Research paper

Note

The research and writing process is not always linear. Keep in mind you may need to go forward or backwards.

• Read through and understand your assignment (from UNC).
• Email or visit your instructor's office hours with questions.
• Choosing and refining topics (from Colorado State). 
• Conduct preliminary investigation into topic using Google or other web searches. Work to understand your topic and the issues surrounding it.
  • Try a specialized online encyclopedia. 
  • Get background on current topics using online tools like CQ Researcher or Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
  • Write down 5-10 keywords about your topic including terms, jargon, events, people, places, etc. to use as keywords or search terms when you do more searching for sources.

• Revise and narrow topic as needed. Many students think this is one of the hardest steps!
  • Move from topic to develop a thesis statement (from Harvard).
  • How to Write a Thesis Statement (from Indiana University).
  • Thesis Statement Creator
• Get online writing support at the U of M's Center for Writing
• Have questions? Ask us! Chat 24/7, email, online consultations from librarians

• Design your research strategy and try different keywords until you get results that are useful. 
• As you conduct research, ask yourself: What can this source do for me? How will I use this evidence?
  • As background or to provide a context?
  • To introduce and situate your thesis within existing conversation on topic?
  • To demonstrate the value of your working research question?
  • To support or counter an argument?
• Gather and read different types of sources or evidence such as online books, journal, magazine and newspaper articles
  • Search subject-specific databases to find articles in a specific discipline or subject (e.g. Business journals, film studies journals, health sciences journals, etc.).
  • How do I find articles?
  • What does it mean to be a scholarly source? (video, 2 mins)
  • How to read and comprehend scientific research articles (video, 5 mins)
  • Finding online newspaper articles
  • Websites and news (spend time evaluating any site before using it for academic work)
    • Can you believe what you'll do after watching this video? Assessing sources of information
  • Specialized sources such as historical or primary documents and archives, data or statistics or government publications and websites
• Gather information on your sources for your bibliography.
  • Consider using Zotero or tools to save PDFs and create in-text citations and bibliography.
  • Watch Citation: A (Very) Brief Introduction (from UNC) (video, 2 mins)

• Evaluate sources based on your research question or working thesis.
• • How to read and comprehend scientific reserch articles (video, 5 mins)
  • Take notes on readings while reading. Make notes on margins. Use tools to comment or highlight PDFs. 
  • Try close reading (from Harvard) and read to write strategies (from UNC).
• Conduct more research to fill in gaps as needed (see step 3).
• As you read your sources, think about how the sources talk to each other or could talk to each other. Watch what is the scholarly conversation (video, 2 mins) and the rules of the scholarly conversation (video, 2 mins).

• Polish or refine your arguments as a response to your research question (from Wisconsin). If needed, revisit How to Write a Thesis Statement (from Indiana University).
• Organize your thoughts and your paper's structure. Try the following techniques:
  • Outlines (from Indiana) or try Reverse Outline (PDF).
  • Diagram such as brainstorming (from UNC), concept mapping, idea trees or quadrants. 
  • Talk out your structure. Record yourself talking about your topic and ideas. Transcribe your thoughts to the computer.
  • Get online writing support at the U of M's Center for Writing
• If you are ready to start writing, begin with segments or chunks, not necessarily the introduction or beginning. As you write you will discover more of what you want to say and then you can fit the chunks or segments together. 
• Watch Citation: A (Very) Brief Introduction (from UNC) (video, 2 mins)

Keep in mind there are many ways to approach writing your first draft.  You do not have to start at the beginning. Instead begin drafting segments or chunks. Concentrate on writing your rough ideas and not on revising.

• Draft additional segments. Develop connections between segments.
• Take breaks. Use breaks as a way to keep your brain and your writing fresh.
• As you incorporate others' ideas or words into your paper be sure to cite your sources with in-text citations. Ask your instructor if you are unsure on which citation style to use (e.g. APA, MLA, etc.).
  • Use strategies to avoid plagiarism (from UNC).
  • Quote and paraphrase sources (from Wisconsin).
  • Integrating quotations from sources from U of M's Center for Writing.
• Get online writing support at the U of M's Center for Writing.
• In light of your draft, you might need to revise your thesis.
• Use Revising drafts (from UNC).
• Draft your bibliography or works cited page. Consider using Zotero or other tools to create your bibliography. Be sure to double check the citations.

• • Style, grammar and punctuation tips from U of M's Center for Writing.
  • Editing and proofreading your essay (from UNC).
  • Writing an effective title from U of M's Center for Writing.
• Explore Student English Language Support.
• Check citations and formatting.
  • What are citations? (from Libraries)
  • Consider using Zotero or other tools to create your bibliography. Be sure to double check the citations.