How to Write a Quality Research Paper Efficiently
By: Matthew Harper
Every student’s heart skips a beat when he or she realizes an assignment is due much sooner than expected. You need to write quickly, but you are not sure where to even begin. How do you write a quality research paper when you are crunched for time?
Writing a research paper should ideally be a slow, meticulous process of library and internet research, compiling sources, synthesizing research, and finally writing a stunning first draft that ( after being reviewed by the Writing Center) turns into a stellar final draft. Quality takes time. Beginning a research paper at the beginning of the semester, and spending a few weeks researching, is preferable to starting it a week before it’s due.
But if you’re an overwhelmed college freshman, a seminary student with two jobs, or a stay-at-home mom in SWI, you likely don’t have weeks to spend on a paper. You need to write efficiently as well as excellently, and research papers by their nature are not conducive to either. So, how do you write a research paper when you are crunched for time? Before that topic is examined a caveat is needed: only use this method in the direst of circumstances. As stated earlier, quality takes time, and you should only try to write a research paper in a short amount of time if you have no other option. Do not use it as an excuse for procrastination. Instead, if you follow these steps and set aside deep writing time, streamline your research and editing, and do it all for the glory of God, you will be able to write a quality paper in a short amount of time.
First and foremost: pray.
Ask the Lord to give you focus, dedication, and clarity as you write. Dedicate your entire writing process to Him, and work as working unto Him, and not for any other. Do not overlook this initial step. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” – Psalm 127:1.
Purpose in your heart that you will remain focused throughout the duration of your paper, as much as you are able.
Distraction is the harbinger of poor grades. Instead of sitting down to write with social media readily available and your phone next to you, keep your phone in your pocket (so you can answer emergency calls), log out of your social media, and switch your device to focus mode if it has that option.
Determine how much time you will need for each aspect of the writing process.
Block out as much time as you can for research, drafting, editing, and polishing. Pull out your calendar, find a block of time you can devote to writing, and set it in stone. The exact timeframes for each aspect will vary depending on your assignment, time constraints, writing habits, etc., but make sure to have a good plan in place before you begin writing.
Evaluate/synthesize your research, and construct a detailed outline.
Make sure to have a clear understanding of the topic and your paper’s direction before you begin to write. You will need to devote more time to research than you might think is necessary, but in the end, it will be worth it. A good research paper has a focused topic and thesis, and you must know your material if you wish to efficiently write. Even if you do not have much time to complete the assignment, you must prioritize deep thought and research on the topic. This will allow you to write efficiently when you begin the drafting process. Additionally, only focus on sources you know will assist in writing your paper. Research can be a time trap that eats up valuable writing time, and it is better to have ten resources that contribute to your paper than thirty sources that do not.
Edit as you write, stick to your outline, and review your work paragraph by paragraph.
Most writing instructors encourage students to get their thoughts down on paper and go back and edit when they have finished. When you have the time, this is certainly ideal! However, when your deadline is looming, edit your work as you write and look back over each paragraph when you’ve finished, making sure it flows well, is free from spelling errors, and adheres to your outline. This might seem more tedious, but it saves time at the end of the paper because you will only need to do general proofreading and not in-depth editing.
Download software like Zotero and be familiar with it so you can efficiently cite sources and create a bibliography.
Resources like Zotero not only help you effectively condense your citations, but they also aid in efficiently creating citations and bibliographies. You can download the Zotero software from their website, and if you need help learning how to use it, you can either book a Zoom appointment with a Writing Center staff member, or you can visit this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll_A_21yHMk
Finally, find someone who can proofread your paper and make adjustments as necessary.
Ideally, the best person to look over your paper is one of our Writing Center staff! A great resource from the Writing Center is being able to set an appointment with one of our Writing Center staff members, who will be able to go over your paper with you on Zoom and give you real-time critique and feedback. If your schedule does not allow you to book an appointment, then find someone (your spouse, roommate, close friend) who would be willing to evaluate your paper. This step is important because even the most efficient writing cannot substitute for a second opinion.
Efficiently writing a research paper is difficult, but it is not impossible. Staying focused, editing as you write, and using good writing habits will streamline the process and make your research paper better than it would have been otherwise. In everything, make sure to glorify the Lord and do your best, even if you do not have much time. Your paper will surely benefit, but most importantly your walk with the Lord will benefit if you adhere to these principles.