The Dreaded Research Paper - Pointers for Success

Everyone in graduate school has experienced it – the "dreaded" research paper assignment. The deadline is closing in like a freight train and you are procrastinating. What can you do to break the inertia?

First of all, prepare the "shell" of your paper per whatever style your program requires (usually APA or MLA). My college, like most nursing programs, uses APA. Prepare your title page (page 1), abstract page (page 2), level one heading for page 3, and the title "References" for the reference page.

Remember, these are just "shells" – no content yet! The sample paper on page 306 of the current 5th edition APA manual is a helpful guide.

Another sample APA term paper can be found here: APA Sample Term Paper.

APA Formatting and Style Guide is an excellent resource. It features a sample title page and abstract. A sample reference page can be found at APA Sample Reference Page.

Voilà! With the task of creating your paper “shell" completed, you have passed a psychological milestone – you have actually started on your paper!

Now, on to the abstract… Most papers have three parts, so I use this “formula” in composing my abstract:

To locate scholarly sources, I use the “dogpile.com” metasearch engine or Google Scholar. I then look up journal articles using the “Publications” feature on CINAHL. The search engine feature on CINAHL, by the way, is broken, so you do need to use another means, such as Google Scholar, for your search. Remember, also, that Wikipedia is not a scholarly source! (To distinguish scholarly from non-scholarly sources, refer to Scholarly vs. Non-Scholarly Sources.)

In graduate school, most professors prefer primary sources (as opposed to secondary or tertiary sources). To locate your primary sources, simply consult the reference list of your secondary source. One of my cherished "secrets" for locating books is Google Books Search. Whole sections of selected books can be easily found at this site – and at no cost!

Another resource is Questia – The cost for the use of this electronic library is $100/year, but well worth it. And, of course, there is always the brick-and-mortar library. Expect to make at least one trip. My college library is searchable online, so I know ahead what books are in circulation and available for quick check-out.



Next, begin with the rough draft of your paper. Don’t be too picky in this process. Your proof-reading will fine-tune whole sections as the paper develops. The point now is to get started! I have found these resources invaluable as I draft my research:

• The Purdue Online Writing Lab
• Guide to Writing a Basic Essay
• Guide to Writing Essays
• Writing Guides
• A Writer's Handbook
• How to Write a Thesis Statement
• Proofreading Your Writing
• Avoiding Plagiarism

With these pointers in place, it's time to get started! No more excuses! For your reference, here is a link to My Latest Research Paper.