sure your thesis makes a clear claim or argument rather than just being a statement of fact. Ask yourself what you want to prove or demonstrate about your topic through research.
Research More Specifically
With your working thesis statement in place, you can begin researching more specifically to support your thesis. Look for scholarly sources that directly relate to the arguments and claims you’re making in your thesis. As you research, take detailed notes, being sure to include relevant quotations that may support your thesis. Analyze sources for their credibility, relevance, date of publication and bias. Look for several authoritative expert sources to support your thesis rather than relying on just one or two sources. The goal at this stage is to gather evidence and information to back up your central argument or claim.
Organize Your Research
Once your research is largely complete, take time to organize the information you’ve collected. Sort notes by subtopic, main idea or theme. This will help you recognize patterns in the research and see how different pieces fit together. You may want to create an outline with main points and subpoints to structure your paper. This outline can be revised as needed. Organizing your research makes it much easier to start writing your paper in an effective, coherent manner rather than just diving straight in.
Write Your First Draft
Using your outline and research notes, start writing your first complete draft. Most of the information should already be organized in your mind from the research process. In the introduction, clearly introduce your topic, provide necessary background context and state your clear, debatable thesis. In the body paragraphs, discuss each main point of your outline in its own paragraph while analyzing and citing sources that back up your thesis. Make sure to include relevant evidence from sources for each point. In the conclusion, briefly summarize your main points without merely repeating what you’ve already written. Restate your thesis and leave the reader with final key thoughts on your overall argument.
Revise and Edit
Once that full first draft is complete, it’s time to revise and refine your work. Review your paper with a critical eye, checking that each paragraph logically flows into the next one and ties back to your thesis. Look for places where content may need to be better connected, expanded upon or reorganized to improve clarity and cohesion. Fix phrasing or word choice. Carefully proofread for any mechanical writing errors or inadvertent mistakes. Ask others to review your paper for objectivity – peer review and feedback are valuable for strengthening your work. Make revisions as needed based on your review process before finalizing your paper.
Add In-Text Citations and Reference List
Once the content is solidified, make sure to thoroughly include in-text citations for any information or quotes from external sources. Follow your assignment’s specified citation style format carefully (usually MLA, APA, or Chicago style). Also compile a reference list of all sources properly cited on a new page at the end, alphabetized by author’s last name. Double check that all citations in the text match their corresponding reference list entries. Failing to properly cite sources can be considered plagiarism.
Proofread One Last Time
Before submitting your paper, do a final thorough proofreading. Check for typos, consistency with citation style and clarity of expression. Have one or two other people read it as well and point out any issues they notice. Make any very minor remaining changes before considering your paper complete. Following this thorough research and writing process will help you produce a high-quality, well-structured paper that makes an original and credible argument through careful analysis of relevant sources. Going step-by-step will ensure you allow yourself enough time while still keeping the entire process organized and manageable.
Andrew Stroud