Research Writing: Elements and Steps

Research writing is distinct in approach and technique. The information here describes the various stages of research writing and offers suggestions for approaching it.

Elements of a research paper

• Review of the literature in a field
• Analysis 
• Argument
• Essay

Steps in writing a research paper

1. One Big Mess
2. Developing a research question
3. Developing a research thesis
   • Thesis characteristics
4. Finding sources
5. Evaluating sources
6. Taking notes
7. Working with quotations
8. Summaries and paraphrases
9. Building the essay draft
10. Documenting sources
    • Documentation formats
11. Revising and proofreading the draft