Get started early.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when writing a formal research paper is to leave it to the last minute. Everyone procrastinates at least a little bit, but avoiding it when writing a research paper will be a boon to you in the long run, cutting down on your stress and giving you time to revise and polish your work before turning it in.
This doesn’t mean you need to get started on the paper the minute you receive the assignment, but it doesn’t hurt to do so. Start gathering ideas, draft an outline, collect research, and so on. Use this time to ask questions if you’re unsure about where to begin or how to proceed, and write the due date down somewhere you’ll see often so that you won’t forget and run up on it at the last minute.
Verify what style your paper should be written in.
The subject of your research paper will determine whether it is written in MLA or APA format, and this is much more of a deal than you might first imagine. Typically, humanities and liberal arts disciplines (English, Literature, Philosophy, Political Science, etc.) use MLA, the sciences (Biology, Psychology, Chemistry, etc.) classes tend to prefer APA format, and journalism or communications classes use the Chicago Manual of Style. Verify with your professor or teaching assistant what they want, and consider picking up a style guide even if you are familiar with it (this is especially important if using electronic resources).
TheMLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers is in its seventh edition and can be bought at any major bookstore or online at www.mla.org.
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association is in its sixth edition and can be bought at any major bookstore or online at www.apastyle.org.
TheChicago Manual of Style is in its fifteenth edition and can be bought at any major bookstore or online at www.chicagomanualofstyle.org.
Write an outline.
A research paper that rambles or doesn’t stay on subject will not be looked upon favorably by professors. When you have picked a topic to write your research paper on and have done some preliminary research, begin organizing your ideas. This outline does not have to be a neatly-typed outline with Roman numerals and numbers and blocked text (although some professors ask that one accompany papers), but it does need to be organized and easy to read. A well-organized outline can help you focus your ideas and keep your research paper on topic; it also provides a good springboard for sifting through the mounds of research you’ll collect before actually writing.
If you’re unsure where to begin, don’t be afraid to ask for help from a professor or teaching assistant. It’s not a bad idea to work with a classmate or two, but be careful that your ideas are different enough that you’re not writing the same research paper (and therefore won’t be accused of copying someone else’s work).
Use only quality electronic resources.
Unless a professor specifically says otherwise, it’s okay to use online resources in your research paper, so long as the website’ quality is verifiable. Again, ask your professor or teaching assistant if you are unsure of anything.
The best place to start finding online resources for your research paper is at your school library’s website. Most colleges and universities have subscriptions to online databases that students can access, as well as electronic versions of scholarly journals and papers.
Some good websites to find material for research papers are:
Google Scholar (www.google.com/scholar) You can search Google Scholar just as you would Google itself, except that the results powered from your search come only from scholarly and academic resources. Not all results link to full-text articles or books, but this is a good starting point if you’re unsure where to find other databases or how to use them.
JSTOR (www.jstor.com) This is free online database of scholarly publications on a variety of topics across just about every discipline. You can do basic and advanced searches, and create a free online profile to store your information. This website is widely used and accepted by post-secondary institutions across the US.
Bartleby (www.bartleby.com) Bartleby is a free resource, providing access to a number of literary works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, as well as a world fact book, thesauri, encyclopedias, and much more.
Oxford English Dictionary (www.oed.com) Search the full text of the Oxford English Dictionary for free online.
Oxford Journals (http://oxfordjournals.org) Search through thousands of articles published by Oxford University Press, a premier academic publisher, on almost any topic from African Affairs to Social Politics to German History.
Typically, databases or catalogues associated with academic institutions are okay to use in your research papers; you can often find these on school websites. Sites like Project Gutenberg provide free access to a range of primary materials, and many public or community libraries also provide access to scholarly journals and websites.
Always make sure you cite online resources properly (this is where a style guide comes in). It is best to print copies of any articles you find, as it is very easy to lose them in large databases. Again, always make sure the quality of the website is verifiable; if you are unsure, it is best to err on the side of caution and not use that particular information in your research paper.
Keep a running bibliography.
Write down ANY resource you use in your research paper, and begin putting them into a formal bibliography the moment you start your research. This way, you don’t lose good resources and you can verify citations. Don’t delete anything from your running bibliography until after you have finished the final draft of your research paper – the bibliography should always be edited last to make sure every citation is documented properly. Improper or missing citations can result in a failing grade and disciplinary action, as this is considered a form of plagiarism.
Keep all your research in one place.
Losing a good resource for your research paper is no fun, and neither is searching for papers, notes, or books stored in multiple areas. Keep electronic files in one folder on your computer or flash drive, and any hard copy notes and research in a single notebook or file folder. If you check out books from a library, keep them all in one tote bag or box.
Always write more than one draft.
Some professors require that you turn in drafts for review, but most do not. Nevertheless, never turn in the first run of your paper, even if it is good. Begin writing well ahead of time, and let one draft sit for a few days before going back to it. Have someone else read over your paper; having an older student who is majoring in the discipline or has completed the same or a similar assignment can be a big help. See if your student or academic center has access to tutors that can help you create a polished and professional draft of your research paper, and never rely on your word processing software to do your line editing.
Follow these guidelines, ask for help you’re even slightly unsure about anything, and do your best work, and your first college research paper will be a success.
