How to write a research paper

Read the assignment closely

Before anything else, read the assignment sheet and underline the key words. Note the length, the due date, the citation style, how many and what kinds of sources are required, and any rules about tools or help. If the prompt uses words like analyze, compare or argue, that tells you what kind of paper to write. Ask your teacher about anything unclear.

Choose a topic and a question

Start broad, then narrow. "Climate change" is a topic for a library shelf. "How have coastal cities in one region adapted their flood defenses since 2000?" is a question a paper can answer.

• Pick something you are curious about. You will spend weeks on it.
• Check that sources exist. Do a quick search before you commit.
• Write your question down. It will guide every search and every paragraph.

Find good sources

Use your school library first. Librarians can show you databases of journal articles, books and newspapers that a general web search will miss. Start with overview sources, such as a textbook or a reference article, to learn the basic terms, then move to more specific ones.

For each source, ask:

Take notes that keep sources straight

For every source, record the details you will need for the citation as soon as you find it: author, title, date, publisher or journal, page numbers and the link or DOI. When you take notes, use three clear marks: quotation marks for exact words, a label for your paraphrases, and a different mark for your own thoughts. This is the simplest way to avoid accidental plagiarism later. See citing sources.

Write a working thesis

Once you have read enough to have an answer, write it in one or two sentences. That is your working thesis. It can change as you learn more. A good thesis makes a claim someone could disagree with and that your evidence can support.

Outline

List the main points that support your thesis, and under each one, the evidence from your notes. Put the points in an order that builds an argument. If a point has no evidence under it, you need more research or a different point.

Draft

• Write the body first if the introduction is hard. You can write the opening once you know what the paper says.
• Start each paragraph with a sentence that states its point, then give evidence, then explain how the evidence supports the point.
• Add citations as you write. Going back to find them later is slow and risky.
• Don't aim for perfect. A rough draft only needs to exist.

Revise and proofread

1. Put the draft away for at least a day.
2. Read it for the big picture: does every paragraph support the thesis? Is anything missing or repeated?
3. Read for clarity: cut extra words and fix confusing sentences. Reading aloud helps.
4. Check every citation against your notes and the required style.
5. Proofread last, slowly, for spelling and punctuation.

Many schools have a writing center where tutors will read a draft with you. Using it is allowed and encouraged. It is a good place to start if you feel stuck.

Research paper questions