Steps in Writing a Research Paper
I. Decide upon a topic:
A. Choose a general topic, for example: Casinos in Wisconsin
B. Narrow down the topic by:
1. reading a general source about the topic in the library or in a textbook from another class
2. talking to others about the topic
3. then, perhaps narrowing the topic down to: The Impact of Casinos on Native American Employment in Wisconsin
II. Decide upon a thesis:
A. Guide your reading with research questions.
B. Decide upon a tentative thesis.
III. Reading/Listening to answer your research questions:
A. Skim possible sources to see if they relate to your research questions.
B. Take notes from your sources. Include summaries as well as meaningful quotations from the source. Label your work so that it is most useful to you. Two easy ways are to use computer files or to use index cards. Just highlighting a photocopy is not enough. Refer to p. 76 of Hacker for information on taking notes.
C. Critique your sources. Are they appropriate?
D. Finalize your thesis statement.
IV. Draft the essay:
A. Organize your readings/formulate ideas
B. Decide the best way to convey the information to your reader. Will you offer an extended definition? Will you explain a problem and offer some solutions? Will you write a persuasive essay?
C. Make an outline or a mind map to guide your writing. If you are someone who needs to write before organizing information, make your outline or map after you have done some writing.
D. Organize your notes and decide how you will use your sources to support the ideas that you express in the essay. Use the MLA format for in-text citation and for the works cited list.
V. Revise the essay
A. Make sure that you've done your job!
B. Check your paper against your outline. Have you done what you set out to do? Do you need to modify anything that you have written?
C. Have you used your sources effectively?
D. Make notes of what you want to change on your draft and make the changes.
E. Check all paraphrases and summaries.
1. Are they in your own words, or should they be quotations?
2. Have you cited the sources?
F. Check the works cited section.
1. Have you listed all of your sources in MLA format?
2. Proofread your work. Proofread the work of group members.
3. Prepare for a panel presentation with your group.
Return to the 162 term paper reference page.