Sequence and Steps of the Research Paper

Step 1: Choose a topic that interests you and which is an important part of the American Revolution or a fifth-grade science topic.

Step 2: Find at least three sources for your research. One should be an encyclopedia article that gives you an overview of your topic. Show your three (or more) sources to your teacher.

Step 3: Read the encyclopedia overview and see if the topic still interests you. If it does, go on to Step 4. If it does not interest you, go back to Step 1 and start over.

Step 4: Narrow your topic by creating a focus question that you will answer in your research paper. Your focus question must relate directly to the American Revolution and the events that led up to it. You may not write about George Washington’s presidency or Benjamin Franklin’s inventions; neither of those topics relates directly to the American Revolution.

• For example, if you chose the topic of Abigail Adams, you might ask: “How dedicated a patriot was Abigail Adams?” Then you would follow that up with: “What specific actions did Abigail Adams take that show she was a dedicated patriot?”
• If you chose the topic of John Dickinson, you might ask: “Why is John Dickinson called the ‘penman of the Revolution?’” From that focus question follow more specific questions that help to answer the larger focus question. You might ask: “What did he write before and during the Revolution? Besides writing, what other actions did he take that supported the Revolution?”

Step 5: Clear your focus question with your teacher before you start taking notes.

Step 6: Take notes from your sources. If you use note cards, each note card should contain a topic heading, one important fact or event, and the source where you found the information. You may want to use regular binder paper for notes. If so, put your topic heading, and then list the important facts or events that relate to that topic and the source where you found them. Remember, it is important to track your sources to prepare your bibliography.

Step 7: Once you have enough notes to write a complete paper, submit your notes to your teacher, who will either approve them as written or ask you to correct them or include more.

Step 8: Write your paper. Follow the guidelines provided by your teacher.

Step 9: Write your bibliography. List your sources in alphabetical order based on the authors’ last names.

Step 10: Compile your research paper, including cover page, essay, and bibliography. Turn in to your teacher on time.