To refine your topic and prepare your thesis statement, find out what research is available for your topic as soon as possible. Early research can help dispel any misconceptions you have about the topic and reveal the best paths and approaches to find more material. Typically, you can find sources either online or in a library. Some search engines—mentioned below in the Tools and resources section—allow you to browse only accredited sources and academic databases. Keep in mind the difference between primary and secondary sources as you search. Primary sources are firsthand accounts, like published articles or autobiographies; secondary sources are more removed, like critical reviews or secondhand biographies. If a source seems useful, set it aside to give it a full read later.

Using what you found in your preliminary research, write a thesis statement that succinctly summarizes what your research paper will be about. A thesis statement is the best answer for how to start a research paper. Aside from preparing your reader, the thesis statement also makes it easier for other researchers to assess whether or not your paper is useful to them for their own research. Likewise, you should read the thesis statements of other research papers to decide how useful they are to you. A good thesis statement mentions all the important parts of the discussion without disclosing too many of the details. Normally, you find your supporting evidence by reading each source and taking notes. Aside from highlighting text and writing notes, another common tactic is to use bibliography cards.

These are simple index cards with a fact or direct quotation on one side and the bibliographical information source citation, page numbers, subtopic category on the other. A lot of students want to know how to write a research paper outline. More than informal essays, research papers require a methodical and systematic structure to make sure all issues are addressed, and that makes outlines especially important. First make a list of all the important categories and subtopics you need to cover—an outline for your outline! Consider all the information you gathered when compiling your supporting evidence and ask yourself what the best way to separate and categorize everything is. Once you have a list of what you want to talk about, consider the best order to present the information.

Which subtopics are related and should go next to each other? If your information is fairly straightforward, feel free to take a chronological approach and present the information in the order it happened. Because research papers can get complicated, consider breaking your outline into paragraphs. For starters, this helps you stay organized if you have a lot of information to cover. Moreover, it gives you greater control over the flow and direction of the research paper. Open with your thesis statement and then fill out the rest of your introduction with the secondary information—save the details for the body of your research paper, which comes next.

The body contains the bulk of your research paper. Unlike essays , research papers usually divide the body into sections with separate headers to facilitate browsing and scanning. Use the divisions in your outline as a guide. Follow along your outline and go paragraph by paragraph. One of the most common problems with writing long works like research papers is connecting paragraphs to each other. In short: so what? Too many long quotations — avoid citing passages more than 3 lines long. Use longer quotes only if they are absolutely necessary evidence to support your argument. If you cite a passage more than 3 lines long, you should use a block quotation—indented and single-spaced. If you use a block quote, be sure to explain it and really engage its significance.

Be sure to avoid more than one block quote per page. Gender-exclusive language e. Use of jargon: avoid it as much as possible, make clear what you mean by a technical term. Never make this mistake. the construction industry is an industry known for fowl mouth communications. Continue to Formatting Essays Properly. Disclaimer: Unofficial Academic Information For official academic information such as degree requirements, course descriptions, prerequisites, and schedules, please refer to the Office of the Registrar website. Skip to main content. How to write an effective paper What are the expectations of structure and content for a good essay at the graduate level? Topics 1. The importance of reading 2. What is my purpose in writing this essay?

Writing effectively 4. Using the "first person" 5. Structure 6. Introduction 7. Body 8. How to Make Simple But Effective Paper Art Projects. Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Author Info Last Updated: August 17, References. Method 1. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U. and international copyright laws. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. Determine the medium you will use. Whether you use crayons, pencils, or paint, there are several factors you want to consider when selecting the paper. Use printer paper for practicing with dry mediums.

Printer paper is readily available in most households, and can be used for crayon and pencil drawing. Use drawing paper for more advanced work with dry mediums. Drawing paper is a durable paper that has a textured surface tooth for various techniques of color application. Use watercolor for most wet mediums. Watercolor paper comes in a variety of textures and thicknesses. There are two main grades of watercolor paper. Student's grade is less expensive than artist's grade, but will eventually become yellowed and brittle. It is suitable for practice and beginners' projects. Watercolor paper can be used for acrylics, but the heavier weight papers should be use to prevent the colors from bleeding through.

Method 2. Become familiar with the basics of crayons. Using crayons may seem to be straightforward, but by knowing a few basic techniques you can change the appearance of your picture. Apply different pressures to produce different color values. Applying light pressure creates a light value, while increasing pressure with the crayon produces darker values. You can use one crayon to produce several colors. Apply layers of different colored crayons to create new colors. Make a picture using the crayon resist technique. Use high-quality wax crayons to create a picture, as these will provide more resistance to the paint. It is also recommended to use paper created for watercolor for the best results.

Draw a picture using brightly colored crayons. Use whatever inspiration you need. By varying the pressure of your coloring, you can make different effects when you apply the paint. Paint over your picture with dark watercolor paint. A brightly colored picture with a dark background makes for a striking contrast. Make a picture with crayon etching. For best results use a sturdy paper like poster board. Cover the paper with different colors and shapes. Using bright colors is recommended. Cover the paper with its bright colors with a black crayon. Make sure there is a thick layer of black crayon over the paper.

You can also use poster paint or India ink to cover the colors. Scratch out a design on the paper using a popsicle stick, paper clip, or similar implement. Make a stained glass effect with melted crayons. Use a cheese grater or crayon sharpener often included with a box of crayons to make crayon shavings. You can save money by using old or broken crayons. Cut two large pieces of waxed paper. Sprinkle the crayon shavings onto the waxed paper. You can create a pattern or sprinkle the shavings in random shapes. Cover the waxed paper and shavings with the second piece of waxed paper to create a paper "sandwich". Set the paper sandwich on a piece of newsprint or paper towel on a stable surface. An ironing board works well. Run an iron on a low setting over the waxed paper sandwich until the crayon shavings are melted.

Let the paper sandwich cool for a few minutes before handling. Display the stained glass artwork where the light can shine through it. A window works well. Method 3. Gather some colored pencils. Often considered a children's medium, colored pencils can be used to create some amazing special effects. Select a brand to suit your project. Apart from pencils for specialized use, colored pencils come in two varieties, wax-based and oil-based.

Last Updated: August 17, References. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 2, times. Have you ever wanted to do something creative, but didn't how to start? Or thought it was too expensive to start a project? You need to look no further. This wikiHow offers some easy, inexpensive ideas to get your artistic juices flowing! Random Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. How to Make Simple But Effective Paper Art Projects.

Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Author Info Last Updated: August 17, References. Method 1. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U. and international copyright laws. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. Determine the medium you will use. Whether you use crayons, pencils, or paint, there are several factors you want to consider when selecting the paper. Use printer paper for practicing with dry mediums. Printer paper is readily available in most households, and can be used for crayon and pencil drawing. Use drawing paper for more advanced work with dry mediums.

Drawing paper is a durable paper that has a textured surface tooth for various techniques of color application. Use watercolor for most wet mediums. Watercolor paper comes in a variety of textures and thicknesses. There are two main grades of watercolor paper. Student's grade is less expensive than artist's grade, but will eventually become yellowed and brittle. It is suitable for practice and beginners' projects. Watercolor paper can be used for acrylics, but the heavier weight papers should be use to prevent the colors from bleeding through. Method 2. Become familiar with the basics of crayons.

Using crayons may seem to be straightforward, but by knowing a few basic techniques you can change the appearance of your picture. Apply different pressures to produce different color values. Applying light pressure creates a light value, while increasing pressure with the crayon produces darker values. You can use one crayon to produce several colors. Apply layers of different colored crayons to create new colors. Make a picture using the crayon resist technique. Use high-quality wax crayons to create a picture, as these will provide more resistance to the paint.

It is also recommended to use paper created for watercolor for the best results. Draw a picture using brightly colored crayons. Use whatever inspiration you need. By varying the pressure of your coloring, you can make different effects when you apply the paint. Paint over your picture with dark watercolor paint. A brightly colored picture with a dark background makes for a striking contrast. Make a picture with crayon etching. For best results use a sturdy paper like poster board. Cover the paper with different colors and shapes. Using bright colors is recommended. Cover the paper with its bright colors with a black crayon.

Make sure there is a thick layer of black crayon over the paper. You can also use poster paint or India ink to cover the colors. Scratch out a design on the paper using a popsicle stick, paper clip, or similar implement. Make a stained glass effect with melted crayons. Use a cheese grater or crayon sharpener often included with a box of crayons to make crayon shavings. You can save money by using old or broken crayons. Cut two large pieces of waxed paper. Sprinkle the crayon shavings onto the waxed paper. You can create a pattern or sprinkle the shavings in random shapes. Cover the waxed paper and shavings with the second piece of waxed paper to create a paper "sandwich". Set the paper sandwich on a piece of newsprint or paper towel on a stable surface. An ironing board works well.

Run an iron on a low setting over the waxed paper sandwich until the crayon shavings are melted. Let the paper sandwich cool for a few minutes before handling. Display the stained glass artwork where the light can shine through it. A window works well. Method 3. Gather some colored pencils. Often considered a children's medium, colored pencils can be used to create some amazing special effects. Select a brand to suit your project. Apart from pencils for specialized use, colored pencils come in two varieties, wax-based and oil-based.

The different textures require different techniques for blending colors. Layer your colors. There are three basic techniques for blending colors: layering, blending, and burnishing. To layer colors, select a paper with some tooth so you can use a light to medium pressure to add as much color as you need. Apply your base color to the paper. Add secondary color using light to medium pressure. Use complementary colors to create shadowy areas. Blending complementary colors into an object creates a more realistic shadow than using a black pencil. Blend your colors. After you have layered on your colors, you can mix them together by blending.

There are two basic methods for blending. Dry blending. After layering your colors, rub the area you want to blend with a paper towel or tissue until you reach the desired amount of blending. Solvent blending. Dip a brush in household rubbing alcohol or mineral spirits and lightly go over the area you want to blend. Be careful not to "scrub" with the solvent as this can damage the colors or tear the paper. Try burnishing your drawing. Burnishing is a technique where you apply layers of colors to the paper using heavy pressure, "grinding" the colors into the paper, resulting in rich and vibrant color. Start by applying your base colors. Apply several layers using a light to medium pressure. You can apply dark or lighter colors in any order depending on the effect you want to achieve.

Apply your burnishing pencil.

For the best results, use a paper with some texture, or tooth, that the pigment can adhere to. You can use pastels on their own, or combine them with different mediums like watercolor. The body contains the bulk of your research paper. White, The Elements of Style New York: Macmillan, Typically, academic research papers follow one of two formatting styles for citing sources:. Before the final submission: Make sure to skim through the content well. Try burnishing your drawing.

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