HOW TO START (AND COMPLETE) A RESEARCH PAPER You are a re-entry
student and it's been fourteen years since you've written a
paper. You coasted through high school on your charm and good
looks and never actually wrote a research paper. You have
written research papers, but every time is like the first time,
and the first time was like a root canal. How do you start? Here
is a step-by-step approach to starting and completing a research
paper. You may read this TIP Sheet from start to finish before
you begin your paper, or skip to the steps that are causing you
the most grief. 1. Choosing a topic: Interest, information, and
focus Your job will be more pleasant, and you will be more apt
to retain information if you choose a topic that holds your
interest. Even if a general topic is assigned ("Write about
impacts of GMO crops on world food supply"), as much as possible
find an approach that suits your interests. Your topic should be
one on which you can find adequate information; you might need
to do some prelimin