How to Write a College Research Paper in Five Easy Steps

Of all the homework assignments given to college undergraduates, the research paper is perhaps the greatest challenge. It takes a lot of time, time that could be better used on the Internet or hanging out with friends. It also takes a high level of organization. There are college students out there who are highly organized, but they are few and far between. Just look in our dorm rooms. The time restrictions (accounting for procrastination, of course) and the strain on organizational skills make having an efficient and effective method for writing a paper particularly important. Of all of the methods with which I have experimented over the years, this one is the simplest and easiest to use.

1.) Finding Sources

Finding sources should be a simple process, right? We have the internet and online journals. So why is it so difficult to find three or four good, applicable sources? Part of the problem is the excess of information available, most of it erroneous. Wading through all of the information provides for plenty of distractions and frustrations.

There are some ways to narrow the search. Search functions, such as Google Scholar, narrow the range of sources returned. They also allow you to narrow your search terms to those that will be most effective in online journal searches as you find abstracts and titles that are potentially useful.

When you find relevant articles jot down all the information: journal title, year, issue, article title, and authors. Take this information to the library or online journals subscribed to by your school and use it to find the exact, full article you need. This information is also required for using Inter-Library Loan systems.

When you have a handful of articles useful for your paper, go immediately to their reference sections. Here, you will find articles that the author of your copy used. These will provide further information for your research paper. Also, many professors prefer you use the original source rather than cite an author's citation of the original source. First-hand is always more complete than second-hand.