Choose a topic for your research paper. Some instructors give students a list of topics from which to choose, whereas others allow students to choose their own topic. If you choose from an instructor's list, make sure you understand the parameters of what you are being asked to research.
Identify the audience for your research paper. Obviously, your instructor is part of the audience but there is also a larger audience to consider. For example, if you are writing a paper about the causes of crime, your audience is unlikely to be elementary school students. Instead, your audience are your fellow students and arguably, the larger criminology community.
Draft a thesis for your research. Your thesis is the main purpose of your research. For example, in writing about the topic of juvenile delinquency, your thesis might be stated as follows: "Early intervention programs have proven the most promising in the prevention of delinquent behavior."
Conduct your research. Each point you make in your paper should be documented by three primary supports; each of those three primary sources should be further documented by three secondary supports. You need sufficient research on which to draw to be able to provide these levels of support.
Draft an outline for your paper. Note each of the points you plan to make in your paper and reference the supports for those points.
Write a draft of your paper. Review the paper to ensure that you have presented fully supported points and make edits as needed. Proofread your final draft before you submit your paper.