Introduction

Genre

Topic

Scope

Thesis or Question

Research

Outline

First Draft

Revisions

Proofreads

Additional Resources

Writing a Research Paper

Written by Sarah Hamid

Introduction

Despite the illusion, the research-paper writing process (as with any writing process) is quasi-linear at best. Follow the green navigation bar on the left from top to bottom to follow the nine major steps in writing a research paper, or if you're working on a particular step, click on that step to jump ahead in the process.

The entire process will require a lot of hard work on your part, but the results will be more than satisfying if you give it your best. In the end, you'll have passed an important "write of passage" <grin> in your academic career and picked up a heap of useful skills along the way.

Though we've laid the process out step by step, the hypertext capability of the Web allows you to rewind and fast-forward at your own ease, pace, and convenience. So for a picture of what the process will really end up being like, see Cleveland State University Writing Center's map of the writing process. Remember that our OWL tutors are around to help you at any stage of the process. Email them with any questions that you may have.

Now take a deep breath and click on Genre. The journey's about to begin.