How To Write a Research Paper

Once you understand the assignment, it is time to choose a topic for your research paper. Think about these factors to help you select a topic:

• Is the topic interesting to you? Is it something that you are passionate about, or would like to learn more about? You may be working on this research paper for several weeks; it is hard to stay with it if you don’t find the topic interesting.

• Is the topic appropriate? Has the professor approved it?

• Will other readers find this topic interesting?

• If it is a very broad topic, e.g. pollution, can you narrow the focus of your paper to a smaller sub-topic, e.g. ocean pollution?

• Try to write a question that your paper will answer. When you are researching, look for information that is either related to this question or answers it.

• The answer that you find to this question may ultimately become your thesis statement.

Example:

Topic:            Pay equality in the workforce.

Question:     Do women get paid less than men for completing the same amount of work?

Thesis:         Women are paid less than men are in certain jobs.