Writing a research paper can seem like a daunting task, but following some key steps can help make the process more manageable. Here are the main steps to take when writing a research paper using articles:
Choose Your Topic
The first step is to choose a research topic. Your topic should be narrow and focused enough that it can be adequately covered within the constraints of the paper. It should also be a topic that has existing research and published articles available on it. When choosing a topic, consider what interests you and what has enough available research to write a thorough paper.
Conduct Preliminary Research
Once you have your topic chosen, do some preliminary research to become familiar with current literature on the subject and to help focus your research question. Search databases and Google Scholar for articles and review their abstracts to determine if they are relevant. Take notes on the key details, arguments and conclusions of sources that are related to the aspect of the topic you want to explore. This will help you find gaps that your paper can address and point you toward more specific search terms for your focused research question.
Develop a Strong Research Question
Having a clear and focused research question will guide your research and writing. Your question should not be too broad but also not so narrow it cannot be adequately addressed within the confines of the paper. A good question will have not yet been fully answered in the existing literature and leave room for analysis and discussion. Take the time to refine your research question based on what you’ve found in your preliminary searches.
Search Library Databases
Once you have your research question, search specialized library databases to locate relevant academic journal articles, reports and studies. Databases like EBSCO, JSTOR, and ProQuest provide scholarly, peer-reviewed articles. Use targeted search terms related to your research question along with terms for your topic. Be sure to focus on finding recently published sources from credible journals. As you find relevant articles, save or print them off to review fully later.
Evaluate Your Sources
Not all sources are equally credible or relevant. As you collect articles, take time to evaluate each source. Consider the publication it appears in, whether it was peer-reviewed, the author’s credentials, how current it is and if the information and conclusions are supported. Sources from scholarly journals, academic presses or reputable organizations tend to be most credible. Those that are not peer-reviewed or very outdated may not be suitable.
Take Detailed Notes
It’s important to take detailed, organized notes as you review each source. Record key details like the author, title, publication details, as well as notes on main arguments, conclusions, supporting evidence and how it relates to your research question. Notes should be detailed enough that you can easily recall the source later. Citation information like the author, title, publisher, date should be included so sources can be properly cited. Consider using a note-taking method like flashcards or a table/outline format that works for your needs.
Organize Your Notes
Once you have gathered and taken notes on several sources, take time to organize your notes in a meaningful way. Categorize notes by theme, perspective, methodology, findings or other logical groupings relevant to your topic. This will help you discern patterns in the research and arguments. Color coding or using different notetaking sheets can help visually organize notes. At this stage you may find new focus areas or directions for your research question based on analysis of your compiled notes.
Draft Your Outline
Creating an outline is integral to structuring a strong research paper. Review your organized notes to develop a logical outline. Elements to include are an introductory paragraph with your thesis statement, body paragraphs analyzing key themes and addressing aspects of your research question, and a conclusion summarizing your findings and insights. Create topic sentences supported with evidence from sources for each paragraph. The outline will guide your writing and ensure coherence.
Write Your First Draft
Use your detailed outline to draft the body of your paper paragraph by paragraph. Start with short introductory paragraph(s) stating your topic’s significance and research question before launching into detailed analysis paragraphs addressing different aspects and using sources to support your points. Maintain formal academic style with in-text citations and avoid informal language. Conclude by answering your guiding question and discussing implications.
Peer Review and Revision
Have a classmate or instructor peer review your draft. They can check for flow, clarity, analysis depth and proper citation use. Make revisions based on their feedback before finalizing. Revision is key to strengthening clarity, analysis and professionalism. Look out for areas needing expansion, sources needing citation or coherence improvements. Be prepared to rewrite portions as needed before submitting the completed paper. Additional reviews are recommended for major writing projects.
Proofread and Format the Paper
Carefully proofread both your content and its adherence to formatting guidelines before submitting or presenting. Check for typos, grammar errors, citation issues and formatting details like page length, margin width, font style/size consistent referencing. Format the work fully per your style guide rules like APA, MLA or Chicago style. Number pages and include key elements like cover page, table of contents, references list as needed. Formatting shows care and polish.
Reference Page and In-Text Citations
Make sure to properly cite any sources used in the body of your paper through in-text citations as well as a reference list page. These citations uphold academic integrity standards, give due credit to authors and allow readers to find original sources. Refer to your style guide for the correct format for citation elements like author names, dates, page numbers and publisher details. Include full references for every source cited in alphabetical order on the reference page. Consistent and accurate citing shows credibility.
These main steps should help provide a clear structure and path forward for carrying out effective academic research using scholarly journal articles. Be thorough in each stage and allow sufficient time for revision to produce a strong final product that makes an original contribution to research on your topic. Following the outlined process is crucial for using sources appropriately and developing independent analysis to fully answer your motivating research question.
Andrew Stroud