You are a returnee and it has been fourteen years since you wrote the paper. You drove through high school with your charm and good looks, and you never wrote a research paper. You’ve written research articles, but every time is like the first time, and the first time was like the root canal. How do you get started? Here is a step-by-step approach to starting and completing research.
- Select a topic. 2. Read and keep a record. 3. Write a thesis. 4. Create a mind map or sketch. 5. Read again. 6. Think about the dissertation again. 7. Pull the body. 8. Check. 9. Add start and end. 10. Proofreading and editing.
You can read this TIP sheet from beginning to end before starting the paper, or go through the steps that cause you the most grief. 1. Topic selection: Interest, knowledge and concentration Your work will be more enjoyable and you will be better able to retain information if you choose a topic of interest. Even if the general topic is addressed as much as possible, find an approach that works for you. Your topic should be a topic where you can find enough information; you may need to do a preliminary study to find out
- Preliminary reading and accounting Collect index cards or a small notebook and keep them with you as you read. First, read a general article on the subject, such as an encyclopedia. Some students use a particular index card method throughout the research and writing process, giving them great flexibility in arrangements and reorganizations, as well as tracking sources. others color-code or otherwise identify the facts. Use any method that works for you later, but always start with good accounting.
- Organizing: Mind map or sketch Make a mind map or sketch based on your initial reading. Include important, interesting, or provocative points, including your own ideas on the topic. The mind map is less linear and may even contain questions you want to find answers to. Use the method that works best for you. The goal is simply to group ideas into logically related groups. You can review this mind map or draft at any time. rearranging the paper is much easier by taking or adding parts to a mind map or outline than starting from a tedious start with the writing itself.
- Thesis design: Focus and craftsmanship Write a well-defined, focused, three- or five-point dissertation, but be prepared to review it later if necessary. Take the time to formulate this sentence into one or two sentences, as it will control the direction and development of your entire paper. For more information on developing thesis statements, see the TIP sheets “Thesis Development and Argument Support” and “Essay Construction”.
- Research: Facts and examples Start your heavy research now. Try the Internet, electronic databases, reference works, newspaper articles, and books to get a balance of sources. For each source, write the publication information you need for the cited books (MLA) or pages of the bibliography (APA) on the index card (or on a separate page of the notebook). Always write important paragraphs, details, and examples, always separating direct quotes and formatting. As you read, keep in mind that expert opinion is more valid than public opinion, and for some topics, newer research may be more valuable than older research. Avoid resorting too much to Internet sources that vary widely in quality and authority and sometimes even disappear before you can finalize your paper. Never copy and paste directly from Internet sources into any actual draft paper. Learn more about plagiarism
- Rethinking: A summary of the mind map and thesis After thoroughly reading and gathering a wealth of information, expand or update your working mind map or outline by adding information, explanations, and examples. The goal is a balance in the development of each key point. Return to the library for more information if needed to smoothly develop these points, or check your thesis statement to better reflect what you have learned or the direction the paper appears to have shown.
- Draft: Starting in the middle Write the body of the paper, starting with the thesis clause and leaving a presentation for the time being. Use the dissertation in a logical and systematic way with supporting details. Leave a conclusion for the time being. For more information on the systematic development of a thesis, see the TIP sheets “Development of a Thesis and Supporting Arguments” and “Building an Essay”.
- Review: Organization and specification Read, check, and make sure your ideas are clearly organized and that they support the statement of your thesis. Each chapter should have one topic in the introduction to the thesis.
- Writing: Introduction, Conclusions and Quotations Write the final draft. Add a one-paragraph introduction and a one-paragraph conclusion. Usually, the thesis statement appears as the last sentence or two of the first introductory paragraph. Make sure all citations appear in the correct format for the style you are using (MLA, APA). The conclusion should not simply repeat your dissertation, but should be referred to. (For more information on writing conclusions, see the TIP table “How to Build an Essay.”) Add a cited work (for MLA) or bibliography (for APA) page.
- Proofreading: Time and objectivity Allow time, allow a few days to elapse between writing the last draft and starting final corrections. This “timeout” makes you more illustrative, more objective, and more critical. On your last reading, check the grammar, punctuation, correct word choice, adequate and smooth transitions, sentence structure, and sentence variety. For more information on proofreading strategies, see the “Checking, Editing, and Proofreading” TIP table.
