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- This guide is a starting point for researching and documenting your work
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Thinking About Your Research Paper
Be sure to read and understand the assignment instructions. Talk to your Instructor if you have questions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: What is Known, What is Unknown, Checklist, Problems
WHAT IS KNOWN
Sometimes the paper topic will be specified in the assignment, usually broadly, and sometimes you can write on anything.
The date that the paper is due. This will aid you in planning how to do your research.
The length of the paper.
The minimum number of sources that you need. You can usually use more if you want, and doing more than the minimum makes you look good.
How many sources have to be scholarly, peer-reviewed articles.
Whether or not you need to have at least one Primary Source. This type of source varies depending on the subject.
Citation style for the bibliographic references to your sources. For example: APA, Chicago, MLA, or something else.
Source types: Books, Academic Journal Articles, Magazine Articles, Newspaper Articles, Encyclopedia Articles, Dictionaries, Websites.
Structure of the paper: Introduction, Body, Conclusion, Bibliography/Works Cited
WHAT IS UNKNOWN
These are items that you need to decide upon:
Specific topic to be researched and written about. Within the scope of the course and the assignment, what are you interested in? Have a backup topic in mind, just in case your first topic is not approved by the Instructor.
Particular points that you want to talk about in your paper. You may figure this out only after doing some research and reading articles about your topic, getting some ideas that way.
Can a theory or concept be applied to this topic? A theory or concept might be mentioned in an article on the topic, and then you could do further research on that specific theory, to see how it might apply to your topic. There are specific resources for theories, or you can find articles about them in encyclopedias.
Would various statistics on a topic help explain the problem/topic or a particular point that you are trying to make?
Including various illustrations to use in your paper, such as charts, graphs, or images, can improve your paper; these images are not always available for every topic.
CHECKLIST
What is the topic of your paper?
Has your topic been approved by your Instructor?
When is the paper due to be handed in?
What is the minimum length of the paper?
What is the minimum number of sources that you need?
How many sources have to be scholarly, peer-reviewed articles?
Do you need to use Primary Sources, and, if so, how many?
What Citation Style are you to use?
What points or issues or themes do you want to highlight in your paper?
Is there a particular theory or concept that can be applied to this topic?
Did you make an outline of the paper, with the points that you want to mention, and the types of sources to use?
PROBLEMS OR QUESTIONS?
Talk with your Instructor.
