Research paper writing is difficult, especially when you’re in college, but with the right tools and strategies you can write great papers in no time at all! In order to be the best research paper writer in college, it helps to have these eight skills and strategies down pat.


1) Choose an Interesting Topic

Choose an interesting topic and make sure you research it thoroughly. Once you have found an idea, do not use Wikipedia or other unreliable sources as your only source of information. You need to find reliable sources so that your paper is not just opinions. The best way to find these sources is by doing some research about the subject. Find out what books are being written about the subject and check them out at the library. Read reviews online and choose the most credible ones.


2) Understand Your Audience

Understand the desired length of your research paper before you start. In some classes, papers are supposed to be 5-10 pages, while others require 20-30 pages. Write down how many words per page you'll need for each and try to stay as close as possible. You may also want to print out a paper that is the desired length and use it as an outline for your work.


3) Do Your Research

Do your research. You may have an idea of what you want to write about, but that’s not good enough. Spend some time finding out about the subject and create an outline for yourself. How are you going to cover this subject? What is the thesis of the paper going to be? Make sure that you know everything before you start writing it down. The clearer your thought process is before you even put pen to paper, the better off you will be.


4) Write an Outline

Write an outline for your paper. You can write it on paper, or on your computer. It's important to have a plan before you start writing because it will help you stay organized and focused on the project as you go along. This way, when you get stuck on what to write next, you'll know where to find more information in order to keep going with your essay. And if you do end up running out of ideas while writing the essay? No worries!


5) Divide Up Workload Amongst Team Members

Divide the workload up among the team members. One person can work on the intro, while another person can work on the conclusion. Write out an outline and assign sections of it to different people so that everyone has some ownership of the essay. It will also make the writing process go much more smoothly if someone needs help with their assigned area.


6) Commit to a Schedule

Commit to your schedule and stick with it. As you write more and more, you will get better at organizing your thoughts into a cohesive paper. When writing research papers in college, plan ahead by creating an outline of the information that you need to write about. If you have too many distractions or don’t know what direction you want your paper to go in, try brainstorming ideas or starting with an easy topic before moving on to one that is more difficult.


7) Use Style Guides

Use style guides. Every major has their own standards for how papers should be written, and the last thing you want is to be penalized for following your college's guidelines. It can be frustrating, but it's worth it. This isn't just about following the rules, though. You'll also find that some styles are easier to read than others (MLA tends to be more complicated than APA). Find out which one your professor prefers and then make sure you're using it!


8) Share and Review Progress Regularly

Share and review progress regularly. Take time each week to look back at what you’ve accomplished and see where there are gaps. Consider how the process is going, whether or not you need help, if you’re on the right track, and what could be done better. Sharing your research with other students also makes you accountable. One of the best ways to do research papers in college is by finding a buddy for accountability.