Develop your first research paper
A first research paper becomes more manageable when the question, evidence and draft stay connected. Use Citation to develop one claim at a time while checking what each source actually supports.
- Audience
- Students
- Role
- Undergraduate student
- Project
- Research paper
- Reading time
- 2 min read
Read the assignment and choose a question you can address within its scope. Note the required source types, citation style and rules for AI assistance.
Start with a small set of relevant sources and read them before deciding what your paper will argue.
Choose sources deliberately
Add a source record and check its publication details. Read enough of the original to understand its argument and limitations.
Write a note explaining how it relates to your question. Keep a page or passage reference for the evidence you may use.
Draft one supported paragraph
Begin with a claim you can explain in your own words. Add the evidence and describe how it supports that claim.
Insert the citation while drafting. Do not attach a reference later merely because it discusses a similar topic.
Make room for your reasoning
Separate the source’s finding from your interpretation. Explain the connection instead of expecting a quotation to make the argument by itself.
Use the outline to decide what the next paragraph must establish. Revise the structure when the evidence changes your answer.
Use assistance thoughtfully
Ask for feedback on a specific passage and inspect each suggested change. Follow the assignment’s rules for collaboration and AI use.
Check that a rewrite preserves your meaning and does not add facts or sources you have not verified.
Review before submitting
Read the paper against the assignment, then trace its main claims to their sources. Check quotations, reference details and required formatting.
Export the document and inspect the actual file. Submit work whose claims and source choices you can explain.