How to Write a Research Paper

PARTS

1Researching Your Topic

2Drafting Your Essay

3Revising Your Paper

OTHER SECTIONS

Questions & Answers

Video

Related Articles

References

Article Summary

Co-authored by Chris Hadley, PhD

Whether you’re in a history, literature, or science class, you’ll probably have to write a research
paper at some point. It may seem daunting when you’re just starting out, but staying organized
and budgeting your time can make the process a breeze. Research your topic, find reliable
sources, and come up with a working thesis. Then create an outline and start drafting your paper.
Be sure to leave plenty of time to make revisions, as editing is essential if you want to hand in
your best work!

Sample Research Papers and Outlines

1
Focus your research on a narrow topic. As you conduct research, try to make your paper’s
subject more and more narrow. You can’t defend an argument about a super broad subject.
However, the more refined your topic, the easier it’ll be to pose a clear argument and defend it
with well-researched evidence. It’s easy to drift off course, especially in the early research
stages. If you feel like you’re going off-topic, reread the prompt to help get yourself back on
track.[1]
 For instance, you might start with a general subject, like British decorative arts.
Then, as you read, you home in on transferware and pottery. Ultimately, you focus on
1 potter in the 1780s who invented a way to mass-produce patterned tableware.
Tip: If you need to analyze a piece of literature, your task is to pull the work apart into literary
elements and explain how the author uses those parts to make their point.
2.

2
Search for credible sources online and at a library. If you’re writing a paper for a class, start
by checking your syllabus and textbook’s references. Look for books, articles, and other
scholarly works related to your paper’s topic. Then, like following a trail of clues, check those
works’ references for additional relevant sources.[2]
 Authoritative, credible sources include scholarly articles (especially those other
authors reference), government websites, scientific studies, and reputable news
bureaus. Additionally, check your sources' dates, and make sure the information you
gather is up to date.
 Evaluate how other scholars have approached your topic. Identify authoritative
sources or works that are accepted as the most important accounts of the subject
matter. Additionally, look for debates among scholars, and ask yourself who presents
the strongest evidence for their case.[3]
 You’ll most likely need to include a bibliography or works cited page, so keep
your sources organized. List your sources, format them according to your assigned
style guide (such as MLA or Chicago), and write 2 or 3 summary sentences below
each one.[4]
3.

3
Come up with a preliminary thesis. As you learn more about your topic, develop a working
thesis, or a concise statement that presents an argument. A thesis isn’t just a fact or opinion;
rather, it’s a specific, defensible claim. While you may tweak it during the writing process, your
thesis is the foundation of your entire paper’s structure.[5]
 Imagine you’re a lawyer in a trial and are presenting a case to a jury. Think of
your readers as the jurors; your opening statement is your thesis and you’ll present
evidence to the jury to make your case.
 A thesis should be specific rather than vague, such as: “Josiah Spode’s improved
formula for bone china enabled the mass production of transfer-printed wares, which
expanded the global market for British pottery.”
Part 2
Drafting Your Essay
1.

1
Create an outline to map out your paper’s structure. Use Roman numerals (I., II., III., and so
on) and letters or bullet points to organize your outline. Start with your introduction, write out
your thesis, and jot down your key pieces of evidence that you’ll use to defend your argument.
Then sketch out the body paragraphs and conclusion.[6]
 Your outline is your paper’s skeleton. After making the outline, all you’ll need to
do is fill in the details.
 For easy reference, include your sources where they fit into your outline, like this:
III. Spode vs. Wedgewood on Mass Production
A. Spode: Perfected chemical formula with aims for fast production and distribution
(Travis, 2002, 43)
B. Wedgewood: Courted high-priced luxury market; lower emphasis on mass
production (Himmelweit, 2001, 71)
C. Therefore: Wedgewood, unlike Spode, delayed the expansion of the pottery market.
2.
2
Present your thesis and argument in the introduction. Start with an attention-grabbing
sentence to draw in your audience and introduce the topic. Then present your thesis to let them
know what you’ll be arguing. For the remainder of the introduction, map out the evidence you’ll
use to make your case.[7]
 For instance, your opening line could be, “Overlooked in the present,
manufacturers of British pottery in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries played
crucial roles in England’s Industrial Revolution.”
 After presenting your thesis, lay out your evidence, like this: “An examination of
Spode’s innovative production and distribution techniques will demonstrate the
importance of his contributions to the industry and Industrial Revolution at large.”
Tip: Some people prefer to write the introduction first and use it to structure the rest of the
paper. However, others like to write the body, then fill in the introduction. Do whichever seems
natural to you. If you write the intro first, keep in mind you can tweak it later to reflect your
finished paper’s layout.
3.

3
Build your argument in the body paragraphs. First, set the context for your readers, especially
if the topic is obscure. Then, in around 3 to 5 body paragraphs, focus on a specific element or
piece of evidence that supports your thesis. Each idea should flow to the next so the reader can
easily follow your logic. For a paper on British pottery in the Industrial Revolution, for instance,
you'd first explain what the products are, how they’re made, and what the market was like at the
time.[8]
 After setting the context, you'd include a section on Josiah Spode’s company and
what he did to make pottery easier to manufacture and distribute.
 Next, discuss how targeting middle class consumers increased demand and
expanded the pottery industry globally.
 Then, you could explain how Spode differed from competitors like Wedgewood,
who continued to court aristocratic consumers instead of expanding the market to the
middle class.
  The right number of sections or paragraphs depends on your assignment. In
general, shoot for 3 to 5, but check your prompt for your assigned length.
4.

4
Address a counterargument to strengthen your case. While it’s not always necessary,
addressing a counterargument can help make your argument more convincing. After layout out
your evidence, mention a contrasting view on the topic. Then explain why that differing
perspective is incorrect and why your claim is more plausible.[9]
 If you bring up a counterargument, make sure it’s a strong claim that’s worth
entertaining instead of ones that's weak and easily dismissed.
 Suppose, for instance, you’re arguing for the benefits of adding fluoride to
toothpaste and city water. You could bring up a study that suggested fluoride produced
harmful health effects, then explain how its testing methods were flawed.
5.

5
Summarize your argument in the conclusion. Think of your paper’s structure as “Tell them
what you’ll tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you told them.” After the paper’s body, remind
the reader of your thesis and the steps you’ve taken to defend it.[10]
 Sum up your argument, but don’t simply rewrite your introduction using slightly
different wording. To make your conclusion more memorable, you could also connect
your thesis to a broader topic or theme to make it more relatable to your reader.
 For example, if you’ve discussed the role of nationalism in World War I, you
could conclude by mentioning nationalism’s reemergence in contemporary foreign
affairs.
Part 3
Revising Your Paper
1.
1
Ensure your paper is well-organized and includes transitions. After finishing your first draft,
give it a read and look for big-picture organizational issues. Make sure each sentence and
paragraph flow well to the next. You may have to rewrite a paragraph or swap sections around,
but taking the time for revisions is important if you want to hand in your best work.[11]
 This is also a great opportunity to make sure your paper fulfills the parameters of
the assignment and answers the prompt!
 It’s a good idea to put your essay aside for a few hours (or overnight, if you have
time). That way, you can start editing it with fresh eyes.
Tip: Try to give yourself at least 2 or 3 days to revise your paper. It may be tempting to simply
give your paper a quick read and use the spell-checker to make edits. However, revising your
paper properly is more in-depth.
2.

2
Cut out unnecessary words and other fluff. In addition to your paper’s big-picture
organization, zoom in on specific words and make sure your language is strong. Double check
that you’ve used the active voice instead of the passive voice, and make sure your word choices
are clear and concrete.[12]
 The passive voice, such as “The door was opened by me,” feels hesitant and
wordy. On the other hand, the active voice, or “I opened the door,” feels strong and
concise.
 Each word in your paper should do a specific job. Try to avoid including extra
words just to fill up blank space on a page or sound fancy.
 For instance, “The author uses p