Steps to Writing a Successful Undergrad Research Paper

Many times the first research paper assignment for undergrads is a bit of shocker. Most high schools never require an in depth research paper to be written before they graduate. Not surprisingly, and undergrads first true research paper can really throw them for a loop. Here are some tips on how to keep that research paper under control so you don't go crazy... and maybe, just maybe, you'll get an A.

1 . Read the assignment thoroughly.
This is essential. You'll need to understand exactly what the assignment is as well as all the particulars. Some professors throw tricky stuff in there. They want you to write it in APA format instead of MLA format. Or you only need to cite the sources you actually used in your paper or you need to cite every source you looked at even if you didn't end up using it. If something is confusing or unclear or you have questions, make a point to visit your professor.

2. Thesis approaches.
There are two ways to approach your thesis. (Your thesis being the main argument of your paper.) You can either decide your thesis and then do the research or do the research and then decide your thesis. The first approach works best if you know what you want to write about. The second works best if you're not sure what you want to write about and you want to see what material and ideas are out there.

3. Start researching.
Whatever you do, start researching right away. I suggest taking it in two or three hour increments each day. That may sound like a lot but there's a lot of material out there for you to peruse. Make use of your university's library. Most college libraries have subscriptions to very expensive database that house millions of academic articles, newspapers, magazines, and specialty journals. You'll find articles on things you never even knew existed. Sometimes you can log onto these databases directly from a computer in the library. Other times you might need a user name and password. Start your research in the library so if you need help navigating the database you'll have a librarian right there.

4. Get your resources.
Once you've perused the databases, print up all the sources you want to use. Find any books that might be helpful and make copies of the pertinent sections. Having hard copies will allow you to highlight and take notes to your heart's content. That's not so easy when it's a library book or it's on a computer screen. I recommend having a hard binder to place all your resources, notes, and drafts in. This way you can keep everything together in one place and not be shuffling through mounds of paper. Some teachers even require that you turn in your sources with your paper. Keep a writer's manual with you so you can write down citation information as you go along. Some citations require that you give the date you accessed the source. You're not going to remember exactly what date you accessed a source in two weeks when you're putting the finishing touches on your paper with the works cited page. Familiarize what information is needed for the different types of citations.

5. Put together a very rough outline of your paper.
This way you have something to work off of and you're not just pulling stuff out of your head aimlessly. Your first section should be your thesis and the last section should be your conclusion. The sections inbetween are very flexible depending on what kind of a paper you are writing. A compare/contrast paper will be very different from an argumentative/persuasive paper. Keep in mind that the outline you make is not set in stone. Feel free to change it if you start writing and you find that it's not working for you.

6. Start writing paragraphs.
They don't have to be in any distinct order. Just write the paragraphs you know you need in your paper. Start with what you're most comfortable with and know the most about and move to that which your less comfortable with. Make sure you know your professor's policy on citing sources and in text citations. I once knew a girl who wrote her paragraphs on giant index cards and then physically rearranged them. Whatever works for you.

7. Revise, revise, revise.
Too many students write a first draft and then turn it in without really looking at it analytically. Once you've finished your first draft, put it away for a day before you look at again. Give yourself some time and space to gain some perspective. After working on a paper for five hours in one sitting, you may become a little attached to your work and find it difficult to find flaws with your masterpiece. The next day, take an objective look at it and see what you could fix, what you could make a little clearer, what you could revise. Look for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Make the revisions you deem necessary. The next step is to give your paper to a classmate whose judgment you trust and have them look at it for possible revisions. After they look at it and suggest revisions, make the revisions you think are applicable and then give the paper to your professor for comments. Some professors prefer that you have specific questions for them to address rather than simply handing it to them and saying "what do you think?". After your professor has given you comments and you've revised according to their comments, take one last look over your paper and see if there's any final thing you'd like to fix.

8. Cite!
Professors can get very picky about citations. Plagiarism is a big issue on college campuses. Many students plagiarize without even knowing because they think that the only way to plagiarize is to directly copy a source or to provide a quotation with no documentation. NO. Plagiarism can also consist of paraphrasing someebody else's work. If it isn't your idea or your information that you gathered directly, it needs to be cited.

9. Turn it in!
This is the last and final step. Some professors want your paper in a project folder, some want it in a binder with all your sources, and some just want the few pages stapled together with your works cited page. Know what your professor prefers.

Good luck!