Research Paper Resources

Dear Cydney,

I have to write a research paper for one of my classes. The project seems overwhelming, and I'm not sure where to begin. Any advice?

—Looking for the Write Stuff

Dear LWS,

We've all faced tasks that seem overwhelming, and I imagine that, like many of us, you have serious commitments outside of school. So my first suggestion is to utilize the University of Minnesota's assignment calculator: http://www.lib.umn.edu/help/calculator/. This tool will break your assignment into small parts, making it more manageable and providing a framework to keep you on track.

You should also make sure that you understand the assignment. You may be surprised to know that the most common reason for lowered grades is that students do not understand the assignment or the professor's expectations. Don't be shy about asking the instructor questions.

If you are required to choose your own topic, you'll want to start brainstorming soon. Think about what interests you and what you're willing to spend several weeks researching. Craft a specific claim that is arguable and worthy of discussion. Indiana University houses a tutorial on creating strong thesis statements: http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml.

Keep in mind that the thesis must be your own idea. You will be searching material that others have written and researched, but your professor's expectation is that you develop a thesis/argument based on something unique that you have learned from the work of others.

A final note about thesis statements: As you carry out your research, your original claim may change; in fact, the thesis statement of your final draft may be quite different than your original claim.

While you are considering a topic, it is a good time to make your first visit to the library. You can request a tour at or meet with a reference librarian who will help guide your search and help make it efficient and productive. Keep in mind that library databases do not work like Google, so a brief tutorial is helpful for even the strongest student.

At this stage in your academic experience, professors expect you to explore scholarly journals, in which individuals report on the results of their research. Of course, you must still read these sources with a critical eye—was the sample size large enough to provide reliable results, were other factors sufficiently controlled, etc.

Now, LWS, my weakness as an undergrad—disorganization—caused some big problems when it came time for me to integrate my collected research into a paper. Remember that a professor will not stand for using sources without citation. In fact, you already know that plagiarism is grounds for a zero on the assignment, or worse. I can't tell you how many sources I had to throw out at the last minute because I couldn't find the information necessary for proper citation. Avoid my mistake by checking a writing handbook early on so that you know what information you'll need to create proper citations (whether APA, MLA or another).

Good luck, LWS! Although writing a research paper is a lot of work, you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment when you become a mini-expert in a topic and produce a work that may be professional enough for publication.

Originally published in The UB Post, Oct. 3, 2007