To write a research paper, pick a topic that interests you and narrow it down, gather information from reliable sources, follow an outline, keep your notes organized, write a draft, and then check and finalize it. This article explains each of these steps.
If you are a student, sooner or later you will have to write a research paper. A research paper answers a question by drawing on many sources. It can deal with technical, social, or scientific issues, and its conclusions come from your own evaluation and interpretation of what you found. It also documents where each finding comes from, so that readers can check it. Here are 8 tips for your next one.
1. Pick a topic
The first thing you need is a good topic. Pick one that not only interests you but also challenges you. In most cases, your class or other guidelines limit the topics you can choose from.
Your attitude toward the topic you pick decides a lot: how much effort you put into the work, and how much enthusiasm you bring to it. It is very hard to do good research on a topic you do not care about.
Once you have made your choice, make sure the topic is not too broad. If you pick cars, for example, narrow it down to something like fast cars or expensive cars. Whatever topic you choose, make sure there is enough research available on it.
2. Gather information
You have a great deal of information at your fingertips. You can look things up in encyclopedias and almanacs online and find useful websites. Pay close attention, though, to the sites you use for your research. Many websites are commercial and try to sell you something instead of giving you facts, and many others are simply inaccurate or false. Government agencies, universities, and established research organizations are good places to start. Books from your local library are another reliable source.
3. Seek advice
You may struggle to get started, or have trouble finding a topic that feels right for you. Ask classmates, friends, coworkers, or teachers for advice. They may add to your idea or suggest options you had not thought of. You may hesitate to ask, especially a teacher or a professor, but in the long run it makes a big difference.
4. Be original
In a big class, others may well pick the same topic as you. So make sure your paper is original: your research should be interesting and your own. Give your synthesis of the sources a personal touch to make it stand out from the rest, and always give credit for the ideas you take from others. How to avoid plagiarism explains how.
5. Follow a tentative outline
Every research paper follows the same basic outline:
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
You can find more detailed outlines for different kinds of papers and topics. Whichever you use, organize your work logically and write it thoroughly.
6. Keep your notes organized
Your research means little if your notes on it are a mess. Verify the information you gather, make sure it is up to date, and use the best sources you can find. Include opposing views, and show why your thesis holds up against them. Highlight or annotate the sections you want to use most, and sort your notes according to your outline. Note the source of every point as you go, so that you can cite it later: citations and how to do them properly shows the common ways.
7. Write a draft
Once you have all the information together, write a draft. Summarize and paraphrase your sources, and then bring it all together into one coherent text. If you use note cards, put them in order first. With the draft in front of you, you can see which parts need more work and where information is missing.
8. Finalize your draft
Once everything is in place, finalize your draft. Check the facts and the figures, and check the text for spelling and grammar mistakes. The Spell Checker can check the document of your paper for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Finally, make sure your paper reads smoothly and that your readers will understand your message. Keep your audience in mind, because they are the people you want to reach.
To improve your writing in general, try these 8 writing exercises.