For example, if you are writing a research paper for a college course, you should know how long it should be, what sources can be used, the topics you can choose from, and the deadline to turn it in. Once you understand the parameters, you can set out a schedule to complete the paper on time. [2] X Research source
For example, if you are taking an American history course and you want to write a research paper on the origins of the American Revolution, you’d probably want to begin by reading other books on the subject. You’ll soon realize that historians have discussed the Revolution’s origins primarily in political and economic terms, but have given less attention to the social dimensions of the revolutionary experience. So you decide to focus — broadly — on the social origins of the American Revolution.
Let’s return to the social origins of the American Revolution. You might be able to cover this topic in 500 pages, but if you are writing a 20-page research paper for a class, you’ll need to focus your topic further. What social group or groups will you focus on in order to address the social origins of the American Revolution? Break down the “social” into categories — women, racial minorities, farmers, city-dwellers, writers, travelers, businessmen, or children. There are numerous different angles you can take. See what hasn’t been written before and then write on that subject.
Let’s say that you’ve decided to focus on the role of farmers and the American Revolution. Try to formulate a question based on your narrowed field such as: What role did farmers play in the origins of the American Revolution?
For example, you could answer the above question (i. e. , What role did farmers play in the origins of the American Revolution?) in several ways. Farmers directly participated in public riots against British officers. Farmers refused to sell their crops to British contingents. Farmers refused to quarter British soldiers in their homes. Farmers refused to pay taxes on their goods. It is a good idea to start with several hypothetical thesis statements. If one proves to be false or isn’t supported by enough evidence, you can start in a new direction quickly.
For example: The quartering of British soldiers in the homes of poor farmers caused them to protest British taxes and to attack British troops. This is a single sentence thesis statement that addresses both why the farmers chose to revolt and how they did so.
If your professor wanted to you to focus on the political causes of the American Revolution, she might stop you from researching farmers. This would save you time in the long run.
For our paper on the role of farmers and the American Revolution, we might need to visit local archives and the U. S. National Archives and Records Administration to get the necessary documents. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the volume of research, see if your library has appointments with a research librarian. Librarians stay up to date with current trends in scholarship and can help guide your search. [11] X Research source
Include author, title, and publication information in your notes, so that you can type up a reference list at the end of your research paper. You can also use a program such as EndNote, RefWorks, or LaTEX to help you manage your citations. Create a note sheet of quotations that you may want to use in your research paper. It is better to gather more than you need at this point, since you will need evidence from reputable sources to support your thesis. [13] X Research source
For web sources, use sources from peer-reviewed journals, government institutions and organizations, and public archives first. Blogs and other non-authoritative web sources are usually inappropriate for a research paper. Organize your notes. Put your notes/data in a logical order that backs up your thesis statement. Organize them so they flow from one to the next. For our imaginary project, it would be best to put your notes on quartered British troops before notes on farmer’s revolutionary actions. Since our argument is that quartered troops angered farmers into action, we need to discuss them in that order. [15] X Research source
For example, if you discovered that farmers were primarily unhappy quartering British soldiers because they ate all their food, you’d want to include that information in your thesis statement. Quartered British troops consumed large quantities of food while housed with poor farmers. Because they couldn’t feed themselves and quarter troops, these farmers chose to protest British taxes and to attack British troops. As such, farmers played a significant role in the origins of the American Revolution.
Consider composing an outline as a list of questions you would like to answer. Start with your thesis at the beginning, then break it down into sections that back up your argument. Write questions like “Why is this research important?” and “What studies support my thesis?” Then insert information you found while researching into your outline that answers these questions. You can also write a prose outline, instead of a question-based outline. Place headers that are the subjects of each paragraph or section of your research paper. Add quotes and other notes in bullets below the subject. You can begin your composition directly from a prose-based outline. Continue researching if you need to fill holes in your outline. Be sure to gather bibliographic information as you go.
This is how most people begin their research papers. They don’t want to make their subject seem too obscure, so they write about larger points before jumping head first into their topic. [18] X Research source Just make sure that your broad statement is related to your thesis statement. And make sure that everyone can agree with your broad statement. You don’t want to have your readership criticizing your argument from the beginning. You need to build a certain degree of trust. By all means, avoid the “Throughout history” or “In modern society” types of opening lines. These are so overused that they have become hackneyed, and they will damage your credibility as a writer before your reader has looked at another word. [19] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC’s on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
For example, if you want to write a research paper on philately (stamp collecting), you should probably begin by defining your key term. But don’t go for the standard “Webster’s Dictionary defines philately as. . . " opening. See if you can make your opening line attention-grabbing or intriguing. [21] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC’s on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
By setting up this story at the beginning, you’d be able to return to it periodically over the course of your paper to illustrate points and to re-assert your thesis statement. [22] X Research source Interesting anecdotes or surprising facts can be a good way to hook your readers and lead in to your thesis statement. [23] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC’s on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
If you aren’t sure about how to start your essay, have a look at some published works in your subject. They’ll be a lot fancier than your paper needs to be, but they can give you a sense of that subject’s conventions.
Some writers find it helpful to write the body of the text and then return and write the introduction and conclusion. This gives them a better sense of what exactly they want to argue.
Be sure to give the author credit. You don’t want to be accused of plagiarism. [24] X Research source
In general, bibliographies should be organized by type of source and by alphabetical order. [25] X Research source
