Writing a Paper

Writing an Effective Research Paper

Although not all research culminates in a traditional paper, it's an old standby for a reason. Here are a few tips to get you started.

If you can, set aside several hours to write at a time. Have all your notes and your outline handy, as well as copies of your sources if available. As you write your first draft, just concentrate on getting the ideas and evidence down on the page. Don't focus on making the writing sound perfect; trying to edit as you write is very difficult, and there will be time to polish everything during the revision process.

Sharpen your favorite pencil, it's time to start writing!


Source: Close Shave by Kit under a Creative Commons license

Audience & Point of View

In most cases, your teacher is your audience, or a very important member thereof. You can generally assume that your audience has heard of your topic before, but in most cases you will explain anything you did not already know when you began your research.

In general, avoid using writing in the first person ("I" or "we"), though there are exceptions, such as in a "three-search" paper where a description of your research process will likely require it.

For tone, aim to be formal without being stuffy, engaging without being casual or chatty, confident without being arrogant. Should be easy, right?

Organizing Your Paper

Though there is no one-size-fits-all approach, this is the basic structure of many student research papers:

I. Introduction (opening statement and general information to put the topic into context and why the reader should care)

A. Thesis Statement/Claim (what will you prove in your paper?)

II. Background Information (what the reader needs to know to understand your argument)

III. Body of Paper

A. Body Paragraph #1 (often one claim or developmental idea supported with evidence and analysis)

B. Body Paragraph #2 (another claim or idea with evidence and analysis)

C. Body Paragraph #3 (and another)

D. Body Paragraph #4 (and however many more you need)

IV. Conclusion (revisit your thesis, summarize your argument, possibly come full circle back to the introduction, leave your reader with a "so what" or "next steps")

V. References (your all-important Works Cited page!)

Integrating Sources

Use evidence from your sources that supports your claims and thesis statement. Your sources should enhance your arguments, not replace them.

Avoid using too many quotations or quotations that are too long. All quotations must be introduced into a paper and explained by the writer. In MLA format, if you use the author’s name in a sentence, use his or her full name the first time and last name subsequently. A quotation should never stand as its own complete sentence (called a "dropped quote" because it is dropped in without warning or explanation).

Use SIGNAL PHRASES to tell the reader you are introducing material from a source. This is your opportunity to connect the evidence to your own ideas. Vary the language of your signal phrases to keep your paper interesting.

The following examples quote from the book The Greek Isles by Laura Brooks:

  • Laura Brooks concludes, "..."

  • According to Ms. Brooks, "..."

  • Laura Brooks claims that "..."

  • As Laura Brooks explains in The Greek Isles, "..."

  • Brooks asserts that "..."

  • Brooks argues "..."

  • In The Greek Isles, Brooks suggests that "..."

If you name the author in a signal phrase, you do not need to repeat it in the parenthetical citation (see In-Text Citations for more).

Research Tip

Quotations should be reproduced word for word, comma for comma, EXACTLY as they appear in the original text. If you leave words out of a quotation, use an ELLIPSIS to indicate that something was removed. If you need to add words to quotation for clarification, put them in BRACKETS to show they are not part of the original text. For example:

  • Tara Parker-Pope explains, "Now researchers are studying whether the power of writing ... can lead to behavioral changes and improve happiness."

  • "The idea [of expressive writing for self-improvement] is getting people to come to terms with who they are, where they want to go," explains one physician (qtd. in Pope).

Remember, you do not need to quote whole sentences. It is often more effective to use just a key phrase, integrated smoothly into your own writing:

Although the idea of writing to improve your health may "sound like self-help nonsense," recent studies have found evidence to suggest that it might actually make a difference (Pope).

Formatting a Paper in MLA

  • Use 8.5 x 11 white paper with black ink.

  • Use margins of 1 inch on all sides.

  • Use a 12 point standard font. Your teacher may require a specific font, most likely Times New Roman.

  • Double space the entire document. Leave no extra spaces between any sections and do not single space any sections.

  • Put your name, your teacher's name, the name of the class, and the date in European format ("1 January 2021") at the top left of the page.

  • Center your title above the body of the paper. Capitalize all important words in the title. Do not make the title bold, underlined, italicized, larger font, etc.

  • Place a header at the top right of your paper that includes your last name and the page number. Do NOT just type this at the top of each page or you will be frustrated when you revise and the pagination changes! Watch this 30 second video to learn to add an MLA header correctly in Google Docs.

  • Follow the rules for formatting your Works Cited page.

  • If you are submitting hard copy, staple your paper at the top left corner. Do not use a report cover or page protector.

  • Do not include a separate title page unless requested by your teacher.

Digital Handouts

MLA Paper Format

This sample paper shows basic MLA formatting rules.

This two minute video will show you how to format a Google Doc paper in perfect MLA format.

Learn More