Preparing For Your Research Paper

If you haven’t had the luxury of taking a research paper class before entering college, you may find yourself with the overwhelming task of turning in good assignments. If this is your situation, here are some great tips to help you…

1. Have A Good Grasp Of The Assignment
   Make sure that you have read through it thoroughly and completely understand task at hand.  It helps to make an outline of any main ideas, keywords and action words.
2. Choose The Easiest Assignment
   If your instructor gives you a choice, pick the research paper that most suits you; one that interests you and maybe you know something about.  This will greatly accelerate the process and make it more enjoyable.  If you have no interest in the topic, it’s likely to show when you turn in your essay.If you don’t like the assignment or any of the choices, try to put a spin on one to make it ‘more you’.  For example, maybe the research paper is to be about classical music, but you hate that style because you’re a rocker.  You’re in luck!  You could write your essay on the classic rock band “Yes”.  They integrated a lot of classical music into their style and became leaders in creative rock.
3. Start Asking Questions
   Start brainstorming and write down every question you can think of.  This will lead to even more ideas.  Then, start questioning everyone you can from friends and family to teachers.  Ask them what they know about the subject matter and get their opinions.  Do keyword searches on the internet to find subtopics, information and answers.  Visit wiki and authority sites, as well as government sites and physical libraries.  Make notes of your research.  If you take information from books, websites, etc., be sure to write your resources down on paper for reference and a bibliography.
4. Choose An Interesting Delivery Method
   Students are often instructed by a college professor as to what mode they want the research paper to be.  But if left more open for your choosing, some good options are contrasts and comparisons, statistical analysis, argumentative, problem and solution, narrative and interpretation.  You could also combine modes for sharper angles.  You could divide it up into nicely arranged sections to point out different aspects of your research, such as the impact your topic made on civilization, a certain era or different cultures, or discuss different financial, personal or social aspects of the topic.
5. Keep Your Subject Matter Tight
   You will likely have limited time and a limited amount of pages or words with which to work.  Be smart and don’t get to broad about your topic.  The entire Vietnam War is not going to be covered well in a few pages, but the affects of agent orange might.
6. Have A Finely-Tuned Thesis
   As you present your research, start narrowing everything down, leading you into the point you are trying to make.  A paper with just a lot of information will not be good if you don’t ‘get to the point’, whether it is your opinion or a main fact that you’ve been leading up to; some kind of a ’stinger’ is needed.You could leave the reader or listener thinking by presenting different scenarios for them to consider.  Or, maybe answer the questions yourself by presenting your hypotheses, thus creating your thesis.  Any type of rebuttal, agreement or conclusion about your research could make a good thesis statement if creatively done.

Summary

Remember, when you are doing your research, you are not trying to read entire books nor documents.  You are doing a research paper, not a book report, so just scan looking for details and data you need or can use.  Don’t bog yourself down, but also, don’t just collect information.  Wrap it up in an informative package that’s easy to read and digest.  Your essay should make the reader come away feeling better for having had read it.