Gather all research notes and analyze what the sources are saying about the research topic.
Compare and contrast these ideas with your own thoughts and compose a rough draft without the sources. The draft will essentially be a compilation of your ideas.
Read over your rough draft and begin to incorporate sources. It is important to implement sources only when they will enhance your argument. While quoting is the most popular integration method, it should only be used when the information cannot be paraphrased or summarized. A summary should not be used to increase word count or re-write the story, and paraphrasing should not shorten or take away from source information.
Properly cite all sources, even if the information is not quoted verbatim. Failing to properly cite sources will result in a plagiarized paper. Rules for in-text citation vary, depending on what style you are following. MLA style, for example, requires a parenthetical in-text citation that comes before the end punctuation, but outside of quotation marks, generally including the author's last name and page number (Smith 102). These citations refer to the works cited page, which comprises a more detailed list of all sources cited within the text.
Re-read draft for citation accuracy and overall clarity. Make certain that all quotes accompany an explanation, and that the integrated sources flow with the rest of the text. The research paper should read as a conversation between writer and experts.