How to Write a Research Paper in Five Quick Steps

1) Focus on a topic early. Until you've done the research, you won't know for sure Whether or not you'll need to narrow your focus or broaden it. By allowing yourself at least three weeks for casual research before you get into the thick of your paper, you'll be in no danger of painting yourself into a corner. In addition, if you need to request material through interlibrary loan, you'll have time to wait for it to arrive.

2) Know your resources. When writing a paper, you only want to consult reliable sources - academic texts or publications in peer-reviewed journals. While online databases like ProQuest can be helpful in locating articles, it's also important to utilize resources on the shelves. If you can locate your subject area (or areas) in your library, you can browse freely and find out what you're looking for much more easily than if you were looking at online abstracts. Furthermore, gaining a basic understanding of your library's classification system (whether it's Dewey or Library of Congress) can be invaluable in locating what you're looking for. Bibliographies in helpful books or journal articles may lead you to further information.