how to organize research for a paper

How to Organize Research Papers: A Cheat Sheet for Graduate Students

August 8, 2022
PRODUCTIVITY

It is crucial to organize research papers so that the literature survey process goes smoothly once the data has been gathered and analyzed. This is where a research organizer is useful.

It may be helpful to plan the structure of your writing before you start writing: organizing your ideas before you begin to write will help you decide what to write and how to write it.

It can be challenging to keep your research organized when writing an essay. The truth is, there’s no one “ best ” way to get organized, and there’s no one answer. Whatever system you choose, make sure it works for your learning style and writing habits.

As a graduate student, learning how to organize research papers is therefore essential.

This blog post will cover the basics of organizing research papers and the tools I use to organize my research.

Before you start

The importance of organizing research papers.

No matter how good your paper management system is, even if you keep all your literature in places that are easy to find, you won’t be able to “create” anything unless you haven’t thought about organizing what you get from them.

The goal of the research is to publish your own work to society for the benefit of everyone in the field and, ultimately, humanity.

In your final year of your PhD, when you see all the papers you’ve stored over the years, imagine the frustration you might experience if you hadn’t gathered the information from those papers in a way that allows you to “create” something with i.

This is why organizing research papers is important when starting your research.

Research with your final product in mind

It is very important to have a clear idea of what your research’s outcome will be to collect the information you really need.

If you don’t yet have all your information, consider what “subheadings” or chunks you could write about.

Write a concept map if you need help identifying your topic chunks. As an introduction to concept mapping, it involves writing down a term or idea and then brainstorming other ideas within it.

To gather information like this, you can use a mind map.

When you find useful information.

Come up with a proper file management system.

Sort your literature with a file management system. There’s no need to come up with a very narrow filing system at this point. Try sorting your research into broader areas of your field. When you’re more familiar with your own research, you’ll be able to narrow down your filing system.

Start with these methods:

Don’t waste your time on stuff that’s interesting but not useful :

In your own research, what’s the most important part of a particular paper? You won’t have to pay attention to other sections of that paper if you find that section first.

What is the argument behind your research? Make notes on that information, and then throw everything else away.

Create multiple folders :

Create a file containing related topics if you’re using a computer. Bind the related articles together if you like to print out papers. In other words, keep related things together!

Color code your research papers:

To organize notes and articles, assign different colors to each sub-topic and use highlighters, tabs, or font colors.

Organize your literature chronologically:

Even in a short period of time, you might have missed overarching themes or arguments if you hadn’t read them previously. It’s best to organize your research papers chronologically.

If you want to do all this at once, I suggest using a reference manager like Zotero or Mendeley (more on reference managers later).

File renaming

Make sure you rename your files on your computer according to your own renaming strategy. Taking this step will save you time and confusion as your research progresses.

My usual way of naming a pdf is to use the first author’s last name, followed by the first ten letters of the title and then the year of publication. As an example, For the paper “ Temperature-Dependent Infrared Refractive Index of Polymers from a Calibrated Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared Measurement ” by Azam et al., I renamed the file as “ Azam_Temperature-Dependent_2022.pdf “.

One thing to notice is that I don’t do this manually for all the papers I download. That wouldn’t be as productive, and I’d probably give up after some time renaming every single file. In my reference manager of choice (Zotero), I use a plugin called Zotfile to do this automatically. Zotfile automatically renames files and puts them in the folder I specify every time I add a new paper.

Organizing your research articles by the last names of the lead authors will simplify your citation and referencing process since you have to cite the names of the researchers everywhere. The articles will also be easier to find because they’ll be lined up alphabetically by any researcher’s name you can remember.

Use keywords wisely

Keywords are the most important part of sorting. It’s easy to forget to move a paper to a specific file sometimes because you’re overwhelmed. But you can tag a paper in seconds.

When organizing research papers, don’t forget to develop a better keyword system, especially if you use a reference manager.

My reference manager, for instance, allows me to view all the keywords I have assigned in the main window, making life much easier.

Create annotations

When reading literature, it is very important to create your own annotations, as discussed in the blog post series, “ Bulletproof literature management system “.

This is the fourth post of the four-part blog series: The Bulletproof Literature Management System . Follow the links below to read the other posts in the series:

How to How to find Research Papers
How to Manage Research Papers
How to Read Research Papers
How to Organize Research Papers (You are here)

The best thing to do is to summarize each section of the article/book you are reading that interests you. Don’t forget to include the key parts/arguments/quotes you liked.

Write your own notes

If you decide to read the whole paper, make sure you write your own summary. The reason is that 95% of the things you read will be forgotten after a certain period of time. When that happens, you may have to read the paper all over again if you do not take notes and write your own summary.

By writing your own summary, you will likely memorize the basic idea of the research paper. Additionally, you can link to other similar papers. In this way, you can benefit from the knowledge you gain from reading research papers.

After reading a paper, make sure to ask these questions:

Why is this source helpful for your essay?
How does it support your thesis?

Keep all the relevant information in one place so that you can refer to it when writing your own thesis.

Use an app like Obsidian to link your thinking if you keep all your files on a computer, making things much easier.

When you are ready to write

Write out of order .

Once you have all the necessary information, you can use your filing system, PDF renaming strategy, and keywords to draw the annotations and notes you need.

Now that you’re all set to write, don’t worry about writing the perfect paper or thesis right away.

Your introduction doesn’t have to come first.

If necessary, you can change your introduction at the end – sometimes, your essay takes a different direction. Nothing to worry about!

Write down ideas as they come to you

As you complete your research, many full-sentence paragraphs will come to your mind. Do not forget to write these down – even in your notes or annotations. Keep a notebook or your phone handy to jot down ideas as you get them. You can then find the information and revise it again to develop a better version if you’re working on the same project for a few days/weeks.

My toolbox to organize research papers

Stick with the free stuff.

Trying to be a productive grease monkey, I’ve tried many apps over the years. Here’s what I learned.

The simplest solution is always the best solution (the Occam razor principle always wins!).
The free solution is always the best (because they have the best communities to help you out and are more customizable).

As someone who used to believe that if something is free, you’re the product, I’ve learned that statement isn’t always true.

Ironically, open-source software tends to get better support than proprietary stuff. It’s better to have millions of enthusiasts working for free than ten paid support staff.

There are a lot of reviews out there, and EndNote usually comes out at the bottom. I used EndNote for five years – it worked fine, but other software improved faster. Now I use Zotero, which I like for its web integration.

Obsidian, my note-taking app of choice, is also free software. Furthermore, you own your files; also, you’ve got a thriving community.

There are a lot of similarities between the software as they adopt each other’s features, and it’s just a matter of preference.

In any researcher’s toolbox, a reference manager is an essential tool.

A reference manager has two important features: the ability to get citation data into the app and the ability to use the citation data in your writing tool.

It should also work on Windows just as well as macOS or Linux, be free, and allow you to manage PDFs of papers or scanned book chapters.

Zotero , in my opinion, gives you all of this and more.

Zotero is one of the best free reference managers for collecting citation data. It includes a browser plugin that lets you save citation information on Google Scholar, journal pages, YouTube, Amazon, and many other websites, including news articles. It automatically downloads a PDF of the associated source when available for news articles, which is very convenient.

One of the things I really like about Zotero is that it has so many third-party plugins that we have almost complete control over how we use it.

With Zotero 6, you can also read and annotate PDFs, which is perfect for your needs.

My Research paper organizing workflow in Zotero :

Get References and PDF papers into Zotero : I use Zotero’s web plugin to import PDFs directly
Filing and sorting : I save files from the web plugin into the file system I already have created in Zotero and assign tags as I do so.
File renaming : When I save the file, the Zotero plugin (Zotfile) automatically renames it and stores the pdf where I specified.
Extracting Annotations and taking notes : I use Zotero in the build pdf reader to take notes and annotate, and then I extract them and link them in Obsidian (next section).

You need to keep your notes organized and accessible once you’ve established a strong reading habit. For this purpose, I use Obsidian . I use Obsidian to manage everything related to my graduate studies, including notes, projects, and tasks.

Using a plugin called mdnotes , Obsidian can also sync up with my reference manager of choice, Zotero. It automatically adds new papers to my Obsidian database whenever I add them to Zotero.

Obsidian may have a steep learning curve for those unfamiliar with bi-directional linking , but using similar software will make things much easier. Thus, you may be better off investing your time in devising a note-taking system that works for you.

You can also use a spreadsheet! Make a table with all the papers you read, whatever tool you choose. Include the paper’s status (e.g., whether you’ve read it) and any relevant projects. This is what mine looks like.

I keep all my notes on an associated page for each paper. In a spreadsheet, you can write your notes directly in the row or link to a Google document for each row. Zotero, for example, allows you to attach notes directly to reference files.

While it might seem like a lot of work, keeping a database of papers you’ve read helps with literature reviews, funding applications, and more. I can filter by keywords or relevant projects, so I don’t have to re-read anything.

The habit of reading papers and learning how to organize research papers has made me a better researcher. It takes me much less time to read now, and I use it to improve my experiments. I used this system a lot when putting together my PhD fellowship application and my candidacy exam. In the future, I will thank myself for having the foresight to take these steps today before starting to write my dissertation.

I am curious to know how others organize their research papers since there is no “ right ” way. Feel free to comment, and we will update the post with any interesting responses!

Images courtesy : Classified vector created by storyset – www.freepik.com

Aruna Kumarasiri

Founder at Proactive Grad, Materials Engineer, Researcher, and turned author. In 2019, he started his professional carrier as a materials engineer with the continuation of his research studies. His exposure to both academic and industrial worlds has provided many opportunities for him to give back to young professionals.

Did You Enjoy This?

Then consider getting the ProactiveGrad newsletter. It's a collection of useful ideas, fresh links, and high-spirited shenanigans delivered to your inbox every two weeks.

I accept the Privacy Policy

Hand-picked related articles

Why do graduate students struggle to establish a productive morning routine? And how to handle it?

March 17, 2024

How to stick to a schedule as a graduate student?

October 10, 2023

best note-taking apps for graduate students obsidian app

The best note-taking apps for graduate students: How to choose the right note-taking app

September 20, 2022

Organizing Papers and References without Losing your Mind

In January, Ulrike Träger wrote a great PLOS ECR post describing how to stay on top of reading during graduate school. If you haven’t read it yet, go take a look, as it’s relevant for people at all career stages. As a follow up, here are a few tips on how to keep track of the papers you want to read without losing your mind.

Choose a reference manager. Sure, you can get by creating a poster or two without a reference manager, but it’s incredibly risky to cite references by hand for manuscripts and grant proposals. Choosing and using a reference manager is also a great way to track papers as you collect them, particularly because reference managers often have powerful search functions. There are many to choose from. Some are free, like Zotero and some versions of Mendeley . Others, like Papers and EndNote , are not, though some paid programs may be free through your institution. Spend some time researching which manager fits your needs, but don’t get bogged down, you can always switch later. Personally, I have transferred references from RefWorks to Zotero to Mendeley to EndNote over the past several years without much trouble.

Choose a place to keep unread papers. Whether it’s a physical folder on your desk or a virtual folder on your desktop, it’s important to have a designated place for unread papers. This folder is more than just a storage space, it should also be a reminder for you to review unread papers. It’s tempting to download papers and forget about them, falling prey to PDF alibi syndrome , wherein you fool yourself into thinking that by downloading a paper you’ve somehow read it. So, set aside some time every few weeks (on your calendar if you need to) to review papers. You won’t necessarily read each paper in detail, but you should complete a quick skim and take a few notes. Try to resist the urge to leave notes like “finish reading later.” However, if needed, consider using notes like “need to read again before citing” for papers that were skimmed particularly quickly.

Choose how to keep track of your notes. It’s a great idea to create a summary of each paper as you read it, but where do you keep this information? Some people write separate documents for each paper (e.g., using the Rhetorical Précis Format ), others write nothing at all, but tag papers (virtually or physically) with key words. The exact components of your system matter less than having a system. Right now, I keep a running document with a few sentences about each paper I read. I also note whether I read it on paper or as a PDF so that I can find notes taken on the paper itself later. If I’m doing a deep read on a specific topic, I might also start another document that has in-depth summaries. I usually keep notes in Word documents, but it’s also possible to store these notes in many reference managers.

Choose how to file read papers. Again, having a system probably matters more than which system you choose. Given the interdisciplinary nature of science, it can be complex to file by topic. Therefore, I find it easiest to file papers by last name of the first author and the publication year. It’s also useful to include a few words in the file name that summarize its content. This will help you differentiate between articles written by authors with similar last names. So, for example, using this method, you might label this blog post as Breland_2017_tracking refs. I keep articles I’ve read in a folder labeled “Articles” that includes a folder for each letter of the alphabet. Therefore, I’d file this blog post in the “B” folder for Breland.

TL;DR. The goal of creating a system to organize papers and references is to be able to easily access them later. If you follow the steps above, it’s relatively easy to keep track of and use what you’ve read – if you want to find a paper, you can search for a key word in your reference manager and/or in your running document of article summaries and then find a copy of the paper in the appropriate alphabetized folder. That said, there is no right way to organize references and I’m curious about how others manage their files. Chime in through the comments and we’ll update the post with any interesting answers!

Pat Thomson (2015) PDF alibi syndrome , Patter blog. Accessed 2/27/17.

Ulrike Träger (2017) Ten tips to stay on top of your reading during grad school , PLoS ECR Community Blog.

Sample Rhetorical Précis: http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/rhetorical-precis/sample/peirce_sample_precis_click.html

Featured image available through CC0 license.

[…] Organizing Papers And References Without Losing Your Mind – Jessica Breland […]

You have a great organizing skills! I appreciate your tips!

Fantastic tips! Thank you for sharing.

Great tips! It helps me a lot while I’m doing my final diploma project. Thank you.

This is great, very helpful. Nicely written and clearly organized [like your ref lib 😉 ] C

im at the start of my phd and already feeling that i have a lot of literature. i am taking your notes onboard and going to spend some time to organise my files asap. thanks

Organizing Research Papers: A Step-by-Step Guide

Writing research papers can be an arduous task, especially when it comes to organizing the materials needed for a successful paper. In order to simplify this process, this article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to effectively organize your research papers. It will discuss topics such as where and how to store information, proper citing practices, effective note taking strategies and more in depth guidance that is essential for producing quality work. By following these instructions you will not only save time but also produce better results from your efforts in writing comprehensive research papers.

I. Introduction to Organizing Research Papers

Ii. benefits of an effective research paper organization system.

III. Creating a Research Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide

IV. The Importance of Properly Formatting and Referencing Sources

V. utilizing index cards for topic outlining and categorization, vi. constructing file folders to store relevant materials efficiently, vii . conclusion: implementing structured strategies for long-term success.

Research papers can be a daunting task for any student. To make the process easier, it’s important to have an organized approach . A research paper organizer helps keep all of your notes and resources in one place so that you don’t miss anything or lose focus while writing. It also allows you to easily search for relevant information and quickly move between sources.

An easy way to start organizing is by using a basic outline format with headers and subheaders such as: I. Introduction; II. Background Information; III. Methodology & Results; IV Conclusion & Future Directions.

The introduction should provide context on why the topic is being discussed and how your work relates.
Background info should include prior works related to the topic from other authors, if applicable.
Methodology outlines what data was collected, how it was analyzed, etc..

Maximizing the Outcomes of Research Paper Writing Organization is a crucial part in producing an effective research paper. Having a systematic system to structure one’s work will yield results that are both productive and efficient, especially when it comes to meeting deadlines. A research paper organizer can help organize ideas before committing them onto written form. This allows for more structured thought process with better clarity on which information should be included or excluded from the final product. The use of an organized approach can lead to higher-quality outputs as well as increased productivity overall due to less time spent revising after submission deadline passes. It is also easier for readers or evaluators of the document follow through its content if there exists a logical flow between sections instead of having all arguments scattered throughout the entire page without any tangible direction linking these together.

Furthermore, organizing one’s thoughts with the aid of devices such as color coding makes it simpler to navigate within texts by visually highlighting important points while potentially disregarding those that may not be necessary at first glance; allowing researchers better efficiency in identifying which areas need further examination or expansion upon during their writing journey thus creating an effective organizational tool for researchers looking improve their quality and increase output timeliness.

Color Coding:

A simple yet highly useful organization technique used in arranging text.

Research Paper Organizer:

Developing a Research Plan: Creating an effective research plan is essential for successful execution of the project. It involves formulating questions, selecting appropriate sources and materials, establishing timelines and budgets, and outlining tasks that need to be completed. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you create your own customized research plan:

Establish Your Goals – Start by deciding what information or results you hope to gain from your project.
Research Paper Organizer – Use this tool to keep track of references used in the paper as well as other relevant resources.

Organize Resources & Collect Data – Establish parameters for data collection (e.g., type of source material). Gather all relevant documents, reports, articles etc that support your goal objectives.

Outline Tasks – Draft up a comprehensive list outlining steps necessary for completion.

Create Timeline/Set Deadlines – Set deadlines for each task along with due dates on key milestones such as drafts , revisions etc Finally , develop an efficient system so you can stay on top of everything . Monitor progress frequently while remaining flexible enough if changes have to be made midway through .

Correctly Citing Sources and Proper Formatting Enhance Academic Writing It is essential for students to properly cite sources when writing an academic paper. Proper citation allows readers to identify the origin of borrowed ideas, thoughts, and information used in a text. Additionally, correctly citing sources helps authors avoid accusations of plagiarism which can lead to serious consequences including failure on assignments or even expulsion from college. Referencing outside materials also provides authors with credibility since they are able to back up their work with reliable evidence that has been obtained by other well-respected professionals within a field of study. To ensure proper citations are utilized throughout an entire paper, writers should create a research paper organizer . This will help them remember all applicable references as well as provide them with accurate formatting information such as:

The typeface size.
Spacing between lines.

Moreover, correctly referencing sources can also add value to one’s own written work due it allowing others potential access into other related fields of research often generated by experts in those respective areas; thus providing readers with further points for consideration not originally included within the body itself. Therefore following correct source formats gives any writer additional insight into topics being discussed while strengthening his/her argument overall through useful contextual support sourced externally beyond their original scope of content generation alone.

Organizing Ideas with Index Cards Index cards are an excellent tool for organizing ideas and structuring research papers. Not only do they help keep information organized, but index cards also allow you to quickly move around pieces of your project as needed while keeping everything together in one place.

Using the right colors for different categories can make a big difference when it comes to sorting through data. For example, red could be used to designate all primary sources; yellow could denote secondary sources; green or blue might identify keywords associated with the topic being researched. Once each card has been properly labeled and categorized, using them becomes much easier because you know exactly where everything should go!

An easy way to organize multiple lines of thought is by writing a main idea on an individual card then taping several other related cards underneath it. This makes for quick access when trying to find certain notes at a later date – just flip over the original card and voila! It’s like having your own personal research paper organizer.

Create separate sections in notebooks (or on digital documents) so that changes can be made without compromising existing work.
Label each page according to its category—for instance: “Primary Sources” or “Secondary Sources”.

Having this system allows researchers not only track progress but easily refer back if necessary. Assembling topics into logical sequences is another key component when utilizing index cards during outlining stages — use numbering systems that connect subtopics under headings so they’re more cohesive upon completion

Organizing Your Research Materials

Research papers can quickly become overwhelming if materials are not stored in an organized manner. One of the most efficient ways to keep everything together is by constructing file folders for each research paper topic you cover. You can use any type of filing system such as manila files, plastic folders or online documents that all store information related to a particular project.

When making your folder, it’s important to remember what materials need to be included within the designated space. This may include:

Drafts and outlines of research papers
Notes from relevant books, articles and other sources
Audio recordings from interviews conducted

Any items that could help further support your paper should also be saved along with these above materials – creating a comprehensive research paper organizer. Keep all physical copies in labeled manilla envelopes so they don’t get mixed up while digital versions can stay sorted on different drives or external hard disks. Having this organized will save time when having to refer back at some point during the writing process.

Structured strategies are essential for achieving long-term success in any endeavor. To that end, there have been a number of research studies exploring the various elements of successful strategy implementation.

Motivation: What drives individuals and organizations to achieve success?

The key is not only setting realistic objectives but also having a comprehensive approach when it comes time for implementing those objectives. This requires an understanding of the particular context in which the organization finds itself—which means being aware of both internal and external factors such as technological advancements, changes in consumer tastes, or economic cycles—and taking steps toward bridging any gaps between current capabilities and desired outcomes. Companies should take a holistic view when constructing their strategies, making sure each element serves its own unique purpose while working together with others towards common goal attainment over time.

As this step-by-step guide to organizing research papers illustrates, a well thought out and organized approach can save time and ensure more successful research outcomes. By following the outlined steps from creating a preliminary structure to utilizing efficient information retrieval systems, researchers can easily refine their process in order to maximize productivity while still producing quality results. It is imperative that those conducting research remain cognizant of the importance of organization for not only successful completion but also for ethical considerations related to reproducibility and accuracy of data collection methods. Such intentional structuring should be applied consistently throughout all stages of the project’s lifecycle in order create greater efficiencies in both time management as well as resources used along the way—ultimately resulting in higher quality output with fewer missteps along the path toward success.

How to create a helpful research paper outline

Last updated

21 December 2023

Reviewed by

You need to structure your research paper in an orderly way that makes it easy for readers to follow your reasoning and supporting data. That's where a research paper outline can help.

Writing a research paper outline will help you arrange your ideas logically and allow your final paper to flow. It will make the entire process more manageable and help you work out which details to include and which are better left out.

What is a research paper outline?

Write your research paper outline before starting your first draft. The outline provides a map of how you will structure your ideas throughout the paper. A research paper outline will help you to be more efficient when ordering the sections of your thesis, rather than trying to make structural changes after finishing an entire first draft.

An outline consists of the main topics and subtopics of your paper, listed in a logical order. The main topics will become the sections of your research paper, and the subtopics reveal the content you want to include or discuss under the main topics.

Under each subtopic, you can also jot down items you don't want to forget to include in your research paper, such as:

Topic ideas

Paragraph ideas

Direct quotes

Once you start listing these under your main topics, you can focus your thoughts as you plan and write the research paper using the evidence and data you collected and any additional information.

Why use an outline?

If your research paper does not have a clear, logical order, readers may not understand the ideas you're trying to share, or they may lose interest and not bother to read the whole paper. An outline helps you structure your research paper so readers can easily connect the content, ideas, and theories you're trying to prove or maintain.

Are there different kinds of research paper outlines?

Different kinds of research paper outlines might seem similar but have different purposes. You can select an outline type that provides a clear road map and thoroughly explores each point.

Other types will help structure content logically or with a segmented flow and progression of ideas that align closely with the theme of your research.

The 3 types of outlines

The three outline formats available to research paper writers are:

Alphanumeric or topic outlines

Sentence or full-sentence outlines

Decimal outlines

Let’s look at the differences between each type and see how one may be more beneficial than another, depending on the nature of your research.

This type of research paper outline allows you to segment main headings and subheadings with an alphanumeric arrangement.

The alphanumeric characters of Roman numerals, capital letters, numbers, and lowercase letters define the hierarchy of main topic headings, subtopic headings, and third- and fourth-tier subtopic headings. (e.g., I, A, 1, a)

This method uses minimal words to describe the main and subtopic headings. You'll mostly use this type of research paper outline to focus on the organization of the content while allowing you to review it for unrelated or irrelevant information.

Full-sentence outlines

You will format this type of research paper outline as an alphanumeric outline, using the same alphanumeric characters. However, it contains complete sentences rather than a few words for each main and subtopic heading.

This formatting method allows the writer to focus on looking for inaccuracies and inconsistencies in each point before starting the first draft.

Instead of using alphanumeric characters to define main headings, subheadings, and third- and fourth-tier subheadings, the decimal outline uses a decimal numbering system.

This system shows a logical progression of the content by using 1.0 for the main section heading (and 2.0, 3.0, etc., for subsequent sections), 1.1 for the subheading, 1.1.1 for a third-tier subheading, and 1.1.1.1 for the fourth-tier subheading.

The headings and subheadings will be just a few words, as in the alphanumerical research paper outline. Decimal outlines allow the writer to focus on the content's overall coherence, increasing your writing efficiency and reducing the time it takes to write your research paper.

How to write a research paper outline

Before you begin your research paper outline, you need to determine your topic and gather your information. Let’s look at these steps first, then dive into how to write your outline.

1. Determine your topic

You'll need to establish a topic or the main point you intend to write about.

For example, you may want to research and write about whether influencers are the most beneficial way to promote products in your industry. This topic is the main point around which your essay will revolve.

2. Gather information

You'll need evidence, data, statistics, and facts to prove or disprove that influencers are the best method of promoting products in your industry.

You'll insert any of these things you collect to substantiate your findings into the outline to support your topic.

3. Determine the type of essay you'll be writing

There are many types of essays or research papers you can write. The kinds of essays include:

Argumentative: Builds logic and support for an argument

Cause and effect: Explains relationships between specific conditions and their results

Analytical: Presents a claim on what is being analyzed

Interpretive: Informative and persuasive explanations on how something is perceived

Experimental: Reports on experimental results and the reasoning behind the results

Review: Offers an understanding and analysis of primary sources on a given topic

Definition: Defines what a term or concept means

Persuasive: Uses logic and reason to show that one idea is more justified than another

Narrative: Tells a story of personal experience from the author’s point of view

Expository: Shows an objective view of a subject by exploring various angles

Descriptive: Describes objects, people, places, experiences, emotions, situations, etc.

Once you understand the essay format you are writing, you'll know how to structure your outline.

4. Include basic sections

You'll begin to structure your outline using basic sections. Your main topic headings for these sections may include an introduction, multiple body paragraph sections, and a conclusion.

Once you establish the sections, you can insert the subtopics under each main topic heading.

5. Organize your outline

For example, if you're writing an argumentative essay taking the position that brand influencers (e.g., social media stars on Instagram or TikTok) are the best way to promote products in your industry, you will argue for that particular position.

You'll organize your argumentative essay outline with a main topic section supporting the position. The subtopics will include the reasoning behind your arguments, and the third-tier subtopics will contain the supporting evidence and data you gathered during your research.

You'll add another main topic section to counter and respond to any opposing arguments. Once you've organized and included all the information in this way, this will provide the structure to start your argumentative essay draft.

6. Consider compare-and-contrast essays

A compare-and-contrast essay is a form of essay that analyzes the differences between two opposing theories or subjects. If you have multiple subjects that are the same or different in just one aspect, you can write a point-by-point outline exploring each subject in terms of this characteristic.

The main topic headings will list that one characteristic, and the subtopic headings will list the subjects or items that are the same or different in relation to this characteristic.

Conversely, if you have multiple items to compare, but they have many characteristics that are similar or different, you can write a block method outline. The main topic headings will contain the items to be compared, while the subtopic headings will contain the aspects in which they are similar or different.

7. Consider advanced organizers for longer essays

An advanced organizer is a sentence that introduces new topics by connecting already-known information to new information. It can also prepare the reader for what they may expect to learn from the entire essay, or each section or paragraph.

Incorporating advanced organizers makes it easier for the reader to process and understand the information you are trying to convey. If you choose to use advanced organizers, depending on how often you want to use them throughout your paper, you can add them to your outline at the end of the introduction, the beginning of a section, or the beginning of each paragraph.

Do outlines need periods (full stops)?

If you're constructing alphanumerical or decimal topic outlines, they do not need periods because the entries are usually not complete sentences. However, outlines containing full sentences will need to be punctuated as any sentence is, including using periods.

An example research paper outline

Here is an example of an alphanumerical outline that argues brand influencers are the best method of promoting products in a particular industry:

I. Introduction

A. Background information about the issue and the position being argued.

B. Thesis statement: Influencers are the best way to promote products in this industry.

II. Reasons that support the thesis statement

A. Reason or argument #1

1. Supporting evidence

2. Supporting evidence

B. Reason or argument #2

C. Reason or argument #3

1. Supporting evidence

2. Supporting evidence

III. Counterarguments and responses

A. Arguments from the other point of view

B. Rebuttals against those arguments

IV. Conclusion

How long is a thesis outline?

There is no set length for a research paper outline or thesis outline. Your outline can be as long as it needs to be to organize your thoughts constructively.

You can start with a short outline containing an introduction , background, methodology, data and analysis, and conclusion. Or you can break these sections into more specific segments according to the content you want to share.

Why make writing a research paper more complicated than it needs to be? Knowing the elements of an outline and how to insert them into a cohesive structure will make your final paper understandable and interesting to the reader.

Understanding how to outline a research paper will make the writing process more efficient and less time-consuming.

Should you be using a customer insights hub?

Do you want to discover previous research faster?

Do you share your research findings with others?

Do you analyze research data?

Start for free today, add your research, and get to key insights faster

Editor’s picks

Last updated: 18 April 2023

Last updated: 27 February 2023

Last updated: 6 February 2023

Last updated: 15 January 2024

Last updated: 6 October 2023

Last updated: 5 February 2023

Last updated: 16 April 2023

Last updated: 7 March 2023

Last updated: 9 March 2023

Last updated: 12 December 2023

Last updated: 11 March 2024

Last updated: 13 May 2024

Latest articles

Related topics, .css-je19u9{-webkit-align-items:flex-end;-webkit-box-align:flex-end;-ms-flex-align:flex-end;align-items:flex-end;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:wrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;row-gap:0;text-align:center;max-width:671px;}@media (max-width: 1079px){.css-je19u9{max-width:400px;}.css-je19u9>span{white-space:pre;}}@media (max-width: 799px){.css-je19u9{max-width:400px;}.css-je19u9>span{white-space:pre;}} decide what to .css-1kiodld{max-height:56px;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}@media (max-width: 1079px){.css-1kiodld{display:none;}} build next, decide what to build next.

Users report unexpectedly high data usage, especially during streaming sessions.

Users find it hard to navigate from the home page to relevant playlists in the app.

It would be great to have a sleep timer feature, especially for bedtime listening.

I need better filters to find the songs or artists I’m looking for.

Log in or sign up

Get started for free

Organizing Academic Research Papers: Making an Outline

Purpose of Guide
Design Flaws to Avoid
Glossary of Research Terms
Narrowing a Topic Idea
Broadening a Topic Idea
Extending the Timeliness of a Topic Idea
Academic Writing Style
Choosing a Title
Making an Outline
Paragraph Development
Executive Summary
Background Information
The Research Problem/Question
Theoretical Framework
Citation Tracking
Content Alert Services
Evaluating Sources
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
Tertiary Sources
What Is Scholarly vs. Popular?
Qualitative Methods
Quantitative Methods
Using Non-Textual Elements
Limitations of the Study
Common Grammar Mistakes
Avoiding Plagiarism
Footnotes or Endnotes?
Further Readings
Annotated Bibliography
Dealing with Nervousness
Using Visual Aids
Grading Someone Else's Paper
How to Manage Group Projects
Multiple Book Review Essay
Reviewing Collected Essays
About Informed Consent
Writing Field Notes
Writing a Policy Memo
Writing a Research Proposal
Acknowledgements

An outline is a formal system used to develop a framework for thinking about what the eventual contents and organization of your paper should be. An outline helps you predict the overall structure and flow of a paper.

Importance of...

Writing papers in college requires you to come up with sophisticated, complex, and sometimes very creative ways of structuring your ideas . Taking the time to draft an outline can help you see whether your ideas connect to each other, what order of ideas works best, where gaps in your thinking may exist, or whether you have sufficient evidence to support each of your points.

A good outline is important because :

You will be much less likely to get writer's block because an outline will show where you're going and what the next step is.
It will help you stay organized and focused throughout the writing process and helps ensure a proper coherence [flow of ideas] in your final paper. However, the outline should be viewed as a guide, not a straitjacket.
A clear, detailed outline ensures that you always have something to help re-calibrate your writing should you feel yourself drifting into subject areas unrelated to the larger research problem.
The outline can be key to staying motivated . You can put together an outline when you're excited about the project and everything is clicking; making an outline is never as overwhelming as sitting down and beginning to write a twenty page paper without any sense of where it is going.
An outline help you organize multiple ideas about a topic . Most research problems can be analyzed in any number of inter-related ways; an outline can help you sort out which modes of analysis are most appropriate or ensure the most robust findings.

How to Structure and Organize Your Paper . Odegaard Writing & Research Center. University of Washington.

Structure and Writing Style

I. General Approaches

There are two general approaches you can take when writing an outline for your paper:

The topic outline consists of short phrases. This approach is useful when you are dealing with a number of different issues that could be arranged in a variety of different ways in your paper. Due to short phrases having more content than using simple sentences, they create better content from which to build your paper.

The sentence outline is done in full sentences. This approach is useful when your paper focuses on complex issues in detail. The sentence outline is also useful because sentences themselves have many of the details in them and it allows you to include those details in the sentences instead of having to create an outline of many short phrases that goes on page after page.

II. Steps to Making the Outline

A strong outline details each topic and subtopic in your paper, organizing these points so that they build your argument toward an evidence-based conclusion. Writing an outline will also help you focused on the task at hand and avoid unnecessary tangents, logical fallacies, and underdeveloped paragraphs.

Identify the research problem . The research problem is the focal point from which the rest of the outline flows. Try to sum up the point of your paper in one sentence or phrase. It also can be key to deciding what the title of your paper should be.
Identify the main categories . What main points will you analyze? The introduction describes all of your main points, the rest of your paper can be spent developing those points.
Create the first category . What is the first point you want to cover? If the paper centers around a complicated term, a definition can be a good place to start. For a paper about a particular theory, giving the general background on the theory can be a good place to begin.
Create subcategories . After you have the main point, create points under it that provide support for the main point. The number of categories that you use depends on the amount of information that you are trying to cover; there is no right or wrong number to use.

Once you have developed the basic outline of the paper, organize the contents to match the standard format of a research paper as described in this guide.

III. Things to Consider When Writing an Outline

There is no rule dictating which approach is best . Choose either a topic outline or a sentence outline based on which one you believe will work best for you. However, once you begin developing an outline, it's helpful to stick to only one approach.
Both topic and sentence outlines use Roman and Arabic numerals along with capital and small letters of the alphabet arranged in a consistent and rigid sequence. A rigid format should be used especially if you are required to hand in your outline.
Although the format of an outline is rigid, it shouldn't make you inflexible about how to write your paper. Often when you start investigating a research problem [i.e., reviewing the research literature], especially if you are unfamiliar with the topic, you should anticipate the likelihood your analysis could go in different directions. If your paper changes focus, or you need to add new sections, then feel free to reorganize the outline.
If appropriate, organize the main points of your outline in chronological order . In papers where you need to trace the history or chronology of events or issues, it is important to arrange your outline in the same manner, knowing that it's easier to re-arrange things now than when you've almost finished your paper.
For a standard research paper of 15-20 pages, your outline should be no more than four pages in length . It may be helpful as your are developing your outline to also jot down a tentative list of references.

Four Main Components for Effective Outlines. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; How to Make an Outline. Psychology Writing Center. University of Washington; Organization: Informal Outlines . The Reading/Writing Center. Hunter College; Organization: Standard Outline Form . The Reading/Writing Center. Hunter College; Outlining. Department of English Writing Guide. George Mason University; Plotnic, Jerry. Organizing an Essay . University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Reverse Outline . The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Reverse Outlines: A Writer's Technique for Examining Organization . The Writer’s Handbook. Writing Center. University of Wisconsin, Madison; Using Outlines. Writing Tutorial Services, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. Indiana University; Writing: Considering Structure and Organization . Institute for Writing Rhetoric. Dartmouth College.

Writing Tip

A Disorganized Outline Means a Disorganized Paper!

If, in writing your paper, it begins to diverge from your outline, this is very likely a sign that you've lost your focus. How do you know whether to change the paper to fit the outline, or, that you need to reconsider the outline so that fits the paper? A good way to check yourself is to use what you have written to recreate the outline. This is an effective strategy for assessing the organization of your paper. If the resulting outline says what you want it to say and it is in an order that is easy to follow, then the organization of your paper has been successful. If you discover that it's difficult to create an outline from what you have written, then you likely need to revise your paper.

<< Previous: Choosing a Title
Next: Paragraph Development >>
Last Updated: Jul 18, 2023 11:58 AM
URL: https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803
QuickSearch
Library Catalog
Databases A-Z
Publication Finder
Course Reserves
Citation Linker
Digital Commons
Our Website

Research Support

Ask a Librarian
Appointments
Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
Research Guides
Databases by Subject
Citation Help

Using the Library

Reserve a Group Study Room
Renew Books
Honors Study Rooms
Off-Campus Access
Library Policies
Library Technology

User Information

Grad Students
Online Students
COVID-19 Updates
Staff Directory
News & Announcements
Library Newsletter

My Accounts

Interlibrary Loan
Staff Site Login

FIND US ON

Library Home
Research Guides

Writing a Research Paper

Organize Your Information

Library Research Guide

Choose Your Topic
Evaluate Sources
Draft Your Paper
Revise, Review, Refine

How Will This Help Me?

Organizing will help you:

Simplify citing sources
Avoid plagiarism
Make the works cited page easy

Links for More Help

These links help with organization.

Quoting, Paraphrasing, & Summarizing From the OWL at Purdue, this link can help you summarize, paraphrase, and quote effectively.
Honor System - Tips for students The site for K-State's Honor and Integrity System can help you make wise choices about your research.
Avoiding Plagiarism This resource from the OWL at Purdue can help you understand plagiarism and how to avoid it.
Taking Notes EasyBib takes a look at four popular note-taking systems and the differences between them.

Create a Working Bibliography

A working bibliography, or list of potential sources, helps you track your information.

Keep a list and add sources as you find them.
Include sources from your background reading, Search It, library databases, or the web.
Include all citation information for sources.
Record URLs and dates of access for online sources.

Read Sources and Take Notes

Read sources you didn't get to yet and re-read sources if needed.

Taking notes helps you manage your sources and identify information you want to use in the paper. Use the system that works best for you.

The system you choose for taking notes is critical to help you track your use of sources and avoid plagiarism. Even professional writers have run into problems in this step of the process, so be careful. Remember these tips:

Note clearly whether you quoted, paraphrased, or summarized the source
Track the page numbers for the information in the source

Adjust Your Thesis

After studying your sources in detail, your original thesis statement may work fine, and that is super. However, you may find you need to adjust the focus of your paper and, as a result, your thesis statement. This is OK! It means you learned something from your research!

If you adjust your thesis, some of your research material may no longer be relevant. This is OK too. This is a good time to eliminate those sources from your working bibliography (unless your assignment requires you to cite all consulted sources).

Identify Support for Main Ideas

Now that you've read your sources and, if needed, adjusted the focus of your paper, you're ready to identify how you will support the main ideas of your paper.

Synthesize (combine parts to make a whole) the information from your sources.
Add to the information or draw conclusions from the information to make your own contribution to the conversation about this topic.
Resist the temptation to use one source exclusively to support each main idea of your paper.

The amount of support your main ideas need depends on the length of your paper and how new or controversial a stance your paper is taking. In general, each idea should have at least a few pieces of evidence to support it.

<< Previous: Evaluate Sources
Next: Draft Your Paper >>
Last Updated: Feb 27, 2024 1:56 PM
URL: https://guides.lib.k-state.edu/writingresearchpaper

K-State Libraries

1117 Mid-Campus Drive North, Manhattan, KS 66506

785-532-3014 | [email protected]

Statements and Disclosures
Accessibility
© Kansas State University

Reference management. Clean and simple.

How to start your research paper [step-by-step guide]

1. Choose your topic

2. find information on your topic, 3. create a thesis statement, 4. create a research paper outline, 5. organize your notes, 6. write your introduction, 7. write your first draft of the body, 9. write your conclusion, 10. revise again, edit, and proofread, frequently asked questions about starting your research paper, related articles.

Research papers can be short or in-depth, but no matter what type of research paper, they all follow pretty much the same pattern and have the same structure .

A research paper is a paper that makes an argument about a topic based on research and analysis.

There will be some basic differences, but if you can write one type of research paper, you can write another. Below is a step-by-step guide to starting and completing your research paper.

Choose a topic that interests you. Writing your research paper will be so much more pleasant with a topic that you actually want to know more about. Your interest will show in the way you write and effort you put into the paper. Consider these issues when coming up with a topic:

make sure your topic is not too broad
narrow it down if you're using terms that are too general

Academic search engines are a great source to find background information on your topic. Your institution's library will most likely provide access to plenty of online research databases. Take a look at our guide on how to efficiently search online databases for academic research to learn how to gather all the information needed on your topic.

Tip: If you’re struggling with finding research, consider meeting with an academic librarian to help you come up with more balanced keywords.

If you’re struggling to find a topic for your thesis, take a look at our guide on how to come up with a thesis topic .

The thesis statement is one of the most important elements of any piece of academic writing. It can be defined as a very brief statement of what the main point or central message of your paper is. Our thesis statement guide will help you write an excellent thesis statement.

In the next step, you need to create your research paper outline . The outline is the skeleton of your research paper. Simply start by writing down your thesis and the main ideas you wish to present. This will likely change as your research progresses; therefore, do not worry about being too specific in the early stages of writing your outline.

Then, fill out your outline with the following components:

the main ideas that you want to cover in the paper
the types of evidence that you will use to support your argument
quotes from secondary sources that you may want to use

Organizing all the information you have gathered according to your outline will help you later on in the writing process. Analyze your notes, check for accuracy, verify the information, and make sure you understand all the information you have gathered in a way that you can communicate your findings effectively.

Start with the introduction. It will set the direction of your paper and help you a lot as you write. Waiting to write it at the end can leave you with a poorly written setup to an otherwise well-written paper.

The body of your paper argues, explains or describes your topic. Start with the first topic from your outline. Ideally, you have organized your notes in a way that you can work through your research paper outline and have all the notes ready.

After your first draft, take some time to check the paper for content errors. Rearrange ideas, make changes and check if the order of your paragraphs makes sense. At this point, it is helpful to re-read the research paper guidelines and make sure you have followed the format requirements. You can also use free grammar and proof reading checkers such as Grammarly .

Tip: Consider reading your paper from back to front when you undertake your initial revision. This will help you ensure that your argument and organization are sound.

Write your conclusion last and avoid including any new information that has not already been presented in the body of the paper. Your conclusion should wrap up your paper and show that your research question has been answered.

Allow a few days to pass after you finished writing the final draft of your research paper, and then start making your final corrections. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gives some great advice here on how to revise, edit, and proofread your paper.

Tip: Take a break from your paper before you start your final revisions. Then, you’ll be able to approach your paper with fresh eyes.

As part of your final revision, be sure to check that you’ve cited everything correctly and that you have a full bibliography. Use a reference manager like Paperpile to organize your research and to create accurate citations.

The first step to start writing a research paper is to choose a topic. Make sure your topic is not too broad; narrow it down if you're using terms that are too general.

The format of your research paper will vary depending on the journal you submit to. Make sure to check first which citation style does the journal follow, in order to format your paper accordingly. Check Getting started with your research paper outline to have an idea of what a research paper looks like.

The last step of your research paper should be proofreading. Allow a few days to pass after you finished writing the final draft of your research paper, and then start making your final corrections. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gives some great advice here on how to revise, edit and proofread your paper.

There are plenty of software you can use to write a research paper. We recommend our own citation software, Paperpile , as well as grammar and proof reading checkers such as Grammarly .

Walden University
Faculty Portal

Writing a Paper: Organizing Your Thoughts

Stacks of notes, books, and course materials in front of a blank computer screen may cause a moment of writer's block as you go to organize your paper, but there is no need to panic. Instead, organizing your paper will give you a sense of control and allow you to better integrate your ideas as you start to write.

Organizing your paper can be a daunting task if you begin too late, so organizing a paper should take place during the reading and note-taking process . As you read and take notes, make sure to group your data into self-contained categories . These categories will help you to build the structure of your paper.

Take, for example, a paper about children's education and the quantity of television children watch. Some categories may be the following:

Amount of television children watch (by population, age, gender, etc.)
Behaviors or issues linked to television watching (obesity, ADHD, etc.)
Outcomes linked to television watching (performance in school, expected income, etc.)
Factors influencing school performance (parent involvement, study time, etc.)

The list above holds some clear themes that may emerge you as read through the literature. It is sometimes a challenge to know what information to group together into a category. Sources that share similar data, support one another, or bring about similar concerns may be a good place to start looking for such categories.

For example, let's say you had three sources that had the following information:

The average American youth spends 900 hours in school over the course of a school year; the average American youth watches 1500 hours of television a year (Herr, 2001).
"According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), kids in the United States watch about 4 hours of TV a day - even though the AAP guidelines say children older than 2 should watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day of quality programming" (Folder, Crisp, & Watson, 2005, p. 2).
"According to AAP (2007) guidelines, children under age 2 should have no screen time (TV, DVDs or videotapes, computers, or video games) at all. During the first 2 years, a critical time for brain development, TV can get in the way of exploring, learning, and spending time interacting and playing with parents and others, which helps young children develop the skills they need to grow cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally" (Folder, Crisp, & Watson, 2005, p. 9).

With these three ideas, you might group them under this category: Amount of television children watch.

Each of these source quotations or paraphrases supports that category. For each group of information, repeat this process to group similar categories together. Then you can move on to order the information you gather.

Once you have read your sources, taken notes, and grouped your information by category, the next step is to read critically , evaluate your sources , determine your thesis statement , and decide the best order in which to present your research. Note that as you begin to narrow your topic or focus, you will find some sources are not relevant. That is fine! Do not try to squeeze every source mentioning "children" and "television" into your paper.

Let's say you have come up with the following categories from the sources you have read:

Children watch more than the recommended amount of television.
The more television children watch, the less likely they are to study.
Certain groups of children watch more television than others.
Students whose grades are poor in high school are 56% less likely to graduate from college.
Poor performance in middle school correlates to poor high school performance.

You will want the order of your material to advance and prove your thesis. Every thesis needs to be capable of advancement. Let's assume that your thesis is Children who watch more than the recommended amount of television are less likely to receive a college education. In this case, it seems that you will want to start off by showing that there is a problem, and then giving examples of that problem and its consequences.

The best order for these categories would be the following:

Poor performance in middle school correlates to poor high school performance

The way a paper is organized is largely the result of the logical and causal relationships between the categories or topics apparent in the research. In other words, each category's placement is specifically chosen so that it is the result of the previous theme and able to contribute to the next, as the previous example shows. It is often a good practice to save your strongest argument or evidence until the end of the paper and build up to it. Using careful organization to advance your thesis will help guide your reader to your conclusion!

Mindmapping Video

Note that this video was created while APA 6 was the style guide edition in use. There may be some examples of writing that have not been updated to APA 7 guidelines.

Prewriting Demonstrations: Mindmapping (video transcript)

Related Resources

Didn't find what you need? Email us at [email protected] .

Previous Page: Outlining
Next Page: Drafting
Office of Student Disability Services

Walden Resources

Departments.

Academic Residencies
Academic Skills
Career Planning and Development
Customer Care Team
Field Experience
Military Services
Student Success Advising
Writing Skills

Centers and Offices

Center for Social Change
Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services
Office of Degree Acceleration
Office of Research and Doctoral Services
Office of Student Affairs

Student Resources

Doctoral Writing Assessment
Form & Style Review
Quick Answers
ScholarWorks
SKIL Courses and Workshops
Walden Bookstore
Walden Catalog & Student Handbook
Student Safety/Title IX
Legal & Consumer Information
Website Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy
Accessibility
Accreditation
State Authorization
Net Price Calculator
Contact Walden

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

Knowledge Base
Research paper

How to Write a Research Paper | A Beginner's Guide

A research paper is a piece of academic writing that provides analysis, interpretation, and argument based on in-depth independent research.

Research papers are similar to academic essays , but they are usually longer and more detailed assignments, designed to assess not only your writing skills but also your skills in scholarly research. Writing a research paper requires you to demonstrate a strong knowledge of your topic, engage with a variety of sources, and make an original contribution to the debate.

This step-by-step guide takes you through the entire writing process, from understanding your assignment to proofreading your final draft.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Understand the assignment, choose a research paper topic, conduct preliminary research, develop a thesis statement, create a research paper outline, write a first draft of the research paper, write the introduction, write a compelling body of text, write the conclusion, the second draft, the revision process, research paper checklist, free lecture slides.

Completing a research paper successfully means accomplishing the specific tasks set out for you. Before you start, make sure you thoroughly understanding the assignment task sheet:

Read it carefully, looking for anything confusing you might need to clarify with your professor.
Identify the assignment goal, deadline, length specifications, formatting, and submission method.
Make a bulleted list of the key points, then go back and cross completed items off as you’re writing.

Carefully consider your timeframe and word limit: be realistic, and plan enough time to research, write, and edit.

Scribbr Citation Checker New

The AI-powered Citation Checker helps you avoid common mistakes such as:

Missing commas and periods
Incorrect usage of “et al.”
Ampersands (&) in narrative citations
Missing reference entries

There are many ways to generate an idea for a research paper, from brainstorming with pen and paper to talking it through with a fellow student or professor.

You can try free writing, which involves taking a broad topic and writing continuously for two or three minutes to identify absolutely anything relevant that could be interesting.

You can also gain inspiration from other research. The discussion or recommendations sections of research papers often include ideas for other specific topics that require further examination.

Once you have a broad subject area, narrow it down to choose a topic that interests you, m eets the criteria of your assignment, and i s possible to research. Aim for ideas that are both original and specific:

A paper following the chronology of World War II would not be original or specific enough.
A paper on the experience of Danish citizens living close to the German border during World War II would be specific and could be original enough.

Note any discussions that seem important to the topic, and try to find an issue that you can focus your paper around. Use a variety of sources , including journals, books, and reliable websites, to ensure you do not miss anything glaring.

Do not only verify the ideas you have in mind, but look for sources that contradict your point of view.

Is there anything people seem to overlook in the sources you research?
Are there any heated debates you can address?
Do you have a unique take on your topic?
Have there been some recent developments that build on the extant research?

In this stage, you might find it helpful to formulate some research questions to help guide you. To write research questions, try to finish the following sentence: “I want to know how/what/why…”

A thesis statement is a statement of your central argument — it establishes the purpose and position of your paper. If you started with a research question, the thesis statement should answer it. It should also show what evidence and reasoning you’ll use to support that answer.

The thesis statement should be concise, contentious, and coherent. That means it should briefly summarize your argument in a sentence or two, make a claim that requires further evidence or analysis, and make a coherent point that relates to every part of the paper.

You will probably revise and refine the thesis statement as you do more research, but it can serve as a guide throughout the writing process. Every paragraph should aim to support and develop this central claim.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

A research paper outline is essentially a list of the key topics, arguments, and evidence you want to include, divided into sections with headings so that you know roughly what the paper will look like before you start writing.

A structure outline can help make the writing process much more efficient, so it’s worth dedicating some time to create one.

Your first draft won’t be perfect — you can polish later on. Your priorities at this stage are as follows:

Maintaining forward momentum — write now, perfect later.
Paying attention to clear organization and logical ordering of paragraphs and sentences, which will help when you come to the second draft.
Expressing your ideas as clearly as possible, so you know what you were trying to say when you come back to the text.

You do not need to start by writing the introduction. Begin where it feels most natural for you — some prefer to finish the most difficult sections first, while others choose to start with the easiest part. If you created an outline, use it as a map while you work.

Do not delete large sections of text. If you begin to dislike something you have written or find it doesn’t quite fit, move it to a different document, but don’t lose it completely — you never know if it might come in useful later.

Paragraph structure

Paragraphs are the basic building blocks of research papers. Each one should focus on a single claim or idea that helps to establish the overall argument or purpose of the paper.

Example paragraph

George Orwell’s 1946 essay “Politics and the English Language” has had an enduring impact on thought about the relationship between politics and language. This impact is particularly obvious in light of the various critical review articles that have recently referenced the essay. For example, consider Mark Falcoff’s 2009 article in The National Review Online, “The Perversion of Language; or, Orwell Revisited,” in which he analyzes several common words (“activist,” “civil-rights leader,” “diversity,” and more). Falcoff’s close analysis of the ambiguity built into political language intentionally mirrors Orwell’s own point-by-point analysis of the political language of his day. Even 63 years after its publication, Orwell’s essay is emulated by contemporary thinkers.

Citing sources

It’s also important to keep track of citations at this stage to avoid accidental plagiarism . Each time you use a source, make sure to take note of where the information came from.

You can use our free citation generators to automatically create citations and save your reference list as you go.

APA Citation Generator MLA Citation Generator

The research paper introduction should address three questions: What, why, and how? After finishing the introduction, the reader should know what the paper is about, why it is worth reading, and how you’ll build your arguments.

What? Be specific about the topic of the paper, introduce the background, and define key terms or concepts.

Why? This is the most important, but also the most difficult, part of the introduction. Try to provide brief answers to the following questions: What new material or insight are you offering? What important issues does your essay help define or answer?

How? To let the reader know what to expect from the rest of the paper, the introduction should include a “map” of what will be discussed, briefly presenting the key elements of the paper in chronological order.

The major struggle faced by most writers is how to organize the information presented in the paper, which is one reason an outline is so useful. However, remember that the outline is only a guide and, when writing, you can be flexible with the order in which the information and arguments are presented.

One way to stay on track is to use your thesis statement and topic sentences . Check:

topic sentences against the thesis statement;
topic sentences against each other, for similarities and logical ordering;
and each sentence against the topic sentence of that paragraph.

Be aware of paragraphs that seem to cover the same things. If two paragraphs discuss something similar, they must approach that topic in different ways. Aim to create smooth transitions between sentences, paragraphs, and sections.

The research paper conclusion is designed to help your reader out of the paper’s argument, giving them a sense of finality.

Trace the course of the paper, emphasizing how it all comes together to prove your thesis statement. Give the paper a sense of finality by making sure the reader understands how you’ve settled the issues raised in the introduction.

You might also discuss the more general consequences of the argument, outline what the paper offers to future students of the topic, and suggest any questions the paper’s argument raises but cannot or does not try to answer.

You should not :

Offer new arguments or essential information
Take up any more space than necessary
Begin with stock phrases that signal you are ending the paper (e.g. “In conclusion”)

There are four main considerations when it comes to the second draft.

Check how your vision of the paper lines up with the first draft and, more importantly, that your paper still answers the assignment.
Identify any assumptions that might require (more substantial) justification, keeping your reader’s perspective foremost in mind. Remove these points if you cannot substantiate them further.
Be open to rearranging your ideas. Check whether any sections feel out of place and whether your ideas could be better organized.
If you find that old ideas do not fit as well as you anticipated, you should cut them out or condense them. You might also find that new and well-suited ideas occurred to you during the writing of the first draft — now is the time to make them part of the paper.

The goal during the revision and proofreading process is to ensure you have completed all the necessary tasks and that the paper is as well-articulated as possible. You can speed up the proofreading process by using the AI proofreader .

Global concerns

Confirm that your paper completes every task specified in your assignment sheet.
Check for logical organization and flow of paragraphs.
Check paragraphs against the introduction and thesis statement.

Fine-grained details

Check the content of each paragraph, making sure that:

each sentence helps support the topic sentence.
no unnecessary or irrelevant information is present.
all technical terms your audience might not know are identified.

Next, think about sentence structure , grammatical errors, and formatting . Check that you have correctly used transition words and phrases to show the connections between your ideas. Look for typos, cut unnecessary words, and check for consistency in aspects such as heading formatting and spellings .

Finally, you need to make sure your paper is correctly formatted according to the rules of the citation style you are using. For example, you might need to include an MLA heading or create an APA title page .

Scribbr’s professional editors can help with the revision process with our award-winning proofreading services.

Discover our paper editing service

Checklist: Research paper

I have followed all instructions in the assignment sheet.

My introduction presents my topic in an engaging way and provides necessary background information.

My introduction presents a clear, focused research problem and/or thesis statement .

My paper is logically organized using paragraphs and (if relevant) section headings .

Each paragraph is clearly focused on one central idea, expressed in a clear topic sentence .

Each paragraph is relevant to my research problem or thesis statement.

I have used appropriate transitions to clarify the connections between sections, paragraphs, and sentences.

My conclusion provides a concise answer to the research question or emphasizes how the thesis has been supported.

My conclusion shows how my research has contributed to knowledge or understanding of my topic.

My conclusion does not present any new points or information essential to my argument.

I have provided an in-text citation every time I refer to ideas or information from a source.

I have included a reference list at the end of my paper, consistently formatted according to a specific citation style .

I have thoroughly revised my paper and addressed any feedback from my professor or supervisor.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (page numbers, headers, spacing, etc.).

You've written a great paper. Make sure it's perfect with the help of a Scribbr editor!

Open Google Slides Download PowerPoint

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked.

Writing a Research Paper Introduction | Step-by-Step Guide
Writing a Research Paper Conclusion | Step-by-Step Guide
Research Paper Format | APA, MLA, & Chicago Templates

Get unlimited documents corrected

✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

How to Search and Organize Research Articles

by Tiffany Yue Zhang
November 01, 2021

Quick Summary

Organizing research articles using a reference manager and other strategies will make life as a graduate student much easier.

As PhD students, reading is part of our life. There are so many new papers coming out every day, so many research blogs to follow, so many books to read. But, how would you find them and organize them? Certainly, I’ve seen people downloading everything to their desktop and piling up 100 pdfs with no labeling or grouping. To be honest, that was me at one point. When you start to write a report or research paper, it can become a nightmare to organize the reference list. If you are first year graduate student doing research, or if you are just looking for a method to organize your scientific literature, this blog can hopefully help.

Finding Articles

The best resources for starting to build your reading list are your advisor and lab mates. This is definitely the fastest way to gain background on your research area. Simply ask around the lab about key articles in the research field. The downside of this method is that the pool of articles is limited by what’s already known by your advisor or lab mates. Starting by reading a review paper in your field, then finding and reading the most relevant references listed for the review, is also a good method.

Searching by key words is another common way to find scientific literature. I use Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus, mostly. Searches can be done by entering the key words, subject area, document type (e. g. review, articles), and sort by relevance. Start to read from the most cited papers in your field. If you are interested in a specific researcher’s publications, you can follow them on Google Scholar and you’ll get notified when they publish new articles. Lens.org is another good resource for searching, analyzing and managing patent and scholarly data.

Subscribing to RSS feeds is another good way to keep up with recent research. There are a variety of apps that can send notifications when new research papers of interest are coming out, such as Researcher, Feedly and Academia. Pick your favorite topics or journals to follow and get your daily feeds about research topics. You can even track when a paper is cited. These tools are good for scientific literature, but you can also use them for your hobbies, your favorite magazines, etc.

Following blogs can be helpful, as well. As a chemistry student, I follow some of the ACS (American Chemical Society), RSC (The Royal Society of Chemistry) blogs, as well as blogs written by researchers and professors. If you are looking for something interesting to read, follow Retraction Watch. There, you’ll find the research articles that are retracted for fraud, ethical violations, and many other reasons. Some stories can be quite interesting.

Listening to podcasts can be a good way to broaden your knowledge. Usually, the content in podcasts is less technical and you can learn some basics for topics that you are not familiar with.

Organizing Research Papers

Different people find different ways to organize research articles. Some prefer to print everything out and put them in binders, some prefer to read the digital versions and sort them in folders. Personally, I like to read on a computer screen and sort research papers by project. I usually keep important references in a reference manager. For papers that I want to go over multiple times, I usually print them out and read them carefully. It’s easier to take notes with a printed version and, for some reason, it seems like I can memorize the content longer when I read the printed paper. The main drawback in using hard copies is that it can be difficult to find a specific paper when you have a large pile. With digital versions, it’s much easier to locate specific research articles by keywords.

There are many digital reference managers. This type of software tool can allow you to keep research articles in different folders for each research project. Within the reference manager, you can also take notes, sort by author, year, or topic. Most reference managers also help with searching for research articles. When you write a report or publication, reference managers allow for import of references from these databases directly into Microsoft Word, which is very convenient. Here are three of the most commonly used reference managers: EndNote, Mendeley (Figure 1) and Zotero. All of them can sync between devices and be shared between different people. EndNote is not free, but it is very powerful. It supports many unusual or complex citation formats. Some versions of Mendeley are free. It’s good at dealing with pdfs files and can extract citations from pdfs, as well as searching from pdfs. Zotero is also free and allows for saving snapshots of web pages and annotating them in your library, which is good for web-based publications.

When I read a paper, I usually ask myself the following questions: 1) what’s the purpose of reading this article?; 2) how is the article important or relevant to my work?; and, 3) what’s the take home message?. If the paper is important, I then write down the conclusions and methods. Taking notes makes reading more efficient ( Figure 2). Notion is a good application to keep track of reading notes and allows for creation of lists of papers for different topics. You can also assign properties to each paper and tag papers with keywords. Notion also supports markdown which makes your notes clean and easy to read. When I read a research article, I usually start with the title and abstract and try to figure out the big picture conclusions or contributions to the research field. Then, I skim through the figures and the figure captions to get an idea of the key points. If a figure is important, I keep it in my notes. I usually skip the introduction at first if I’m familiar with the author or the research field, instead jumping directly into the results and conclusion sections. From there, I’ll decide if I want to read the paper in detail or not. Different people have different ways of reading papers; find the one that works for you.

I hope you find these methods helpful for finding and organizing research articles and happy reading!

Marcus, Adam, and Ivan Oransky. Retraction Watch , Oct 24 2021, https://retractionwatch.com/.

“Which Reference Manager? Comparision of Endnote, Medeley and Zotero.” Library Guides , Mar 2 2021, https://aut.ac.nz.libguides.com/managingreferences.

“How to (Seriously) Read a Scientific Paper.” Science , Mar 21 2016, https://www.science.org/content/article/how-seriously-read-scientific-paper.

Primary Category

Secondary categories.

Research Process :: Step by Step

Introduction
Select Topic
Identify Keywords
Background Information
Develop Research Questions
Refine Topic
Search Strategy
Popular Databases
Evaluate Sources
Types of Periodicals
Reading Scholarly Articles
Primary & Secondary Sources
Organize / Take Notes
Writing & Grammar Resources
Annotated Bibliography
Literature Review
Citation Styles
Paraphrasing
Privacy / Confidentiality
Research Process
Selecting Your Topic
Identifying Keywords
Gathering Background Info
Evaluating Sources
Zotero Guide by Morgan Rowe-Morris Last Updated Jun 6, 2024 4030 views this year
EndNote Guide by John Bayhi Last Updated Jun 12, 2024 1804 views this year

Focus on the information in the article that is relevant to your research question (you may be able to skim over other parts). Think critically about what you read and build your argument based on it.

Organize your Notes

After you take notes, re-read them.
Then re-organize them by putting similar information together. Working with your notes involves re-grouping them by topic instead of by source. Re-group your notes by re-shuffling your index cards or by color-coding or using symbols to code notes in a notebook.
Review the topics of your newly-grouped notes. If the topics do not answer your research question or support your working thesis directly, you may need to do additional research or re-think your original research.
During this process you may find that you have taken notes that do not answer your research question or support your working thesis directly. Don't be afraid to throw them away.

It may have struck you that you just read a lot of "re" words: re-read, re-organize, re-group, re-shuffle, re-think. That's right; working with your notes essentially means going back and reviewing how this "new" information fits with your own thoughts about the topic or issue of the research.

Grouping your notes will enable you to outline the major sections and then the paragraphs of your research paper.

https://www.esc.edu/online-writing-center/resources/research/research-paper-steps/taking-notes/

<< Previous: Step 4: Write
Next: Writing & Grammar Resources >>
Last Updated: Jun 13, 2024 4:27 PM
URL: https://libguides.uta.edu/researchprocess

University of Texas Arlington Libraries 702 Planetarium Place · Arlington, TX 76019 · 817-272-3000

Internet Privacy
Accessibility
Problems with a guide? Contact Us.

Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Criminal Justice
Environment
Politics & Government
Race & Gender

Expert Commentary

Organizing your research: A scientist’s tips for journalists

Maya Gosztyla, a Ph.D. candidate in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at the University of California San Diego, provides an overview of literature mapping tools, RSS feeds, research management software and databases to help journalists organize their research.

Republish this article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License .

by Naseem S. Miller, The Journalist's Resource March 21, 2023

This <a target="_blank" href="https://journalistsresource.org/home/organizing-your-research/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://journalistsresource.org">The Journalist's Resource</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://journalistsresource.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cropped-jr-favicon-150x150.png" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

Journalists collect a lot of stuff while reporting, especially for big stories and projects: interviews, documents, research papers, articles. It can be overwhelming at times.

Academics too must collect a large number of documents. They use a variety of tools to organize their work, some of which journalists can also use to organize materials.

During a panel at the 2023 Association of Health Care Journalists conference in St. Louis, Missouri, Maya Gosztyla , a Ph.D. candidate in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at the University of California San Diego, shared her organizational approach as a scientist, which journalists can easily adopt. She’s the authors of 2022 Nature career columns, “ How to Find, Read and Organize Papers ” and “ How to Manage Your Time as a Researcher .”

Below is a list of tips and tools that Gosztyla shared during the panel.

1. Find related research with literature mapping tools.

When journalists report on a new study, it’s important to consider where that study fits into the larger body of research.

Pubmed and Google Scholar are go-to research platforms to find academic research . But they’re not the most efficient tools for finding research related to a specific academic study.

A better approach is using literature mapping tools , which show the connection between research papers.

“Imagine papers like nodes in a network,” Gosztyla said. “Each paper will cite other papers, and what you can do is make a giant map of all the papers in a specific subject area. And then you can see the hubs — what are the papers that everyone cites that you should probably read.”

Some of the popular literature mapping tools, which offer free versions, include ResearchRabbit, Inciteful, Connected Papers and Litmaps .

2. Stay on top of current research with RSS feeds.

Many journalists, especially those who write about academic research, subscribe to journal email lists. But that may not be the best option for organizing research.

“It kind of overwhelms your inbox after a while,” said Gosztyla.

Another common method is setting up keyword email alerts. Both Pubmed and Google Scholar let you set up email alerts for specific keywords. But that too can crowd your email inbox.

Gosztyla’s solution is using an RSS feed reader .

RSS stands for “really simple syndication.” An RSS feed reader — or RSS feed aggregator — gets all the new articles or studies published on a website and brings them together in a timeline that you can quickly scroll through.

Many websites have RSS feeds. Once you have a link for the RSS feed, you can then add it to a free or paid RSS feed reader.

Here’s a good explainer by Lifewire on how to find RSS feeds and add it to a reader.

Gosztyla spends a few minutes every morning scrolling through her RSS feed reader — her favorite is Feedly — to check for new published research in her field.

This August 2022 article from Wired lists some of the more popular RSS feed readers.

3. Use research management software to file your research.

10 things we wish we’d known earlier about research: Tips from The Journalist’s Resource

There are several free online tools that can help you store what you find during your research instead having dozens of open tabs on your browser.

A popular tool developed by and for journalists is DocumentCloud , where you can upload documents, search the text, annotate, extract data , redact and edit.

Another option, popular among academics, is Zotero . It’s a free, open-source reference management tool and can store and organize your research material, including PDF files.

You can use Zotero in a browser, but for a more powerful experience, download it and install the Zotero plugin for your browser. When you come across a study or article that you want to save, click the plugin. It will save the item to your desired Zotero folder. You can create many folders and subfolders, and also share folders. You can also highlight and annotate PDFs.

“If you’re not using a reference manager, I highly, highly recommend them,” said Gosztyla.

You can integrate Zotero to several apps and programs, including, Word, Google Docs and literature mapping tools like ResearchRabbit.

Some of the alternatives to Zotero include, Mendeley , EndNote , RefWorks and Sciwheel .

4. Routinely read your research pile.

To stay on top of what you’re collecting, Gosztyla offered this advice:

Block out a time each week, like two hours on Fridays, to read. If you have a big pile, maybe devote a couple of days to reading.

And decide how you’re going to spend that reading time: are you going to devote it to do a deep dive, or just scan what you’ve collected, take notes and decide what to keep and what to toss.

“Maybe it’s your routine that every week you buy yourself a nice cup of coffee. You go to a certain cafe and you just read,” Gosztyla said. “So find a routine that you really look forward to and it’s something you want to do.”

5. Don’t forget to take notes while reading documents .

“Don’t ever read without highlighting or taking notes,” Gosztyla said. “Otherwise, you will forget it. I guarantee it.”

Write a small note, a blurb, on the material you read to remind you of its main takeaways and where it fits into your project. Do you need to email or interview the author with follow-up questions? Or read the authors’ previous work? Make a note of those.

In the next step, you’ll learn about organizing those notes.

6. You have collected. You have read. Now organize your work in a database.

Research management software can help you organize your documents, but it’s helpful to create a database of what you’ve collected, your tasks for each item, and maybe a summary and key points. You can use Google Sheets of Microsoft Excel to create your list.

If you want something other than a classic spreadsheet, you can try web applications like Notion.

Notion is a powerful program, which Gosztyla described as a “multi-use database tool.” Notion describes itself as an all-in-one workspace. You can use it to organize your research, manage projects and tasks, note-taking and even your daily journals. You can also integrate Notion with many other apps and tools.

It has a steep learning curve. Give yourself time to learn to use it before integrating it into your workflow. Notion has tutorials on YouTube and a wiki page . Gosztyla recommended Thomas Frank Explains YouTube tutorials. Frank is an author, YouTuber, and Notion expert.

Some alternatives to Notion include Airtable , Trello and Coda .

7. Go one step further with automation tools.

If you want to go a step further in your Notion journey, you can link a Zotero folder to Notion with a tool called Notero . Every time you add an item to your Zotero folder, it populates your Notion database.

Notion has many templates you can choose from. Or you can use Gosztyla’s template .

You can automate and integrate other apps too, to create a better workflow for your work. Some of the popular options are IFTTT — Short for If This Then That — which integrates apps, devices and services to create automated workflows, and Zapier , which connects web applications and allows users to create automated workflows.

Keep in mind, you don’t have to use all the tools listed above.

“Take the pieces that work for you and apply them to your life,” advised Gosztyla.

If you want to share a tool that’s helped you organize your research, you can reach me at [email protected] . You can reach Gosztyla on Twitter @MayaGosztyla .

About The Author

Naseem S. Miller

How To Organize A Research Paper? Expert’s Guide 2022

You might have written several research papers up till now and you know well what’s the standard research writing pattern. Apart from researching and writing a paper, there are more things that students tend to avoid unintentionally. There is a lot more than just writing a paper such as editing, proofreading, formatting, and organizing. We know you are thinking about how to organize and write a research paper .

It is a question that isn’t frequently asked because students do not pay enough attention to it. Organizing a paper contains some specific tasks such as setting the topic, making an outline, and collecting information to assemble it in a sequence. There is so much to know about organizing a paper, so here we go with a complete blog for you on this topic.

Table of Contents

What Does Organizing a Research Paper Mean?

First, you need to have a proper research plan to make sure you’ll be able to accomplish the required goals from the paper. Organizing a paper means writing every detail and information within a proper sequence.

A particular pattern of research is strictly followed and every single heading is arranged as per the standards. The basic purpose of organizing a paper is to present all the arguments, thoughts, and data with a proper flow.

It’s a pre-writing process that is usually done after completing the research and during the creation of the outline. An outline is responsible for keeping the valuable details in an aligned way that’s why it is one of the approaches used in organizing the paper. Students take care of this part previously before writing so they add only the required information in every heading.

It is very important to provide the information stepwise to the readers. It is never good to read the methodology part instead of the introduction at first in the research. That’s why a sequence that is already set must be followed for presenting better research every time to your readers.

What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is an extended form of essay which continues discussing the arguments of the author. It contains one thesis statement which is supported by conducting either qualitative or quantitative research on any of the given topics. The purpose of research paper writing is to justify a stance and bring valuable arguments to make sure it happens.

Benefits of Organizing a Research Paper

There are several benefits of organizing research that you must have been ignoring since long ago. Here we go with some of the advantages of organizing a paper.

It saves your time and makes your writing process fast
It provides a direction for your research
It also saves your energy
Helps in building your focus on the research
Doesn’t let you get distracted since you have one guideline to follow
It sets all the major ideas of each heading into a particular order
The whole process becomes simpler and enjoyable when you have great organizing skills

How to Organize a Research Paper

Finally, we are going to have a look at what’s the ideal method of organizing research. There are a few steps involved such as suggesting a topic, finishing the research, making an outline, following the outline to create the first draft, and so on.

Find a Topic
Start Your Research
Make an Outline
Create the First Draft
Cite the Sources

All of these steps are explained below so you know how things work in this method.

1. Find a Topic

This is the most basic step that you must take before doing literally any other thing in research paper writing. Without a topic, you can’t even begin doing research, although you absolutely can research to find a topic of your choice.

In organizing a research paper it is significant to derive a topic first, and then move on to the further parts. The topic must be thoughtful, interesting, and researchable. It is always better to study research that adds value to the existing pool of knowledge. Hence, as an author, you must keep it in mind and do the same.

2. Start Your Research

One cannot organize a research paper if they do not have anything to write inside. These pre-writing tasks are a must since you need a lot of sources to quote in your research. That’s where your journey of digging in actually starts and you start finding useful information.

In this part, you should look for past research papers, interviews, surveys, and everything which can help you write your research. Writing a paper is something we all are aware of but organizing it might be new for you. That’s why we are going step by step to give you a better insight into the entire activity.

3. Make an Outline

Why do we always suggest creating an outline? We have a healthy obsession with research and paper outlines because they cut short your writing effort and make things much easier for you. Don’t believe us? Let us give you an example.

You have completed research and now you have so much stuff in front of you. You don’t know how to organize it or shift each of the sources into the section they are supposed to be in. Now if you directly start writing you are doing so wrong to yourself. You are kind of allowing yourself to work double when it can be done in the simplest way.

If you create a rough outline by mentioning all the important headings of the research, then assembling all the sources one by one into their assigned sections you will automatically get rid of so much struggle. Once you have mentioned all the sources and some of their content in each heading, you can take a breath of relief.

You’re no more tangled in a number of papers and research data. You have the vision to follow, and a complete outline that will work as a guideline for you. So during writing the paper, you will find this step so easy and fun. That’s why we always emphasize making the paper outline so you can enjoy an organized writing approach.

4. Create the First Draft

Now as you have finished outlining, it’s time to move toward the first draft of your research. Just start writing, by extending the given ideas in each heading of the outline. One by one you can finish the writing part of each section.

It will give your mind more satisfaction that you have finally completed 80% of your research. And the best part is that you have written everything within a flow. There is always correct information shared with the readers in a certain section. There will be no irregularity or confusion for someone who reads your draft because every detail is written in the part it’s supposed to be in.

5. Cite the Sources

It is one of the most significant parts of the research that nobody can deny. You can never write a research or a paper without mentioning the sources you have used. Research is always completed when you look into the past work on the same topic and quote them into yours for building a trustworthy relationship with the readers.

As you are using someone’s work to sound authentic you must give those authors their credits. For this purpose, you must complete the in-text citations and bibliography of your paper. Once it’s done, you can revise your document, add more information that you might have forgotten earlier, or proofread your draft.

Afterward, you can just edit the first draft and see if everything is fine or if it needs to be rewritten. This entire procedure allows the students to finish their research writing task within a day or so. It never takes too long when you go along with an organized method that saves time and gives a refined product.

How to Organize a Research Paper Outline

All our readers have always heard us speaking a lot about paper or essay outlines. In the previous heading, you must have realized once again how much we like the idea of creating a research outline before moving to the writing part. A lot of reasons provided by us must have given you the answer to why we want you to create an outlook.

There is another thing called organizing a research paper outline. It is not so different from organizing a paper since an organized outline can lead you towards organized research. Let’s learn about how to organize a paper outline. You can also get the help of a world-class paper writing service to ace your research paper.

1. Select a Topic

It all starts with selecting a topic since you cannot go around and conduct research without having a vision in front of you. A topic is the same as the vision that you will make first to jump to the next parts. So select a topic and move towards organizing the outline of your research.

2. Form a Thesis Statement

To make your research authentic and more impactful, it is always better to have a thesis statement. It’s a compulsion in writing a paper. A thesis can make or break your entire research so think more and select one which sounds suitable for your research.

It’s going to be mentioned at the top of your research outline that’s why it must be created as soon as possible. After you are done designing one, you can step ahead and see what’s the next thing to do in organizing a research outline.

3. Add Sequenced Headings

It is very important to follow a sequence into an outline because this outline is going to be the first draft of your research. Organizing a paper means adding everything into it in a certain way. It doesn’t mean adding any information without a sequence such as discussing the abstract of the research paper in place of the literature review, or focusing on the methodology later but giving the findings first.

That’s not how things work! Therefore your headings must be aligned in a sequence in your outline. You may further add personalized details into those headings to make sure you have achieved the level of an organized pattern in research outlining.

4. Write Paragraphs

Yes, there are paragraphs in the outlines too. You can write them along with the source you have used to find the information. Writing paragraphs within each heading allows you to track down the content very easily. You already know which source you have quoted in a particular heading of your research.

When writing the paper you can extend them and properly organize them as per the standards. Afterward, your process of organizing research will be completed so you can start writing the research and finish the paper. A paper written by creating an outline turns out to be much more effective and suitable than one which doesn’t have a research outline.

How to Organize Information for a Research Paper

As you have learned enough about organizing a research paper or an outline, you may utilize your time in learning the technique of organizing information for research. You may use these techniques as a history research paper help , nursing paper help, or any research paper help. We have some steps to share that can teach you how to organize information for a paper. .

1. Finalize a Topic

It is the first thing to be done without any doubt. We have been mentioning it repeatedly due to its major significance in the research. You simply cannot start without a topic so it’s better to finalize a topic first, and then think about the next stuff such as researching and organizing the information.

2. Find Past Research Papers

This is the next step in which you need to find the past research papers. By finding the past research you will have enough information to quote in your work. It is really important to find sources that match your topic and support your thesis statement. You can start by keeping in mind the introduction of your research. Gradually you may move forward to writing the conclusion of the research paper and keep searching for the work done in the past.

Don’t forget to do the research sequence-wise. For instance, find data for the background first, then literature review, methodology, and so on. Information collected in order works way better than doing it randomly and staying puzzled throughout the whole process of researching.

3. Write Down Ideas Out of Past Work

Now as you have found all the sources it’s time to quote them. You can start it by reading every paper and writing the core idea of it on a separate sheet. Mentioning the main idea from the past work one by one will help you a lot. Instead of reading every paper during the writing part, you can do it earlier and save your time.

4. Organize the Information

Now it’s time to organize the information properly within the headings. Start with the introduction and add the ideas which are related to this part. Then one by one move to each heading and assemble the required information into it.

Doing so will finally get you an organized set of information for your research. You won’t have to worry about anything in guessing which information must be written in every part of the research. Everything has been finally organized including the paper, outline, and information.

How to Organize Research Paper PDF Files

There is another thing nobody has told you about ever which is called organizing a research paper PDF files. So how exactly is it effective and what purpose does it fulfill? It is the skill of finding the past research and organizing them in a way to add value to your research task.

What you can do is start by finding the PDF files of different research from the past. The internet is full of the work done by the previous authors and researchers who have done quality work in their fields. You need to seek help from their work to make your research more valid. That’s why you use the past work of the researchers.

So what does organizing research paper PDF files mean? It means going through the internet by searching your topic and finding the most approach papers to make your work more authentic. You can do it by selecting the best papers and reading them first. Next, you can write down the main ideas of those papers on a sheet.

What is required next is giving those PDF files a sequence so you can use their details in the right order. There is a new fact given in every other research, so it’s better to organize them properly and set them into a basic order. With this technique, you can use good sources, and quote them in your research by making sure you haven’t used a certain detail in place of another one.

Organizing the paper helps in fastening the process of writing and researching both. Many students who have used this technique experienced better results and an enjoyable writing process. It is a myth that you have to spend days and hours on a paper when you also have a better and alternative method to conduct the same research.

You just have to learn the art of organizing the information, PDF files of past research, outline, and your entire paper. Putting everything in order will help and work out for you like no other thing. Therefore every student is suggested to take organizing skills seriously and implement them into research writing to get the best results.

Hence organizing research can be so useful that it saves half of the time. You can write a better paper within less time just by following this amazing technique. An organized thing is always better, and so do the research papers and their information.

If you want to share your opinions with us or have any questions, feel free to comment below and let your voice reach us .

What are the 5 parts of a research paper?

The 5 parts of a research paper are

Introduction
Literature review
Methodology

What are the 10 steps to writing a research paper?

The 10 basic steps to writing a research paper are given as

Find a topic
Form a thesis statement
Do the research
Make an outline
Organize the information
Start writing
Make the first draft
Rewrite the stuff
Proofread
Cite the sources

What is organizing in research?

Organizing research means providing all the information in an order that builds the right flow of giving details to the readers in each section of the research.

Order Original Papers & Essays

Your First Custom Paper Sample is on Us!

Timely Deliveries

No Plagiarism & AI

100% Refund

Try Our Free Paper Writing Service

Related blogs.

Connections with Writers and support

Privacy and Confidentiality Guarantee

Average Quality Score

The Best Tech Deals Right Now
Is Spotify Premium Worth It?

15 Best Free Web Tools to Organize Your Research

How to stay organized when researching and writing papers

Emporia State University
Cloud Services
Error Messages
Family Tech
Home Networking
Around the Web

Organizing research is important not only for your own sanity, but because when it comes time to unfold the data and put it to use, you want the process to go as smoothly as possible. This is where research organizers come in.

There are lots of free web-based organizers that you can use for any purpose. Maybe you're collecting interviews for a news story, digging up newspaper archives for a history project, or writing a research paper over a science topic. Research organizers are also helpful for staying productive and preparing for tests.

Regardless of the topic, when you have multiple sources of information and lots to comb through later, optimizing your workflow with a dedicated organizer is essential.

Patrick Tomasso / Unsplash

Many of these tools provide unique features, so you might decide to use multiple resources simultaneously in whatever way suits your particular needs.

Research and Study

You need a place to gather the information you're finding. To avoid a cluttered space when collecting and organizing data, you can use a tool dedicated to research.

Pocket : Save web pages to your online account to reference them again later. It's much tidier than bookmarks, and it can all be retrieved from the web or the Pocket mobile app .
Mendeley : Organize papers and references, and generate citations and bibliographies.
Quizlet : Learn vocabulary with these free online flashcards .
Wikipedia : Find information on millions of different topics.
Quora : This is a question and answer website where you can ask the community for help with any question.
SparkNotes : Free online study guides on a wide variety of subjects, anything from famous literary works of the past century to the present day.
Zotero : Collect, manage, and cite your research sources. Lets you organize data into collections and search through them by adding tags to every source. This is a computer program, but there's a browser extension that helps you send data to it.
Google Scholar : A simple way to search for scholarly literature on any subject.
Diigo : Collect, share, and interact with information from anywhere on the web. It's all accessible through the browser extension and saved to your online account.
GoConqr : Create flashcards, mind maps, notes, quizzes, and more to bridge the gap between your research and studying.

Writing Tools

Writing is the other half of a research paper, so you need somewhere useful to go to jot down notes, record information you might use in the final paper, create drafts, track sources, and finalize the paper.

Web Page Sticky Notes : For Chrome users, this tool lets you place sticky notes on any web page as you do your research. There are tons of settings you can customize, they're backed up to your Google Drive account, and they're visible not only on each page you created them on but also on a single page from the extension's settings.
Google Docs or Word Online : These are online word processors where you can write the entire research paper, organize lists, paste URLs, store off-hand notes, and more.
Google Keep : This note-taking app and website catalogs notes within labels that make sense for your research. Access them from the web on any computer or from your mobile device. It supports collaborations, custom colors, images, drawings, and reminders.
Yahoo Notepad : If you use Yahoo Mail , the notes area of your account is a great place to store text-based snippets for easy recall when you need them.
Notion : Workflows, notes, and more, in a space where you can collaborate with others.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

How to Use the Wayback Machine
5 Pinterest Scheduler Tools to Try
The 8 Best Search Engines of 2024
OpenAI Playground vs. ChatGPT: What's the Difference?
The Best Free Productivity Apps for the iPad
What Is a Search Engine?
The 10 Best Bookmarking Tools for the Web
17 Best Sites to Download Free Books in 2024
What Is an RSS Feed?
5 Best Free Online Word Processors for 2024
The Best Free People Search Websites
What Is Feedly?
The 8 Best Free Genealogy Websites of 2024
The 10 Best Note Taking Apps of 2024
Best Niche Search Engines
The 10 Best Free Online Classes for Adults in 2024

View the latest institution tables

View the latest country/territory tables

Work hack: How to organize your research literature – and make it sharable

A must-have strategy for fieldwork.

Credit: cifotart/Getty Images

17 July 2020

cifotart/Getty Images

The amount of literature researchers are expected to stay abreast of can be overwhelming so it’s vital to have a system that allows documents and images to be stored, recalled, and easily shared.

This is particularly true for researchers who conduct fieldwork and need to access information on the fly.

For PhD candidate, Yi-Kai Tea, a taxonomist and systematist at the University of Sydney in Australia, setting up a cloud-based system early on in his career was one of the most important things he did.

“The more you read, the more familiar you are with the field and the groups you’re working with,” says Tea. “I keep my literature very well sorted because it’s so important.”

Tea specializes in describing and naming new species of coral reef fishes. He’s particularly interested in fairy wrasses, and was responsible for naming a new species last year , Cirrhilabrus wakanda , inspired by the Marvel film Black Panther .

“It’s hard to do this kind of work by yourself because of the sheer number of species out there. I work collaboratively with a lot of fish enthusiasts, scientists, and collectors who go out in the field and send information to me,” says Tea.

How do your Google Drive and Dropbox systems work?

I have an account where I put in everything that’s related to fairy wrasses: every single species description that’s been written about them since the 1800s, every single colour photo, distribution map, vectors, diagrams - everything you can think of that might be relevant to this group. I maintain a well-curated folder that can be accessed online.

I’ve also have decked it out so I can access the most important files offline.

I share it with any collaborators that I’m working with now or might be working with in the future, so they can access it in the field. It helps with my research as well, to have all these papers at my disposal. It’s my own personal library.

How did you set it up?

I’ve been filling it in over a number of years. Some of the literature is hard to find – a lot of the original descriptions are in manuscript form, and some of them haven’t been published, so to get these, you need to go to the museums and libraries and photocopy them, scan them, make pdfs, and upload them.

It took a while to track down all the literature and species descriptions, but once you have it, you have it forever and can keep curating it. I save every PDF that I download. I keep it in a folder, name it, and order it by author and by date. I follow this system quite religiously.

What web resources do you use to source your literature?

Some of the old manuscripts I need to access are archived in online repositories such as the Biodiversity Heritage Library , so having this link saved in my tabs is a really useful tool.

Other important web resources I use a lot are Eshmeyer's Catalogue of Fishes hosted by the California Academy of Sciences, and iNaturalist , a catalogue that keeps a pretty up-to-date record of all species, complete with references.

iNaturalist is a fantastic resource to search for in-situ photos of whatever taxon you might be interested in. I often seek out photographers from iNaturalist who are willing to contribute photos I may need for my research. Many of them are very willing, or may already have photos up that are free for use.

How do you organize your own data in the field?

I have ready-made excel spreadsheets with standardized columns containing anatomical features that I need to measure. I then modify it slightly to accommodate whatever taxon I happen to be working on.

I do same for manuscripts – I have a basic skeleton written for diagnoses and descriptions, with placeholder symbols where values would eventually go.

A lot of taxonomic papers follow a consistent and ‘tried and tested’ formula, so this works very well, especially for fairy wrasses, where most of the methodology and description follow previous papers that I've published.

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to content

Home – AI for Research

10 Tips for Writing a Research Paper Outline

Crafting a well-structured research paper outline: 10 essential tips.

Crafting a well-structured research paper outline is crucial for organizing your thoughts and ensuring a coherent flow of ideas in your academic work. In this guide, we will explore 10 essential tips to help you create a comprehensive and effective research paper outline. By following these tips, you will not only streamline the writing process but also enhance the clarity and impact of your research paper. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or a student new to the world of academic writing, mastering the art of outlining can significantly improve the quality of your work. From identifying key points to establishing a logical structure, each tip is designed to empower you with the tools needed to excel in your research paper endeavors. Let’s delve into the strategies that will elevate your outlining skills and set you on the path to producing well-crafted and compelling research papers.

Choosing a Topic

Selecting a research topic is a critical step in the research process. It is essential to choose a topic that not only aligns with your interests but also meets the requirements of the assignment. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when deciding on a topic:.

Personal Interest and Passion: Opt for a topic that you are genuinely passionate about or eager to delve into further. Research projects can be demanding, both in terms of time and effort, so selecting a topic that resonates with you on a personal level will help maintain your motivation and enthusiasm throughout the research journey.

Feasibility Assessment: Before finalizing your topic, conduct a feasibility assessment to ensure that it is manageable within the scope of your assignment. Consider factors such as the availability of relevant resources, time constraints, and the complexity of the subject matter. It is crucial to select a topic that you can realistically explore given the resources and time available.

Relevance and Contribution: Choose a topic that is not only of personal interest but also relevant to the field of study or the course requirements. Your research should aim to contribute to the existing body of knowledge by addressing current issues, filling research gaps, or offering new perspectives. By selecting a relevant topic, you can ensure that your research adds value and significance to the academic discourse.

Research Potential: Evaluate the research potential of the chosen topic. Consider whether the topic offers opportunities for in-depth exploration, critical analysis, and meaningful conclusions. A topic with substantial research potential can lead to a more enriching and insightful research experience.

Consultation and Feedback: Seek input from your instructor, peers, or academic advisors when selecting a topic. Their feedback can provide valuable insights and help you refine your research focus. Additionally, discussing your ideas with others can offer new perspectives and suggestions for enhancing your chosen topic.

By carefully considering these factors and engaging in thorough deliberation, you can select a research topic that not only meets the requirements of your assignment but also allows you to embark on a fulfilling and intellectually stimulating research journey.

Crafting a Thesis Statement

The significance of a strong thesis statement, components of a thesis statement, strategies for developing an effective thesis statement, examples of well-crafted thesis statements, crafting a thesis statement: a roadmap to academic success.

In the realm of academic writing, the significance of a strong thesis statement cannot be overstated. It serves as the cornerstone of your paper, encapsulating the primary argument or claim you intend to make. A well-crafted thesis statement not only anchors your writing but also provides clarity and direction to both you, the writer, and your readers. Let’s delve deeper into the art of crafting a compelling thesis statement.

A strong thesis statement is like a beacon that illuminates the path for your research and writing. It not only informs the reader about the central point of your paper but also sets the tone for the entire work. By presenting a clear and concise thesis statement, you establish a framework that guides your research and shapes the structure of your paper.

An effective thesis statement typically comprises several key elements. It should be specific, presenting a clear argument that can be supported with evidence. Additionally, a thesis statement should be concise, avoiding vague language or broad generalizations. Furthermore, it should be focused, addressing a single main idea without trying to cover too much ground.

Crafting a strong thesis statement requires careful thought and planning. Begin by identifying the main topic or issue you wish to explore in your paper. From there, consider what specific claim or argument you want to make about that topic. Your thesis statement should reflect this argument and provide a roadmap for how you will support it throughout your paper.

To better understand the components of a strong thesis statement, let’s examine some examples:.

‘The increasing use of technology in education enhances student learning outcomes by fostering engagement and collaboration.’
‘The portrayal of mental health in contemporary literature reflects society’s evolving attitudes towards psychological well-being.’

By analyzing these examples, you can see how a well-crafted thesis statement clearly articulates a specific argument and sets the stage for a focused and cohesive paper.

Crafting a thesis statement is a fundamental aspect of academic writing that requires attention to detail and precision. By developing a strong thesis statement, you not only provide a roadmap for your paper but also demonstrate your ability to engage critically with your topic. Remember, a well-crafted thesis statement is the cornerstone of a successful academic paper.

Importance of Structuring the Outline in a Research Paper

Structuring the outline of a research paper is a critical aspect that significantly influences the quality and effectiveness of the final document. An outline serves as a roadmap, guiding both the writer and the reader through a well-organized presentation of ideas. Let’s delve deeper into the importance of structuring the outline and how it can be effectively done.

Dividing the Paper into Logical Sections

When embarking on structuring a research paper, the initial step is to divide it into logical sections. The introduction, as the opening segment, plays a pivotal role in providing context and setting the tone for the entire paper. It should succinctly introduce the topic, present the research question or thesis statement, and outline the scope of the study. A compelling introduction captures the reader’s attention and prepares them for the content that follows.

Developing the Body of the Paper

Following the introduction, the body of the research paper is where the main arguments, evidence, and analysis are presented. To ensure clarity and coherence, the body should be logically divided into subsections, each addressing a specific aspect of the topic. These subsections help in organizing the content and maintaining a structured flow of information, making it easier for readers to follow the author’s reasoning.

Crafting a Comprehensive Conclusion

As the research paper nears its conclusion, the final section should provide a summary of the key points discussed in the body. It is an opportunity to restate the thesis in light of the evidence presented and offer insights into the broader implications of the study. Additionally, the conclusion can suggest potential areas for further research or highlight the significance of the findings.

Outlining Key Points and Subpoints

Within each section, outlining the key points and subpoints is crucial for maintaining focus and coherence. Each key point should directly contribute to the main argument of the paper, supported by relevant evidence and analysis. Subpoints serve to elaborate on the key ideas, providing depth and context to strengthen the overall argument.

Incorporating Transitions

Furthermore, transitions between sections are essential to ensure a smooth flow of ideas. By incorporating transitional phrases or sentences, writers can seamlessly guide readers from one point to the next, enhancing the overall readability and coherence of the paper.

A well-structured outline not only aids in organizing a research paper but also enhances its clarity and impact. By carefully dividing the content into logical sections, outlining key points, and maintaining a coherent flow of ideas, writers can effectively communicate their research findings and insights to their audience, fostering a deeper understanding and engagement with the subject matter.

Organizing Supporting Evidence

Gathering Data and Examples
Citing Credible Sources
Structuring Evidence Logically
Ensuring Consistency in Argument Flow

When it comes to organizing supporting evidence for your blog or article, it is crucial to compile relevant data and examples for each main point outlined. This helps in strengthening your arguments and providing credibility to your content. Make sure to cite credible sources to back up your claims and enhance the reliability of your writing. Structuring the evidence logically within your content is essential to maintain a coherent flow of ideas and arguments. Additionally, ensure consistency in the flow of your arguments to guide your readers seamlessly through your content.

Supporting evidence serves as the backbone of any well-structured piece of writing. It not only reinforces your main points but also adds depth and authenticity to your work. Here are some key strategies to effectively organize supporting evidence:.

Relevance is Key : Ensure that the evidence you gather directly supports the main points you are trying to convey. Irrelevant or loosely related evidence can dilute the impact of your arguments.

Diversify Your Sources : While citing credible sources is important, it is equally crucial to diversify your sources. Drawing evidence from a variety of reputable outlets or studies can strengthen the overall validity of your content.

Visual Aids and Examples : Incorporating visual aids such as graphs, charts, or real-life examples can make your evidence more compelling and easier to understand for your audience.

Chronological or Logical Order : Depending on the nature of your content, organizing evidence chronologically or in a logical order can help readers follow the progression of your arguments more smoothly.

Counterarguments and Refutations : Acknowledging counterarguments and providing refutations can showcase a comprehensive understanding of the topic and strengthen your position.

Remember, the goal of organizing supporting evidence is not just to bombard your readers with facts but to present a well-rounded and persuasive case. By carefully curating and structuring your evidence, you can elevate the quality and impact of your writing.

In addition to the strategies mentioned above, it is essential to consider the context in which your evidence is presented. Understanding your target audience and their level of knowledge on the topic can help you tailor your evidence to resonate with them effectively. Moreover, incorporating anecdotes or personal experiences can add a human touch to your evidence, making it more relatable and engaging for readers.

Furthermore, utilizing a mix of quantitative and qualitative evidence can provide a well-rounded perspective on the subject matter. Quantitative data can offer statistical support, while qualitative insights can offer a deeper understanding of the implications of your arguments.

Lastly, revisiting and revising your evidence organization periodically can ensure that your content remains up-to-date and relevant. As new information emerges or perspectives shift, adjusting your evidence presentation can strengthen the credibility and longevity of your writing.

By implementing these additional considerations and refining your approach to organizing supporting evidence, you can create compelling and impactful content that resonates with your audience and effectively conveys your message.

Crafting a well-structured research paper outline is essential for any academic endeavor. By following the 10 tips outlined in this blog, you can streamline your writing process and ensure a coherent and organized paper. Remember, a strong outline sets the foundation for a successful research paper. For further guidance on enhancing your academic writing skills, consider exploring the detailed guide on writing scientific abstracts available at Avidnote . Strengthen your research paper writing skills and academic prowess by mastering the art of outlining and abstract writing.

Privacy Overview

Adding {{itemName}} to cart

Added {{itemName}} to cart

Writing Lab

Research papers.

Research Paper Basics
Credible Sources
Reading Scholarly Articles
Summarizing and Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing and Student Voice
Direct Quotations
Synthesis in Writing
Citing Sources

Writing research papers allows you to take a deeper dive into a topic while relying on credible sources for information. A research paper should be original work from you, the writer. This means that the vast majority of the research paper content should be your ideas, analysis, and words and should avoid an overreliance on direct quotations from outside sources.

This research process also hones the skills that so many employers find valuable, like researching for information, applying the information, prioritizing and organizing information, and more.

Breaking the process down into steps will make it more manageable.

Components of a Research Paper

Introduces the topic covered in the paper
States the thesis or position to be supported in the body of the paper
Usually one or two paragraphs in length
The main part of the paper
Points presented in logical order to support the thesis, one point per paragraph
length of this section varies; usually, a minimum of three paragraphs
Restates the thesis
Reinforces significant points made in the body of the paper

Research FAQs

Next: Credible Sources >>
Last Updated: Jun 18, 2024 4:44 PM
URL: https://guides.rasmussen.edu/research-papers

Paper Format

Consistency in the order, structure, and format of a paper allows readers to focus on a paper’s content rather than its presentation.

To format a paper in APA Style, writers can typically use the default settings and automatic formatting tools of their word-processing program or make only minor adjustments.

The guidelines for paper format apply to both student assignments and manuscripts being submitted for publication to a journal. If you are using APA Style to create another kind of work (e.g., a website, conference poster, or PowerPoint presentation), you may need to format your work differently in order to optimize its presentation, for example, by using different line spacing and font sizes. Follow the guidelines of your institution or publisher to adapt APA Style formatting guidelines as needed.

Academic Writer ®

Master academic writing with APA’s essential teaching and learning resource

illustration or abstract figure and computer screen

Course Adoption

Teaching APA Style? Become a course adopter of the 7th edition Publication Manual

illustration of woman using a pencil to point to text on a clipboard

Instructional Aids

Guides, checklists, webinars, tutorials, and sample papers for anyone looking to improve their knowledge of APA Style

USC Libraries
Research Guides

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper

Choosing a Title
Purpose of Guide
Design Flaws to Avoid
Independent and Dependent Variables
Glossary of Research Terms
Reading Research Effectively
Narrowing a Topic Idea
Broadening a Topic Idea
Extending the Timeliness of a Topic Idea
Academic Writing Style
Applying Critical Thinking
Making an Outline
Paragraph Development
Research Process Video Series
Executive Summary
The C.A.R.S. Model
Background Information
The Research Problem/Question
Theoretical Framework
Citation Tracking
Content Alert Services
Evaluating Sources
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
Tiertiary Sources
Scholarly vs. Popular Publications
Qualitative Methods
Quantitative Methods
Insiderness
Using Non-Textual Elements
Limitations of the Study
Common Grammar Mistakes
Writing Concisely
Avoiding Plagiarism
Footnotes or Endnotes?
Further Readings
Generative AI and Writing
USC Libraries Tutorials and Other Guides
Bibliography

The title summarizes the main idea or ideas of your study. A good title contains the fewest possible words needed to adequately describe the content and/or purpose of your research paper.

Importance of Choosing a Good Title

The title is the part of a paper that is read the most, and it is usually read first . It is, therefore, the most important element that defines the research study. With this in mind, avoid the following when creating a title:

If the title is too long, this usually indicates there are too many unnecessary words. Avoid language, such as, "A Study to Investigate the...," or "An Examination of the...." These phrases are obvious and generally superfluous unless they are necessary to covey the scope, intent, or type of a study.
On the other hand, a title which is too short often uses words which are too broad and, thus, does not tell the reader what is being studied. For example, a paper with the title, "African Politics" is so non-specific the title could be the title of a book and so ambiguous that it could refer to anything associated with politics in Africa. A good title should provide information about the focus and/or scope of your research study.
In academic writing, catchy phrases or non-specific language may be used, but only if it's within the context of the study [e.g., "Fair and Impartial Jury--Catch as Catch Can"]. However, in most cases, you should avoid including words or phrases that do not help the reader understand the purpose of your paper.
Academic writing is a serious and deliberate endeavor. Avoid using humorous or clever journalistic styles of phrasing when creating the title to your paper. Journalistic headlines often use emotional adjectives [e.g., incredible, amazing, effortless] to highlight a problem experienced by the reader or use "trigger words" or interrogative words like how, what, when, or why to persuade people to read the article or click on a link. These approaches are viewed as counter-productive in academic writing. A reader does not need clever or humorous titles to catch their attention because the act of reading research is assumed to be deliberate based on a desire to learn and improve understanding of the problem. In addition, a humorous title can merely detract from the seriousness and authority of your research.
Unlike everywhere else in a college-level social sciences research paper [except when using direct quotes in the text], titles do not have to adhere to rigid grammatical or stylistic standards. For example, it could be appropriate to begin a title with a coordinating conjunction [i.e., and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet] if it makes sense to do so and does not detract from the purpose of the study [e.g., "Yet Another Look at Mutual Fund Tournaments"] or beginning the title with an inflected form of a verb such as those ending in -ing [e.g., "Assessing the Political Landscape: Structure, Cognition, and Power in Organizations"].

Appiah, Kingsley Richard et al. “Structural Organisation of Research Article Titles: A Comparative Study of Titles of Business, Gynaecology and Law.” Advances in Language and Literary Studies 10 (2019); Hartley James. “To Attract or to Inform: What are Titles for?” Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 35 (2005): 203-213; Jaakkola, Maarit. “Journalistic Writing and Style.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication . Jon F. Nussbaum, editor. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2018): https://oxfordre.com/communication.

Structure and Writing Style

The following parameters can be used to help you formulate a suitable research paper title:

The purpose of the research
The scope of the research
The narrative tone of the paper [typically defined by the type of the research]
The methods used to study the problem

The initial aim of a title is to capture the reader’s attention and to highlight the research problem under investigation.

Create a Working Title Typically, the final title you submit to your professor is created after the research is complete so that the title accurately captures what has been done . The working title should be developed early in the research process because it can help anchor the focus of the study in much the same way the research problem does. Referring back to the working title can help you reorient yourself back to the main purpose of the study if you find yourself drifting off on a tangent while writing. The Final Title Effective titles in research papers have several characteristics that reflect general principles of academic writing.

Indicate accurately the subject and scope of the study,
Rarely use abbreviations or acronyms unless they are commonly known,
Use words that create a positive impression and stimulate reader interest,
Use current nomenclature from the field of study,
Identify key variables, both dependent and independent,
Reveal how the paper will be organized,
Suggest a relationship between variables which supports the major hypothesis,
Is limited to 5 to 15 substantive words,
Does not include redundant phrasing, such as, "A Study of," "An Analysis of" or similar constructions,
Takes the form of a question or declarative statement,
If you use a quote as part of the title, the source of the quote is cited [usually using an asterisk and footnote],
Use correct grammar and capitalization with all first words and last words capitalized, including the first word of a subtitle. All nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs that appear between the first and last words of the title are also capitalized, and
Rarely uses an exclamation mark at the end of the title.

The Subtitle Subtitles are frequently used in social sciences research papers because it helps the reader understand the scope of the study in relation to how it was designed to address the research problem. Think about what type of subtitle listed below reflects the overall approach to your study and whether you believe a subtitle is needed to emphasize the investigative parameters of your research.

1. Explains or provides additional context , e.g., "Linguistic Ethnography and the Study of Welfare Institutions as a Flow of Social Practices: The Case of Residential Child Care Institutions as Paradoxical Institutions." [Palomares, Manuel and David Poveda. Text & Talk: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Language, Discourse and Communication Studies 30 (January 2010): 193-212]

2. Adds substance to a literary, provocative, or imaginative title or quote , e.g., "Listen to What I Say, Not How I Vote": Congressional Support for the President in Washington and at Home." [Grose, Christian R. and Keesha M. Middlemass. Social Science Quarterly 91 (March 2010): 143-167]

3. Qualifies the geographic scope of the research , e.g., "The Geopolitics of the Eastern Border of the European Union: The Case of Romania-Moldova-Ukraine." [Marcu, Silvia. Geopolitics 14 (August 2009): 409-432]

4. Qualifies the temporal scope of the research , e.g., "A Comparison of the Progressive Era and the Depression Years: Societal Influences on Predictions of the Future of the Library, 1895-1940." [Grossman, Hal B. Libraries & the Cultural Record 46 (2011): 102-128]

5. Focuses on investigating the ideas, theories, or work of a particular individual , e.g., "A Deliberative Conception of Politics: How Francesco Saverio Merlino Related Anarchy and Democracy." [La Torre, Massimo. Sociologia del Diritto 28 (January 2001): 75 - 98]

6. Identifies the methodology used , e.g. "Student Activism of the 1960s Revisited: A Multivariate Analysis Research Note." [Aron, William S. Social Forces 52 (March 1974): 408-414]

7. Defines the overarching technique for analyzing the research problem , e.g., "Explaining Territorial Change in Federal Democracies: A Comparative Historical Institutionalist Approach." [ Tillin, Louise. Political Studies 63 (August 2015): 626-641.

With these examples in mind, think about what type of subtitle reflects the overall approach to your study. This will help the reader understand the scope of the study in relation to how it was designed to address the research problem.

Anstey, A. “Writing Style: What's in a Title?” British Journal of Dermatology 170 (May 2014): 1003-1004; Balch, Tucker. How to Compose a Title for Your Research Paper. Augmented Trader blog. School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Tech University; Bavdekar, Sandeep B. “Formulating the Right Title for a Research Article.” Journal of Association of Physicians of India 64 (February 2016); Choosing the Proper Research Paper Titles. AplusReports.com, 2007-2012; Eva, Kevin W. “Titles, Abstracts, and Authors.” In How to Write a Paper . George M. Hall, editor. 5th edition. (Oxford: John Wiley and Sons, 2013), pp. 33-41; Hartley James. “To Attract or to Inform: What are Titles for?” Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 35 (2005): 203-213; General Format. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Kerkut G.A. “Choosing a Title for a Paper.” Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology 74 (1983): 1; “Tempting Titles.” In Stylish Academic Writing . Helen Sword, editor. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012), pp. 63-75; Nundy, Samiran, et al. “How to Choose a Title?” In How to Practice Academic Medicine and Publish from Developing Countries? A Practical Guide . Edited by Samiran Nundy, Atul Kakar, and Zulfiqar A. Bhutta. (Springer Singapore, 2022), pp. 185-192.

<< Previous: Applying Critical Thinking
Next: Making an Outline >>
Last Updated: Jun 18, 2024 10:45 AM
URL: https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide

Help | Advanced Search

Computer Science > Artificial Intelligence

Title: researcharena: benchmarking llms' ability to collect and organize information as research agents.

Abstract: Large language models (LLMs) have exhibited remarkable performance across various tasks in natural language processing. Nevertheless, challenges still arise when these tasks demand domain-specific expertise and advanced analytical skills, such as conducting research surveys on a designated topic. In this research, we develop ResearchArena, a benchmark that measures LLM agents' ability to conduct academic surveys, an initial step of academic research process. Specifically, we deconstructs the surveying process into three stages 1) information discovery: locating relevant papers, 2) information selection: assessing papers' importance to the topic, and 3) information organization: organizing papers into meaningful structures. In particular, we establish an offline environment comprising 12.0M full-text academic papers and 7.9K survey papers, which evaluates agents' ability to locate supporting materials for composing the survey on a topic, rank the located papers based on their impact, and organize these into a hierarchical knowledge mind-map. With this benchmark, we conduct preliminary evaluations of existing techniques and find that all LLM-based methods under-performing when compared to basic keyword-based retrieval techniques, highlighting substantial opportunities for future research.

Subjects:	Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI); Computation and Language (cs.CL); Information Retrieval (cs.IR)
Cite as:	[cs.AI]
	(or [cs.AI] for this version)
	Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite

Submission history

Access paper:.

HTML (experimental)
Other Formats

References & Citations

Google Scholar
Semantic Scholar

BibTeX formatted citation

Bibliographic and Citation Tools

Code, data and media associated with this article, recommenders and search tools.

Institution

arXivLabs: experimental projects with community collaborators

arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website.

Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them.

Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs .

COMMENTS

How to Organize Research Papers: A Cheat Sheet for Graduate Students
It's best to organize your research papers chronologically. If you want to do all this at once, I suggest using a reference manager like Zotero or Mendeley (more on reference managers later). File renaming. Make sure you rename your files on your computer according to your own renaming strategy.
Organizing Papers and References without Losing your Mind
As a follow up, here are a few tips on how to keep track of the papers you want to read without losing your mind. Choose a reference manager. Sure, you can get by creating a poster or two without a reference manager, but it's incredibly risky to cite references by hand for manuscripts and grant proposals. Choosing and using a reference ...
Organizing Research Papers: A Step-by-Step Guide
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you create your own customized research plan: Establish Your Goals - Start by deciding what information or results you hope to gain from your project. Research Paper Organizer - Use this tool to keep track of references used in the paper as well as other relevant resources.
PDF Organizing a Research Paper
Organizing a Research Paper - Cornell University
How to Create a Structured Research Paper Outline
A research paper outline is a useful tool to aid in the writing process, providing a structure to follow with all information to be included in the paper clearly organized. A quality outline can make writing your research paper more efficient by helping to: Organize your thoughts; Understand the flow of information and how ideas are related
PDF How to Structure & Organize Your Paper
can offer you that will work for every paper, every time. We can, however, give you some things to think about that will help you as you consider how to structure your paper. Let Your Thesis Direct You Begin by listening to your thesis. If it is well-written, it will tell you which way to go with your paper.
How to write a research paper outline
The outline is the skeleton of your research paper. Simply start by writing down your thesis and the main ideas you wish to present. This will likely change as your research progresses; therefore, do not worry about being too specific in the early stages of writing your outline. Organize your papers in one place. Try Paperpile.
How to find, read and organize papers
Step 1: find. I used to find new papers by aimlessly scrolling through science Twitter. But because I often got distracted by irrelevant tweets, that wasn't very efficient. I also signed up for ...
How to Create a Research Paper Outline: Tips and Examples
1. Determine your topic. You'll need to establish a topic or the main point you intend to write about. For example, you may want to research and write about whether influencers are the most beneficial way to promote products in your industry. This topic is the main point around which your essay will revolve. 2.
Organizing Academic Research Papers: Making an Outline
Writing an outline will also help you focused on the task at hand and avoid unnecessary tangents, logical fallacies, and underdeveloped paragraphs. Identify the research problem. The research problem is the focal point from which the rest of the outline flows. Try to sum up the point of your paper in one sentence or phrase.
Organize Your Information
Taking notes helps you manage your sources and identify information you want to use in the paper. Use the system that works best for you. The system you choose for taking notes is critical to help you track your use of sources and avoid plagiarism. Even professional writers have run into problems in this step of the process, so be careful.
How to start your research paper [step-by-step guide]
Below is a step-by-step guide to starting and completing your research paper. Organize your papers in one place. Try Paperpile. No credit card needed. Get 30 days free. 1. Choose your topic. Choose a topic that interests you. Writing your research paper will be so much more pleasant with a topic that you actually want to know more about.
Academic Guides: Writing a Paper: Organizing Your Thoughts
The way a paper is organized is largely the result of the logical and causal relationships between the categories or topics apparent in the research. In other words, each category's placement is specifically chosen so that it is the result of the previous theme and able to contribute to the next, as the previous example shows.
How to Write a Research Paper
Create a research paper outline. Write a first draft of the research paper. Write the introduction. Write a compelling body of text. Write the conclusion. The second draft. The revision process. Research paper checklist. Free lecture slides.
How to Search and Organize Research Articles
Searching by key words is another common way to find scientific literature. I use Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus, mostly. Searches can be done by entering the key words, subject area, document type (e. g. review, articles), and sort by relevance. Start to read from the most cited papers in your field.
Organize / Take Notes
During this process you may find that you have taken notes that do not answer your research question or support your working thesis directly. Don't be afraid to throw them away. It may have struck you that you just read a lot of "re" words: re-read, re-organize, re-group, re-shuffle, re-think.
How to Organize Research: Notes, PDF Files, & Documents
1. Note-taking and Mind mapping - How to Hack Your Mind. First, start by organizing your notes into categories. You can do this on a sticky note or on a mind map. Even though you may feel like a middle school kid using colorful sticky paper, sticky notes are proven to be one of the most effective ways to organize research.
Organizing your research: A scientist's tips for journalists
2. Stay on top of current research with RSS feeds. Many journalists, especially those who write about academic research, subscribe to journal email lists. But that may not be the best option for organizing research. "It kind of overwhelms your inbox after a while," said Gosztyla.
How To Organize A Research Paper? Expert's Guide 2022
It all starts with selecting a topic since you cannot go around and conduct research without having a vision in front of you. A topic is the same as the vision that you will make first to jump to the next parts. So select a topic and move towards organizing the outline of your research. 2. Form a Thesis Statement.
15 Best Free Web Tools to Organize Your Research
Zotero: Collect, manage, and cite your research sources. Lets you organize data into collections and search through them by adding tags to every source. This is a computer program, but there's a browser extension that helps you send data to it. Google Scholar: A simple way to search for scholarly literature on any subject. Diigo: Collect, share ...
My favorite tools for managing, organizing, and reading research papers
3. Connected Papers. A research paper is not born in isolation. On the contrary, every paper is connected to several other papers. A reader would be interested in exploring in references and citations mentioned in the paper. Connected papers is a visual tool created to address this specific point. It creates a graph consisting of the papers ...
Work hack: How to organize your research literature
A must-have strategy for fieldwork. The amount of literature researchers are expected to stay abreast of can be overwhelming so it's vital to have a system that allows documents and images to be ...
10 Tips for Writing a Research Paper Outline
Crafting a Well-Structured Research Paper Outline: 10 Essential Tips. Crafting a well-structured research paper outline is crucial for organizing your thoughts and ensuring a coherent flow of ideas in your academic work. In this guide, we will explore 10 essential tips to help you create a comprehensive and effective research paper outline.
Research Paper Basics
Writing research papers allows you to take a deeper dive into a topic while relying on credible sources for information. A research paper should be original work from you, the writer. ... prioritizing and organizing information, and more. Breaking the process down into steps will make it more manageable. Components of a Research Paper. Introduction
How to Organise References and Research Paper Notes
My guide to organising research paper references and their notes in a simple spreadsheet - ideal for literature reviews, dissertations or essays!I am now 10,...
Paper format
To format a paper in APA Style, writers can typically use the default settings and automatic formatting tools of their word-processing program or make only minor adjustments. Consistency in the order, structure, and format of a paper allows readers to focus on a paper's content rather than its presentation. To format a paper in APA Style ...
How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper (Project ...
After writing the paper comes the time of reading your paper a few times in order to get everything perfect.In this section you will learn how to remove a lot of mistakes you might have been writing. In the end, you will have to build your own checklist corresponding to your own problems you want to avoid.
Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper
The Subtitle Subtitles are frequently used in social sciences research papers because it helps the reader understand the scope of the study in relation to how it was designed to address the research problem. Think about what type of subtitle listed below reflects the overall approach to your study and whether you believe a subtitle is needed to emphasize the investigative parameters of your ...
ResearchArena: Benchmarking LLMs' Ability to Collect and Organize
In particular, we establish an offline environment comprising 12.0M full-text academic papers and 7.9K survey papers, which evaluates agents' ability to locate supporting materials for composing the survey on a topic, rank the located papers based on their impact, and organize these into a hierarchical knowledge mind-map.

How to Organize Research Papers: A Cheat Sheet for Graduate Students

Before you start

Research with your final product in mind

When you find useful information.

File renaming

Use keywords wisely

Create annotations

Write your own notes

When you are ready to write

Write down ideas as they come to you

My toolbox to organize research papers

Aruna Kumarasiri

Did You Enjoy This?

Hand-picked related articles

Why do graduate students struggle to establish a productive morning routine? And how to handle it?

How to stick to a schedule as a graduate student?

The best note-taking apps for graduate students: How to choose the right note-taking app

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Organizing Papers and References without Losing your Mind

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Organizing Research Papers: A Step-by-Step Guide

I. Introduction to Organizing Research Papers

IV. The Importance of Properly Formatting and Referencing Sources

How to create a helpful research paper outline

Alphanumeric or topic outlines

Decimal outlines

Full-sentence outlines

1. Determine your topic

2. Gather information

3. Determine the type of essay you'll be writing

4. Include basic sections

5. Organize your outline

6. Consider compare-and-contrast essays

7. Consider advanced organizers for longer essays

Should you be using a customer insights hub?

Editor’s picks

Latest articles

Log in or sign up

Organizing Academic Research Papers: Making an Outline

Importance of...

Structure and Writing Style

Writing Tip

Research Support

Using the Library

User Information

My Accounts

Writing a Research Paper

Library Research Guide

How Will This Help Me?

Links for More Help

Create a Working Bibliography

Read Sources and Take Notes

Adjust Your Thesis

Identify Support for Main Ideas

How to start your research paper [step-by-step guide]

1. Choose your topic

Writing a Paper: Organizing Your Thoughts

Mindmapping Video

Related Resources

Walden Resources

Centers and Offices

Student Resources

Have a language expert improve your writing

How to Write a Research Paper | A Beginner's Guide

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Table of contents

Scribbr Citation Checker New

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Paragraph structure

Example paragraph

Citing sources

Global concerns

Fine-grained details

Checklist: Research paper

Is this article helpful?

More interesting articles

Get unlimited documents corrected

How to Search and Organize Research Articles

Quick Summary

Finding Articles