Research your topic. Find books and journal articles that have been written by experts in the field. Online resources, such as government or organization websites, can be helpful as well. Only use information from sources that are seen as legitimate, or credible. The best resources are written or provided by experts or other scholars in the field.
Organize your research notes. Take notes on each of your sources as you read. Make separate notations within your notes about other sources you've read with similar information or write down conclusions and connections you make as you do your research. Label each page of notes clearly with the source it came from and highlight or mark information you know you will use in your paper.
Create an outline for your research paper. This will help you organize the information you have gathered and will keep you from forgetting points you want to make in your paper. In your outline, include the information you want to present or arguments you want to make. Under each point, note sources you want to reference and subtopics you need to include.
Write your thesis statement. This is the sentence that states what your argument is or what your paper is about. Include the statement in the introduction of your paper so that it is clear to readers early on what your paper is about.
Divide the body of your research paper into sections as you write it. Each section should discuss a specific argument or point of interest. Separate the sections with double spacing and bold titles. Sections like this keep your paper organized and help readers follow your thoughts from one point to the next.
Conclude your paper by summarizing your conclusions or arguments. Avoid repeating everything you've already said. Find a new way to state your thesis by pointing out the information you have presented. This reminds readers of your purpose in writing the paper and gives you the chance to solidify your argument.
Cite your sources in footnotes or end notes. Showing your readers where you found your information lets them know that you used legitimate sources and makes your research paper more credible. Give readers the opportunity to do further research of their own by pointing them to the sources you used. You should also site your sources to avoid plagiarism.
Revise your paper. Read your paper thoroughly for grammatical, spelling or factual errors. Obvious mistakes make your paper seem less credible to experts and journal editors. Ask a friend or family member to read the final draft of your paper to double check for errors.