Research papers terrify students. Break them into steps and they're completely manageable.
Step 1: Topic (1 day)
Choose something specific enough to cover in your page limit. 'Climate change' = too broad. 'Impact of urban green roofs on summer temperatures in Chicago' = researchable.
Step 2: Research (3-5 days)
Start with Google Scholar. Read abstracts to filter. Read 10-15 papers fully. Use our AI tutor to understand complex papers and summarize key findings.
Step 3: Outline (1 day)
Introduction (context + thesis). Literature review. Methodology. Results. Discussion. Conclusion. Use our essay structure generator for a starting framework.
Step 4: Draft (2-3 days)
Write messy. Don't edit while writing. Fill each outline section with evidence and analysis.
Step 5: Cite (ongoing)
Cite as you write, not after. Use our bibliography generator for properly formatted citations in APA, MLA, or Chicago.