How to Write a Research Paper

Writing a good research paper is a tough challenge, but breaking it down into smaller pieces helps a lot.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Dictionaries
• Stress Relief Products
• Thesauri
• Writing Style Manuals
• Palm Handheld Organizers
• Printers
• Desk Lamps
• Highlighter Pens
• Index Cards
• Notebooks
• Personal Organizers
• Printer Paper
• Computers
• Bibliography Software
• Word-processing Software

1. Choose a topic that is broad enough to be interesting but narrow enough to be manageable.

2. Find your sources. Start with three or four, check their bibliographies for additional sources, and repeat the process until you have enough material to work with.

3. Reserve one index card for each source. Record the bibliographic information for the source on its index card, and number each card for ease of future reference.

4. Take reading notes on index cards, writing down only the material that is most relevant to your project. Write the source number on each card.

5. Organize your index cards by topic and subtopic.

6. Use the cards as a basis for an outline (see 'How to Outline a Paper').

7. Write an introduction that grabs the reader and plots out the trajectory of your argument.

8. Write the body of the paper, following the structure you created in your outline. Be sure to cite sources.

9. Write the conclusion, reviewing how you've made your points.

10. Come up with a title after you've written the paper, not before: You don't want the content of the paper to be hamstrung by an inappropriate title.

11. Read your paper at least twice to be sure your argument makes sense and is presented logically.

12. Proofread carefully; teachers hate typographical errors. Use your word processor's spelling checker, but don't rely on it utterly.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't leave such a difficult task to the last minute. Start early, and work gradually.

• Use bibliography software to help manage your sources. Consult a style guide, such as the MLA (Modern Language Association) manual of style, for details on citation of sources.

• Consider taking a class on writing a research paper.

• Be sure to cite your sources whenever you make use of an idea from someone else. (See "How to Avoid Plagiarism in a Research Paper.")