Presenting Findings: Paper/Essay

There are several steps typically involved when writing a paper:

Finalizing Your Thesis and Creating an Outline

  • Your thesis statement should clearly address the guiding question for your research and communicate the meaning you are adding.
  • You should have been developing and refining your thesis all  throughout the information gathering phase of researching. 
  • Finalizing your thesis statement requires you analyzing gathered information and should be one of the last things you do before beginning the actual writing of your paper.
  • Once you have your thesis statement, you are set to create an outline based on your thesis.

Revising Your First Draft

Read the first draft at least 3 times, taking a break between each reading:
1st Reading:
  • Read to correct basic errors such as spelling (spell check is not perfect), punctuation (too little or too much), and capitalization.

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2nd Reading:
  • Read your paper aloud to "hear" how your paper sounds.
  • This is a good way to improve your grammar and style.
  • Hear how smoothly your paper flows and make improvements such as adding transitions and replacing overused words.
3rd Reading:
  • Read for content, organization, clarity, and references, comparing what you have written with your outline.
  • Does the order of topics make sense?
  • Are there any areas that lack development or insufficient evidence?
  • Have you provided proper attribution for quoted and paraphrased material?

Prepare the Final Draft for Submission