Reviewing the literature
Most research papers will incorporate a literature review into the Introduction section.
Goal: to review what other researchers have reported about your topic and put it in context
Is there strong consensus? Or is there ongoing debate?
To get started, check out this Duke Library Guide on literature review
Organizing your research
Outlining
Not everyone loves creating a detailed outline. At the very least, identify and list your main sub-topics and put them in order to achieve a logical flow of ideas. This order might change as you write, because writing is thinking!
Start broad. Explain the overarching idea first to provide context for readers. Then narrow your topics.
Synthesizing your ideas and the existing literature
Think of your paper as a conversation between your sources and you. For each of your main sub-topics, do you have two or more relevant sources that agree on that topic to say about it and how they agree, disagree, build on
Create a synthesis matrix to keep track of your evidence (i.e., quotes or paraphrased) from different sources for different sub-topics. Here’s a link to a matrix template in Google Sheets. Copy it and make your own synthesis matrix. Note the two options for orienting your matrix with sources across the top row or down the left-hand column.
For more info, check out this 2-minute tutorial from Andrew Davis [short video]
Drafting
- Consider starting with your Methods and Results sections first
- Use sub-headings or bullet points of main ideas to get started — don’t get bogged down in writing the perfect opening sentence
- Employ the MEAL Plan for paragraph organization (see Duke TWP’s guide to MEAL plan)
- This ensures you are communicating your ideas clearly to the reader and that each paragraph contributes to the overall thesis
- Cite all your sources. Reference management software such as Zotero can help you keep track of sources and cite as you write. See the Citations tab for more guidance.
Once you’re in the revising stage, try creating a reverse outline to make sure your ideas are organized and the paper is well-structured. You may also find the roadmap metaphor helpful during this stage. See more information on the Revising tab.
For other ideas, check out the UNC Writing Center’s Handout on Research Reports.
