when beginning to write a research paper it is frequently helpful to

Reference management. Clean and simple.

How to start your research paper [step-by-step guide]

1. Choose your topic

2. find information on your topic, 3. create a thesis statement, 4. create a research paper outline, 5. organize your notes, 6. write your introduction, 7. write your first draft of the body, 9. write your conclusion, 10. revise again, edit, and proofread, frequently asked questions about starting your research paper, related articles.

Research papers can be short or in-depth, but no matter what type of research paper, they all follow pretty much the same pattern and have the same structure .

A research paper is a paper that makes an argument about a topic based on research and analysis.

There will be some basic differences, but if you can write one type of research paper, you can write another. Below is a step-by-step guide to starting and completing your research paper.

Choose a topic that interests you. Writing your research paper will be so much more pleasant with a topic that you actually want to know more about. Your interest will show in the way you write and effort you put into the paper. Consider these issues when coming up with a topic:

• make sure your topic is not too broad
• narrow it down if you're using terms that are too general

Academic search engines are a great source to find background information on your topic. Your institution's library will most likely provide access to plenty of online research databases. Take a look at our guide on how to efficiently search online databases for academic research to learn how to gather all the information needed on your topic.

Tip: If you’re struggling with finding research, consider meeting with an academic librarian to help you come up with more balanced keywords.

If you’re struggling to find a topic for your thesis, take a look at our guide on how to come up with a thesis topic .

The thesis statement is one of the most important elements of any piece of academic writing. It can be defined as a very brief statement of what the main point or central message of your paper is. Our thesis statement guide will help you write an excellent thesis statement.

In the next step, you need to create your research paper outline . The outline is the skeleton of your research paper. Simply start by writing down your thesis and the main ideas you wish to present. This will likely change as your research progresses; therefore, do not worry about being too specific in the early stages of writing your outline.

Then, fill out your outline with the following components:

• the main ideas that you want to cover in the paper
• the types of evidence that you will use to support your argument
• quotes from secondary sources that you may want to use

Organizing all the information you have gathered according to your outline will help you later on in the writing process. Analyze your notes, check for accuracy, verify the information, and make sure you understand all the information you have gathered in a way that you can communicate your findings effectively.

Start with the introduction. It will set the direction of your paper and help you a lot as you write. Waiting to write it at the end can leave you with a poorly written setup to an otherwise well-written paper.

The body of your paper argues, explains or describes your topic. Start with the first topic from your outline. Ideally, you have organized your notes in a way that you can work through your research paper outline and have all the notes ready.

After your first draft, take some time to check the paper for content errors. Rearrange ideas, make changes and check if the order of your paragraphs makes sense. At this point, it is helpful to re-read the research paper guidelines and make sure you have followed the format requirements. You can also use free grammar and proof reading checkers such as Grammarly .

Tip: Consider reading your paper from back to front when you undertake your initial revision. This will help you ensure that your argument and organization are sound.

Write your conclusion last and avoid including any new information that has not already been presented in the body of the paper. Your conclusion should wrap up your paper and show that your research question has been answered.

Allow a few days to pass after you finished writing the final draft of your research paper, and then start making your final corrections. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gives some great advice here on how to revise, edit, and proofread your paper.

Tip: Take a break from your paper before you start your final revisions. Then, you’ll be able to approach your paper with fresh eyes.

As part of your final revision, be sure to check that you’ve cited everything correctly and that you have a full bibliography. Use a reference manager like Paperpile to organize your research and to create accurate citations.

The first step to start writing a research paper is to choose a topic. Make sure your topic is not too broad; narrow it down if you're using terms that are too general.

The format of your research paper will vary depending on the journal you submit to. Make sure to check first which citation style does the journal follow, in order to format your paper accordingly. Check Getting started with your research paper outline to have an idea of what a research paper looks like.

The last step of your research paper should be proofreading. Allow a few days to pass after you finished writing the final draft of your research paper, and then start making your final corrections. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gives some great advice here on how to revise, edit and proofread your paper.

There are plenty of software you can use to write a research paper. We recommend our own citation software, Paperpile , as well as grammar and proof reading checkers such as Grammarly .

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Office of Undergraduate Research

Writing an academic paper as an undergraduate researcher, by ariane garrett, our peer research ambassador.

Publishing papers is the primary way that scientific knowledge is disseminated within the academic community. Therefore an essential part of becoming a successful researcher is learning how to write an academic paper. Throughout your undergraduate research career you may or may not have the opportunity to be published. Regardless, learning how academic papers are written is useful knowledge for anyone interested in pursuing a research career. Whether or not you have the opportunity to be published as an undergrad depends on a variety of factors, including the nature of your project, how often your faculty advisor publishes papers, and your particular role in the research lab. If you haven’t been published as an undergrad, no need to stress. There are many other ways your research can shine on an application.

I was tasked with writing my first paper in the spring of my junior year. As I am the primary person working on my research project, my faculty advisor expected me to write the paper by myself with his help and feedback. At first, this seemed to be a very daunting task. I had never written an entire academic paper by myself before, and I had no idea where to begin. The writing process took much longer than I expected (I didn’t finish until Fall 2019), and the paper I submitted is currently under review. In this blog post, I will share what I learned while writing my first academic paper. As a biomedical engineering major, my experience is a reflection of the norms within the engineering field. However, I hope that some of these tips will prove useful for those in all majors.

Getting Started

I began my first draft of my paper as I had begun many other papers I have written- with an introduction. When I showed my first draft to my PI, he told me that it is actually most common in the engineering field to begin writing an academic paper by constructing the figures. At first, I thought this seemed rather counterintuitive. Shouldn’t the figures be based on the writing, rather than the other way around? There are several reasons why the opposite is actually true. Firstly, the figures are the most eye-catching part of every paper and sometimes the only thing a reader will look at. In addition, many journals have figure limitations so the figures that are chosen must be carefully thought out in order to maximize their effectiveness. Lastly, constructing the figures first establishes a clear outline that you can follow as you write the rest of the paper.

Writing the Paper

Writing the actual paper is a long process that typically involves many revisions. I found it helpful to read papers from the same journal I was submitting to in order to get an idea of typical paper formats in that journal. I would also recommend seeking feedback at several stages of the writing process. Don’t wait until the entire paper is finished before showing it to your PI, instead, ask for feedback after the first draft of each section is finished. As an academic paper can have anywhere from five to hundreds of sources, I would also suggest using a citation manager as you write. This will save you from having to constantly update the sources in the paper as you add and revise.

Submitting the Paper

In my case, my PI submitted the paper and is the primary contact with the journal. However, I was expected to fully format the paper before I gave it to him to submit. If you visit the website of the journal you are submitting to, there will be details on the formatting expectations. Reformatting the entire paper after it has been written can be a lot of work, so it’s helpful to review these before you begin writing. Often, it is expected that you include a letter to the editor requesting for your paper to be considered, which you may or may not have to write depending on your PI.

After Submission

Depending on the journal, it can be up to several months before you hear back about your submission. In my case, I heard back from the reviewers about two months after submission. There were two reviewers for the paper I submitted, though this number will likely vary depending on the journal. The comments that were made were useful and provided good insight into an outsider’s perspective on my research. It is very common for journals to request revision and resubmission, so don’t expect the first paper you submit to be published!

Although writing an academic paper is challenging, I found it to be a very rewarding experience. I now appreciate how much work it takes to write a good paper and I feel like I grew as a scientific writer throughout the process. If you feel that your research deserves to be published, don’t be afraid to reach out to your PI and ask them if they think you could write a paper. Even if it is never published, writing about your research is an excellent way to become a better writer and also understand your own research area more fully.

Ariane is a senior majoring in biomedical engineering and Spanish. Click here to learn more about Ariane.

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Writing Research Papers

• Writing Process and Revising

The process of writing a research paper can seem daunting.  However, there are a variety of strategies that can help ease the process and improve its results.  Here we discuss approaches to the writing process, revising, and areas of focus in scientific writing.

The Writing Process: General Approaches  

There are innumerable ways to write a research paper.  These methods vary in terms of how much planning occurs prior to writing, which sections are written first, how much revising is performed, and so on.  You may wish to try out a variety of different approaches before deciding which method works best for you.  Some suggestions include (adapted from our Writing a Research Paper workshop ): 1,2

• Organizing your ideas first – brainstorm, try to come up with connections between ideas, and create an outline of what you intend to write. Consider the arguments you may wish to advance.  If you have taken notes as you wrote your references (see Evaluating References and Taking Notes ), you can use those notes to guide your brainstorming process.  Your outline can also be structured according to APA guidelines (see Structuring a Research Paper ). 
• Words on the page / write and revise – first, just start writing. Your initial draft will almost certainly be far from perfect.  However, just beginning the writing process can “jump start” your progress on the research paper.  After the initial draft is complete, go back and revise.  With this approach, like a sculptor, you will gradually hone in on a refined product – a well-written paper. 
• Section by section – focus on writing one section at a time. In some cases, a relatively chronological approach (Introduction first, then Methods, Results, and so on) is preferred.  In other cases, different sections are written out of order and then assembled together.

It can also be helpful to plan out a schedule of when you will be writing (for instance, 2-3 hours per day, in the mornings), as well as select a location where you feel comfortable writing (for instance, a quiet area in your favorite coffee shop).  It is also often a good idea to take breaks between writing sessions (to stay fresh and to keep your creative juices flowing).

The Writing Process: Revising and Editing

After you have written a draft or your research paper, it is important to go back and read it carefully.  As you read, consider ways to improve what you have written.  Some approaches to revising and editing include: 1,2

• Read the paper out loud – if any part of the text is difficult to speak or sounds unnatural, consider rewriting that portion. Although written prose and speech can be different (the former is often more formal), well-written research papers typically sound clear and convincing when read out loud.
• Ask someone else to read and provide feedback – have someone else look over your work with a pair of fresh eyes. If that person is not very familiar with the research or the topic, they can be especially helpful in spotting any areas that are unclear. 
• Return to the draft after a break – when you are deeply enmeshed in writing a draft, your writing is reflected in your working memory. Thus, it can be helpful to step away from the draft and return to it after an extended period of time (such as several hours later or even after a day or two).  With your memories of the draft “cleared”, you will be able to look at the draft from a fresher and more objective perspective. 

Scientific Writing Standards

During the process of writing an initial draft, as well as revising and editing drafts, it is important to focus on aspects of good scientific writing.  Areas to focus on include: 1,2,3

• Accuracy and clarity – does the writing correctly convey background, design, results, and other information? Does it do so in a transparent and understandable way?
• Organization – does the writing follow a logical structure? Do different sections connect well with each other?  Is the reader able to read from beginning to end without needing to skip around?
• Choice and consistency of wording – are properly descriptive and accurate terms used to refer to concepts, constructs, variables, procedures, and other details? Are they consistent throughout all sections of the paper? 
• Concision – scientific writing favors an economy of words. Text that is concise (not too long), yet conveys all the necessary information, is ideal.
• Formatting – does the writing correctly obey the conventions of a scientific body (in this case, APA style)? Note that this includes not just organization but also citations and references.
• Grammar and spelling – does the writing obey the conventions of proper English grammar? Are all words (including scientific jargon terms) spelled correctly?
• Correctly attributing sources and quoting only as needed   – All sources should be properly acknowledged.  Direct quotes should only be used if there is something unique about the quote that makes it essential to be included.  Moreover, it is typically inappropriate to quote large portions (i.e., more than a brief phrase or sentence) of text written by others.

Workshops and Downloadable Resources

• For in-person discussion of the process of writing research papers, please consider attending this department’s “Writing Research Papers” workshop (for dates and times, please check the undergraduate workshops calendar).

Downloadable Resources

• How to Write APA Style Research Papers (a comprehensive guide) [ PDF ]
• Tips for Writing APA Style Research Papers (a brief summary) [ PDF ]

Further Resources

How-To Videos     

• Writing Research Paper Videos

External Resources

• How to Write Better Scientific Papers (Elsevier Publishing)
• Top Ten Writing Tips for Scientists
• Twenty-One Suggestions for Writing Good Scientific Papers
• Tutorial on Scientific Writing from Duke University [Tutorial]

1 Carver, L. (2014).  Writing the research paper [Workshop]. 

2 lapidis, r. (2017).  writing a research paper [workshop]. , 3 geller, e. (2018).  how to write an apa-style research report . [instructional materials]. , graphic adapted from schwett kl 2a.svg with permission under creative commons attribution-share alike 3.0 license..

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• Research Paper Structure
• Formatting Research Papers
• Using Databases and Finding References
• What Types of References Are Appropriate?
• Evaluating References and Taking Notes
• Citing References
• Writing a Literature Review
• Improving Scientific Writing
• Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism
• Writing Research Papers Videos

How To Write A Research Paper: A Beginner’s Guide

Just the mention of a research paper sends shivers down the spine of whoever has to write it, be it a student or a professional.

All of us know it is a task known for its hard work, intense and extensive research, and a lot of challenges.

But there is a hidden truth! If you know how to approach it correctly, writing a research paper and, dare we say, enjoyable can get less intimidating.

So, here’s a guide to crafting a compelling research paper, elaborating on how to write a research paper for academic or professional purposes. We have separated each part for you and clarified how you must initiate your research, construct an outline, pen down the information, proofread it, and submit it.

But before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, let’s start by demystifying what a research paper truly is and what are the different types of research papers.

What Is A Research Paper?

A research paper involves studying, surveying, researching, and analysing a field of knowledge to find the best possible information about that topic or field.

However, as known widely, these research papers are not just limited to academics. Instead, they are a common and important medium of scholarly communication used by professionals, academics, and researchers across various fields and industries.

As these papers involve a systematic investigation, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of findings, these papers are well-structured, organised, and are supported by relevant evidence from credible sources. This makes it a suitable and helpful write-up for academic researchers, professionals, NGOs, market research firms, policymakers and government agencies, as it helps explain things elaboratively.

The research papers written by the students are typically a part of their educational experience. In contrast, the research papers written by professionals help them advance their knowledge, address a real problem, and contribute to their fields respectively.

These different types of research papers coming from different fields are often published in a journal, presented at a conference, and shared with the public to encourage learning, innovation, and evidence-based decision-making.

Types Of Research Papers

• Argumentative Research Papers: In this type of paper, you take a position on a controversial issue and argue in support of that position. More importantly, you have to provide strong evidence to support your argument and consider and respond to opposing viewpoints with strong points.
• Analytical Research Papers: The main purpose of an analytical paper is to examine a particular issue or topic in-depth and break down any complex topic into smaller components. After doing this, you examine the different points of view and perspectives on the same topic from all angles and conclude the paper with your own solution or interpretation.
• Descriptive Research Papers: The descriptive research paper aims to provide a detailed description or account of a subject, event, phenomenon, or process. These papers do not delve into any arguments or take ideas but emphasise neutral observations, facts, and descriptions. 
• Experimental Research Papers: These papers significantly describe or share the report about a real experiment, and they share real knowledge rather than theoretical knowledge about a topic. They include detailed descriptions of the research methods, data collection, and statistical analysis and conclude with the findings.
• Review Papers: The review papers do not conduct their own research. They actually analyse, review, synthesise information and discuss relevant studies, trends, and gaps in the field from the research already done on a topic, phenomenon, or circumstance.
• Case Study Papers: The case studies examine a particular case in depth. The case study can be about a person, a group, or an event. Here, you include a detailed account of the case and must also analyse the factors that contributed to the case.

How Long Should A Research Paper Be?

When you find yourself searching for “How to write my research paper , and how long should a research paper be, here’s some advice for you: page numbers or word counts do not define the ideal length of the research paper. Instead, the research depth determines the presentation’s clarity and the analysis’s completeness.

In essence, you must prioritise substance over length to ensure that every section and argument makes sense and is written meaningfully to keep the overall quality and coherence intact. Additionally, you should not hit around the bush just to increase the number of worlds.

However, the theoretical answer to how long a research paper is:

• At the undergraduate level , you can make your research paper around 8 to 20 pages, which often corresponds to a word count of 2,000 to 5,000 words.
• Master’s level papers often tend to be more comprehensive and span 20 to 40 pages, with a word count typically around 5,000 to 10,000 words.
• Doctoral-level research papers , such as dissertations, are much longer and often exceed 100 pages or surpass 20,000 words, indicating that experts prepare these papers.

How To Write A Research Paper?

In the entire journey of writing the research paper, you must diligently do everything, starting from the right research to effective writing to produce the best results. But writing the research paper doesn’t mean directly getting started with the paper and pen.

There are key stages that help you compose the best research paper, from the pre-writing phase to proofreading and submitting it. So, let’s delve into the essential steps to craft a compelling research paper.

Pre-Writing Phase

To craft an excellent research paper, begin with careful preparation while you are in the pre-writing phase. This crucial pre-writing preparation will help you set a strong foundation for a well-structured and informative research paper. Here are the key steps you need to undertake in the pre-writing phase:

Select A Topic

While you are selecting a topic, a few things matter. Because the topic is something you will juggle with, you need to choose it wisely. There are the things to consider:

• Choose Wisely: Select a topic that genuinely interests you. Your interest and enthusiasm for that particular subject will fuel you to dig deeper into the research and writing process.
• Choose A Topic With Specificity: Choose a topic that is neither too broad nor too narrow. Your exploration will be more effective if you have a well-defined research question.
• See If The Topic Has The Relevance: Considering the relevance of your topic is a must. You need to do this to see if the topic is essential in your field of study and if it contributes to existing knowledge or addresses a current issue.
• Check Availability Of Resources: Before you commence, check if there are credible sources and research material related to your topic. If there are limited resources, the success of a research paper can be affected.

Conduct Research

The research of your topic has to be thorough, analysed through different angles, and not restricted to a particular side. In fact, I would say you must spend more time on research than on writing. Because “The time spent sharpening one’s axe is more valuable than the time spent cutting down a tree.” So, emphasise the importance of preparation and planning before undertaking a task rather than rushing into it without proper readiness.

You can utilise library resources, academic databases, and reputable online sources to gather relevant information. Academic journals, books, and scholarly websites are great places to kick-start your research.

Throughout your research, take notes, keep a record of the sources and page numbers for citations, and organise your notes logically for easy reference.

Create A Research Question Or Thesis Statement

So, before you come up with even a first draft, you need to write down your thesis statement or the research question.

• The research question is a clear and concise research question that your paper will address. A research question defines the scope and purpose of your study.
• The Thesis statement presents the central argument or hypothesis of your paper. It should be specific but arguable at the same time.

The thesis statement or the research question will be the base of your research paper, so ensure they align with your chosen topic and the goals of your paper.

However, when you start to delve into your research, you should keep the space open for refinement in your question or statement in case you think it can improve.

Writing Phase Of Research Paper

Organise your thoughts & create an outline.

Before you delve into the writing part of the content , it is essential to organise your thoughts and craft a structure, i.e., an outline for your research paper. The created outline will provide a structure and direction to your paper, ensuring you follow a logical flow of ideas. Here’s how to go about it:

• Divide your paper into different sections and add subheads. Each section must include the introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.
• Within each section, create a hierarchical outline with the talking points. This will help you trace the main points and subpoints you intend to cover.
• Also, as you create the section, ensure to create a silo in the sections and arrange each section in an orderly way to present your idea.

Write An Introduction That Hits The Right Cord

The introduction is the opportunity to engage the readers and set the premise for them, which helps them decide whether they want to invest their time in reading the complete research paper.

Thus, to set up the tone, the introduction should address the “what,” “why,” and “how” of your research:

• What does the paper include? Here, you must provide a brief overview of what readers can expect from your paper. You can mention the main sections and the key points you will discuss.
• Why Is It Worth Reading? Explain to the readers about the significance of your research. You can add what problem it addresses and why this problem is necessary or relevant. In this section, you can add the FOMO through your questions to convince the reader that your paper adds value to the field.
• How You’ll Build Your Argument? You can give a little glimpse into the approach you have followed in your research paper. You can create a section mentioning your methodology or research methods. This will also increase your authority and authenticity in front of the raiders.

Get Started With Your First Draft

Once you have your outline ready and a good understanding of what your paper has to include, you can start writing your first draft. At this moment, you do not need to write everything with perfection. All you need to do is just get things on paper.

Even if you do not feel like starting with the first section, it is the first draft, so you can always start with any section you think you are prepared to complete first. The primary goal is to capture your ideas, evidence, and insights in your outline.

Moreover, in the first draft, you can add all the relevant information you think you have related to the topic. While later refining your draft, you’ll have an opportunity to fine-tune and filter what information feels right to include and what doesn’t.

Address A Strong Counterargument To Strengthen Your Assertion

To strengthen your assertion, you must address a strong counterargument in your research paper.

You can begin by identifying and adding the most substantial counterargument to your thesis or main point. You must understand the opposing viewpoint thoroughly and include its essential claims and evidence. Then, after acknowledging the counterargument, provide a thoughtful and well-reasoned denial of that argument. Explain why the counterargument may be valid in some contexts but ultimately falls short in the context of your research, and thus, you deny it.

To support your denial argument, shelf some credible reasoning evidence and show how your position is more valid, well-supported, or aligned with the overall goal of your research.

This will demonstrate that you have considered different perspectives and are addressing the issues comprehensively.

Summarise Your Research Paper Strategically

This summary of your research paper is the conclusion. Here, you can:

• Restate the main points of your research paper. This reminds readers of the primary focus of your paper.
• Summarise the most significant findings and results from your research. You can be crisp with your statement, but add enough detail to convey the importance of these findings in the summary.
• Address the question or thesis statement again at this moment. Revisiting your thesis statement or addressing the question again shows how nuanced your understanding of the subject is.
• Lastly, conclude your summary with a powerful closing statement that reinforces the significance of your research. Focus on the most critical points to leave a lasting impression and give readers a memorable takeaway.

Revise, Edit, & Proofread Your Paper

After completing the first draft, the writing or the work doesn’t end here. The next crucial step is to revise thoroughly, do the heavy editing, and proofread the entire paper. This stage makes your paper polished and ready for submission. Here’s what all you need to do:

Ensure The Paragraphs Are Well-Structured and Have a Transition

If you are making a research paper for your organisation as a professional or a student, it is either way necessary to check each and every paragraph and sentence. You need to do this to check if each section provides coherent supporting details. This creates a flow in your argument and helps readers follow that.

Besides, when there is a flow inside a paragraph, you must also ensure the transition between the paragraphs stays intact. Using transitional words and smooth transitions helps the readers to navigate your idea more easily.

Cut Out The Fillers & Refrain From Beating Around The Bush Statements

Every reader likes the concise reading. So, when revising and refining your research paper, examine your paper for unnecessary phrases, words, or sentences that do not contribute to your argument or seem to be a filler. Be concise and direct in your writing.

However, if you have paragraphs written, do not lose them entirely. You can save them in other documents. You never know when you’ll need that paragraph for another assignment.

Be clear with your arguments. Ensure that your statements are clear and to the point. You must also avoid vague or overly complex language or sentences that confuse the readers.

Proofread To Catch Errors In Spelling, Grammar, and Formatting

After you have completed all the sections of your research paper and added the information required, it’s time to re-read and proofread your paper.

You need to carefully proofread each and every sentence of your paper to catch spelling and grammar errors. Pay attention to common mistakes such as typos, subject-verb agreement, hyphens, and other punctuation.

You can always use Grammarly to proofread your paper and check for plagiarism. 

Another important thing you need to take care of is checking that your paper adheres to the required formatting style, for example, APA, MLA, or Chicago.

Also, verify that your citations, references, and page formatting are consistent and accurate.

Wrong or inconsistent formatting always has a negative impact, even if you wrote a research paper with high-quality research.

Feedback & Submission

Seeking feedback and a second opinion is always a good idea before submission. So, Consider seeking feedback from peers, colleagues, mentors, or just any of them. Getting a fresh perspective or improvement remarks can help you identify areas for improvement and clarity.

However, if you do not have peers to get feedback or do not want to share it before submitting it, read it aloud and listen to yourself consciously. Reading your paper aloud will help you identify awkward phrasing, missing words, or grammatical errors that you might have skipped during silent proofreading.

Take time to meticulously proofread and polish your research paper and produce a professional-grade final product.

Once you have carefully reviewed and refined your research paper, it’s time to prepare it for submission. Do not just mail your research paper to the concerned person or guide, but ensure that you follow the submission guidelines provided by your institution or publisher.

Bottom-Line?

The art of writing a research paper is more like embarking on a journey of intellectual exploration. It is not just about meeting the word count, formatting the guideline, or answering the generic questions. Instead, it is about diving deep into the subject, evaluating the topic, writing things from different perspectives, and sharing your insights. It is also about how well and in what quality capacity you contribute to the world of knowledge.

So, as you work on your research paper, remember that you are not solely writing down the words but doing the work that goes beyond the words and pages. Your dedication and hard work should advance knowledge and share ideas in the right way that genuinely helps you mark your presence in the world of learning and discovery.

Ravpreet is an avid writer, prone to penning compelling content that hits the right chord. A startup enthusiast, Ravpreet has written content about startups for over three years and helped them succeed. You can also find her cooking, making singing videos, or walking on quiet streets in her free time.

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Getting started on a research paper.

I.           Begin this process by examining your assignment sheet .

A.      Be sure you understand the requirements and limits of the assignment.

B.      Pay attention to wording, the audience, the scope of expected research, and the desired length.

II.        Set up a schedule

A.      Include library and Internet exploration time

B.      Set a date for when you will decide on a topic and/or hypothesis

C.      Allow time to gather sources

D.      Consider deadlines for a rough outline and thesis

E.       Take into account note taking time, rough draft deadlines, revision time, and when the final draft is due.

F.      Don’t forget to schedule a time to visit the Writing Center!

III.       Identify the purpose

·         Look for cue words, such as describe, survey, analyze, explain, classify, compare, contrast in the prompt.

IV.      Identify the audience

·         Be sure to think about what they already know, what they will want to learn about, what assumptions they may have/receive, and what response you wish to elicit from them.

V.         Identify the scope of your research

·         Sources:

1)       What kind do I need?

2)       How many do I need?

VI.      Choose a topic

A.      Think about subjects with which you are or would like to become familiar.

B.      Surf the Net and skim your textbooks or other reading materials

C.      Ask yourself if the topic is:

1)       interesting

2)       manageable

3)       has more than one angle

4)       has available resources

D.      Focus your topic so that it is compliant with the length of your assignment

VII.       Develop a hypothesis or thesis statement

·         This sentence should be an interesting statement about your research that can be proved or disproved by your evidence.

Example from Lunsford/Connors :

Topic : Heroes in U.S. films

Issue : Changes in heroes in U.S. films

Research Question : How have heroes changed since they found a home in Hollywood?

Hypothesis/Thesis statement : As real-life heroes have been dethroned in popular U.S. culture over the last century, so have film heroes, and current films suggest that the hero may not have a future at all.

VIII.          Explore your topic (see worksheet entitled Getting Started on a Composition Paper )

IX.               Convert your hypothesis to a working thesis for your paper.

8 Key Elements of a Research Paper Structure + Free Template (2024)

Table of contents

Brinda Gulati

Welcome to the twilight zone of research writing. You’ve got your thesis statement and research evidence, and before you write the first draft, you need a wireframe — a structure on which your research paper can stand tall. 

When you’re looking to share your research with the wider scientific community, your discoveries and breakthroughs are important, yes. But what’s more important is that you’re able to communicate your research in an accessible format. For this, you need to publish your paper in journals. And to have your research published in a journal, you need to know how to structure a research paper.

Here, you’ll find a template of a research paper structure, a section-by-section breakdown of the eight structural elements, and actionable insights from three published researchers.

Let’s begin!

Why is the Structure of a Research Paper Important?

A research paper built on a solid structure is the literary equivalent of calcium supplements for weak bones.

Richard Smith of BMJ says, “...no amount of clever language can compensate for a weak structure."

There’s space for your voice and creativity in your research, but without a structure, your paper is as good as a beached whale — stranded and bloated.

A well-structured research paper:

• Communicates your credibility as a student scholar in the wider academic community.
• Facilitates accessibility for readers who may not be in your field but are interested in your research.
• Promotes clear communication between disciplines, thereby eliminating “concept transfer” as a rate-limiting step in scientific cross-pollination.
• Increases your chances of getting published!

Research Paper Structure Template

Why Was My Research Paper Rejected?

A desk rejection hurts — sometimes more than stubbing your pinky toe against a table.

Oftentimes, journals will reject your research paper before sending it off for peer review if the architecture of your manuscript is shoddy. 

The JAMA Internal Medicine , for example, rejected 78% of the manuscripts it received in 2017 without review. Among the top 10 reasons? Poor presentation and poor English . (We’ve got fixes for both here, don’t you worry.)

5 Common Mistakes in a Research Paper Structure

• Choppy transitions : Missing or abrupt transitions between sections disrupt the flow of your paper. Read our guide on transition words here. 
• Long headings : Long headings can take away from your main points. Be concise and informative, using parallel structure throughout.
• Disjointed thoughts : Make sure your paragraphs flow logically from one another and support your central point.
• Misformatting : An inconsistent or incorrect layout can make your paper look unprofessional and hard to read. For font, spacing, margins, and section headings, strictly follow your target journal's guidelines.
• Disordered floating elements : Ill-placed and unlabeled tables, figures, and appendices can disrupt your paper's structure. Label, caption, and reference all floating elements in the main text.

What Is the Structure of a Research Paper? 

The structure of a research paper closely resembles the shape of a diamond flowing from the general ➞ specific ➞ general. 

We’ll follow the IMRaD ( I ntroduction , M ethods , R esults , and D iscussion) format within the overarching “context-content-conclusion” approach:

➞ The context sets the stage for the paper where you tell your readers, “This is what we already know, and here’s why my research matters.”

➞ The content is the meat of the paper where you present your methods, results, and discussion. This is the IMRad (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) format — the most popular way to organize the body of a research paper. 

➞ The conclusion is where you bring it home — “Here’s what we’ve learned, and here’s where it plays out in the grand scheme of things.”

Now, let’s see what this means section by section.

1. Research Paper Title

A research paper title is read first, and read the most. 

The title serves two purposes: informing readers and attracting attention . Therefore, your research paper title should be clear, descriptive, and concise . If you can, avoid technical jargon and abbreviations. Your goal is to get as many readers as possible.

In fact, research articles with shorter titles describing the results are cited more often . 

An impactful title is usually 10 words long, plus or minus three words. 

For example:

• "Mortality in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria" (word count = 7)
• “A Review of Practical Techniques For the Diagnosis of Malaria” (word count = 10)

2. Research Paper Abstract

In an abstract, you have to answer the two whats :

• What has been done?
• What are the main findings?

The abstract is the elevator pitch for your research. Is your paper worth reading? Convince the reader here. 

✏️ NOTE : According to different journals’ guidelines, sometimes the title page and abstract section are on the same page. 

An abstract ranges from 200-300 words and doubles down on the relevance and significance of your research. Succinctly.  

This is your chance to make a second first impression. 

If you’re stuck with a blob of text and can’t seem to cut it down, a smart AI elf like Wordtune can help you write a concise abstract! The AI research assistant also offers suggestions for improved clarity and grammar so your elevator pitch doesn’t fall by the wayside. 

Get Wordtune for free > Get Wordtune for free >

3. Introduction Section

What does it do.

Asks the central research question.

Pre-Writing Questions For the Introduction Section

The introduction section of your research paper explains the scope, context, and importance of your project. 

I talked to Swagatama Mukherjee , a published researcher and graduate student in Neuro-Oncology studying Glioblastoma Progression. For the Introduction, she says, focus on answering three key questions:

• What isn’t known in the field? 
• How is that knowledge gap holding us back?
• How does your research focus on answering this problem?

When Should You Write It?

Write it last. As you go along filling in the body of your research paper, you may find that the writing is evolving in a different direction than when you first started. 

Organizing the Introduction

Visualize the introduction as an upside-down triangle when considering the overall outline of this section. You'll need to give a broad introduction to the topic, provide background information, and then narrow it down to specific research. Finally, you'll need a focused research question, hypothesis, or thesis statement. The move is from general ➞ specific.

✨️ BONUS TIP: Use the famous CARS model by John Swales to nail this upside-down triangle. 

4. methods section.

Describes what was done to answer the research question, and how.

Write it first . Just list everything you’ve done, and go from there. How did you assign participants into groups? What kind of questionnaires have you used? How did you analyze your data? 

Write as if the reader were following an instruction manual on how to duplicate your research methodology to the letter. 

Organizing the Methods Section

Here, you’re telling the story of your research. 

Write in as much detail as possible, and in the chronological order of the experiments. Follow the order of the results, so your readers can track the gradual development of your research. Use headings and subheadings to visually format the section.

This skeleton isn’t set in stone. The exact headings will be determined by your field of study and the journal you’re submitting to. 

✨️ BONUS TIP : Drowning in research? Ask Wordtune to summarize your PDFs for you!

5. results section .

Reports the findings of your study in connection to your research question.

Write the section only after you've written a draft of your Methods section, and before the Discussion.

This section is the star of your research paper. But don't get carried away just yet. Focus on factual, unbiased information only. Tell the reader how you're going to change the world in the next section. The Results section is strictly a no-opinions zone.

How To Organize Your Results 

A tried-and-true structure for presenting your findings is to outline your results based on the research questions outlined in the figures.

Whenever you address a research question, include the data that directly relates to that question.

What does this mean? Let’s look at an example:

Here's a sample research question:

How does the use of social media affect the academic performance of college students?

Make a statement based on the data:

College students who spent more than 3 hours per day on social media had significantly lower GPAs compared to those who spent less than 1 hour per day (M=2.8 vs. M=3.4; see Fig. 2).

You can elaborate on this finding with secondary information:

The negative impact of social media use on academic performance was more pronounced among freshmen and sophomores compared to juniors and seniors ((F>25), (S>20), (J>15), and (Sr>10); see Fig. 4).

Finally, caption your figures in the same way — use the data and your research question to construct contextual phrases. The phrases should give your readers a framework for understanding the data: 

Figure 4. Percentage of college students reporting a negative impact of social media on academic performance, by year in school.

Dos and Don’ts For The Results Section

✔️ Related : How to Write a Research Paper (+ Free AI Research Paper Writer)

6. discussion section.

Explains the importance and implications of your findings, both in your specific area of research, as well as in a broader context. 

Pre-Writing Questions For the Discussion Section

• What is the relationship between these results and the original question in the Introduction section?
• How do your results compare with those of previous research? Are they supportive, extending, or contradictory to existing knowledge?
• What is the potential impact of your findings on theory, practice, or policy in your field?
• Are there any strengths or weaknesses in your study design, methods, or analysis? Can these factors affect how you interpret your results?
• Based on your findings, what are the next steps or directions for research? Have you got any new questions or hypotheses?

Before the Introduction section, and after the Results section. 

Based on the pre-writing questions, five main elements can help you structure your Discussion section paragraph by paragraph:

• Summary : Restate your research question/problem and summarize your major findings.
• Interpretations : Identify patterns, contextualize your findings, explain unexpected results, and discuss if and how your results satisfied your hypotheses.
• Implications: Explore if your findings challenge or support existing research, share new insights, and discuss the consequences in theory or practice.
• Limitations : Acknowledge what your results couldn’t achieve because of research design or methodological choices.
• Recommendations : Give concrete ideas about how further research can be conducted to explore new avenues in your field of study. 

Dos and Don’ts For the Discussion Section

Aritra Chatterjee , a licensed clinical psychologist and published mental health researcher, advises, “If your findings are not what you expected, disclose this honestly. That’s what good research is about.”

7. Acknowledgments

Expresses gratitude to mentors, colleagues, and funding sources who’ve helped your research.

Write this section after all the parts of IMRaD are done to reflect on your research journey without getting distracted midway. 

After a lot of scientific writing, you might get stumped trying to write a few lines to say thanks. Don’t let this be the reason for a late or no-submission.

Wordtune can make a rough draft for you. 

All you then have to do is edit the AI-generated content to suit your voice, and replace any text placeholders as needed:

8. References

Lists all the works/sources used in your research with proper citations. 

The two most important aspects of referencing are: 

• Following the correct format; and 
• Properly citing the sources. 

Keep a working document of the works you’ve referenced as you go along, but leave the finishing touches for last after you’ve completed the body of your research paper — the IMRaD.

Tips For Writing the References Section

The error rate of references in several scientific disciplines is 25%-54% . 

Don’t want to be a part of this statistic? We got you.

• Choose quality over quantity : While it's tempting to pad your bibliography to seem more scholarly, this is a rookie mistake.   Samantha Summers , a museum professional based in Canada, is a published researcher in Medieval History and Critical Philanthropy studies. According to her, “Adding in a citation just to lengthen your bibliography and without engaging deeply with the cited work doesn’t make for good writing.” We ought to listen to her advice — she has three Master’s degrees to her name for a reason. 
• Select the correct referencing guide : Always cross-check with your chosen journal’s or institution’s preference for either Harvard, MLA, APA, Chicago, or IEEE. 
• Include recent studies and research : Aim to cite academically ripe sources — not overripe. Research from the past half-decade or so is ideal, whereas studies from the 80s or 90s run a higher risk of being stale. 
• Use a reliable reference manager software : Swagatama recommends several free resources that have helped her get her research organized and published — Zotero and Mendeley are top contenders, followed by EndNote . 

By the end, your References section will look something like this:

Ready, Get, Set, Publish!

Dust yourself off, we've made it out of the twilight zone. You’ve now got the diamond of the structure of a research paper — the IMRaD format within the “context-content-conclusion” model. 

Keep this structure handy as you fill in the bones of your research paper. And if you’re stuck staring at a blinking cursor, fresh out of brain juice? 

An AI-powered writing assistant like Wordtune can help you polish your diamond, craft great abstracts, and speed through drafts! 

You've got this.

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Research Paper Writing Guides

How To Start A Research Paper

Last updated on: May 13, 2024

The Definitive Guide on How to Start a Research Paper

By: Donna C.

Reviewed By: Leanne R.

Published on: Jan 1, 2024

Research paper writing  can feel overwhelming, especially when you do not know where to start. 

There's a ton of information out there, and it can be challenging to put it in a coherent manner, leaving many researchers unsure of where to begin.

Deciding on a topic, creating a clear thesis, and keeping your audience interested can be a real task. The excitement of discovering something new is great, but there's also a fear of getting lost in a sea of information.

No need to worry! 

In this step by step guide, we will help you to tackle the challenging first steps of writing a research paper . We will tell you what prep work you have to do and how to start your research paper efficiently. 

So, why wait? Let’s dive right into it!

On this Page

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

How To Start a Research Paper

No matter which type of research paper you're dealing with, the first step of writing is to do the groundwork. Knowing how to start a research paper gives you an edge in writing a thorough and academically sound research paper.

Here is a step-by-step breakdown for how to start a research paper, leading to an outstanding research paper introduction .

Step 1: Understanding the Research Topic

Before you learn how to write a research paper, carefully review the research problem. 

Identify key components such as the required length, formatting style (APA, MLA, etc.), and any specific expectations required by your publisher or journal. 

This step lays the foundation for tailoring your research approach to meet the journal’s unique criteria.

Step 2: Choosing a Research Topic

The importance of choosing the right research paper topic cannot be overstated, as it forms the basis for your entire research paper. Consider your personal interests, ensuring they align with the assignment guidelines. 

Go for a topic that helps and facilitates existing research, and make sure there is enough literature about it.

Take the time to explore various options, ensuring that readers understand your chosen topic and it also aligns with both your academic and personal objectives.

Step 3: Defining the Research Question 

Refining your chosen topic involves writing a clear and specific research question leading to a well-crafted abstract. 

This question serves as the guiding force throughout your research, ensuring a focused and purposeful exploration of the chosen subject.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself before starting a research paper:

• What is the main purpose or objective of my research paper?
• Who is my target audience, and what level of knowledge do they have on the topic?
• What is the key message or argument I want to convey in my paper?
• What evidence or data do I need to support my claims or arguments?
• What are the potential counterarguments or opposing views that I should address?
• What is the significance of my research, and why should readers care about it?

Step 4: Setting Clear Objectives and Goals

When you're working on a research paper, setting clear objectives and goals helps you know exactly what you want to achieve and where you're headed with your study.

Objectives outline the specific achievements or outcomes you aim to attain through your research. They provide a clear and measurable focus, guiding your efforts toward answering the overarching research question. 

Goals , on the other hand, provide the research with direction and purpose, offering a sense of the intended impact or contribution.

Section 5: Conducting Preliminary Research

Preliminary research involves gathering background information on your topic from credible and scholarly sources. This step helps you grasp existing knowledge, identify research gaps, and refine the direction of your study.

For conducting the research, make sure to follow these steps:

• Utilize academic databases and libraries
• Existing literature review
• Use online resources and websites
• Take detailed notes
• Identify key concepts and keywords
• Consider multiple perspectives
• Evaluate source credibility
• Cite your sources properly
• Refine your research question
• Establish a solid foundation

Utilize academic databases and scholarly articles to collect information on the current state of research related to your chosen topic. This foundational step informs the subsequent stages of your investigation.

Step 6: Creating a Working Thesis Statement

Develop an introductory thesis statement that concisely conveys the main point or argument of your research. 

Recognize that this statement may evolve as your understanding of the topic deepens throughout the research process.

Step 7: Developing a Research Plan

Craft a detailed research plan outlining the steps and timeline for each phase of your project. 

This plan serves as a roadmap, helping you stay organized and ensuring a systematic progression from initial exploration to the final draft.

Step 8: Organizing Research Materials

Systematically organize your research materials to facilitate easy access and reference during the writing phase. 

Categorize articles, notes, and references based on themes, supporting evidence, or relevance to specific sections of your research paper.

You can utilize folders, digital tools, or citation management software to categorize and label materials effectively.

Here are some popular citation management software tools:

Step 9: Creating a Visual Outline

Develop a visual representation of your research structure using a research paper outline . 

This visual plan helps you write an introduction and see how different ideas, supporting points, and important parts of your research paper are connected. 

Step 10: Start the Writing Process

Now that you've gathered information and figured out what you want to study, it's time to start writing. This means turning what you know into a clear and organized research paper.

Start with writing an introduction for your research paper emphasizing the main topic, followed by methodology , discussion , results , and  conclusion . 

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

How To Start Research Paper - Examples

After following these steps, you should have a better understanding of how to start a research paper. 

When beginning a research paper, consider consulting the following examples to ensure you start your paper in the right way!

How To Start A Research Paper About A Person

How To Start A Research Paper Intro Example

Tips on How To Start a Research Paper

Starting a research paper can be exciting and a bit challenging. To make sure you do well, here are some simple tips to keep in mind:

• Create a Timeline

Develop a realistic timeline for your research project. This helps in managing tasks efficiently and ensures you have sufficient time for each stage of the process.

• Consider Ethical Considerations

Think about the ethical aspects of your research, especially if it involves human subjects. 

• Stay Flexible in Your Approach

Be prepared to adapt your research plan as needed. Research is an evolving process, and staying flexible allows you to navigate unexpected challenges.

• Use Primary and Secondary Sources Wisely

Distinguish between different types of sources and understand their respective roles in your research. 

• Stay Updated on Research Trends

Keep yourself informed about recent developments and trends in your field. This knowledge will enhance the relevance and timeliness of your research.

All in all, starting a research paper requires thoughtful planning and a smart approach to existing literature. This guide is here to give you the tools to start your academic journey confidently. 

But if you need expert help, turn to our paper writing service online . 

At SharkPapers.com , our dedicated team is here to guide you 24/7, making sure your academic journey goes well. 

So, don’t waste time, avail research paper writing help now from experts!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to start a research paper thesis.

Begin your research paper thesis by clearly stating the main point or argument you will explore.  Craft a concise and focused thesis statement that outlines the purpose and direction of your research.

How to Start a Research Paper with a Quote?

Introduce your research paper with a relevant and impactful quote that sets the tone for your topic.

Ensure the quote relates directly to your research and adds value to the parts of the introduction, providing a perspective.

Donna writes on a broad range of topics, but she is mostly passionate about social issues, current events, and human-interest stories. She has received high praise for her writing from both colleagues and readers alike. Donna is known in her field for creating content that is not only professional but also captivating.

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Researching Your Topic

Beginning a research paper may seem daunting, but there are simple steps you can take to get started. Once you have a topic, you'll need to think about what kind of research you need to do - what kind of questions do you have, and how will you answer them? See our "Understanding Assignments" handout to help you decide what you're going to research for your paper, and use this guide to walk you through the steps that lead up to writing your research paper.

STEP 1: FINDING AND DOCUMENTING SOURCES

The first thing you'll need to do is find some sources to work with. At this stage, you want to collect as many sources as possible and keep the bibliographic information of each one for future reference.

The Swarthmore College librarians are available to help you find research materials. You can schedule discipline-specific group or individual research sessions through the libraries website . Also, McCabe and Cornell libraries have reference desks that are staffed with librarians during business hours for those spur-of-the-moment questions. It's useful to start by asking what databases are most helpful for the subject you're researching and where the books on that subject are housed in the library stacks. Also make sure you know how to use the library's online search feature!

Preliminary Bibliography

While you're researching, it's helpful to keep a record of the resources you've consulted. If you ever need to find a source, you'll have all the information at your fingertips. If you prefer, you can write a brief summary of the source under each bibliographic entry. This will help you distinguish between sources that have similar titles or subjects. Above all, if you keep a detailed record while you research, you don't need to worry about getting it together once you've written your paper - it's already done!

STEP 2: SELECTING SOURCES AND TAKING NOTES

Your next task is to go through the large quantity of information you found and figure out how much of it will be relevant to your paper. You then need to read each useful source and take notes.

Selecting Sources

When you begin your research, you'll likely come up with more sources than you need. Many of them will end up being off-topic. To quickly gauge whether a source will be useful, look at the title, publication information, abstract, or table of contents. These will give you a better idea of what is actually contained in the text, so you don't waste hours reading through information that you can't use in your paper.

Reading Sources

It's easy to lose focus while skimming over research materials. Try reading actively. As you read, make observations, ask questions, and respond to the text by taking notes. This will help you move from reading to writing more quickly because you're already thinking critically about your topic. Active reading requires your complete attention and focus. It is more than just being able to summarize the text you've read. You need to think about and analyze the text as well, so you can see how it will fit into your argument. Try to make connections with other readings or find interesting points of contention between sources. It can also be helpful to suspend your judgment. Often, writers respond too quickly to the text and don't spend enough time carefully considering what the author has to say. For more help, check out the SAM Program .

Everyone has her own method for taking notes. Whether you use note cards, paper, or your computer, you MUST remember to keep track of where your notes came from. Sloppy notes can result in source material being incorrectly cited or not cited at all - either of which constitutes plagiarism.

An easy way to keep your notes organized is to deal with one source at a time, writing notes from that source on a piece of paper (or a note card, or a Word file) with that particular source's bibliographic information copied at the top. After each note, include the page number to which it corresponds. That way, when you make references to sources in your paper, all the relevant citation information is right there in your notes for you. Always remember to keep direct quotes in quotation marks in your notes, or you could unknowingly copy them into your paper as paraphrases.

STEP 3: WRITING YOUR PAPER

Once you've done all your research, you'll need to figure out how to fit it into your paper. Here are some suggestions for working research into your writing:

Integrating Sources

When you start writing, make sure you aren't using an outside source as the basis of your argument. It's your paper; the thesis should be yours.

Also avoid quoting extensively from just one source. The point of research is to find multiple sources to support your argument. Quoting over and over from just one will make your paper sound more like a book report than an argumentative essay.

Don't feel guilty about dropping sources if you find they're not working in your paper. It's better to have fewer sources that are well-used than to have many that are out of place or irrelevant to your topic.

In general, quoted material should not dominate your paper. While it is necessary, its presence serves to support your argument, which should be discussed for the majority of the paper.

Try to seamlessly include references to outside sources in the text of your paper. The writing should transition from your words to others' without sounding stilted or choppy.

Always cite all quoted material and any paraphrases of someone else's ideas or argument.

If in doubt, cite it anyway!

Make sure you're using the correct citation format for your field.

Double-check your works cited page or bibliography to make sure it contains all the pertinent information.

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• I want to get started writing early, but how do I begin?
• How do I get started writing a personal statement?
• I have a lot to say, but how can I organize my thoughts?
• How can I learn how to write in a new genre (for example, personal statement, resume, or literature review)?
• How do I expand a rough draft to make it meet the assignment’s length requirement?
• How can I find good sources for my research paper?
• What are some strategies for working sources into my research paper?
• What is the difference between quotation, paraphrase, and summary?
• How can I revise my draft if it doesn’t seem to “flow”?
• What does my teacher mean by “substantial revision?”
• How do I write an essay that makes an “argument”?
• How can I avoid plagiarizing?
• What are some strategies for improving my grammar and punctuation?
• How can I format my document properly in Word, PowerPoint or Excel?
• How should I approach writing a literature review at the graduate level?
• / Resources for Students
• / Writing FAQs
• / What are some strategies for working sources into my research paper?

It’s important to note, first, that sources are used in a variety of ways depending on the writing situation. Individual academic disciplines often have specific ways of using sources, so it is helpful to read some scholarship within your discipline to learn its writing conventions before beginning to write. Pay particular attention to whether writers in the discipline tend to paraphrase or quote material from other sources. In general, when using sources in academic writing, there are some moves that writers tend to make. Usually, whether quoting or paraphrasing , you will want to introduce the source. Often, this takes the form of attributive tags or signal phrases, which let the reader know where the quote or paraphrase is coming from. When paraphrasing, it is especially important to include a signal phrase or tag to signal to the reader that what follows is coming from another source. Because paraphrase involves rewording and does not contain quotation marks or a similar way of marking the text to indicate that the idea is borrowed from another source, it is important to signal to the reader that the material that is paraphrased is not your own, so attributive tags or signal phrases can be especially helpful when paraphrasing. When using sources in academic writing, it is also important to explain how the information you are borrowing from another source relates to your own ideas. Just as it is important, then, to introduce quotes and paraphrase, it is also important to let the reader know why you are using that information. What do you want the reader to get out of the paraphrase or quote? How does it build on or relate to your ideas?

What can the Writing Center do to help?

Writing consultants are used to working with sources in their writing, so during a session, they can help you to develop effective signal phrases and/or attributive tags and to explain how the quotation or paraphrase relates to your ideas. We also offer useful handouts on using sources, which can be helpful when you are working on your own.

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Online Guide to Writing and Research

The writing process, explore more of umgc.

• Online Guide to Writing

Getting from Notes to Your Draft

By now, you’ve gathered enough opinions on your topic, engaged in some prewriting strategies, and decided on a rough structure for your essay. Now, it’s time to begin writing the different parts of your essay, first using your own voice and opinions to establish the structure and flow. 

A first draft —your initial attempt to organize your thoughts in prose writing—is more complete than an outline and elaborates on your ideas in complete sentences and paragraphs. From your thesis statement and notes, you should write at least one draft. For now, disregard spelling, punctuation, and grammar, which are writing mechanics . In this draft, you want to focus on getting your ideas down in a way that reflects your outline and your proposed plan. Focus on the content.

Recognizing the Balance

Remember, an essay contains your own position plus the work of experts. It’s important to recognize this balance so that when you begin writing your introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, you are aware of how much of your essay should be your own writing and how much should be drawing upon experts whom you’ve researched.

Writing Your Introduction from Beginning to End

The purpose of an introductory paragraph is to engage your readers and set the tone of your essay. When writing your introduction, think of an inverted pyramid. At the widest part, you will start with broad information about the topic. As you progress to the point, you will narrow into your thesis statement, which is the main point of your essay.

Click on the tabs below to see what your introductory paragraph should contain from the first sentence to the last sentence. Click on the last tab, "Sample Introduction," to see an example.

• Sample Introduction

STRONG INTRODUCTIONS BEGIN BY

Offering a noteworthy statistic or fact: There are over 500 known species of marine sharks (Smithsonian, 2018).  

Introducing a question that makes the audience think: Are great white sharks the most dangerous predators in today’s oceans, or are humans?

Citing an interesting quote with an explanation about how it connects to the main point: "French fries kill more people than guns and sharks, yet nobody is afraid of French fries” (Kiyosaki, 2021, p. 2). 

Presenting an issue or telling a story: A lone surfer wades into cloudy water. The posted warning, “Sharks Sighted,” foretells disaster.

Defining concepts (without using the dictionary, but just explaining meanings): Sharks are marine fish and feed on marine life and plankton, just like other fish. 

Whatever strategy you use to begin your introduction, remember to always elaborate on its meaning after presenting it. Your readers need to know how the attention-grabber is relevant to the topic and main point. 

The middle of your introduction is the place to provide your readers with context and background about the topic in your own words. After connecting your attention-grabber to the relevance of the topic, offer the audience more information about it. If your instructor has asked you to write about an issue in your field of study, this is where you would include information about the issue and explain why it is a problem. You are preparing your readers for the big reveal and stance: your thesis. Click on the next tab to learn more.

YOUR THESIS

The tip of your pyramid is where you reveal to the readers why they are here. This is where you present your thesis statement or main argument.  Click on the next tab for a sample introduction. The last sentence is the thesis statement.

The CDC, citing the Kaiser Family Foundation, states that "kids ages eight-eighteen now spend on average, a whopping seven and a half hours in front of a screen for entertainment each day” (CDC, 2022, para. 1). Advancements in technology have made knowledge and entertainment accessible to all, allowing for connections between people worldwide. Recently, technology has provided a reliable means of communication in a time when a global pandemic forced drastic changes to lifestyles. On the other hand, the habits of many people have normalized technology as a replacement for face-to-face interactions, and children are among those paying the price. While some argue that daily technology use has little effect on wellbeing, research shows that physical, mental, and social repercussions are undeniable and drastic actions need to be taken to help young people find balance.

Five-to-eight sentences is the typical length for an introductory paragraph. 

Body Paragraph and Sentence Development

Topic sentences.

Topic sentences are like mini-thesis statements that begin single paragraphs or groups of paragraphs. It is a topic sentence’s job to reveal what that paragraph will be about. The words you use in your topic sentences should be your own. You can look at your thesis statement to plan out what your topic sentences will say. This helps you organize the structure of your essay. Below, notice the sample topic sentences are linked to the thesis statement.

Thesis Statement Connected to Each Topic Sentence

THESIS STATEMENT: While some may argue that daily technology use has an insignificant effect on wellbeing, research shows that physical, mental, and social repercussions are undeniable and drastic actions need to be taken to help young people find balance.

TOPIC ONE: Physical effects of too much internet/technology

TOPIC SENTENCE ONE:   Although it isn’t always apparent immediately, excessive use of technology and the internet can have devastating physical repercussions on the human body.

TOPIC TWO: Mental effects of too much internet/technology

TOPIC SENTENCE TWO:  While poor mental health is often linked to many different causes, society overlooks the impact overuse of technology can have on psychological wellbeing.

TOPIC THREE:  Social effects of too much internet/technology

TOPIC SENTENCE THREE:   Even though the use of the internet can bring individuals together socially in a positive manner, the severity of the negative outcomes are glaringly obvious.

It is important to recognize that each of the topic sentences has an angle, just like the thesis statement, but on a smaller scale because you are supporting a part of the main point. Not all paragraphs will have a topic sentence, because sometimes several paragraphs will support just one topic sentence if you have a lot of different points to make regarding the one topic. If that is the case, it is smart to use transition words to begin paragraphs that support a main topic sentence. Doing so provides a smooth flow to your writing, and everything appears more cohesive. 

Transition Words

Below are some transition words you can use for your topic sentences. Click on the tabs for various words you can use depending on the meaning you are trying to convey.

In addition

Furthermore 

Nevertheless

Including Like 

Consequently

Accordingly

To the rear 

After Topic Sentences, What is Next?

Building an entire body paragraph.

It helps to know what parts of your body paragraphs will be your own words and where you will include outside research.  It also helps to know that each body paragraph focuses on one topic only, which usually supports a part of your thesis statement. The order in which the information below is presented is the order you should follow when building your body paragraph. Also, keep in mind that a body paragraph is typically five to eight sentences long, and try not to exceed half of a double-spaced Microsoft Word page.

TOPIC SENTENCES

Since you just learned about topic sentences above, use those same principles and remember that your topic sentence is always your own writing. Avoid starting a paragraph with anything other than a solid topic sentence. See the examples above. 

FURTHER EXPLANATION

After your topic sentence, the next task is to present a sentence or two that provides some background on the topic or points about the topic which support your stance, all in your own words. 

INTRODUCE RESEARCH

The middle portion of your body paragraph is where you will present some evidence to back your claims. How do you introduce that evidence? You use signal phrases.  This is introducing your research in your own words. There are many signal phrases you can use, but here are some options:

According to last name (year of publication)...

As last name (year of publication) indicated...

Last name (year of publication) claimed that...

PRESENT RESEARCH

Once you have used your signal phrasing to introduce your research, it's time to present it. You can do this two ways:

"using words verbatim with quotation marks around it" (last name, year of publication, page or paragraph number). Please note: All quotes require a page or paragraph number in the in-text citation

A paraphrase

When you paraphrase, you take the author's phrasing and you put it into your own phrasing, but you still use an in-text citation at the end (last name, year of publication). 

Paraphrasing is a better choice in most instances; quotes should be used sparingly, when you think using the author's words verbatim will make a special impact in supporting your claim/stance. 

UNPACK MEANING OF RESEARCH

Now that you have presented your research in the middle of your body paragraph, you can provide an explanation of its meaning in your words. Remember, you are educating your audience on your stance by providing the evidence and then unpacking it in your own words. 

CONNECT MEANING TO THESIS

When you are unpacking the research in your own words, also keep in mind you are educating your audience on why this research is relevant to your main argument/thesis statement. Every body paragraph is supporting the thesis statement, so unpacking the evidence in a way that shines light on a part of your main point is important. This part should also be in your own words.

CONCLUDE TOPIC

Concluding the topic of your body paragraph is important because it reiterates that particular support of the thesis statement and allows you to move forward to the next body paragraph with a new topic. This should also be in your own words. 

Sample Body Paragraph

SAMPLE THESIS STATEMENT: While some argue that daily technology use has an insignificant effect on wellbeing, research shows that physical, mental, and social repercussions are undeniable and drastic actions need to be taken to help young people find balance.

BEGIN WITH INTRODUCTION, THEN...

SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH ONE : Although it is not always apparent immediately, excessive use of technology and the internet can have devastating physical repercussions on the human body, both in the short and long term. When humans are spending excessive amounts of time staring at their screens, eye strain, posture issues, obesity, and health issues from lack of sleep can begin to wreak havoc on the body. According to Bowman (2022), doctor visits for a myriad of physical issues from overuse of the internet and social media sites have risen dramatically in the last five years and it is becoming alarming how many hours are spent in awkward bodily positions, wreaking havoc on backs and necks.  She comments that “many of [her] patients blame their weight gain on diet only when they should be considering how sedentary they are while they check their phones eight hours a day” (2022, p. 2). Many avid internet users do not even consider the physical side effects that can arise from focusing so much on their devices; becoming obese from inactivity can lead to high blood pressure, depression, and heart issues. Acknowledging how much time is spent on the internet and changing it can prevent these devastating physical issues from transpiring. 

PLEASE NOTE:

Do you notice how the first topic the writer chose to talk about is the first issue listed in the thesis (physical repercussions)? If possible, always present your body paragraphs in the same order they are presented in the thesis statement.

In addition, all of the information in a bold-faced font in the sample body paragraph above is the writer's own writing.   It's important to see that balance. You are the voice of your paper and you use the research to support your own argument. Many students struggle with this concept, but you came up with your argument/thesis, you have some knowledge about the topic and feel passionate about it, and the organization of your paper will be carried by you.  

Writing Your Conclusion Paragraph

When you have reached your conclusion paragraph, you are probably feeling accomplished and proud of how far you have come. Even though you are close to the finish line, remember that an effective conclusion should wrap up your essay and main points without repetitive language and accomplish the following:

• REVISIT THESIS
• REVIEW MAIN POINTS
• REVISIT ATTENTION GRABBER
• RECOMMEND COURSE OF ACTION
• OFFER PERSPECTIVE

Your thesis, or controlling idea, should be reiterated but not restated in your conclusion.

If your thesis is this:

Because human habits are causing drastic climate change, society needs to take actions to reduce carbon footprints and save our planet. 

A revisit could look like this:

Recognizing society’s part in climate change is important but taking that knowledge and changing daily habits will make the biggest difference. 

It’s important to summarize your main points without presenting any new information.

Instead of,  The first action humans can take to reduce carbon footprints is to stop buying brand new clothing because it is hurting the environment.

Try,  Because research points to an environmental issue with brand new clothing purchases, changing to vintage is a helpful solution.

By revisiting a startling statistic, you are driving the point home, urging action, and allowing your audience to soak in the big picture perspective.

You wrote this in your intro:  Research concludes that there is a “95% probability that human-produced greenhouse gases have caused the increase in temperatures over the past 50 years” (Nasa, 2021, para. 17). 

Revisit it in the conclusion like this: The shocking facts about societal habits uncover a sense of urgency; our nation must act now to reverse climate change.

By recommending a course of action in your conclusion, you are helping your audience think further about the topic and what might need more research or action. 

For example, if you are arguing that we can make positive changes to our climate, reiterate the actions that can be taken to do so. 

Connecting to a larger theme in your conclusion can link your thesis statement to the overall big picture. For example, if you were asked to write about an issue in your field of study, and you wrote about climate change, you might discuss the field of Climatology and how the two connect for future research. 

Key Takeaways

Think of the inverted pyramid when constructing your introduction. Start with broad information and then begin to narrow into the thesis. Five to eight sentences is the ideal length for an introductory paragraph.

Topic sentences begin paragraphs in your own words, using transitions, supporting the thesis, and revealing the main topic of the paragraph or section. 

Planning your topic sentences around supporting your thesis from the beginning can help you structure your writing in a cohesive way.

Your voice and opinion will guide your body paragraphs, and each one will support part of the thesis statement. 

Moving from general information to more specific, and including the evidence in the middle, is a solid formula to remember when constructing body paragraphs.

Conclusions should reiterate the main points, but not restate them, and allow your audience to think further about the topic.

Mailing Address: 3501 University Blvd. East, Adelphi, MD 20783 This work is licensed under a  Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License . © 2022 UMGC. All links to external sites were verified at the time of publication. UMGC is not responsible for the validity or integrity of information located at external sites.

Table of Contents: Online Guide to Writing

Chapter 1: College Writing

How Does College Writing Differ from Workplace Writing?

What Is College Writing?

Why So Much Emphasis on Writing?

Chapter 2: The Writing Process

Doing Exploratory Research

Introduction

Prewriting - Techniques to Get Started - Mining Your Intuition

Prewriting: Targeting Your Audience

Prewriting: Techniques to Get Started

Prewriting: Understanding Your Assignment

Rewriting: Being Your Own Critic

Rewriting: Creating a Revision Strategy

Rewriting: Getting Feedback

Rewriting: The Final Draft

Techniques to Get Started - Outlining

Techniques to Get Started - Using Systematic Techniques

Thesis Statement and Controlling Idea

Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Freewriting

Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Summarizing Your Ideas

Writing: Outlining What You Will Write

Chapter 3: Thinking Strategies

A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone

A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone: Style Through Vocabulary and Diction

Critical Strategies and Writing

Critical Strategies and Writing: Analysis

Critical Strategies and Writing: Evaluation

Critical Strategies and Writing: Persuasion

Critical Strategies and Writing: Synthesis

Developing a Paper Using Strategies

Kinds of Assignments You Will Write

Patterns for Presenting Information

Patterns for Presenting Information: Critiques

Patterns for Presenting Information: Discussing Raw Data

Patterns for Presenting Information: General-to-Specific Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Specific-to-General Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Summaries and Abstracts

Supporting with Research and Examples

Writing Essay Examinations

Writing Essay Examinations: Make Your Answer Relevant and Complete

Writing Essay Examinations: Organize Thinking Before Writing

Writing Essay Examinations: Read and Understand the Question

Chapter 4: The Research Process

Planning and Writing a Research Paper

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Ask a Research Question

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Cite Sources

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Collect Evidence

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Decide Your Point of View, or Role, for Your Research

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Draw Conclusions

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Find a Topic and Get an Overview

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Manage Your Resources

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Outline

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Survey the Literature

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Work Your Sources into Your Research Writing

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Human Resources

Research Resources: What Are Research Resources?

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found?

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Electronic Resources

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Print Resources

Structuring the Research Paper: Formal Research Structure

Structuring the Research Paper: Informal Research Structure

The Nature of Research

The Research Assignment: How Should Research Sources Be Evaluated?

The Research Assignment: When Is Research Needed?

The Research Assignment: Why Perform Research?

Chapter 5: Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity

Giving Credit to Sources

Giving Credit to Sources: Copyright Laws

Giving Credit to Sources: Documentation

Giving Credit to Sources: Style Guides

Integrating Sources

Practicing Academic Integrity

Practicing Academic Integrity: Keeping Accurate Records

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Paraphrasing Your Source

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Quoting Your Source

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Summarizing Your Sources

Types of Documentation

Types of Documentation: Bibliographies and Source Lists

Types of Documentation: Citing World Wide Web Sources

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - APA Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - CSE/CBE Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - Chicago Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - MLA Style

Types of Documentation: Note Citations

Chapter 6: Using Library Resources

Finding Library Resources

Chapter 7: Assessing Your Writing

How Is Writing Graded?

How Is Writing Graded?: A General Assessment Tool

The Draft Stage

The Draft Stage: The First Draft

The Draft Stage: The Revision Process and the Final Draft

The Draft Stage: Using Feedback

The Research Stage

Using Assessment to Improve Your Writing

Chapter 8: Other Frequently Assigned Papers

Reviews and Reaction Papers: Article and Book Reviews

Reviews and Reaction Papers: Reaction Papers

Writing Arguments

Writing Arguments: Adapting the Argument Structure

Writing Arguments: Purposes of Argument

Writing Arguments: References to Consult for Writing Arguments

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Anticipate Active Opposition

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Determine Your Organization

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Develop Your Argument

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Introduce Your Argument

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - State Your Thesis or Proposition

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Write Your Conclusion

Writing Arguments: Types of Argument

Appendix A: Books to Help Improve Your Writing

Dictionaries

General Style Manuals

Researching on the Internet

Special Style Manuals

Writing Handbooks

Appendix B: Collaborative Writing and Peer Reviewing

Collaborative Writing: Assignments to Accompany the Group Project

Collaborative Writing: Informal Progress Report

Collaborative Writing: Issues to Resolve

Collaborative Writing: Methodology

Collaborative Writing: Peer Evaluation

Collaborative Writing: Tasks of Collaborative Writing Group Members

Collaborative Writing: Writing Plan

General Introduction

Peer Reviewing

Appendix C: Developing an Improvement Plan

Working with Your Instructor’s Comments and Grades

Appendix D: Writing Plan and Project Schedule

Devising a Writing Project Plan and Schedule

Reviewing Your Plan with Others

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Organizing Academic Research Papers: 2. Preparing to Write

• Purpose of Guide
• Design Flaws to Avoid
• Glossary of Research Terms
• Narrowing a Topic Idea
• Broadening a Topic Idea
• Extending the Timeliness of a Topic Idea
• Academic Writing Style
• Choosing a Title
• Making an Outline
• Paragraph Development
• Executive Summary
• Background Information
• The Research Problem/Question
• Theoretical Framework
• Citation Tracking
• Content Alert Services
• Evaluating Sources
• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Tertiary Sources
• What Is Scholarly vs. Popular?
• Qualitative Methods
• Quantitative Methods
• Using Non-Textual Elements
• Limitations of the Study
• Common Grammar Mistakes
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Footnotes or Endnotes?
• Further Readings
• Annotated Bibliography
• Dealing with Nervousness
• Using Visual Aids
• Grading Someone Else's Paper
• How to Manage Group Projects
• Multiple Book Review Essay
• Reviewing Collected Essays
• About Informed Consent
• Writing Field Notes
• Writing a Policy Memo
• Writing a Research Proposal
• Acknowledgements

Things to Think About Before You Begin

After you've determined the type of research design you will use, but before you sit down and begin to organize your paper, there are few things you should consider doing that will help make the actual writing process go much smoother.

Make a Schedule

If your professor has not already created a schedule to follow in developing and writing your research paper by requiring intermediary deadlines for completing the assignment, then drafting a schedule should be your first step. Drawing from key dates in your class syllabus, write in your calendar when the final paper is due, then work backwards from there. Choose specific dates for important steps along the way but focus on setting realistic goals, and then sticking to them . Make sure to give yourself enough time to find out what resources are available to you [including meeting with a librarian, if needed], to choose a research problem to investigate, to select and read relevant research literature, to outline your paper, to organize the information you are going to cite in your paper, and to write your first and final drafts [and any necessary drafts in between]. Developing a calendar will also help you manage your time in relation to assignments you receive in other classes.

Analyze the Assignment

Carefully analyze the assignment to determine what you are specifically being asked to do . Look for key terms, topics, subject areas, and/or issues that can help you frame a research problem that interests you. Also, be sure that you understand the type of paper you are being asked to write. Research papers discuss a subject in depth and cite to credible sources that can back up the evidence that you present in arguing a particular perspective.

The way in which your professor may ask you to frame your analysis can include any of the following approaches:

• Comparison approach in which the task is to compare and contrast two ideas, constructs, or tangible things with one another.
• Definition approach that asks you to discuss in depth the cultural and associative meanings of, for example, a political theory, a policy proposal, or a controversial practice.
• Descriptive approach where you choose a subject that you know well and help others to understand it.
• Evaluative appoach that asks you to assess a theoretical concept, issue, person, place, or thing in a critical, but not necessarily critical, way.
• Exploratory approach in which you are asked to pursue a specific line of inquiry, often with the purpose of making recommendations for further research or to advocate for specific actions to be taken.
• Interpretive approach that requires you to apply the theoretical knowledge gained in a course to a particular case study, such as, a business situation in a management course or a psychological case profile.
• Narrative approach written from a certain point of view, usually your own and written in the first person.
• Persuasive approach in which you are asked to take a position in a scholarly argument and give the reader reasons why they should agree with your position.
• Policy memorandum approach in which you are asked to write short factual sentences devoid of emotion that summarize a situation to date, identifiy the main issue of concern, provide a breakdown of the elements of this main issue, and then recommend how to address the issue based on research about the topic.

Composing Processes: Planning and Organizing . Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Invention: Starting the Writing Process . The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Invention: Overview of the Writing Process . The Reading/Writing Center. Hunter College; Williams, Joseph M. and Lawrence McEnerney. Writing in College 2: Preparing to Write and Drafting the Paper. Writing Program, The University of Chicago; Prewriting Strategies. Writing Center. University of Kansas; Prewriting Techniques. Hawley Academic Resource and Advising Center. Simpson College.

General Information

To make a paper readable :

• Use a 12 point standard font, such as New Times Roman, Calibri, Geneva, Bookman, Helvetica, etc.
• Text should be double spaced on 8 1/2" x 11" paper with 1 inch margins on all four sides.
• Number pages consecutively. Do not number title page as page 1.

General mistakes to avoid :

• Start each new section on a new page--avoid orphan headings [insert a page break!].
• Dividing a table or figure--if possible, confine non-textual elements, such as a table or chart, to a single page.
• Submitting a paper with pages out of order.
• Not adhering to recommended page limits.

General  stylistic and grammatical mistakes to avoid :

• Use normal prose ["a," "the," "an"].
• Spell checkers and grammar checkers are helpful, but they don’t catch everything. Always proofread and, if possible, get someone to do it for you before submitting your final paper.
• Indent the first line of each paragraph.
• If a paragraph is nearly a page long, or longer, then it is probably too long for the reader.
• Write in active voice, whenever possible.
• Define all abbreviations the first time they are used but don’t use too many abbreviations. They shorten the text but make it more difficult to read. Never start a sentence with an abbreviation.
• Do not use contractions in academic writing and do not start sentences with conjunctions (and, but, or) or numerals.
• Avoid informal wording, addressing the reader directly, and using jargon, slang terms, or superlatives.

In all sections of your paper :

• Stay focused on the research problem you are investigating [follow the steps in this guide].
• Use paragraphs to separate each important point.
• Present your points in logical order.
• Use present tense to report well accepted facts [e.g., "The Prime Minister of Bulgaria is Boyko Borissov."]
• Use past tense to describe specific results from your study [, e.g., "Evidence shows that the impact of the invasion was magnified by events in 1989."]
• Avoid the use of superfluous non-textual elements [images/figures/charts/tables]; include only those necessary for presenting or enhancing an understanding of the results.

The Guide to Grammar and Writing . Capital Community College Foundation; Grammar . The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing Tips . Writers Workshop.  University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign;  Handouts. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina.  

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How to Write a Research Paper

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

Research Paper Fundamentals

How to choose a topic or question, how to create a working hypothesis or thesis, common research paper methodologies, how to gather and organize evidence , how to write an outline for your research paper, how to write a rough draft, how to revise your draft, how to produce a final draft, resources for teachers .

It is not fair to say that no one writes anymore. Just about everyone writes text messages, brief emails, or social media posts every single day. Yet, most people don't have a lot of practice with the formal, organized writing required for a good academic research paper. This guide contains links to a variety of resources that can help demystify the process. Some of these resources are intended for teachers; they contain exercises, activities, and teaching strategies. Other resources are intended for direct use by students who are struggling to write papers, or are looking for tips to make the process go more smoothly.

The resources in this section are designed to help students understand the different types of research papers, the general research process, and how to manage their time. Below, you'll find links from university writing centers, the trusted Purdue Online Writing Lab, and more.

What is an Academic Research Paper?

"Genre and the Research Paper" (Purdue OWL)

There are different types of research papers. Different types of scholarly questions will lend themselves to one format or another. This is a brief introduction to the two main genres of research paper: analytic and argumentative. 

"7 Most Popular Types of Research Papers" (Personal-writer.com)

This resource discusses formats that high school students commonly encounter, such as the compare and contrast essay and the definitional essay. Please note that the inclusion of this link is not an endorsement of this company's paid service.

How to Prepare and Plan Out Writing a Research Paper

Teachers can give their students a step-by-step guide like these to help them understand the different steps of the research paper process. These guides can be combined with the time management tools in the next subsection to help students come up with customized calendars for completing their papers.

"Ten Steps for Writing Research Papers" (American University)  

This resource from American University is a comprehensive guide to the research paper writing process, and includes examples of proper research questions and thesis topics.

"Steps in Writing a Research Paper" (SUNY Empire State College)

This guide breaks the research paper process into 11 steps. Each "step" links to a separate page, which describes the work entailed in completing it.

How to Manage Time Effectively

The links below will help students determine how much time is necessary to complete a paper. If your sources are not available online or at your local library, you'll need to leave extra time for the Interlibrary Loan process. Remember that, even if you do not need to consult secondary sources, you'll still need to leave yourself ample time to organize your thoughts.

"Research Paper Planner: Timeline" (Baylor University)

This interactive resource from Baylor University creates a suggested writing schedule based on how much time a student has to work on the assignment.

"Research Paper Planner" (UCLA)

UCLA's library offers this step-by-step guide to the research paper writing process, which also includes a suggested planning calendar.

There's a reason teachers spend a long time talking about choosing a good topic. Without a good topic and a well-formulated research question, it is almost impossible to write a clear and organized paper. The resources below will help you generate ideas and formulate precise questions.

"How to Select a Research Topic" (Univ. of Michigan-Flint)

This resource is designed for college students who are struggling to come up with an appropriate topic. A student who uses this resource and still feels unsure about his or her topic should consult the course instructor for further personalized assistance.

"25 Interesting Research Paper Topics to Get You Started" (Kibin)

This resource, which is probably most appropriate for high school students, provides a list of specific topics to help get students started. It is broken into subsections, such as "paper topics on local issues."

"Writing a Good Research Question" (Grand Canyon University)

This introduction to research questions includes some embedded videos, as well as links to scholarly articles on research questions. This resource would be most appropriate for teachers who are planning lessons on research paper fundamentals.

"How to Write a Research Question the Right Way" (Kibin)

This student-focused resource provides more detail on writing research questions. The language is accessible, and there are embedded videos and examples of good and bad questions.

It is important to have a rough hypothesis or thesis in mind at the beginning of the research process. People who have a sense of what they want to say will have an easier time sorting through scholarly sources and other information. The key, of course, is not to become too wedded to the draft hypothesis or thesis. Just about every working thesis gets changed during the research process.

CrashCourse Video: "Sociology Research Methods" (YouTube)

Although this video is tailored to sociology students, it is applicable to students in a variety of social science disciplines. This video does a good job demonstrating the connection between the brainstorming that goes into selecting a research question and the formulation of a working hypothesis.

"How to Write a Thesis Statement for an Analytical Essay" (YouTube)

Students writing analytical essays will not develop the same type of working hypothesis as students who are writing research papers in other disciplines. For these students, developing the working thesis may happen as a part of the rough draft (see the relevant section below). 

"Research Hypothesis" (Oakland Univ.)

This resource provides some examples of hypotheses in social science disciplines like Political Science and Criminal Justice. These sample hypotheses may also be useful for students in other soft social sciences and humanities disciplines like History.

When grading a research paper, instructors look for a consistent methodology. This section will help you understand different methodological approaches used in research papers. Students will get the most out of these resources if they use them to help prepare for conversations with teachers or discussions in class.

"Types of Research Designs" (USC)

A "research design," used for complex papers, is related to the paper's method. This resource contains introductions to a variety of popular research designs in the social sciences. Although it is not the most intuitive site to read, the information here is very valuable. 

"Major Research Methods" (YouTube)

Although this video is a bit on the dry side, it provides a comprehensive overview of the major research methodologies in a format that might be more accessible to students who have struggled with textbooks or other written resources.

"Humanities Research Strategies" (USC)

This is a portal where students can learn about four methodological approaches for humanities papers: Historical Methodologies, Textual Criticism, Conceptual Analysis, and the Synoptic method.

"Selected Major Social Science Research Methods: Overview" (National Academies Press)

This appendix from the book  Using Science as Evidence in Public Policy , printed by National Academies Press, introduces some methods used in social science papers.

"Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: 6. The Methodology" (USC)

This resource from the University of Southern California's library contains tips for writing a methodology section in a research paper.

How to Determine the Best Methodology for You

Anyone who is new to writing research papers should be sure to select a method in consultation with their instructor. These resources can be used to help prepare for that discussion. They may also be used on their own by more advanced students.

"Choosing Appropriate Research Methodologies" (Palgrave Study Skills)

This friendly and approachable resource from Palgrave Macmillan can be used by students who are just starting to think about appropriate methodologies.

"How to Choose Your Research Methods" (NFER (UK))

This is another approachable resource students can use to help narrow down the most appropriate methods for their research projects.

The resources in this section introduce the process of gathering scholarly sources and collecting evidence. You'll find a range of material here, from introductory guides to advanced explications best suited to college students. Please consult the LitCharts  How to Do Academic Research guide for a more comprehensive list of resources devoted to finding scholarly literature.

Google Scholar

Students who have access to library websites with detailed research guides should start there, but people who do not have access to those resources can begin their search for secondary literature here.

"Gathering Appropriate Information" (Texas Gateway)

This resource from the Texas Gateway for online resources introduces students to the research process, and contains interactive exercises. The level of complexity is suitable for middle school, high school, and introductory college classrooms.

"An Overview of Quantitative and Qualitative Data Collection Methods" (NSF)

This PDF from the National Science Foundation goes into detail about best practices and pitfalls in data collection across multiple types of methodologies.

"Social Science Methods for Data Collection and Analysis" (Swiss FIT)

This resource is appropriate for advanced undergraduates or teachers looking to create lessons on research design and data collection. It covers techniques for gathering data via interviews, observations, and other methods.

"Collecting Data by In-depth Interviewing" (Leeds Univ.)

This resource contains enough information about conducting interviews to make it useful for teachers who want to create a lesson plan, but is also accessible enough for college juniors or seniors to make use of it on their own.

There is no "one size fits all" outlining technique. Some students might devote all their energy and attention to the outline in order to avoid the paper. Other students may benefit from being made to sit down and organize their thoughts into a lengthy sentence outline. The resources in this section include strategies and templates for multiple types of outlines. 

"Topic vs. Sentence Outlines" (UC Berkeley)

This resource introduces two basic approaches to outlining: the shorter topic-based approach, and the longer, more detailed sentence-based approach. This resource also contains videos on how to develop paper paragraphs from the sentence-based outline.

"Types of Outlines and Samples" (Purdue OWL)

The Purdue Online Writing Lab's guide is a slightly less detailed discussion of different types of outlines. It contains several sample outlines.

"Writing An Outline" (Austin C.C.)

This resource from a community college contains sample outlines from an American history class that students can use as models.

"How to Structure an Outline for a College Paper" (YouTube)

This brief (sub-2 minute) video from the ExpertVillage YouTube channel provides a model of outline writing for students who are struggling with the idea.

"Outlining" (Harvard)

This is a good resource to consult after completing a draft outline. It offers suggestions for making sure your outline avoids things like unnecessary repetition.

As with outlines, rough drafts can take on many different forms. These resources introduce teachers and students to the various approaches to writing a rough draft. This section also includes resources that will help you cite your sources appropriately according to the MLA, Chicago, and APA style manuals.

"Creating a Rough Draft for a Research Paper" (Univ. of Minnesota)

This resource is useful for teachers in particular, as it provides some suggested exercises to help students with writing a basic rough draft. 

Rough Draft Assignment (Duke of Definition)

This sample assignment, with a brief list of tips, was developed by a high school teacher who runs a very successful and well-reviewed page of educational resources.

"Creating the First Draft of Your Research Paper" (Concordia Univ.)

This resource will be helpful for perfectionists or procrastinators, as it opens by discussing the problem of avoiding writing. It also provides a short list of suggestions meant to get students writing.

Using Proper Citations

There is no such thing as a rough draft of a scholarly citation. These links to the three major citation guides will ensure that your citations follow the correct format. Please consult the LitCharts How to Cite Your Sources guide for more resources.

Chicago Manual of Style Citation Guide

Some call  The Chicago Manual of Style , which was first published in 1906, "the editors' Bible." The manual is now in its 17th edition, and is popular in the social sciences, historical journals, and some other fields in the humanities.

APA Citation Guide

According to the American Psychological Association, this guide was developed to aid reading comprehension, clarity of communication, and to reduce bias in language in the social and behavioral sciences. Its first full edition was published in 1952, and it is now in its sixth edition.

MLA Citation Guide

The Modern Language Association style is used most commonly within the liberal arts and humanities. The  MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing  was first published in 1985 and (as of 2008) is in its third edition.

Any professional scholar will tell you that the best research papers are made in the revision stage. No matter how strong your research question or working thesis, it is not possible to write a truly outstanding paper without devoting energy to revision. These resources provide examples of revision exercises for the classroom, as well as tips for students working independently.

"The Art of Revision" (Univ. of Arizona)

This resource provides a wealth of information and suggestions for both students and teachers. There is a list of suggested exercises that teachers might use in class, along with a revision checklist that is useful for teachers and students alike.

"Script for Workshop on Revision" (Vanderbilt University)

Vanderbilt's guide for leading a 50-minute revision workshop can serve as a model for teachers who wish to guide students through the revision process during classtime. 

"Revising Your Paper" (Univ. of Washington)

This detailed handout was designed for students who are beginning the revision process. It discusses different approaches and methods for revision, and also includes a detailed list of things students should look for while they revise.

"Revising Drafts" (UNC Writing Center)

This resource is designed for students and suggests things to look for during the revision process. It provides steps for the process and has a FAQ for students who have questions about why it is important to revise.

Conferencing with Writing Tutors and Instructors

No writer is so good that he or she can't benefit from meeting with instructors or peer tutors. These resources from university writing, learning, and communication centers provide suggestions for how to get the most out of these one-on-one meetings.

"Getting Feedback" (UNC Writing Center)

This very helpful resource talks about how to ask for feedback during the entire writing process. It contains possible questions that students might ask when developing an outline, during the revision process, and after the final draft has been graded.

"Prepare for Your Tutoring Session" (Otis College of Art and Design)

This guide from a university's student learning center contains a lot of helpful tips for getting the most out of working with a writing tutor.

"The Importance of Asking Your Professor" (Univ. of Waterloo)

This article from the university's Writing and Communication Centre's blog contains some suggestions for how and when to get help from professors and Teaching Assistants.

Once you've revised your first draft, you're well on your way to handing in a polished paper. These resources—each of them produced by writing professionals at colleges and universities—outline the steps required in order to produce a final draft. You'll find proofreading tips and checklists in text and video form.

"Developing a Final Draft of a Research Paper" (Univ. of Minnesota)

While this resource contains suggestions for revision, it also features a couple of helpful checklists for the last stages of completing a final draft.

Basic Final Draft Tips and Checklist (Univ. of Maryland-University College)

This short and accessible resource, part of UMUC's very thorough online guide to writing and research, contains a very basic checklist for students who are getting ready to turn in their final drafts.

Final Draft Checklist (Everett C.C.)

This is another accessible final draft checklist, appropriate for both high school and college students. It suggests reading your essay aloud at least once.

"How to Proofread Your Final Draft" (YouTube)

This video (approximately 5 minutes), produced by Eastern Washington University, gives students tips on proofreading final drafts.

"Proofreading Tips" (Georgia Southern-Armstrong)

This guide will help students learn how to spot common errors in their papers. It suggests focusing on content and editing for grammar and mechanics.

This final set of resources is intended specifically for high school and college instructors. It provides links to unit plans and classroom exercises that can help improve students' research and writing skills. You'll find resources that give an overview of the process, along with activities that focus on how to begin and how to carry out research. 

"Research Paper Complete Resources Pack" (Teachers Pay Teachers)

This packet of assignments, rubrics, and other resources is designed for high school students. The resources in this packet are aligned to Common Core standards.

"Research Paper—Complete Unit" (Teachers Pay Teachers)

This packet of assignments, notes, PowerPoints, and other resources has a 4/4 rating with over 700 ratings. It is designed for high school teachers, but might also be useful to college instructors who work with freshmen.

"Teaching Students to Write Good Papers" (Yale)

This resource from Yale's Center for Teaching and Learning is designed for college instructors, and it includes links to appropriate activities and exercises.

"Research Paper Writing: An Overview" (CUNY Brooklyn)

CUNY Brooklyn offers this complete lesson plan for introducing students to research papers. It includes an accompanying set of PowerPoint slides.

"Lesson Plan: How to Begin Writing a Research Paper" (San Jose State Univ.)

This lesson plan is designed for students in the health sciences, so teachers will have to modify it for their own needs. It includes a breakdown of the brainstorming, topic selection, and research question process. 

"Quantitative Techniques for Social Science Research" (Univ. of Pittsburgh)

This is a set of PowerPoint slides that can be used to introduce students to a variety of quantitative methods used in the social sciences.

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Everything you need to know before writing a research paper.

A well-written research paper makes for good grades, but are you doing what it takes to stand out and ace that test? Devika Soni elucidates ways to make your research paper worthwhile

Research might seem boring but everybody comes across it in their daily lives. When buying a new house, furniture or gadgets, opinions from family and friends and the people of the internet are taken into consideration – that’s research. 

College research papers are not very different in style, but more often than not differ in its approach – papers written for an academic purpose are more formal, aligned and give a student the marks. Here are the points to help you master the art of research paper writing.

Pick A Topic

Picking a topic is crucial. Pay attention to topics chosen. Topics that are not interesting tend to become boring for the reader and the writer. What must also be kept in mind is the availability of substantial matter for research. Also, consider the time allotted to complete the paper and the intended length. Ultimately, making a smart choice regarding the topic will keep lots of problems at bay.

Make A List Of Questions

After picking a topic the work can be made easier by preparing a list of questions that would be addressed in the paper. These questions should be interesting and narrow (inclusive of who, why, what, where, when) so that the answers can be compiled easily. Broad questions might seem like fun but there is a tendency of getting lost while answering them. For instance, what are the effects of global warming? That is a very broad question. What are the effects of global warming on aquatic life? That will make the research more direct.

Look For Sources

Once the questions have been listed, the research begins. Make a reference list of all available sources. The sources can be classified as primary and secondary. Primary sources are research papers, books and official websites. Secondary sources comprise of interviews of people who have some expertise in the subject being covered. Listing sources will help later because it will give an alignment and a pattern in which the matter should be presented.

Use A Variety Of Sources

When writing a research paper don’t just stick to what is available on the internet. The bibliography compiled will leave a good impression if books and journals have also been cited. Visit a library, read books related to the topic and quote them. Some sources that can be used are encyclopedias, yearbooks, journals, atlases, and biographical reference books. Websites like jstor.com, with their collection of academic journals, can serve as a major help. However, don’t forget to check the authenticity of the websites. A good way to tell is if the address ends in ‘.org’, ‘.gov’, or ‘.edu’.

Take Notes While Researching

It is helpful when notes are taken while researching. Use post-its, markers, notes, etc to keep track of interesting facts and quotes as the research is carried out. It makes the work quicker, easier, and forms a rough bibliography and reference list.

Write Elaborately

Don’t write at a stretch; break the matter into bits and pieces giving subtitles. It becomes easier not only to write but also read. Include a brief before starting the paper that gives an idea of what the paper will focus on. The main body should be a detailed execution of the brief idea and the conclusion should be a summary of the paper. The conclusion should tie up all the loose ends and not leave any questions unanswered. The introduction and conclusion are very important as they leave the first and last impression. So take special care while dealing with the two.

Avoid Plagiarism

Whatever you do, do not copy and paste! If the reader finds out, and by all means, they will, it not only ruins the reputation and undermines capabilities, but can also be dubbed as being intellectual property theft. Staying original and having a unique voice is crucial to research paper writing.

Compile Your Sources For A Bibliography

The reference list needs refining and citations must be added. A citation is giving credit to the author of a reference journal, book or academic work used in the research. There are different types of citation styles. APA – used for psychology and other social sciences. MLA – literature, arts, and humanities. AMA – medicine, health, and biological sciences.

Give It A Second And Third Reading

Once the research paper is ready, give it a second reading. Ensure there are no typos, punctuation errors and grammatical mistakes. If required, do a third reading also. It is advisable to have gaps between second and third readings and it gives a fresh perspective with each reading.

Professor Sarita Jaishankar Of Jai Hind College, Mumbai Lists Common Mistakes Students Make

• Not stating a clearly defined hypothesis
• Not paying enough attention to plagiarism
• Not paying enough attention to footnoting and bibliography
• Not defining the methodology
• Having variable conclusions

Her Suggestions

• Be aware of the dos and don’ts of doing research
• Take a focused approach to the topic
• Use relevant methodology for the research
• Organise the data systematically
• Do enough secondary research before and while writing the paper

With the mentioned tips, your process of writing a research paper will be smooth. Make sure you use this as a reference when you begin with your research paper.

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