Writing a research can be a long, daunting task, especially if you are not that organized. The key is to know the steps to creating a great paper and following through on these necessary milestones the very best you can.

Here are some tips for writing research papers:

Make sure you give yourself enough time to research the materials. A month per twenty pages is about right for lead-time.

Create a schedule for research and writing. Make sure that you create a calendar and designate which days on that calendar will be devoted exclusively to meeting your research paper deadlines. Makes sure that the time you allot is workable and allows you to go to the library if need be. Try not to set up sessions that are too long as you will suffer from mental fatigue. Try to schedule writing time for when you feel alert and rested.

Write a solid thesis statement. It is crucial to begin with a seamless, simple thesis statement that can be the foundation for the paper. Make sure that the idea is specific and that the idea is tenable. If you are not sure, check with a professor to make sure that you are not building a big argument on a flimsy statement.

Familiarize yourself with your libraries. Different libraries have different hours and cataloguing systems. Some have time limits about how long you can stay in the facility. You may have to book time to use special equipment such as the microfiche.

Use color-coded notes to arrange topics. Colored recipe cards or stickies can be used to sort notes and figure out the best outline and structure for your research paper. Make sure your bibliographical notes are on these cards as well. You can also use colored cards to arrange sub-topics beneath topics. This can help you shape your argument.

Get an editor. It does not hurt to have an editor look at your first draft and see where improvements can be made. The editor is invaluable yet again after you do a second and third draft to proof-read the document and make sure it is formatted and cited properly.

Finally, make sure that the document you come up with is in alignment with course goals, the proper spelling and the rules for citation that are outlined in your university. Whatever you do, always give proper credit to your sources as academic plagiarism is a very serious offense.