Here are 8 steps in how to research a research paper. These 8 steps are easy to follow and
will increase your accuracy in researching your paper. These steps are a helping tool for
any college or high school student with a long or short paper. Like any other writing
project, research writing is a process involving a number of steps. Although you may be
overwhelmed at first by the large scope of a research paper, if you break the task into
smaller tasks, youll find yourself able to complete even the largest assign-ment.
First, start by understanding your paper; make sure you know what requirements your
instructor is assigning. This is a key step in being able to outline your plan of attack.
Second, focus on your topic. Narrowing your topic before you begin, and again several
times as you proceed, will help you write a thorough paper, one that treats its subject
accurately. Once you get into the library, you will find dozens of temptations to expand
and extend your project. The clearer you are at the beginning about your project, the better
off youll be.
Research writing requires two special kinds of focusing. The first is identifying the
descriptors or key words that will guide your search through the library resources. You will
want to spend some time brain-storming possible key words, or subject headings, under
which you might find articles and books about your topic. The more precise your
de-scriptors, the more likely you will be able to find useful articles. Finding key words or
descriptors can be a creative process and it is a vital process to successful research. The
second essential focusing activity is to formulate a question or cluster of related questions
that will guide your search for information and ideas. Putting your topic into question form
can help you locate sources and evaluate them quickly for suit-ability for your paper.
Third, make a generalized position on your topic, which support your views. Although you
should expect your ideas to change and improve as you continue working, you should
begin with a first sense of what you think about your topic. It is easy to be overwhelmed
by the opinions of more experienced writers, and if you enter the project without a
preliminary sense of your own position, you may have a difficult time formulating an
original position later.
Forth, decide on a documentation style you would want to use or ask your instructor for
