When assigned a research paper in a college class, like one from online universities, one may feel as if it is a daunting task. There are many steps to writing a research paper, but five stand out as being of the utmost importance. Once one knows the topic, expected length and due date, he must buckle down and follow these steps to accomplish the task of writing a research paper!

Step 1 - Write an Outline

The first step to take is to write a detailed outline of how the paper will be set up and what information is needed to back up statements and generalizations. The beginning, middle and end of the paper will be established in the outline and that will keep the writer on track throughout the rest of the process. Writing the outline will also aide in focusing one’s attention on what is truly important.

Step 2 - Find References

Once the writer gets a feeling for what information is needed, the next important step to writing a research paper is to find the necessary references. These references must be from reputable sources, well written and directly related to the topic. Once these references are found, one must take detailed notes and quotations from the work. The titles and page numbers must be noted and a list of these references should be kept for the necessary works cited page.

Step 3 - Start Writing!

After the outline is written and the information is gathered, it is time to start writing the actual paper. The first priority is to write an attention-grabbing introduction.

• When writing the introduction, one must keep in mind who his audience is. The writer should also touch upon every point and topic that will be discussed in the following text. References should also be mentioned in this part of the paper. The introduction can make or break a research paper.
• After writing the introduction, the body of the paper should flow smoothly if one continues to refer to the outline and the notes during the writing process.
• The summary, or conclusion, of the paper is the next important step. The conclusion should leave readers with a feeling of closure and a sense of enlightenment. If the paper is well written, the conclusion will be its crowning glory. It should sum up all of the information, give final recognition to the references discussed and show what the writer has learned throughout the writing process.
• Remember to spell check and watch for common writing mistakes.

Final Step - Citations

The final step to writing a successful research paper is correctly listing the works cited. This list should be in alphabetical order, give title, author and copywrite date. One must remember to double space the entries and indent the second line of each one. The title “Works Cited” should be centered on the page and this page will be the last. The works cited must be well done in order to leave the reader with an overall good feeling about the paper.

Writing a research paper takes a lot of hard work, but breaking it up into steps can make it a lot less daunting. The topic will become organized and focused through writing an outline in the beginning. Necessary information is gathered as one finds relevant references and takes notes and quotations from these works. You’ll polish off the final draft with careful edits and revisions.

A powerful introduction focuses the reader on what to expect and sparks her interest. Following the body of the paper, the conclusion should leave the reader with a new and better understanding of the topic. If the reader would like to learn more, a well written works cited page will help her to find further information on the topic.

Writing a successful college research paper is not impossible if one is willing to take the time, effort and steps necessary to accomplish the task.

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Jen received her master's degree in Literacy Education in 2003 and since then has worked on helping to grow awareness about children's literacy and writing. Jen has 15 post(s) at Free Writing Center