Research papers. You probably fear them, unless you're an oddball like me. I used to dread them in college, depending on the class.

Even the most organized student may find themselves quaking in their boots, gazing at the homework as if they're Luke Skywalker and it's the Death Star.

You must choose a broad topic, conduct extensive research, narrow down a research question, and then give your solution to that question engagingly. Oh, and you must utilize citations as well.

How on earth are you expected to deal with this?

Not to worry, even the Death Star has flaws. You, too, can overcome your research paper with a well-planned strategy, some fortitude, and perhaps a little aid from a few midi-chlorian.

Let's get this party started.

1. Pick a Topic

And choose one that piques your attention. This is not debatable.

You and this topic will be spending a lot of time together, so choose something you enjoy or at the very least have a passing interest in. Even if you despise the class, there's certainly at least one topic that piques your interest.

Perhaps you'd want to write a paper in your education class about "mental health in high schools." That's a terrific start, but take a couple more steps to refine your idea so you know what to investigate. When you wish to be more particular, consider the following factors:

• Timeline: What have been the most significant mental health challenges for high school students in the recent five years?

• Location: How do kids in your area's mental health compare to students in the next state (or nation) over?

• Culture or Group: How do inner-city pupils' mental health compare to those in the suburbs or locations like Silicon Valley?

• Solution: What would be the most effective improvement in high schools to promote the well-being of their pupils, and why?

It's important to be clear about what you're investigating, but don't put yourself in a bind. Avoid being too local (for example, if the place is a tiny town) or too recent, as there may not be enough research to sustain a whole paper on the subject.

Also, avoid overly analytical or technical topics that you believe you would struggle to write about (unless that is the task...

then go ahead and get into all the intricacies you want).

Before you can choose a topic that is specialized enough for your paper, you'll probably need to undertake some background study and potentially discuss it with your professor.

At the very least, skim the section on your broad topic of interest in the Encyclopedia Britannica. Use your lecturer as another resource! They'll most likely be delighted to advise you in the direction of a potential study subject.

Of course, this will be heavily influenced by your class and the criteria established by your professor, so make sure you read your assignment and understand what it requires. If you believe the assignment is unclear, do not proceed without first consulting with your professor.

2. Create a Clear Thesis Statement

Say it with me: a research paper that lacks a thesis question or assertion is nothing more than a fancy book report.

All research papers are classified into one of three types: analytical, expository, or argumentative.

• Analytical papers offer information analysis (effects of stress on the human brain)

• Expository writings attempt to explain something (for example, Julius Caesar's ascent to power).

• Argumentative papers attempt to illustrate a point (Dumbledore should not be in charge of a children's school).

Determine the type of paper you want to write, and then develop a viable thesis statement or question.

Perhaps it begins out like this:

• Three significant reasons influenced Julius Caesar's ascent to prominence.

Okay, not too awful. Based on this, you could probably compose a paper. But it's also not terrific. It's neither specific nor debatable. You're not engaging in any form of debate.

If you rewrite it slightly to be more particular, you get:

• Julius Caesar rose to prominence quickly as a result of a power vacuum and social instability caused by years of war and internal political corruption.

Better. You can now seriously consider investigating it.

Every strong thesis statement has three important characteristics: it is focused, takes a stand, and can be supported by research.

If you lack any of these characteristics, you will struggle. Avoid ambiguous modifiers such as "positive" and "negative." Instead, formulate your point using clear, forceful words.

Take this thesis statement for example:

• "High schools should reduce homework assignments since it has a detrimental influence on students' life."

Sure, it's debatable...

but just kind of. It's a little hazy. We don't know what "negative" means, other than "generally bad." Before you begin researching, you must further define your thesis.

Revised Version::

• "In the United States, high schools should offer less homework since lower workloads enhance kids' sleep, stress levels, and, shockingly, their grades."

When in doubt, look over your argument and ask yourself, "Is this arguable?" Is there anything you need to demonstrate? If not, your thesis is generally not powerful enough. If yes, you're OK to go as long as you can back it up with research.

A clear purpose is provided by good thesis statements. You know exactly what you're searching for and where you want to go with the paper. Make an effort to be as explicit and clear as possible. This simplifies the following step:

3. Hit the Books

So you've written your thesis and know what you're searching for. It's time to get out there and conduct some genuine research. I mean more than a fast internet search or a short browse through some mediocre secondary or tertiary sources when I say "serious research."

If you've picked a thesis that you're unsure about, a quick Google search is great, but make sure you go the extra mile. Some teachers will also include a list of material necessary materialsxample, "three scholarly publications, two books, one interview...etc.

It's a good idea to start by going to the library and asking your local librarian for assistance (they're typically eager to assist you!).

Look through your school library for research papers and books on the subject. When possible, look for primary materials such as journals, personal documents, or current newspaper stories.

Create a system for saving useful quotations, links, and other sources as you begin your study. I enjoyed having everything in one text document on my computer, but you could also try a physical file.

Remember that your thesis isn't complete at this stage. It's still spongy in places. If your study begins to strongly contradict your thesis, create a new thesis, modify it, and continue collecting quotations.

The more help you can get, the better. Depending on the length of your work, you should include 3-10 distinct sources with a variety of quotes in between.

Here are a few locations to seek credible sources:

• Google Scholar

• Sites ending in .edu,.org, or.gov. While not a rule, these sites tend to represent organizations and are more likely to be respectable than standard.com sites.

• The library at your school. It should have an area for articles, newspapers, and books.

• The free academic database at your school

• Online encyclopedias such as Britannica,

• almanacs, and other databases

Take careful notes and assess your sources as you read. Make a list of general observations, questions, and answers to those questions when you come across them. When you have a substantial stack of research notes, it is time to begin arranging your work.

4. Write an Outline

Even if you generally feel comfortable writing a paper without an outline, utilize one when working on a research project.

When it comes to writing, outlines practically handle all of the heavy liftings for you. They keep you on track and organized. Even if you're inclined to jump in and brain dump, refrain. You'll be grateful afterward.

It's pretty brief, with three primary sections: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. Also, you'll see that I haven't gone to great lengths to organize my research.

I've simply thrown in all the pertinent citations under the sections I anticipate they'll end up under, so I can add my research document quotations as they fit into the general narrative later.

Let's go through this in further detail:

The Introduction

The thesis and the introduction to the supporting points are the two primary sections of the introduction. This is when you effectively tell your reader what kind of crazy trip they're in for if they continue reading.

It's all about getting your reader's mind to think about your argument or query before you even begin.

Present your argument and supporting points clearly and simply. It should not be more than a paragraph or two lengthy. Maintain a basic and easy-to-read style.

Body Paragraphs

Now that you've stated your case, it's time to back it up. This is when your body paragraphs will come in handy. Keep in mind that the length of this is depending on the criteria established by your lecturer.

However, you should always have at least three supporting points to aid defend, verifying, or clarifying your thesis. Put your weakest point first, followed by your strongest point.

Conclusion

This doesn't require much detailing. Simply copy and paste your introductory outline. Your conclusion should be around one paragraph long and should summarize your key ideas as well as repeat your thesis.

Another important aspect of this outline example that I haven't mentioned yet is:

Annotations and Research

Some individuals like to write first and then annotate. I prefer to include quotations and notes at the beginning of the writing process.

The remainder of the paper goes more smoothly, and it's easy to guarantee that I've gathered enough evidence to support my claim. That way, I won't have to go through the effort of drafting the paper just to learn that my thesis isn't truly valid!

As a general guideline, every supporting point should contain at least 3-5 sources. Every assertion you make in your article should be supported by evidence.

Some academics are more relaxed about this than others. Make certain that you fully comprehend your assignment's needs. You don't want to get penalized for not having the right amount of sources!

At this point, you should also know what format your professor prefers (APA, MLA, etc.), as this will save you a lot of time later.

Some teachers in college required in-text parenthetical citations anytime I made a claim or referenced my study in any way.

Others were simply interested in citations after paragraphs. Others didn't mind in-text citations as long as you included a bibliography after your article.

So, read through your blueprint and begin entering your quotations and citations right away. Add them up. If you require more, simply add them.

If you believe you have adequate evidence (i.e., your statements are so well backed that even Voldemort couldn't scare them), go to the following step:

5. Write the First Draft

It's time to start typing. This should be a piece of cake if you made a firm enough outline. The majority of it should have already been written for you. All you have to do now is fill it out. You've successfully dodged the initial terror of a blank screen.

At this point, don't be concerned about grammar or prose quality. It's the first draught, and it's not meant to be published.

I like to mark straight quotations, summaries, paraphrases, and statements as I type them. This ensures that I don't neglect to cite any of them.

So, do what you have to do. Go to a quiet spot or make one for yourself, put on a great song, turn off your social media applications, and start to work.

Once you've nailed down the main points of your paper, the actual work begins:

6. Revise Your Draft

Okay, now that you've semi-organized word-vomited everywhere, it's time to start putting this thing together. If you take the time to correctly outline, this shouldn't be too tough.

Every paper goes through two levels of editing: the developmental edit and the line edit.

The developing edit (at least the first one) is solely for your eyes. Take a long, hard look at your paper and ask yourself, "Does this make sense, and does it accomplish what I want it to do?" If it does, that's fantastic. If it doesn't, how can you rearrange or tweak it to make it?

Here are a few helpful questions to consider at this point:

• Is the paper well-organized, and does it flow logically from paragraph to paragraph?

• Does your thesis meet the three requirements outlined above? Is it backed up by your study and arguments?

• Have you double-checked that all of your sources are correctly cited?

• Is the paper repetitive? Can you eliminate superlatives or phrases to make your argument more concise?

It's time for the line edit once you've gone through this process at least once. This is where you check for punctuation, spelling, and grammatical mistakes.

Allow your paper to sit overnight before reading it out loud to yourself, the cat, or a friend. Our minds frequently know what we "meant" to say, and it's tough for us to detect minor grammar or typographical problems.

Here are a few more questions to consider before you call it a day:

• Have you used as few filler words, adverbs, and passive voice as possible?

• Have you double-checked your grammar, spelling, and punctuation? Spell-checking software is becoming better, but it's still not flawless.

Grammarly is a fantastic program for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Chrome that goes above and beyond your standard spell-checker if you need help revising your work and your normal software isn't cutting it.

It examines sentence form and length, as well as inadvertent plagiarism and passive tense.

7. Organize Your Sources

The paper is finished, yet it is not finished. You must still develop the last page: the "works referenced" or bibliography page.

This page functions somewhat differently depending on the style your professor has requested, and it may be rather perplexing because various sorts of references are presented entirely differently.

Before you submit your work, make sure that every single source, no matter how big or tiny, is included on this page. You risk plagiarism if you fail to cite anything or cite it incorrectly.

I got through college by using a few different software to style my papers are some real lifesavers:

• EasyBib - I used this program throughout college to style my citations for me; it handles all of the heavy liftings for you and is completely free.

• Microsoft Word - I honestly never used Microsoft Word throughout my college years, but it does include a function that can make citations and bibliographies for you, so if you have it on your computer, it's worth trying.

Onwards: One Step at a Time

I'll leave you with this piece of advice:

Research papers aren't as difficult as they appear if you grasp the approach. There is a lot to accomplish, so don't be discouraged.

Simply tackle it one step at a time, piece by piece, and give yourself plenty of time. Take regular pauses, keep organized, and always, always, always remember to acknowledge your sources. You've got this!

Best wishes! Are you looking for tutors to help you with your research paper writing? Look at our selection of top subject matter experts to get help with your academic paper.