How to write a research paper

The first rule in writing a research paper is to get started right away. A research paper is a complex bit of writing. In addition to the actual writing, you have to find sources, glean information from them, put it all together in a coherent form—and cite your sources.

The documentation aspect can be very tedious, and doesn’t lend itself well to last-minute efforts. It's best to document as you go.

Follow the steps below and you’ll learn how to write a research paper with a minimum of stress and agony.

Timeline

A large project like a research paper is much less overwhelming if you break it down into smaller chunks that you can manage. Begin with your due date and work back to the present.

Your professor may have given you due dates for projects within the paper. If not, you’ll have to estimate how much time you’ll need for each segment.

There are a number of separate tasks you may have to complete, depending on the assignment. They do not have to be completed in this order. Writing tends to branch out in several directions at once.

Getting started

Before you can launch your project, you need a subject. Within the choices you have been given, pick two or three that interest you. Write down what you already know about them. Do some pre-reading on the topic. Determine whether sources are readily available for the topic you want to write about.

Once you have picked a suitable topic, you’ll need to focus it. If it’s too wide or too narrow, it will not work. The Civil War is too broad. A specific battle in that war will be more manageable, but probably still too broad. Decide on a specific emphasis. Possibly the role of a certain general, or how medical needs were attended to, or how the description from a real soldier’s journal differs from scenes in The Red Badge of Courage.

Research

This is the most critical aspect of your project. As you locate sources, write down all the information you will need to document your sources later on. Make sure you have author, title, publisher, city and date of publication for books. For magazines and newspapers you may also need volume, edition, and section numbers. Internet sources require additional information, as do articles found in databases. Include page or paragraph numbers as well.

For an academic paper, use academic sources. These can be found in your institution’s library, either on campus or online. Use the databases available to you as a student. Look for professional journals rather than popular magazines. If you need help, ask a librarian.

If your topic assignment is less formal, the research can take place in your public library or online. Reference books, encyclopedias, and specialized dictionaries contain material not available in other places.

Published, or secondary sources are not your only option.. You can construct surveys or conduct interviews. These are known as primary sources. Watch videos or listen to sound recordings from reliable sources.

Structure

As you accumulate material, you should see a pattern emerging. From this pattern you will eventually produce a thesis statement and an outline. You should have at least three main subdivisions to cover, more for a longer paper.

Write a tentative outline. It doesn’t have to be a formal Roman numeral outline. Just write down your divisions so you can see what you have. Under each topic write down supporting points. The idea is to see whether you have a balance of materials. You may have to return to the library or Internet to find more information on an area that is weak.

Drafting

At some point you must stop researching and outlining and begin writing. Refine your thesis statement and your outline before you tackle the actual writing. Again, break it down into manageable segments. You might allow three days for writing the body—one for each main subdivisions.

Allow another day to write the introduction and conclusion. These are better written after you have finished the paper. After you know what is in it, you’ll have a better idea how to construct these important paragraphs.

Indicate where your quoted and paraphrased materials will go. You may not include them in your draft, but you need to know where they belong.

Revision

Revision happens on various levels. Look at organization, logic, supporting details, and flow of language. On a different level, you must attend to the rules that govern the English language. It usually works better to focus on one level at a time. When you are arranging paragraphs for the best flow, you don’t want to worry about subject/verb agreement.

Depending on your school’s policies, you may be able to recruit help at this point. You may exchange papers with your classmates or go to a writing center for guidance. A second set of eyes is helpful at this point.

Citing your sources

This is the most technical aspect of your paper. Giving credit to your sources shows your academic thoroughness and helps you avoid plagiarism. If you have been diligent in the research process, this part will be easier.

Make an alphabetical list of all the sources you have used. Follow the style sheet your professor indicates (usually Chicago, Turabian, MLA, LSA, or APA). All the information must be there—in the right format and in the right order. Online sources and computer programs that can help you with this.

Within the body of your paper you will insert the parentheticals. This is the notation in parentheses that refers your reader to your list of sources at the end. The parenthetical must match the entry in the list of sources.

Proofreading

This step only happens as you near the final due date. Your paper now says what you want it to say, but you want it to look its best. This means looking over the format to make sure it conforms to the class standard. Check paper, font, margins, title, and headings. Pay particular attention to citations.

It is during this final reading that you’ll look for capitalization, punctuation, misspelled words—including typos. You may also correct any grammar errors you missed previously.

Hand it in

Writing a research paper may be the most difficult piece of writing you do. But it can be less painful if you know how to write a research paper.