Writing Your Research Paper

You may have your own tried-and-true system of moving from research notes to a rough draft. If so, stick to your own system. On the other hand, if you are worried about how to pull together your paper, try some suggestions here as you plan, draft, revise, and edit.

Why Writing a Research Paper Matters

In a College Course

  • You have read everything for your hardest class, but your grade rides on the final paper you submit.
  • You gave an excellent oral presentation about life in your region during the 1940s, but you still have to write up the formal research paper.

In the Workplace

  • You have gathered all the background assembled by your team, but now you have to pull it together in a report for your demanding boss.

In Your Community

  • Your term chairing the citizen committee is ending, so you need to present a final report about types of complaints, criteria for resolution, and recommendations to the board.

image When have you written a research project? In what situations do you expect to do so again?