A Guide to Writing Resource Papers

How to write an excellent resource paper

So you are writing a resource paper! Great! 

Regardless of the level of education that you are at, you will always have to write resource papers, while you pursue your academic career. But, where do you begin?

Here is a guide to follow when writing resource papers.

Find a unique topic:

Finding an appropriate topic to write a resource paper on, is as important as the actual resource paper that you write. Before you start the research on any topic, make certain you have one approved by your teacher, tutor or professor.

Find out what the requirements are, how long the paper should be and the accepted format. 

Make certain that you know when it is due, so that you submit it on time.

Be certain that the topic that you choose is of interest to you, as you will find it more enjoyable to work on. Look for something that will be of benefit to you, in your academic career.

Start doing basic research to make certain that you have enough information to write the resource paper. Ascertain whether the research information is correct.

Check several sources. Your teacher, tutor or professor may suggest some appropriate titles, books, web sites or other references and provide you with a general outline. Read it carefully.

Prepare a thesis statement:

A thesis statement is going to be your basic argument, point of view or the perspective that you take, when you write your paper. Many times, it is a good idea to discuss this first, because most thesis statements are too broad in scope.

In other words, if you are making a thesis statement, confine it to something that is specific. For example, if you are writing a resource paper on Oriental flowers, stick to one or two, specific flowers, rather than trying to write about all of the Oriental flowers, in the world. You might enjoy comparing two different flowers. 

Prepare a brief outline:

Writing an outline for your resource paper first, is a good idea, although it is not absolutely necessary. The outline will help you to organize your thoughts. It is also something that you may be able to use later as a contents page, inside your cover, so that whoever is marking your paper, knows exactly where you are heading at all times, when he or she is reading it.

Keep your outline simple and put everything down point form. These may become titles later.

Begin with an introduction:

Your introduction should be well focused with respect to what you are attempting to do or want to state in your resource paper. You may begin with your thesis statement or it can be placed somewhere else. Use point form to organize the introduction and then, elaborate on the individual points briefly.

Don't disclose all of your research information immediately, because the reader will not need to go through the rest of your paper, if you do. If anything, use your introduction to entice him or her to read the rest of the paper.

The body of your resource paper:

The next section of your resource paper will be the body of the paper. In this part of your research paper, you need to expand upon the ideas that you developed in your introduction and thesis. You may prefer to outline this in point form first and work with these points, in a logical order. This will constitute the major part of your paper.

Make certain that each paragraph is pertinent to the topic, if possible. Try not to wander into areas that are off topic or those that may take you away from your thesis. Don't argue against your own argument. In other words, support your thesis.

The conclusion of your resource paper:

The third part of your resource paper will be your conclusion. Here, you want to bring all of your thoughts and ideas together, in a logical manner. You will be summarizing your key points, but do so in a way that is not repetitious or re-stating what you previously stated.

End notes and footnotes:

As you are gathering information for your resource paper, it is a good idea to keep a record of the resource material that you plan to include in your paper. Sometimes, depending upon what your topic is, there may be a specific format for both end notes and footnotes. Before actually writing the paper itself, find out the required format.

When you are preparing your end notes and footnotes, document them well, as to source. Using 3x5" recipe cards will help you to stay organized. Remember to number your end notes and footnotes.

Your footnotes will normally be placed at the end of your paper.

Common knowledge versus plagiarism:

We live in a world that has a lot of knowledge available to anyone willing and able to do the research. It can be a fine line between what is considered to be common knowledge and what is referred to as plagiarism.

Make certain that when you are quoting someone else's work, that they receive the appropriate credit for it. If you are claiming the credit for the work that someone else has done, that is plagiarism. Remember that some schools, colleges or universities are strict in this respect.

Grammar and sentence structure:

Use appropriate grammar and sentence structure. Remember that what you consider funny or cute, may not be regarded that way by the person who reads or marks your work. It may cause your paper to be rejected.

Use the spell check on your computer. Organize your information well with respect to paragraphing. 

Emphasize key points where possible. Read and re-read your resource paper and correct any errors. Use headings and lists, if they are allowed. Make certain that your pages are numbered correctly.

Design a cover page:

Many times research papers will be received well, because of a good presentation format, which includes an appropriate, cover page. Create it in such a way that it is attractive and easy to read.

Make certain that you have your name, class and identification number on your resource paper, so that whoever is going to read your paper will be able to identify you as the author or writer of the paper, immediately.

It is also a good idea to put your teacher's, tutor's or professor's name on your paper too, just in case it is lost or misplaced.

Include a dedication:

If it is appropriate and you wish to do so, write a dedication. For example, you might dedicate your resource paper to a great uncle or aunt, teacher or professor, parent or friend who inspired you to pursue your academic career by following in his or her footsteps.

In lieu of this, you may prefer to use a good quotation from am appropriate source. Make certain that you document the source.

Use reliable resource material:

While you might think that your best friend's blog is a reliable resource, your resource paper may be rejected because you were asked to use encyclopedias, legitimate and reliable web sites and specific texts.

Use primary sources rather than someone else's interpretation of the material. Sometimes a dictionary or an encyclopedia is a good place to start on a topic. 

Printing out your resource paper:

Once you have your resource paper ready to be printed out, take a serious look at how you are going to print it out. Make certain that your teacher, tutor or professor is going to be able to read it easily.

If the font size is too small or too large, it may be difficult to read. You may or may not be allowed to print it out in color, so find that out ahead of time. Use a font type that is easy to read, rather than one that you think is funny.

Print your resource paper on good quality paper and make certain that you have clean and clear copies.

Be careful if you are using stapes or paper clips, as resource papers submitted like this, tend to fall apart. 

You may be asked to submit your paper without any staples or paper clips, in a large envelope or in another format that includes some kind of binding. This can be done relatively inexpensively at a printing shop.

Use heavy paper for your cover page or a plastic page over your cover page to prevent wear and tear.

If you are allowed to submit pictures, do so, but make certain that they are appropriate and well printed.

Following these basic guideline should help you to get started on your resource paper project. Good luck and expect to receive an excellent mark!