How to Write a Research PaperHow to Write a Composition How to Write Education-Related Copy © Ugur Akinci Let's admit it – a research paper (also referred to as a "term paper") is a headache at best and a nightmare at worst for many students. But it does not need to be that way. If that's how you feel about it that's perfectly all right because I've been a college student myself until I was 31 years old and I know exactly where you’re coming from. There is actually a straight forward method to start and finish a research paper which I have used myself repeatedly and successfully during my undergraduate and graduate studies. Here are the basic 7 steps: 1. SCHEDULE – Establish a schedule (this important step is almost always neglected by the sources on the subject). 2. TOPIC – Select a topic. Brainstorm the topic by using a Cluster Diagram. 3. THESIS – Formulate a hypothesis and write your Thesis Statement. 4. OUTLINE – Make a detailed outline of your paper. 5. RESEARCH – Do your research. Take your notes. 6. WRITE – Write the first draft. Submit for review. Incorporate revisions. Write a second draft. 7. FINISH – Finish the final draft on schedule. Celebrate! When you are doing your research, for example, your mind may start imagining an outline. Welcome that. Don’t curtail it by thinking "well, I'm not at that step yet." Don’t force a mechanical discipline on the process. Instead, start taking notes immediately. Let parts of different steps flow and meld into each other organically, if they do. But don’t force it either. If, for example, no outlining ideas emerge when you are doing your basic research, that's perfectly fine too. Just be flexible, opportunistic, and welcome the amazing powers of your mind to work simultaneously on more dimensions than one. Have a Great Tip, Photo or Comment About This Topic?Do you have a great tip or photo about this? Something that you believe we should read or see? Contribute and share it today! |