Changing the  future

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Title
(Writing a Research Paper)
Author
Title and affiliation
eMail

Abstract

You will be expected to write several research papers throughout this academic program. Because of this, it is very important to understand the steps involved in writing a research paper.
This paper is intended to give you some advice to get you started on the right path.

Introduction: What is a research paper?

“A research paper is an entirely new work that you create by consulting several sources to answer a research question”
(What is a research paper, n.d., ¶ 3). It is not a series of direct quotes and summaries from research materials. A good research paper has synthesized the ideas and thoughts of experts in the field into an original work.

The “Baker’s Dozen” of Writing a Research Paper

The following is a list of suggested steps you should take when writing a research paper:

1) Read the instructions and requirements given by your editors .

2) Choose a topic…EARLY!!! The first week of the course is the best time to develop a potential topic.
Your instructor may include sample topics, or a list of topics from which you may choose in the assignment description. If not…The topic you choose MUST be relevant to the course and:

a) One in which you are interested in
b) One that will help you gain further understanding of the topics of the course as well as help you in your chosen occupation or in potential career advancement

c) One that is not too broad (The steps in writing a research paper, n.d., and Writing research papers, n.d.).
d) One that meets the criteria established by your instructor. Again, be sure to carefully read the instructions and requirements of the assignment.

3) Have the topic approved by your instructor…this is often required in your courses. It is always a great idea to discuss your topic with your instructor early in the course. The instructor can give you advice to narrow your focus, give you research materials, and help you find other information useful for the development of your paper. In addition, your instructor will verify that you are on the right track or direct you to another possible topic (The steps in writing a research
paper, n.d., and Writing research papers, n.d.).

4) Begin your research early with exploratory reading. Early research will help you see how the topic is handled in the literature by experts in the field (The steps in writing a research paper, n.d., and Writing research papers, n.d.). You may also discover that there is too much information available, forcing you to narrow your focus. You may also discover that there is not enough published research available causing you to expand your topic. Consult with your instructor for possible alternatives if you get bogged down with this process. There are excellent research articles available from our Online Library (see lecture on this topic for further information). While most current articles are available in full-text, other great resources are not. Beginning the research process early will give you time to request articles from our library to be sent to you.

5) Do not be afraid to share your progress with your instructor or ask for help at any step in this process.

6) Develop a thesis or purpose statement and a working outline. Each should answer the following questions: What is the purpose of the paper; what subtopics should you cover; and what questions should I answer? This statement and outline will keep you focused during the research gathering and writing phases (The steps in writing a research paper, n.d., and Writing research papers, n.d.).

7) Gather Data
a) Create your list of references as well as gather the actual books, articles, Internet resources, etc.
b) Read all sources and take notes as you are reading. Begin to plug these resources into your working outline.
c) Conduct original research (if needed and/or required).Examples: Interviews, surveys, etc. This is not required in all    courses.
d) Begin to prepare your references section by keeping track of all resources gathered (The steps in writing a research aper, n.d., and Writing research papers, n.d.).

8) Write a quick rough draft of your paper without using any notes or research materials. This will help you develop your ideas and take ownership of your work. You can later use the draft to begin writing the final draft by filling in your research notes in the appropriate places (Avoiding plagiarism, n.d. & Plagiarism, n.d.).

9) Organize your data for writing.

a) Reread your notes and select the resources that are most relevant to your topic and purpose statement.

b) Develop your working outline into your formal outline. Use your working outline and quick rough draft as a starting point. Make sure your outline supports your purpose statement.

c) Gather further information as needed for sections that are weak (Avoiding plagiarism, n.d. & Plagiarism, n.d.).

10)Write a rough draft of your paper. Get your thoughts on paper without worrying too much about spelling, grammar, sentence structure, etc. Do not edit yourself in this step.

11) Proofread your rough draft and make appropriate changes. In addition, run your rough draft through the spell check and grammar check in your word processing program. Make appropriate changes.

12) Ask a friend to proofread your paper. This is a very important step. Ask your friend to check for readability…do they understand what you have written. Revise your rough draft as needed. Rewrite your final paper using APA guidelines for format, reference citation, etc. 13) Proofread one more time…checking for APA format accuracy. Submit your paper to your instructor using the method as described in the assignment description or course outline.

Conclusion
Word of warning…be careful of plagiarism! The penalties of plagiarism are very severe…from failing the assignment all the way to dismissal from the College (see academic policies for further clarification on this policy). Your instructors will also provide detailed information on this topic in your course outlines. In addition, your instructor may submit your paper to an outside plagiarism detection service to erify originality.

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