Writing a cause research paper can seem like a daunting task, but breaking it down step-by-step makes it more manageable. The goal of a cause research paper is to investigate why something happens or exists. Here are the major steps to writing a successful paper:
Choose Your Topic
Pick a topic that has multiple causes. The topic should be narrow enough to research thoroughly in your allotted time, but have enough existing research and sources to pull from. Some example topics could include: the causes of the opioid epidemic; the causes of rising income inequality in the US; the causes of deforestation. Brainstorm a few potential topics, then choose the one you find most interesting to research.
Conduct Preliminary Research
Do broad preliminary research on your topic to gain an overall understanding of it. Search online databases and library catalogs for general background information. Read overview articles and reports to develop hypotheses about potential causes. Take detailed notes on potential contributing factors mentioned in your sources. This will help form the foundation of your paper.
Develop a Thesis Statement
Now that you have an idea of the key causes or factors mentioned in your preliminary research, you can start forming your thesis statement. Your thesis should take a clear stance on the primary or most significant causes of your topic based on your research thus far. For example: “The opioid epidemic in the United States has been predominantly caused by overprescription of opioid painkillers, a lack of education about the addictive nature of opioids, and deficiencies in treatment programs.”
Create an Outline
Use your thesis statement and preliminary research notes to make an outline for your paper’s structure. Your outline should include the introduction, three or more body paragraphs analyzing individual causes, and a conclusion summarizing your main points. Within body paragraphs, include topic sentences stating the specific cause and supporting details/evidence from research sources. Leave space under each point to insert citation information later.
Conduct In-Depth Research
Now it’s time to do serious research on each individual cause outlined. Search library databases and online sources using keywords related to your specific causes. Read full-text scholarly journal articles, reports, and other credible sources. Take detailed notes with relevant quotes or findings you can use as evidence in your body paragraphs. Be sure to record citation information as you go in your preferred style (APA, MLA, etc.).
Begin Writing Your Draft
Start with the introduction – restate your thesis and provide background context on your topic to lay the foundation. Then, for each cause discussed in your outline, write a body paragraph with:
A topic sentence stating the specific cause
A brief definition or explanation of that cause
Supporting details and quotations from your research to back up why it contributes to your overall topic
Analysis and connection of evidence to your thesis
In-text citations in parentheses after quoted material
Revise and Edit Your Draft
After completing a full first draft, set it aside for a day and return to revise and refine your work. Review your thesis statement – does your evidence and analysis fully support it? Carefully proofread for: flow between paragraphs; clarity of ideas; spelling/grammar errors; proper citation format. Ask a peer or writing tutor to also review your work for needed revisions before finalizing.
Compile Reference List
Using the citation information from your footnotes or endnotes, create an alphabetized reference list formatted in your preferred style. All works cited should be listed. This list appears on its own page at the end of your paper to give proper credit to sources used.
Write the Conclusion
The conclusion summarizes key causes discussed and ties evidence back to your stated thesis. Avoid adding new information here – synthesize the analysis presented. You can also discuss remaining questions, implications, or applications of your research findings.
Final Review and Submission
Go over your paper one last time, checking formatting details, clarity of writing, and flow/structure before submitting. You should now have a polished, thoroughly researched cause paper based on the careful analysis and documentation of multiple causes for your chosen topic. Be proud of your hard work developing this significant contribution to the body of knowledge on an important issue.
As you can see, thoroughly researching and writing a cause paper requires diligence and effort. By systematically following each step and drawing from credible sources, you’ll gain valuable practice in distinguishing causes from effects, synthesizing research, making an analytical argument, and documenting sources properly. With patience and persistence, you’ll end up with an informative research paper that looks deeply into why things happen.