Making a Research Paper Checklist

A checklist helps students in organizing and planning for their research paper. Writing a research paper is one of the important requirements students should submit to pass college. It plays a vital role in your final grade. If poorly done, you may lose your chances of earning your degree.

By having a checklist, you will be able to determine your priorities as well as learn what is lacking or what is irrelevant. It increases the chances of you finishing your research paper more accurately and according to a plan.

Here are some tips on how to make a perfect research paper checklist:

Take notes of the assignment. Listen, understand and take down notes whenever your professor discusses the instructions in writing your research paper. Find out if there are additional requirements from your professor. List these requirements as your number one prioritiy.

Do not be afraid to ask questions for those points you do not understand. Failure to follow instructions is the most common mistake college students commit in writing their papers. Instead of guessing, let your professor elaborate it further.

Select a good yet familiar topic. In choosing a topic for discussion, come up with at least 4 ideas. Start your research with the one that interests you most.

In case there are not enough sources related to your topic, move on with the next one on your list. For students, evidence is very important in research papers. It would be difficult to provide evidence if your topic has limited resources. It would be risky for a novice researcher to discuss a topic that is fresh.

Plan your actions. What do you want to achieve in your research paper? What does it take to prove your main ideas? Find out what your topic may require you to do. Organize your thoughts and determine the approach you’re going to use in finishing the assignment at hand.

List down what are the things you should do and should have; the activities to be done; types of sources needed; requirements of your methodology; and others necessary in the completion of your work.

Schedule your activities. Make a deadline for every activity. Having a schedule would help you stay focused on your priorities.

Researching and gathering information is probably the most time-consuming part of research paper writing. It requires skills and patience in order to get the right sources. You are lucky if you can find enough sources in your school library. But in any case, try visiting other libraries as well. The more information you have on your topic, the more substance you have for discussion. Schedule your visit on a day that gives you enough time to study the materials.

Remember, you have a submission date to meet. Late submission can cause you huge points. Or worse, it may be the cause of your failure. If you finished earlier than expected, you’ll have enough time to review and revise your work. Also, you can use the extra time in studying your paper and prepare for dissertation.