Research Paper Planner
A 6-week summer session, a 10-week quarter, and even a semester can seem short, so save time!
(Note: The schedule below assumes that you will receive your assignment in
Week 1 or Week 2 of the term. Check with your instructor or your librarian for
advice on adjusting this schedule if you get your assignment after Week 2.)
Step 1 : Get Started
WHEN?
Summer Session (6-week): Week 1
Quarter: Weeks 1-2
Semester (16-week & 18-week): Week 2
Be sure to:
- Read and understand your assignment
- What is an academic paper?
- Try the Road to Research online tutorial
- English as a second language
- Use the Assignment Calculator to create your own research schedule
STEP 2: Pick and focus your topic; write a hypothesis or argument
WHEN?
Summer Session (6-week): Week 2
Quarter: Weeks 2-3
Semester (16-week & 18-week): Weeks 3-4
Topic invention techniques
Thought starters
Brainstorm topic search words. Choosing a topic
Narrow or broaden your topic
Try it! Topic Narrowing/Broadening Exercise
STEP 3: Design research strategy and choose useful information sources
WHEN?
Summer Session (6-week): Week 2
Quarter: Weeks 2-3
Semester (16-week): Weeks 3-4
Semester (18-week): Weeks 4-5
- Check the flow of information
- Select an appropriate type of information source
Step 4: Use encyclopedias to get a topic overview
WHEN?
Summer Session (6-week): Week 3
Quarter: Weeks 4-5
Semester (16-week): Weeks 5-6
Semester (18-week): Weeks 6-7
Step 5: Find useful books
WHEN?
Summer Session (6-week): Week 3
Quarter: Weeks 4-5
Semester (16-week): Weeks 6-8
Semester (18-week): Weeks 8-9
STEP 6: Find useful periodical (magazine, journal, newspaper) articles
WHEN?
Summer Session (6-week): Weeks 3 -4
Quarter: Weeks 4-7
Semester (16-week): Weeks 8-10
Semester (18-week): Weeks 9-11
STEP 7: Find authoritative, accurate, complete, and up to date web sites
WHEN?
Summer Session (6-week): Weeks 4-5
Quarter: Weeks 4-7
Semester (16-week): Week 10
Semester (18-week): Week 11
STEP 8: Outline paper
WHEN?
Summer Session (6-week): Week 4
Quarter: Weeks 5-7
Semester (16-week): Week 11
Semester (18-week): Week 12
STEP 9: Analyze, compare and contrast the evidence, come to your own conclusions, and write first draft
WHEN?
Summer Session (6-week): Weeks 4-5
Quarter: Weeks 7-9
Semester (16-week): Weeks 11-13
Semester (18-week): Weeks 14-17
STEP 10: Conduct additional research, if necessary
WHEN?
During any term, periodically reevaluate, and repeat Steps 4-7, as needed
STEP 11: Revise and rewrite
WHEN?
Summer Session (6-week): Weeks 5-6
Quarter: Weeks 8-9
Semester (16-week): Weeks 12-15
Semester (18-week): Weeks 14-17
Get Writing Help (Covel Commons)
STEP 12: Put paper in final form
WHEN?
Summer Session (6-week): Week 6
Quarter: Week 10
Semester (16-week): Week 16
Semester (18-week): Week 18
