How to write an academic report

What is the technique of research paper, term paper, essay, thesis or dissertation writing? It isn't so awesome when there are strategies to follow. From the note card to the bibliography, step-by-step directions organize thoughts into a written product.

Research paper, term paper, essay, thesis, dissertation, investigative theme - they all mean one thing and that is the preparation of a paper that must use sources to document given facts. Questions usually abound: Where should one start? How aare resources organized? How are notes taken? What is a bibliography?

Writing a paper can be overwhelming. Breaking it down into steps helps.

1) Choose a topic
Finding a topic of interest is a good start because searching for information is more fun if the person is intrigued by the subject matter.

2) Finding material
Before a paper can be written, material on a subject must be gathered. Public and Internet libraries offer excellent resources. Books that might not be on the local library's shelf can be requested from another library by "inter-library loan."

3) Taking notes
As possible resources are scanned, those with information that will be useful in essay writing should be set aside. Other sources that are not applicable may be returned. Note-taking can begin with the most valuable source - the book, magazine or Internet article that is most comprehensive - and then progress through all the sources that have been collected.

4) Grouping ideas

When enough information has been gathered to adequately address the topic, note cards should then be grouped by major points. Organization by grouping leads easily into the making of an outline.

5) Making an outline

The first outline is preliminary. It can change as the paper develops, but it is crucial in that it offers a place to begin, an organization of the writer's research and thoughts, and a place for all of this to culminate in an ending.

6) Writing the paper

A research paper should be written in third person. That means it is not presented from the standpoint of "I' telling the story or as a means of direction, using the word "you." Third person writing tells a story or presents information from the standpoint of a narrator. The writing of the paper is facilitated by using the outline for organization and the note cards for the recollection of facts.

7) Proofing for errors

The best way to proofread any thesis writing is to read it aloud. Introducing another of the five senses activates other parts of the brain to make the writer more focused. Spelling must be checked, as well as grammar and punctuation usage. Revisions should be made to the first draft before final typing.

8) Typing the paper

Research paper should be double-spaced and typed using a font that is easily read such as Times New Roman or Arial. Writing should only be on one side of each sheet of paper.

9) Preparing the Bibliography

The purpose of the bibliography is to list each source from which information was obtained in the preparation of the research paper. Entries should be alphabetized by authors, and where there is no author, by title. Names of books and magazines may be underlined or typed in italics.