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Checklist: Writing a Great Research Paper

Published on October 16, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on November 29, 2022.

A research paper is an extended piece of writing based on in-depth independent research. It may involve conducting empirical research or analyzing primary and secondary sources .

Writing a good research paper requires you to demonstrate a strong knowledge of your topic and advance an original argument. To convincingly communicate your ideas, you need a logical structure and a clear style that follows the conventions of academic writing .

When you’ve finished writing your paper, use this checklist to evaluate your work.

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Checklist: Research paper

I have followed all instructions in the assignment sheet.

My introduction presents my topic in an engaging way and provides necessary background information.

My introduction presents a clear, focused research problem and/or thesis statement .

My paper is logically organized using paragraphs and (if relevant) section headings .

Each paragraph is clearly focused on one central idea, expressed in a clear topic sentence .

Each paragraph is relevant to my research problem or thesis statement.

I have used appropriate transitions  to clarify the connections between sections, paragraphs, and sentences.

My conclusion provides a concise answer to the research question or emphasizes how the thesis has been supported.

My conclusion shows how my research has contributed to knowledge or understanding of my topic.

My conclusion does not present any new points or information essential to my argument.

I have provided an in-text citation every time I refer to ideas or information from a source.

I have included a reference list at the end of my paper, consistently formatted according to a specific citation style .

I have thoroughly revised my paper and addressed any feedback from my professor or supervisor.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (page numbers, headers, spacing, etc.).

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Research Paper Checklist

Research papers are hard. As tempting as it may be to just hand in your paper the second you finish that last citation, it is super important to review everything to make sure you don’t have any silly mistakes!

Use this 10-step checklist to make sure your paper is in top-notch form:

• Credit and cite all information from other sources.
• Place direct quotes from other sources between quotation marks.
• Add all appropriate in-text citations or footnotes.
• All in-text citations/footnotes have a matching citation in the bibliography.
• Alphabetize bibliography and check formatting/ capitalization of titles .
• The thesis statement (purpose of the paper) is clearly stated.
• The paper has a clear conclusion/closing statement.
• Check for spelling and grammatical errors.
• Check for slang words or contractions in writing.
• The title page is properly formatted (when required by your instructor).

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Research Paper Checklist

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When we think of research papers , we think of academic papers that students are tasked to write in order for them to pass the course or at least to pass the subject. A requirement for students when doing their research paper apart from a good research paper outline is a guide or a checklist. However, when we think of research papers, we rarely associate them with a checklist. The checklist helps students understand the positive and negative sides of their research paper. Many students, whether they are in high school or college, know that research papers are a must. What they may not associate the research paper with is the checklist that their professors often give out in order for the students to be guided. You may be wondering why a checklist is still necessary when writing a research paper. To get the answers you need, let’s take a look at the examples of a research paper checklist.

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What Is a Research Paper Checklist?

A checklist is a detailed tool that a variety of people may use for different reasons. It can be used by students, teachers, and even businessmen and women. As for a research paper checklist , we know that a research paper checklist is a kind of detailed tool that researchers use in order to coordinate their paper with what is being written in the checklist. It is also a helpful tool that helps guide the researchers to what they should be writing about. Consider a research paper checklist like that of an outline or a chapter outline , except the only difference is that you need only to tick the box when you are able to complete the assigned task. In addition to that, the importance of using a research paper checklist is it guides you to what you should be doing first to guide you to what should be done and how to do it. What to add and what to not forget.

How to Write a Research Paper Checklist

Getting ready to write your research paper? You would of course need a checklist to help you with that. We know that writing a research paper checklist from scratch may be a challenge especially if it is your first time writing a checklist. But not to worry, here are some steps to help you write out your research paper checklist.

1. Divide Your List Into Equal Parts

Dividing your drafted list into equal parts to make your checklist is one good thing for you to do. The list that is necessary for your checklist can be made into smaller parts for you to focus on. For example, you may place the first one as a title. The next would be the research outline format , etc.

2. Add the Information Needed

The information or the details that are needed based on the equal parts above would look like a few phrases or a single sentence, explaining what the researcher would need to do through the checklist.

3. Make Sure the Information Is Clear

Information that you write must at least be obvious or clear for the researcher to be doing. However, if you are going to be writing your own checklist, make sure you understand what you are placing and what you are supposed to be doing. As much as possible, use jargon that everyone can understand if you are working as a group and using the same checklist.

4. Place a Space for It to Be Ticked

Spaces are necessary when you make your checklist. To be able to tick the list, you have to make sure that you do not have to redo the same item or the same thing you listed again. It would also help you save time. Of course, it may depend on how you are going to do it. You may tick the box or simply crush out the entire sentence as a way to show it is done.

5. Proofread Your Checklist

Before you are able to use your research paper checklist, make sure to proofread them. Proofreading your checklist means you want to see if everything you would need is already present in the research paper checklist. It means that you want to see if there are things you may think about that you can use for your research paper checklist.

What is a research paper checklist?

A research paper checklist is a tool used that helps or caters to the things you need in order to make your research paper. The checklist consists of general to specific types of information that would help you complete your research paper.

How do you write a research paper checklist?

There are a lot of ways to write a research paper checklist. The most common thing you can do is to write down the necessary list and divide them into sections. These sections help by lessening the confusion and making it easier for you to do your entire checklist.

How can a research paper checklist help?

Research paper checklists help by giving you a list of the things you need to do in order to make your research paper a success.

Research papers are not an easy thing to do. There is no such thing as a perfect research paper that is being written out in a single sitting. This is why a lot of teachers or professors suggest or advise their students to make a research paper checklist. The checklist helps by guiding them in order to make the flow of writing easier.

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Research paper writing checklist

Use this to plan your steps in writing a research paper.

Everyone approaches their writing process in different creative ways, but there are some essential steps you have to follow.

No matter your level of familiarity with the topic or the challenges you may encounter along the way, following a strategic approach will help you speed up the process.

Below is a checklist that outlines a simple but effective strategy for writing a research article.

10 steps to writing an impactful paper

Get familiar with your subject and narrow the topic.

It is very important to understand what your lecturer, professor, or the journal is asking for before you start writing. It’s easy to ignore this step, but then wonder why you got a low grade or got rejected by a journal.

Take your time to understand your assignment or project. Have a thorough look at the instructions and requirements provided. It might be helpful to take notes and highlight points around the instructions for emphasis.

If you are writing your paper to submit to a journal, make sure you choose your target journal as your first step. This will help you have a good understanding of the journal’s requirements.

For help narrowing down your list of journals, here are  3 great tools and resources to help you identify the best home for your research .

Here’s also our  guide to learn more about the variety of different types of research articles . Its important to understand the uniqueness of your article.

Begin your research

After you have decided the direction you want to take your paper, it’s time to research the topic in detail. If you are writing to publish in a journal, then it’s also time to learn more about the journals you’re targeting.

Keep in mind that while you research, you may find information that makes you want to change your focus. In this case, make sure your paper answers the new question and is positioned to address your new focus.

You may not be able to read every material in detail so learn how to identify key points and arguments. Find reliable resources and explore the information you come across.

If you are planning to submit your paper to a journal, make sure you familiarize yourself with its  editorial policies and standards of reporting . This will cover everything from  how the journal conducts peer review  to the  process for submitting your article .

Organize your research

At this step you should have a list of sources that have influenced your viewpoint. People have different preferences on how to organize their research. Do what feels most effective for you.

Keep records and copies of all the information you obtain. This is the best step to sort the referencing and bibliographical information in your paper. Make sure you keep notes of where you found the information and how it relates to your research.

Form your thesis

Now that you understand your topic and how it fits your assignment or your target journal, it’s time to compose a thesis statement.

The purpose of your paper is to prove the validity of your thesis, so your thesis statement will provide clarity on how to control your idea. Your thesis statement will also guide your choice of resource materials.

Your thesis statement should be a short sentence that explains and proves the position of your paper to the reader.

Determine your article structure

After you have worked hard to create a specific thesis statement for your article, it may be helpful to organize your research with an outline. Creating an outline is about structuring your paper in a way that makes it easier for readers to understand your work.

Depending on your assignment, subject, research focus, journal choice and any number of considerations, the type of article you write could vary widely. If you were instructed to use a specific outline, be sure to follow the instructions.

Your outline should reflect the organizational format you have chosen for your paper. There’s no set formula for structuring your article, but our  Writing your paper free guide  has some hints and tips to get your started.

Choose your keywords

Using keywords in your paper helps others find your article easily, in a database or search engine. With ever-increasing volumes of information available digitally, finding relevant sources has become challenging.

So, picking your keywords wisely is worth your while. The more the content of an article reflects the keywords used, the higher it will appear on the results page.

Please read our  researcher’s guide to SEO  for more information on how to make your work more discoverable and more likely to be read (and perhaps cited) by other researchers.

Write up your draft

After you have completed your final article structure and chosen your keywords, you can start writing your first draft. Remember that you will write multiple drafts, so do not put too much pressure on the first one.

Understand that every step is unique, and as mentioned, the structure of your article and the sections it includes will depend on both the subject of study and the type of article you’re writing.

Read our guides to learn more on  how to write a journal article  and  how to write a review article . Make sure you understand the various  different types of research articles .

Edit and refine your paper

After you have completed your initial draft, take some time to congratulate yourself for reaching this significant milestone! But, the work is not finished yet. All writing has to be improved before submission. This is the time to make your paper as perfect as you possibly can.

Your paper will need to be edited for content and for grammar. Learn how to approach editing your paper with  our guide on research paper editing .

Also, consider using  subject-relevant experts to help edit your paper  to improve the quality and help you submit with confidence.

Review your final draft

The making of a good article is effective reviewing and editing, to make sure your ideas and findings are communicated clearly throughout.

For a host of tips on refining and editing your paper to make sure your core ideas and findings are clear,  download your Writing your paper free guide .

Check that you have followed instructions and included all requirements

This checklist is to help you along your research paper writing process. Make sure you read and understand the specific requirements and instructions that are specific to your paper.

It is a good idea to have  professional paper editors  review your work, to make sure you submit original content and that your work is formatted correctly and free of errors.

Expert help for your manuscript

Taylor & Francis Editing Services  offers a full range of pre-submission manuscript preparation services to help you improve the quality of your manuscript, so you can submit with confidence.

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Research Paper Checklist

• By Nicole Nichols-West on Jan 2, 2012

• Choose a Topic
• Pick a topic which interests and challenges you.
• Focus on a limited aspect.
• Obtain teacher approval for your topic.
• Re-read your assignment sheet carefully to be certain you know what is expected.
• Select a subject you can manage.
• Avoid subjects that are too technical, learned, or specialized.
• Avoid topics that have only a very narrow range of source materials.
• Find Information
• Use search engines and other search tools as a starting point.
• Pay attention to domain name extensions (if it ends with edu or org)
• Be selective of com (commercial) sites.
• Be wary of personal home pages - their quality vary greatly.
• Check out public and university libraries, businesses, government agencies.
• Contact knowledgeable people in your community.
• Write down full bibliographical information.
• Your Thesis
• Write your thesis statement down in one sentence.
• Find arguments to support and defend this belief.
• Think through your topic carefully and organize it logically
• Include in your outline an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
• Make the first outline tentative.
• In the introdutions, state your thesis and the purpose of your research.
• State how you plan to approach your topic.
• Explain briefly the major points you plan to cover.
• In the body, present your arguments to support your thesis statement.
• In the conclusion, restate or reword your thesis and summarize your arguments.
• Thesis statement is concise and clear.
• Arguments are presented in a logical sequence.
• All sources are properly cited.
• Your intentions and points are clear in the essay.
• Read your paper for grammatical errors.
• Correct all errors that you can spot.
• Get someone else to read it over.
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• 55 views today
• 7 uses today

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• Do I have a sufficient number of sources?
• Are a significant number of my sources critical sources (e.g., from academic journals)?
• Are my sources integrated smoothly into the paper?
• Is there a dialogue between my own analysis of the text and the research I'm including?
• Is my own scholarly opinion strongly present in the research paper, rather than the paper reading like a review of the opinions of other scholars?
• Have I cited all sources I draw from?
• If my paper is a revision, have I considered the changes I want to make, the comments of my peers, and the instructor's comments towards the end of significantly improving on the previous version of this paper?

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