How to Write a Last-Minute Research Paper

By Michael H. on April 5, 2012

photo from flickr.com, uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/photos/twechy/6830923298/

When writing a paper at the last minute, there is one rule that you absolutely must follow: go to the library.

I fully understand that the library can be a scary place at times. There are books everywhere. Those books are full of big words. Some of those words might even require a dictionary. Have no fear; you’ll pull through.

I say this jokingly, but there is no way around going to the library. You don’t have the time to look everything up online and spend the time finding reasonable resources. You’ll just find semi-credible sources half of the time, and they’ll occasionally contradict another source that you’re using. Don’t risk it. Instead, search the library database for books.

Of course, to begin this process you need to have a topic. I’m assuming that you already have a topic chosen. If you don’t, I suggest that you choose the first thing that comes to mind. If the topic fits the guidelines for the paper and is easy enough (you have some prior knowledge, at least) then stick with it. You don’t have time to be picky.

Once you have a topic, the rest is pretty straightforward. Searching the books is easy. Start by skimming the table of contents for words that are related to your topic. Don’t waste too much time digging. If the words aren’t related, you’re just wasting time by reading the whole chapter. There are always other books that will have the same information.

After you have gotten the books and skimmed the text for appropriate quotes, make your arguments. Derive a question that your research paper will answer and state your thesis. The question should probably in-line with the results that you’ve come up with. If the research doesn’t support your thesis, then come up with a new thesis. You would ideally have time to find research that applies to the thesis that you would prefer, but this is a last-minute research paper. To reiterate, there is no time to be picky.

You’re near the end. There are two choices you can make. You can either type the paper as it comes to you or start off with an outline. I usually prefer to create an outline. It doesn’t take very much time, and the paper will flow right on to the page if there’s a plan of attack. Without an outline, writing is “touch-and-go.” Sometimes you’ll be able to write quickly. Other times, it will take a lot time staring at the page for anything to formulate itself.

As long as you keep hacking away at the paper, you’ll have a research paper of any length before you know it. There won’t be too many tears involved. As long as you keep working on it, you’ll be fine. Good luck!

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