Writing a research paper can feel like a daunting task, but taking it step-by-step and leveraging helpful resources can make the process much more manageable. This article provides an overview of excellent print and online resources available to assist students and researchers in all phases of writing a research paper, from selecting a topic to finalizing references.
Choosing a Topic
The first step is selecting a topic that interests you and is suitable for the scope and length of the research paper. Brainstorm potential topics by considering subjects you enjoy learning about or have backgrounds in. You may also find inspiration browsing recent issues of scholarly journals in your field or by researching current events. Once you have a general topic area in mind, look through databases and search engines to find existing research on potential subtopics to ensure there is enough information available to write a thorough paper. Resources like Google Scholar are great for initial topic exploration. Speaking with your professor or research advisor can also help narrow your focus on an appropriate topic they feel has merit within your field of study or assignment parameters.
Conducting Research
Once you’ve selected a topic, it’s time to start gathering sources. Academic libraries are treasure troves of print and electronic resources for research. Familiarize yourself with the databases, journals, and reference materials available through your local library or institutional subscriptions. Popular multidisciplinary databases include Academic Search Complete, JSTOR, and ProQuest. You’ll also want to search subject-specific databases relevant to your topic. Citation indexes like Web of Science and Scopus are useful for identifying the most influential works in your field and finding recent publications that cite sources you’ve already included. Librarians are always available to assist with navigating these resources as well. When searching databases, be sure to carefully track complete citations for any sources you may want to incorporate later.
When reviewing sources, evaluate their credibility, relevance, and date of publication. Prioritize peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles, academic press books, and publications from respected professional organizations and government agencies. Be wary of using open web sources like most blogs and generic .com websites that lack authoritative content oversight. Don’t forget to examine the references and bibliographies of quality sources you find – they can often lead you to many other valuable related works. Leverage interlibrary loan services if your local library doesn’t have access to a source you need. And don’t limit your investigation solely to online materials – don’t overlook useful information that may be hiding in print-only resources on your library’s shelves as well.
Organizing Your Research
As you gather sources, it’s important to organize them in a consistent and systematic way. Create a bibliography either in a reference management tool like Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley, or manually in a consistent format like MLA, APA, or Chicago style. Additionally, take detailed comprehensive notes on each source in a format that allows for easy review and synthesis later in the writing process. Many students find creating an annotated bibliography with short summaries helpful for keeping sources organized and readily usable during the drafting stage. Store, backup, and sync your work frequently across your research devices using cloud services. Proper organization from the start will save a lot of unnecessary headache down the line.
Creating an Outline
With thorough research collected and organized, outline the key points that will structure your paper. Determine the overall argument or thesis you will make to address your research question or position on the topic. Then conceptually map how you will develop and support this thesis across an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Your outline should clearly delineate the major sections and subsections of your paper with a short sentence or two indicating the essential idea or information to be conveyed in each. This outline serves as your paper’s blueprint to ensure a cohesive, logical development and presentation of your perspectives and findings. It also flags any gaps or weak areas in your current understanding that need filling before writing can begin in earnest. Share draft outlines with instructors or peers for feedback.
Drafting and Revising
Launch into a preliminary drafting phase guided by your outline. This early version need not be polished – focus on getting basic content and structure down on paper first. Leave yourself time for several rounds of revision. Peer review with classmates is a highly beneficial exercise at this stage. After incorporating reviewer feedback, refine your prose and strengthen your analysis based on the notes taken during your research. Ensure direct alignment between your thesis, main points, and evidence provided. Make adjustments where necessary to flow logically and cohesively from introduction to conclusion. Use discipline-specific writing style guidance – check if you should be integrating parenthetical citations or footnotes. Run drafts by your professor, teaching assistant or writing center tutors for expert editing advice as well. Multiple revisions are typical before a paper is ready for grading or submission.
Finalizing References
Reference pages can make or break a research paper, so devote careful attention to their formatting and accuracy. Use the citation style mandated by your discipline consistently throughout the text and in the references. Confirm all in-text citations correspond precisely to sources in the references, and vice versa. Triple check spelling of authors’ names, publication years, page numbers, URLs – even minor errors here can undermine your credibility. When in doubt about citation issues, consult your style manual or ask for help. Whether using a reference manager or composing manually, take time to alphabetize and standardize the final reference page. A clearly presented, meticulously cited list of sources rounds out your paper with integrity.
With strategic use of campus and online resources, following this step-by-step process, and allotting sufficient time to write and polish multiple drafts, students and researchers can feel confident tackling research papers large and small. Librarians, advisors, and online writing centers remain valuable ongoing consultative touchpoints. By leveraging this wealth of available guidance and support, quality research papers become within reach even for novice scholars.
Andrew Stroud