How to Write a Research Paper
By an eHow Contributor
Writing a good research paper is a tough challenge, but breaking it down into smaller
pieces helps a lot.
Difficulty: Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
; Dictionaries
; Stress Relief Products
; Thesauri
; Writing Style Manuals
; Palm Handheld Organizers
; Printers
; Desk Lamps
; Highlighter Pens
; Index Cards
; Notebooks
; Personal Organizers
; Printer Paper
; Computers
; Bibliography Software
; Word-processing Software
; Notebooks
1. 1
Choose a topic that is broad enough to be interesting but narrow enough to
be manageable.
2. 2
Find your sources. Start with three or four, check their bibliographies for
additional sources, and repeat the process until you have enough material
to work with.
3. 3
Reserve one index card for each source. Record the bibliographic
information for the source on its index card, and number each card for ease
of future reference.
4. 4
Take reading notes on index cards, writing down only the material that is
most relevant to your project. Write the source number on each card. 5. 5
Organize your index cards by topic and subtopic.
6. 6
Use the cards as a basis for an outline (see 'How to Outline a Paper'). 7. 7
Write an introduction that grabs the reader and plots out the trajectory of
your argument.
8. 8
Write the body of the paper, following the structure you created in your
outline. Be sure to cite sources.
9. 9
Write the conclusion, reviewing how you've made your points. 10. 10
Come up with a title after you've written the paper, not before: You don't
want the content of the paper to be hamstrung by an inappropriate title. 11. 11
Read your paper at least twice to be sure your argument makes sense and
is presented logically.
12. 12
Read more: How to Write a Research Paper | eHow.com
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