Gather and organize material:

• Review the information you have gathered on the subject for variety, appropriateness, depth of coverage.  Do you need to do more research or revise your research strategies?

• Make copies of the source material with complete bibliographic information listed for each source.  Take notes. Keep computer records.  Make copies on separate disks. Note cards are a good way to keep track of your sources. You can arrange them to help you sort out the placement of the material in your paper. Include all key information, such as: author/s' names, title of journal/ book, title of article/ chapter, page numbers, date of article, Web address, database you used to find the source,  key term/s used to find the source, pertinent information (Note whether you are quoting or paraphrasing the pertinent information.). These records can help you find the material again if you lose the original source. You will need the information above for your bibliography/reference page and also to show your teacher if she/he requests to see your sources.

• Find your central theme. Group ideas by the way they relate to subtopics of your central theme. If you can't find a central theme, you probably haven't sufficiently narrowed down your topic.

• Write a preliminary thesis statement (your controlling idea). (A thesis statement is generally one or two sentences which state your central position. It is not your approach to writing the paper. It is not a question. Generally, the thesis answers the major research questions you have posed.)  Be willing to revamp your thesis as your understanding of the topic increases. In your research paper, the thesis is generally positioned at the end of the introductory material, which sets up your subject. 

• Make an outline.  The outline is a map.  If you go in another direction, change the map. But be sure your new direction is a valid one.

• Begin where you feel comfortable. If you are stuck on the intro, begin in the middle! The point is to get your ideas down on paper. You can go back and reorganize and throw out some of your preliminary writing. Some of the first draft writing is often a bridge to where you want to go. When you understand your topic better, you will become more articulate in writing about it.

• Don't worry about grammar, punctuation, spelling in the early stages of writing. Censoring yourself can interfere with getting your ideas written down.

• Read out loud what you have written. This often helps writers to pick up obvious problems with sentence structure, run-on sentences, unclear ideas. Don't do fine-tuning or editing at this point; you are still in the formative stage.

• Jot down some ideas about what is working and what needs clarification. Make notes on your draft (in bold or caps if you are using a word processor, or use the comments option in your word processing program).

• Reexamine your thesis. Do the central topic and sub topics relate to your thesis? Does the introduction adequately set up the subject and thesis? 

• Do you stick to your focus? Are your points substantive? Do your sources adequately support your points?

• Do you use the sources to support points you make in your own words, or are you just regurgitating information from sources and letting them speak FOR you? 

• Do you paraphrase, when possible, instead of using lots of quotes? Paraphrasing means to accurately restate the points in your own words. When you paraphrase you showthat you understand and can interpret the material accurately. 

• Do you introduce quotes with introductory material and not just "plunk" them in without context?

• Are there any parts that need more detail/evidence, better organization, clearer focus, smoother transitions? 

• Are your words concrete and appropriate for the subject and audience? Using "big words" to impress readers often backfires.  Keep it simple is generally a good rule.

• Are sentences grammatically correct, varied in length and structure? Do your sentences express ideas clearly and concisely? 

• Are the paragraphs cohesive? Your paragraphs should focus on  particular aspects of the main topic.

• Does the conclusion tie in with the thesis? If the thesis and conclusion don't match, chances are your views on the subject changed as you wrote the draft. You  may need to revise your thesis/ rethink your position.

• Does your paper follow the exact format required? 

• Are your quotes and paraphrases properly cited (in the form required) in the text of your paper? Are you following the appropriate or required style, such as APA, or MLA, or another form?  Don't mix and match styles.

• Ask someone else to read what you have written, preferably someone familiar with the assignment. Remember, however, that the content and ideas should be your own. Your reader should not correct your paper for you or revise your draft. The reader can, however, point out parts that are are strong and parts that are unclear because of lack of detail, organization problems, etc. If you are a member of a peer response group, they should be your primary responders.

• Then you should take a fresh look at your paper and revise it. Writing is REwriting and reVISIONing your initial efforts. Here are some revision guidelines.