If you’re a college student, you will probably have to write at least one

college-level research paper before you graduate. Writing a good

research paper can be daunting if you have never done it before.
We’re here to help.

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This guide walks you through everything you need to do to write an

effective, impactful research paper . . . and get the good grade you’re
after!

Here are the steps and resources you need to write a strong research
paper, as well as a checklist to go over to be sure you wrote a good
paper. Research writing can be a challenge, but with a little practice, it
can become an important part of your academic and professional
toolkit.

The Process
The following steps will help you write a research paper, starting with
nothing but an assignment or prompt and ending up with a well-crafted
essay. The steps are:

 Step 1: Get familiar with the assignment

 Step 2: Pick a topic
 Step 3: Research
 Step 4: Organize research
 Step 5: Form a thesis
 Step 6: Create an outline
 Step 7: Write
 Step 8: Edit for content
 Step 9: Edit for grammar
 Step 10: Re-read and submit your paper
  Step 1: Get Familiar with the Assignment
This may sound obvious, but it’s very important to understand what
your teacher or professor is asking for before you start writing your
research paper. Many students skip this step, and then wonder why
they receive a low grade on a paper they worked hard on or were
excited about. It’s often because they didn’t read the instructions.

Spend time going over the assignment. Look at everything your

instructor has provided you with. Carefully read the writing assignment,
prompts, grading rubric, or any other materials you’ve received. It
might even be helpful to highlight and take notes on the assignment.
Take time to understand exactly what you are being asked to write and
how you will be graded on it. And if you aren’t sure, ask! Ask your
teacher for clarification before you even pick a topic. That way, you will
be sure you are on the right track.

  Step 2: Pick a Topic

Once you understand what you’re being asked to write in your
research paper, it’s time to decide what to write about. This can be
daunting, but don’t get too bent out of shape. It can be very helpful to
write about something you’re interested in or passionate about, but
don’t worry about choosing the perfect topic. In many cases,
a controversial topic can be ideal, so that you can exercise your
ability to objectively explain differing positions, and even defend one if
the assignment calls for that.
Use the guidelines given by your instructor to help pick your paper
topic. If you have a topic that you love, but you’re having trouble fitting
it into the guidelines, choose another topic. It will be easier on you in
the long run to write about a topic that fits the assignment. It’s
important to be engaged in the topic you’re writing about it, but you
don’t have to love it. It’s also good to realize that you can use this
research writing assignment as an opportunity to learn about
something new. You will be somewhat of an expert in the topic by the
end of this process, but you don’t have to know everything right now.

  Step 3: Research
And now what you have been waiting for — research! This step is
pretty flexible; different people will research for a paper in different
ways. However, it’s important to stay focused and move pretty quickly.
After all, you still have to write your research paper.

Several key things to remember as you research are: 1) skim, 2) find

reliable resources, and 3) don’t ignore information.

First off, skimming. You don’t have to read in-full everything ever
written about your topic. In fact, you probably can’t. Get comfortable
reading through things quickly. Learn how to identify key points and
arguments without getting bogged down and reading every word.

Next, find reliable resources. Although this may run contrary to what
you’ve been told, you can use Wikipedia to write a research paper.
But, you cannot use that as a final source. You can use general
sources like Wikipedia to get familiar with a topic, find keywords that
can further drive your research, and quickly understand large amounts
of information. But, for the information you use in your paper, you have
to find reliable resources.

Take what you have learned from a Google search or Wikipedia article
and dig deeper. Check out the sources on the article, use keywords
from your internet search to search an academic database, or ask an
expert whether or not what you learned is valid and if it is, where you
can find a reliable source stating the same thing. So, just to be clear:
you can use Wikipedia as a starting point in your research, but you
should not cite Wikipedia as one of the primary sources for your
research paper.
Finally, don’t ignore information. You can find an article that says
anything you want it to say. Did researchers recently discover that
octopus DNA is made of alien DNA from outer space? Are the spires
on the Cinderella Castle at Disney World removable in case of a
hurricane? Did a cook attempt to assassinate George Washington by
feeding him poisoned tomatoes? You can find articles testifying that all
three of the previous claims are true; however, when you dig deeper,
it’s clear that they’re not. Just because you find one article stating that
something is true, that does not necessarily mean it is a proven fact
that you can use in your research.

Work to understand all of the different viewpoints and schools of

thought on your topic. This can be done by reading a variety of articles,
reading a book or article that gives an overview of the topic and
incorporates different points of view, or talking to an expert who can
explain the topic in depth.

  Step 4: Organize Your Research

So you have all of this information, now what to do with it? Step four is
all about getting organized. Like research, different people have
different preferences here. It can also depend on your assignment.
Some sort of bibliography (literally “book writing,” this is a list of the
books, articles, and other sources you have used in your research) is
helpful when it comes to organizing your research.

If your teacher requires you to turn in a bibliography with your research

paper (think back to step #1; you ought to already know exactly what
the assignment is by now!), create a bibliography that meets the
requirements for the paper. If you are just making one just for yourself,
think about how you would like to organize your research. It might
make sense to bookmark resources on your web browser or make a
digital bibliography that allows you to link the resources you found. You
might prefer a printed list of your resources or you might want to write
down all you have learned that is relevant to your project on notecards
or sticky notes and organize your research paper on a table or the
floor.

  Step 5: Form a Thesis

 Now that you understand what you’ve been asked to do, have chosen
a topic that fits the assignment, and have researched and organized
that research, you’re ready to articulate your own opinion, argument, or
assertion. Even if you aren’t arguing for or against anything, your paper
needs a thesis. A thesis is a short statement that you — as researcher
and author — put forward for the readers of your paper as what you
are trying to explain or prove.

A starting point when writing a thesis might be to write a one-sentence

answer to the question: what is your paper about? The answer might
be something like the following examples:

 My paper explains the relationship between dogs and

humans.
 It’s about university policies on freshman living on campus.
 I wrote about views on marriage in Jane Austen’s Pride and
Prejudice.
See, that wasn’t so hard. But, what is important to remember, is that
this is just a starting point. Many students stop right there, and then
don’t understand why their instructor graded them poorly on their
thesis statement. A thesis needs to be definitive, and should not be
about you. So, you might change the above answers to statements
like:

The relationship between dogs and humans goes both ways; not only
are dogs man’s best friend, but human interactions have influenced
the way that modern dogs’ behavior and anatomy.
Many universities require freshmen students to live on campus for their
first year, which keeps students out of trouble, helps students get
better grades, and increases their likelihood of staying in school.

In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, marriage is seen as a number of

things, including as a social mobility tool, as a mistake, and as a
beneficial partnership.

Can you see the differences between the first set of sentences and the
second set of thesis statements? It might take a few tries, but work to
eliminate words and phrases like “I think,” or “My paper is about.”
It is also very important not to be too vague. Don’t be afraid to make a
strong statement. If you look at the above examples, each of them
makes a specific point about the topic. Another key to crafting a strong
thesis statement is making sure that your thesis is arguable. That
doesn’t mean it’s controversial or particularly opinionated, but it does
mean that someone could disagree.

For example, someone might argue that humans haven’t influenced

dogs all that much, that requiring freshman students to live on campus
isn’t a good thing, or that marriage in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is
all about romance. (Another way to check whether or not your
statement is arguable: Is Pride and Prejudice a book? Yes. So the
statement, “Pride and Prejudice is a book written by Jane Austen,”
doesn’t work as a thesis because no one could disagree. There is no
point in writing an entire essay about that obvious fact.) Checking
whether or not someone could argue with your thesis statement is a
good way to make sure you have written a strong, specific thesis
statement that will guide you as you write your paper and earn a good
grade for your efforts.

After you have worked to create a specific, arguable, definitive thesis

statement, this is another place that it could be helpful to check in with
your professor, a writing center tutor, or another trusted educator or
mentor. Show them your thesis statement and ask them if they think
itis a powerful thesis that you will guide you as you build your essay.

  Step 6: Create an Outline

Like a bibliography, the way that you create your outline may depend
on your assignment. If your teacher asked you to turn in an outline, be
sure to make an outline that follows the example, guidelines, or
requirements you have been given. If you aren’t required to write an
outline, it can still be a helpful tool as you build your research paper.

Creating an outline is really about structuring your paper. Don’t be too

formulaic, but it can be helpful to follow patterns and guides. In high
school you might have written three- or five-paragraph essays, and it’s
okay to use those same patterns for a college research paper, but be
sure that whatever format you choose makes sense for your paper. If
you have two main points in your thesis, three or five main sections
might not work for your research paper. If the assignment asks you to
introduce a topic, explain different opinions on the topic, and then
choose and explain your opinion, then your paper probably needs
three main sections, one for each of those objectives.

As you create an outline, think critically about what you are trying to
explain or communicate in your research paper and what structure
allows you to do that in a clear, organized way. It usually makes sense
to have an introduction and conclusion, but what goes between will
vary based on the contents of your essay.

The outlining stage of producing your argument is a great time to think

about bad forms of argumentation you should avoid. If you aren’t
familiar with logical fallacies, take some time to review the most
common fallacies; your grade could depend on it!
  Step 7: Write

And then, finally, it’s time to actually write your paper. You might feel
like you should have started writing sooner, but, rest assured: the work
you have done up to this point is important. It will help you create a
strong, clear, interesting research paper.

As you write, don’t be a perfectionist. Don’t worry about finding the

perfect words, using the perfect grammar, or crafting the perfect title.
There is time to perfect your research paper as you edit. Right now,
you just need to write.

It might be helpful to look over your research before you start writing,
but don’t write directly from your research. If you’re looking back and
forth between your resources and your paper as you begin writing, it’s
easy to copy ideas without really creating your own work. You have
done a lot of work already, so trust that and work from memory as you
write your research paper. It’s okay to look up a specific quote or
statistic, but in general your ideas should be your own at this point.

Working from your own ideas will help you avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism
is the uncredited use of someone else’s words or ideas, whether you
meant to use them without credit or not. This sounds scary, but it
doesn’t have to be. If you follow the steps outlined in this guide, you
can be confident that you’ve created your own essay that builds on the
ideas, writing, and work of others, without stealing, copying, or
plagiarising.

If you quote something word-for-word, you need to cite your source.

Use quotation marks and mention the source of the quote. You will
also need to include more information about the quote on a Works
Cited or References page. If you paraphrase, that is, you don’t use the
exact words, but do use someone’s idea, it’s still important to give
credit. You don’t need quotation marks here, but it is important to
mention where the idea comes from.

If something is a common fact (generally accepted if you can find the

fact stated, without credit, in three or more credible sources), you don’t
need to mention where the idea comes from. For example, Bill Gates
is a billionaire who founded Microsoft. That is a common fact; you can
find it stated in numerous trustworthy sources. But if your paper is
about the why behind Bill Gates’ wealth, fame, and success, then
you’re going to need to credit and cite specific quotes and statistics, as
well as theories about why the Microsoft billionaire is so successful.

For more about writing, see our chapter on Writing in “The Savvy

Student’s Study Skills.”
  Step 8: Edit for Content
Now that you’ve got a paper written, take a moment to congratulate
yourself. You have done a lot of work to get to this point! And then, get
back to work. You still need to edit your paper before it’s ready to turn
in. Remember how you weren’t supposed to worry about being
perfect? You still don’t need to worry, but it is time to make your paper
as perfect as you possibly can.
Start by editing for content. This means thinking about structure,
organization, wording, and length. You carefully organized your paper
when you created an outline. Now that you have written your paper,
does that organization still make sense? If so, great. If not, what do you
need to move around? Look carefully at how you’ve worded your
sentences. Did you communicate what you meant to get across? Can
you make your paper clearer or easier to understand? This is also a
good point to think back to Step 1. Does your paper include everything
the assignment asked for? If not, where can you include the missing
pieces?

If your paper is too long or too short, now is the time to cut it down or
build it up to an acceptable length. Don’t just delete your conclusion
because your paper is too long. Don’t waste your time playing with the
font size and margins to try to make your essay longer. Be careful and
thoughtful about these edits. If you need to take something out, what
makes sense to cut and how can you re-organize your paper so that it
maintains a strong structure? If you need to lengthen your paper, don’t
just randomly add words or repeat things you have already said. Think
about where you could expand or what you can add that fits in with the
rest of your paper, further develops the ideas you are presenting, or
adds valuable information to your research paper.

Once you have made all the changes you think necessary, read back
through your paper again to be sure it all makes sense. Especially
when working on a computer, it is easy to leave or delete a word,
sentence, or paragraph that you didn’t mean to. If you are tired of
looking at your research paper, give it to a friend, mentor, or teacher
and ask them to take a look at your paper and let you know what they
think of the content.

  Step 9: Edit for Grammar

It is also important to edit for grammar. This might seem daunting, but
there are lots of tools and resources that can help. Check out
resources like Grammarly or Strunk and White’s Elements of Style if
you’re unsure of what to do with commas, semicolons, or run-on
sentences.
Like editing for content, editing for grammar might take a few run-
throughs. If you need to take a break, that’s fine. It can even help you
come back to your paper feeling more focused, which is key to
catching and fixing mistakes.

  Step 10: Re-read and Submit your Research Paper

Once you’ve finished Steps 1–9, it’s definitely time to take a break.
Give your paper a day or two (or an hour or two, if you are running
short on time) and give it a final read-through. It can be helpful to print
a copy of your paper and read a hard-copy if you have only read
through it on a screen thus far. You might notice mistakes or formatting
issues that your eyes missed while reading on your computer. Once
you have read your research paper for a final time and double checked
that your paper does everything the assignment is asking for, it is time
to submit.