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AN INAPPROPRIATELY LINEAR APPROACH TO
WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER
Set schedule
Select topic
Tentatively narrow topic
Prewrite/Set up a researcher’s notebook to track evolving thoughts
Do exploratory reading in library
 Skim sources looking for focus for paper and relevant information
Develop working thesis and tentative outline
Find and evaluate sources
Develop working bibliography
Collect information
 Conduct experiments, run models, etc.
 Read sources, taking notes in your own words as much as possible
Organize information
Write first draft
 Concentrate on content
 Cite sources appropriately
Revise content
Put bibliography into final form
Write abstract
Edit paper for grammar, spelling, punctuation
Because writing is a recursive process, you will revisit many of the “steps” as
your paper takes shape. You must find the best process for yourself,
incorporating those “steps” you find most beneficial in the order you find most
helpful.
The Writing Center: An Inappropriately Linear Approach to Writing a Research Paper