Writing a research paper may seem daunting, but it does not have to be a struggle. Following some basic steps and developing good research habits can make the process easier and less stressful. Here are the main steps to take when writing a simple research paper:
Choose your topic. The first step is choosing a topic that interests you. To make the process manageable, choose a fairly narrow or specific topic rather than a broad one. Ask your professor for guidance on appropriate topics if needed.
Do preliminary research. Start by doing some initial research on your topic to get an overview and learn the general issues. Search library databases, the internet, and your textbooks to find general background information. Take notes on sources that look useful for the next steps.
Develop a research question. Having some general ideas is good, but you need a specific research question to guide the rest of your work. A research question should be something you want to understand more fully through research. It should not be too broad, but also not so narrow you can’t find information. Some examples of researchable questions include: “How did social media impact political protests in the 2010s?” or “What factors influence college students’ decisions to study abroad?”
Create an outline or working thesis statement. Based on your preliminary research and question, draft an outline for your paper or a basic thesis statement summarizing the main point you want to argue or area you want to explore. An outline organizes your paper structure and argument, while a thesis gives your paper a clear focus. Both will help guide your further research.
Do keyword searches of library databases. Use the keywords and concepts from your research question and outline to conduct thorough searches of academic library databases. These specialized searches will yield high-quality, credible sources like peer-reviewed journal articles and academic books and reports. Take detailed notes including citations as you find useful sources.
Evaluate sources. As you find sources, evaluate their credibility, date of publication, intended audience, author credentials, and potential biases. Prioritize sources that were published recently by experts in the field and have withstood peer review. Avoid non-credible sources like most websites, magazines, and newspapers.
Take notes and organize information. Create a citation for each source in your preferred style (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.), and take detailed summaries and notes of key quotes and findings. Organize your notes by idea, theme or topic so they are easy to retrieve later during the writing process.
Draft the paper. Start writing by developing your introduction with a compelling hook and clearly worded thesis statement. Then write body paragraphs, transitioning between ideas and incorporating relevant evidence and quotes from your sources to support the thesis. Conclude by restating your thesis and summarizing main points.
Revise and edit the paper. Refine and improve your writing through multiple revisions. Check your arguments flow logically, all relevant evidence and sources are cited properly, grammar and spelling are correct, and the tone is formal and objective. Ask others to proofread for clarity.
Prepare a reference list. Create a reference list citing all sources used formatted in your chosen style. Include all necessary publication information so readers can easily locate your sources. Place references at the end of your paper on a new page.
While these steps may seem involved, breaking the process down makes it feel much more manageable. Allow plenty of time to research, write, and revise. Quality research and critical thinking are valued over length, so focus on developing a compelling argument supported by credible evidence. Following this basic framework will help you write an organized, well-supported research paper.