Research 101

Throughout college you will be required to write research papers. A research paper can be used for
exploring and identifying scientific, technical and societal issues. If it's your first time writing a research
paper, it may seem daunting, but with good organization and focus of mind, you can make the process
easier on yourself. Writing a research paper involves four main stages: choosing a topic, researching
your topic, making an outline, and doing the actual writing. The paper won't write itself, but by planning
and preparing well, the writing practically falls into place. Also, try to avoid plagiarism.
Ask yourself important questions. Although you may be limited by specific classroom or work
related guidelines, choosing your topic is the first and most important step in your research
paper project; regardless of whether your topic can be anything you want or has rigid
requirements, it is important to keep a few questions in mind: Is there enough research
available on this topic? Is the topic new and unique enough that I can offer fresh opinions? Is it
pertinent to my class/occupation?
Pick something you love. Whenever possible, choose a topic that you feel passionate about. Choosing
just any old topic is not enough. You want to choose something that you will enjoy because at the end of
the day this is your education, and you want to make the most of your education even if the class is not
interesting or in your major. In addition, choosing a good topic that you are interested in will make the
writing process that much easier.
Get advice. If you are struggling to come up with a topic that feels “just right,” ask your professor,
coworkers/classmates, or a tutor for advice. They will likely have great ideas that might guide you in the
right direction. Asking a professor for help may seem frightening, but if they are worth anything as a
professor, they want you to be successful with your work, and will do what they can to make that
happen.
Don’t be afraid to change your topic. If you choose a topic, begin researching, and realize that it isn’t
the right decision for you for some reason, don’t fret! Although it requires a bit more time, you have the
ability to change your topic even after you begin researching others.
Begin your research. With a topic selected, the next step is to begin research. There are two
forms of research, primary sources like journal articles and newspaper articles, and secondary
sources like web articles. Most professors want you to use primary articles, however look at the
assignment for specifics. Normally you can use web articles so long as you meet the
requirements for primary sources. Ir is better to use several sources than just 5, so if you are
struggling with the length of your paper, then you should try and add more sources. [1]
Visit the library. Take a trip to your local library or university library. Although it may seem old
fashioned, libraries are chock full of helpful research materials from books to newspapers and
magazines to journals. Don’t be afraid to ask the librarian for help either - they are trained in
research and know where everything about your topic is located.