Step-by-Step

Like most large projects, writing a research paper can be accomplished by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Think about writing your research paper in steps:

1. Choose a topic
2. Create your thesis statement, your main purpose for writing the paper
3. Do research to gather your data
4. Create an outline for the research paper
5. Create your first draft
6. Revise and revise again

Writing Your Outline

Once you have gathered all of your data, the next step is to create a rough draft of your research paper. This process can be made easier if you start with writing the research paper outline. The process of writing an outline for your research paper is explained in The Research Project: How to Write It by Ralph Berry.

Berry said, “This is the most intellectually exacting part of the whole process. Order must be imposed upon chaos, and it is at this precise point that the forces of chaos and order meet. Some two or three hours of uninterrupted thought should be set aside to consider the matter; it is not to be tackled in a stray half-hour; once the material has been set into a form, the mould will be hard to break and harder to alter.”

The Outline Process

Your research paper outline can be broken down into smaller components consisting of:

• Introduction: states and explains your thesis statement and describes briefly what you are going to be covering in your research paper
• Body: list three to five main arguments to support your thesis statement and under each argument list your supporting data for that argument
• Conclusion: restate your thesis statement and summarize your arguments then state your conclusion and why you have come to this particular conclusion

Buzzle.com discussed the finer points of creating an outline in the article titled, “Research Paper Outline Format.” Regarding the introduction, the article said, “You need to explain how you are going to approach your topic. You should explain what type of research or report it is, for instance, whether it is based on actual facts, or is it a book review, a comparison, or an analysis of a problem.”

The Body of Your Outline

The body of your research paper is where you develop your topic and the arguments that support your thesis statement. Here again, the task can be made easier by breaking the process down into more manageable steps.

Experiment-Resources.com provided useful Research Paper Outline Examples and said, “The body of your paper is where you will be presenting all your arguments to support your thesis statement. Please be reminded of the ‘Rule of 3′ where you should find 3 supporting arguments for each position you take. Start with a strong argument, followed by a stronger one, and end with the strongest argument as your final point.”

Patterns of Organization

The best choice for the overall organization of your outline depends on the subject of your research paper. If your topic is related to a historic event or you are writing about a process that takes place in a series of steps, then a chronological approach might work best. In a chronological outline, the body of the outline will progress from one event to the next.

If your topic does not lend itself to a chronological approach, then a spatial approach might work best. In a spatial approach, the first item in the body of your outline will be a general statement related to your thesis. Then, each additional point in your outline body will become less general and more specific.

There are several possible patterns that you can use to structure the presentation of information in your outline and in your paper. You can find several examples at Washington.edu. Writing a research paper does not have to be a struggle. You can do a great job of writing your next paper if you learn how to do it step-by-step.

Brainstorm!

The best way to write a great research paper is to choose a topic in which you’re genuinely interested. Many professors allow you to choose your own topic, and if not, you can generally choose your own direction to take it. Often, students will choose a topic that seems easy as opposed to one they find interesting. Unfortunately, you’ll find that you quickly run out of steam researching those “easy” topics. Choose something you’re truly passionate about, narrow it down from a broad idea, and get to researching! Check out these ideas on where to look when brainstorming research topics from the post, “How to Find Research Paper Topics from Everyday Life,” from the Smart Students Conference blog. Or head straight to Questia.com to look at our research topics page backed with millions of sources.

Establish goals.

This massive paper may seem daunting when it is first assigned but this is your chance to get a head start on things and establish goals. Pace yourself and allow time to do your paper justice. Outlines are a great way to stay organized. A good place to start for help on your research paper outline format is collegeessaytips.org. A 15 page paper spread out over a few weeks is no sweat if you set realistic goals and timeframes for yourself. (Planning to leave everything for the last minute is not a plan; you’ll hate yourself for it later.)

Put honesty first.

While developing your research paper, try not to forget that the more tech-savvy you become, the more experienced your professors get, too. They’ve seen it all by now, so don’t try to outsmart them by taking short-cuts and not doing honest, well-developed research. Choosing credible sources for your research paper is the only way to succeed. Consider submitting your finished paper to writecheck.com, a website that reviews papers for plagiarism, before you hand it in. There are many ways for professors to check whether or not your work is your own and the consequences could involve you failing the assignment, the class, or in extreme cases even being expelled from your university. It’s never worth it.

Double check citations!

With the variety of ever-changing writing styles, it can be hard to get your Works Cited or bibliography page in order. It’s always better to ask your professor for guidance than to fall victim to unconscious plagiarism, which can still get you into trouble if you’re not careful. According to the article “The Effects of Repeated Idea Elaboration on Unconscious Plagiarism,” individuals also have a tendency to repeat information without remembering or giving credit to where they got it from originally. This is why it’s important to keep your sources and notes well-organized. Questia helps you to do both these things with highlighting and notes, source folders, and citation help.

Don’t set yourself up to fail.

In an article called “It Was Just That I Was Afraid,” author Rebecca D. Cox addresses students’ fear of failure and the huge impact this can have on your self-esteem and overall performance. Simply because your professor assigns you what seems to be an impossibly long research paper does not mean that you are doomed to fail. Your professors want you to succeed and are usually quite eager to help. Don’t be afraid to take on something extraordinary just because it may require some hard work.

Staying on top of your research papers always makes life easier. With these five back-to-school research paper tips, you’ll quickly be on your way to stress-free semester with results you’ll be happy with.

Recommended Reading:
University Students’ Perceptions of Plagiarism

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