Steps to Writing a
Research Paper
Step #1: Choose a topic.
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If given a topic, choose your angle or approach.
Consider what area of the topic you want to focus
attention on?
Be sure you can find plenty of information on the
topic.
Be sure you know how to find “experts” to
interview.
Step #2: Review the Resources.
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Go to the library. Look at the books on the shelves.
Look up your topic in the card catalogue. Search the
internet. Look at bibliographies in the back of books
on your topic for more sources.
Step #3 Make a Resource File
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Make an entry on a 3X5 card for every
resource you find. Use the MLA style format
to record the entry. Find the MLA format in
the back of a good student dictionary, on the
internet, in your library, or buy a copy at a
book store. You are going to need it many
times while you are in school
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http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/
citation.htm
Step #4: Commit to your topic.
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Go back to step #1 if
there are not enough
resources on your topic
to meet the
requirements for your
paper.
Broaden or narrow your
topic. Be sure your
topic “fits” the required
length of your paper.
Step #5: Write a purpose statement.
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i.e.
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The purpose of this paper is to explain why surfing
is the perfect sport
The purpose of this paper is to persuade you to
follow the new dress code.
This will direct and focus your research and
keep you from wasting time gathering
information you don’t need.
Step #6 Do Some Research
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Let’s look at some tips
for doing research in
books, online, and with
interviews
(VIDEO) Discovering
Language Arts:
Research (Grades 6-8)
(45:00)
(VIDEO) On-Line
Research Techniques
(13:00)
Step #7: Take notes from your sources.
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Check out the books
and magazines.
Take notes from your
sources on 4X6 cards.
Put one main fact and
its support on each
card.
Sort your index cards to
select the most
promising resources
you found.
Step #7 (continued) :
Take notes from your sources.
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You are going to want to sort your notes into
categories of information later and that will be
much easier if you have only one kind of
information on each card.
Print from the internet. As you print from the
internet, cut the information you are going to
use and paste it onto a word document.
Leave white space between each paste so
that the print-out can be cut into “note-cards”.
Step #8: Classify your information.
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Sort your note cards into stacks
that are related. The tallest
stacks are your priority
information. Discard stacks that
do not have enough information
to develop a well-supported
subsection of the paper.
You need at least three stacks
with enough information to be
developed as a supporting
section of the paper.
Step #9: Write your thesis statement.
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Use your purpose statement and your note-card
classifications to develop your thesis. A good thesis
statement
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takes a position that others might challenge or oppose
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“ I once saw a popular student get beaten up for his shoes. It
seemed foolish to me, but there is a lot of pressure to have the
‘coolest’ clothes. Every school should have a dress code.
Research shows that dress codes can be a helpful tool in
reducing peer pressure and fighting in schools. ”
Passes the “so what?” test. If the reader’s first thought
is “so what?”, then you need to connect to a larger
issue
Step #9 (continued):
Write your thesis statement.
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The thesis should be supported by the research
that you have gathered.
The thesis should pass the “how” or “why” test. If
the reader’s first response is “how” or “why”, your
thesis may be too open-ended.
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Dress codes are terrible. (WHY?)
Dress codes can be a helpful tool in reducing peer
pressure and fighting in schools.
Surfing is the best sport because it has a long history full
of amazingly talented star surfers, is practiced around
the world, and has been glamorized in movies and
music for decades.
Step #10: Develop an Outline.
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Use the thesis statement and note-card
classifications to help you develop an outline.
In your packet, you have a sample outline..
(VIDEO) Section C: Outlining (06:51) Video
Segment 3 of 5 from the Full Video
Wrinkle-Free World of English Composition,
The, Module 3: Researching and Rough Draft
Step #11 Use your outline to create a
draft of the paper.
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If writing by hand, use pencil for the rough draft.
Write on every other line or double space to leave
room for editing and corrections.
Leave space at the bottom of the page for footnotes,
if needed.
Insert parenthetical citations as you write instead of
trying to do it after the paper is written.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02/
http://www.headroyce.org/research/research/citation
s.html
Step #12: Edit your draft.
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Share your draft with at least two editors.
Make corrections. Look at word choice. Use
your Thesaurus.
Focus on
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Organization
Elaboration
Relevance
Clarity
Check spelling, grammar, appearance
Step #13: Write your final draft.
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Word processors allow you to make serious
revisions without starting over. Lucky you!
Back in the day, we had to rewrite the whole
paper by hand at every draft!
Dress For Success!! Make it look like an “A”.
The paper should be clean and unwrinkled.
Be sure to follow any specific directions you
have been given for your heading, title page,
etc.
Final Format
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Paper must be typed
One-inch margins at top, bottom, left, and right sides
Text must be:
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Double-spaced
Font:
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Arial
Times New Roman
12 point
Use only one side of the paper
Secure with one staple in the upper left-hand corner
Final Format
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First Page must have the following in the upper left,
double spaced, beginning on the first line:
 Last Name, First Name
 Class
 Teacher’s Name
 Date
 Centered: Title of the paper (no underline or
quotation marks)
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Works Cited Page is the last page
Step #14: Create your Works Cited Page
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(we used to call this a bibliography when all
we had to research were “biblios”, books).
Use EasyBib, NoodleTools, or the MLA Style
Handbook to find the correct format to list
each kind of resource you used.
Use your source cards and place them in
alphabetical order.
(VIDEO) Discovering Language Arts:
Research (Grades 6-8) Segment #8
Step #15:TURN IN YOUR PAPER!
You know you
learned a lot and
you feel great
about the effort
you made.
 Be Proud of
yourself & your
work!
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