Whether you’re working on your first major college research paper or your fiftieth, it’s always challenging to do it efficiently and successfully. We asked HC Chatham team members to share their best advice on every step of the process.
Brainstorm
My top tip: brainstorm! If you write down a few different ideas for a thesis, the perfect one will hit you, and you won’t be able to stop yourself from fleshing your great new idea out.—Onastasia Youssef
Jot down your thoughts in a notebook, draw charts and doodle in the margins. Whatever you need to do to spark your creativity, it’s always beneficial to set aside time specifically for exploration.
Find Your Passion
Find something you’re passionate about; even if it’s in a class that you HATE, you can always find some topic that will fascinate you.—Catherine Giles
Every research paper has the potential to blossom into your Tutorial; if you invest your time in what you genuinely care about, you’ll find the intrinsic motivation to turn out an exceptional project.
Plan
PLAN before you write it.—Casey Deer
You’ve chosen your topic and the ideas are flooding in. Now what? Creating an outline before you start writing will give you a clear direction. Whether you go for a traditional format in Word or construct a visual map using index cards or Crayola markers, manipulating the possibilities on paper will help you focus your research.
Start Researching Early
Pick a subject that you actually care about (if you are able to) and get the research out of the way early! Once you have the information that you need from the secondary sources, the essay pretty much writes itself.—Shannon Ward
It’s too easy to procrastinate on a research paper, especially when they’re often assigned weeks or months in advance of the deadline. Determining your topic right away and working for a few hours each week will prevent cramming at the end.
Focus on Quality
Get a lot of really good sources to help guide the direction you want to write your paper.—Paige
Look for sources that intrigue you—it’ll make drilling through them much more satisfying. Shannon Ward suggests using Google Scholar or the J.K.M. Library databases. Stuck? Consult with a research librarian! They’re always willing to give you guidance, and they’ll likely direct you to material you wouldn’t have discovered on your own.
Go Big
Don’t rely on a few sources. Find a bunch then reduce them to the ones you would actually use. That way you wont have trouble writing the topic.—Amy Chau
Starting out by skimming a lot of material will give you a stronger understanding of the exact path you want to take with your research. Highlight common themes and take notes; you’ll see ideas come together as you read.
Revise
The best tip I ever got from a teacher, though, was Dr. Lenz’s favorite phrase: “Revision is the essence of good writing.” Once you’ve jotted down that great idea, it’s going to take a few drafts to make sure you’ve communicated your brilliant argument as clearly as possible to your audience.—Onastasia Youssef
Do you need help with your revision? Contact the P.A.C.E. Center; they’ll refer you to a tutor who can guide you through each part of the process.
What tips do you have for writing a strong research paper? Share them in the comments!