Step 1. Select a subject
- Determine what interests you
- Understand the limits/requirements of your assignment
- Understand the limits of your resources
- Consult the library’s catalog and databases
Step 2. Narrow the subject into a topic
Step 3. State the objective
- A question to be answered or argued
- A thesis statement
Step 4. Write a preliminary bibliography
- Create a list of materials you plan to examine
- Consult the library’s catalog and databases
- Check the Internet (but not as your first source)
- Evaluate what you find
Step 5. Prepare a a plan for reading the materials
- Create a working outline or concept map
Step 6. Take notes
- Note cards listing the important ideas discovered in research
- Include source information
Step 7. Outline the paper
- introduction, body, conclusion
Step 8. Write the draft
- Write the introduction
- present the idea to be discussed
- state the thesis
- Write the body
- Develop your main ideas and support them with details
- Write the conclusion
- Summarize your main points...restate your thesis
- Revise your draft(s)
- Check content and organization
- Check transitions
Step 9. Prepare the final paper
- Document sources in the required format (e.g. MLA, APA)
*Adapted from Mesa College Library, "The Research Paper Made Easy"