This document provides a step-by-step guide for writing effective research papers. It outlines 5 key steps: 1) choosing a topic, 2) collecting resources from reliable sources and taking notes, 3) writing a thesis with 3 main points, 4) forming body paragraphs that align with the thesis and include cited supporting evidence, and 5) creating a works cited page or bibliography. Following these steps will help ensure a well-written and organized research paper.

1. WR I T I N G E F F E C T I V E R E S E A R C H P A P E R S
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO:

2. General Information:
Intro, Topic Sentence, etc.
Focusing Direction of Paper
(Telling)
More Specific (Showing)
Supporting
Details
Conclusion
(Summarize)
Info from Purdue Owl

3. STEP 1. CHOOSING A TOPIC
• WHAT IS YOUR TOPIC?
• Is it a topic assigned by the teacher?
• If the topic is your choice, what interests you?
• Why is your topic..

4. STEP 2. COLLECT RESOURCES
• EVALUATE YOUR RESEARCH
• Are they from reliable sources?
• Example: Wikipedia is not a reliable source,
• A URL ending in .gov or .edu are typically reliable.
• TAKE NOTES ON YOUR SOURCES
• Only note the useful information while reading.
• Start to think about some main supports for your paper.

5. • ORGANIZE YOUR INFORMATION
• By organizing your research, you make the process of
actually writing the paper a lot easier!
EXAMPLES:
• Source Cards
• Put supporting evidence/quotes on notecards/flashcards. This way,
you can reorganize them in different orders to what makes the most
sense as you go.
• Outline
• An outline can also be useful in organizing support evidence.
• Organizes points into main points and what their supporting
evidence is.

6. NOW, WRITING THE PAPER
(YOU ARE WELL PREPARED FOR THIS!!)

7. STEP 3. WRITING A THESIS
• THESIS: AN ORGANIZATION OF THREE MAIN POINTS THAT
OUTLINES THE MEANING OF YOUR PAPER.
• ORGANIZATION:
• Strongest point at the end, hide the weakest in the middle.
• There are many ways to write this!
• “____ because of X, Y, and Z.”
• “X, Y, and Z lead to _____.”
• Put thesis at the end of the introductory paragraph.

8. STEP 4. FORMING BODY PARAGRAPHS
• Match your body paragraphs with the organization
of your thesis:
• Example: “_______ because of X, Y, and Z.”
• First Body Paragraph: X
• Supporting evidence here.
• Second Body Paragraph: Y
• Supporting evidence here.
• Third Body Paragraph: Z
• Supporting evidence here.

9. Your supporting evidence in your body paragraphs
MUST BE CITED (if it is not your original thought or idea)
EXAMPLE:
1. “The more that you read, the more things you will
know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll
go” (Seuss 23).
2. This point can be seen in Dr. Suess’s quote, “The
more that you read, the more things you will know. The
more that you learn, the more places you’ll go”(23).

10. STEP 5. CREATING A WORKS CITED
PAGE OR A BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Not only is it important to include in-text citations of
your research, but also to organize them at the end
of your document in the form of a works cited page
or a bibliography.
• For help with citations, please visit:
• Purdue Owl's Guide to MLA Citations (In-Text and Works
Cited Pages) 

11. Don’t forget to reread your paper.
Proofread for spelling and
grammatical errors.
Have a peer look over your work for
things you may have missed, and
check his/hers too!

12. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
YOU’RE READY TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER!