Many classes require research papers, and this task may appear to be daunting. Do not fear. If you take this assignment step by step, you will finish in no time and you will be ready to tackle the next big task on your to-do list.
Step 1: Reread the Assignment
Find your syllabus and read through the assignment details, taking notes of all the key requirements. How many pages or words does it need to be? Which citation style do you need to use? Is there a required number of sources? What is the prompt for the content? Before starting the assignment, try to discern all the key requirements for your paper. The worst feeling is when you write a whole paper in MLA and then find out it was supposed to be done in APA, so be sure to take note of all the requirements before you begin writing.
Step 2: Find Your Sources
This assignment is a research paper, which means you need to do ... research. I recommend that you start by googling your topic to see what some of the most common resources have to say, but be aware that many websites on Google are not appropriate sources for a research paper. To find scholarly sources, you can try using Google Scholar, but Geneva also provides database access. Search keywords relating to your topic to find articles that may be useful and read the abstracts to discern if they are relevant for your topic. You can also search for books in the library to see if there are any books that are relevant to your topic. Some research will require you to use both books and articles, so it is good to become familiar with the process of finding relevant sources. If you need help finding sources, talk to Jennifer Joseph, the research librarian of McCartney Library, and she will be happy to help you with this step of the process.
Step 3: Read Your Sources
As you read through your sources, take note of quotes reflecting the overall position of the text, and take note of quotes that are especially relevant to your research topic. Be sure you can paraphrase a text in addition to quoting the author. If you do not understand the material you are reading, then it probably is not the best source to use in your paper. The goal in writing a research paper is to learn a lot about a specific topic, and the best way to do this is by reading your sources.
Step 4: Create an Outline
Did you notice any trending themes throughout your research or any big ideas about your topic? Now that you have conducted your research, you want to organize this information into a logical presentation of the data. First, write a working thesis statement. Do this by writing one sentence that clearly explains the purpose of your entire paper. This will likely change a bit as you write your paper, but it can be helpful to frame your project at the start. Then begin to identify the big points you need to touch on in your paper — remember to keep your thesis in mind. Then identify the smaller points that fall under your big ideas. Remember, the reader probably will not already know the topic as well as you, so organize your content in the way that will make the most sense to someone new to the topic.
Step 5: Write Your First Draft
This may seem like the scariest step, but it is a lot easier than you think because you have already done half of the work. Follow the big and small points of your outline using the quotes and paraphrases you collected during your research stage. One great way to write your paragraphs is to use the SEE method. Start with a statement making a claim about the data. Follow that with evidence proving this statement (this is where you use a quote). Follow that with an explanation using your own words to explain why this evidence supports your claim. Each small point on your outline should have at least one SEE, but some points will have more than one claim, and some claims will have multiple pieces of evidence. It can be helpful to use a structure as you get started, but remember to be flexible when writing, too.
Step 6: Edit
Your first draft should never be your final draft. In your editing stage, you will want to trim out any unnecessary sentences or phrases from your draft, fix any spelling or grammar errors, and double-check that you followed the citation style. Some people like to complete two stages of editing — one for formatting and one for content — while others like to edit both at once. Regardless of how you choose to edit, you definitely should read through your first draft at least twice. One good tip for editing is to read your paper out loud. This forces you to slow down and notice some errors that may have slipped your notice.
Step 7: Turn It In
Once you have finished editing your paper, you are ready to turn it in.
Congratulations, you did it! Take a deep breath and bask in the accomplishment of writing a college research paper. Now you are ready to take on the next task in your to-do list.
If you are struggling with any of these steps, schedule an appointment with the Writing Center in the library. Here you can receive assistance from peers who are trained to help you with any stage of the writing process. Remember, everyone has challenges, and it is okay to ask for help when you need it. You’ve got this!
By Mattigan Burleigh ‘24
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
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