Writing a research paper in just two hours can seem like an impossible task, but it is possible with careful planning and effective time management. The key is to go into the writing process prepared so you can hit the ground running once you sit down to write. Here are some tips and steps to take to successfully write a research paper in two hours:
Start with a solid topic. Choose a research topic you are already familiar with to some degree before beginning your research. Having background knowledge on your topic will allow you to do focused research more efficiently. Make sure your topic is narrow enough to be realistically researched within two hours but broad enough to find enough credible sources to support your points.
Prepare an outline in advance. Take 30 minutes prior to your two hour writing window to craft a basic outline laying out the main points you want to address in your paper. Your outline should include an introductory paragraph, three to five body paragraphs each covering a main subtopic or point, and a conclusion paragraph. Outlining keeps you organized and focused during the actual writing.
Gather and evaluate sources efficiently. Spend the first 30-45 minutes of your two hours gathering high quality, credible sources. Look for scholarly journal articles, government reports, statistics from reputable organizations, and publications from experts in your field. As you do research, read the introductions and conclusions of sources quickly to evaluate if they are relevant enough to include. Save full reading of sources for when incorporating them into your outline.
Incorporate sources into your outline efficiently. With your outline and initial sources in hand, spend the next 30-45 minutes fleshing out your outline by adding source citations and direct quotes or paraphrases where applicable. Copy and paste relevant passages directly into your outline to save time on transcription later. Leave space under each point for commentary to synthesize sources.
Turn your outline into a draft. With about an hour remaining, begin turning your outline into a full first draft. Copy your outline points one by one, expanding on source material quotes with your own analysis and commentary. Keep writing at a consistent pace, getting your main ideas down on paper before returning later for editing.
Schedule time for revisions. Once you have a full first draft completed in about an hour, schedule 30 minutes for basic revisions before printing your final paper. Proofread for grammatical errors, check that source citations are properly formatted, and tighten up any sections lacking depth or clarity. This final polish step will produce a paper meeting assignment requirements on time.
With careful preparation and diligent time management using this process, it is absolutely feasible to write a high quality research paper in just two hours. The key is going into the writing window with a solid topic, outline, and initial sources in hand so you can focus the majority of your time on synthesis and composition rather than starting research from scratch. Proper planning is crucial for cramming a complex writing task into such a tight deadline. Adhering to this method yields research success against the clock.