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What are the Best Sources of Research Paper Help?

M.C. Huguelet
M.C. Huguelet

Crafting a good research paper requires the construction of a solid thesis statement and supporting arguments, the mental juggling of large amounts of source material, and the precise formatting of every page written. This can seem like a daunting project, but luckily research paper help is easier to get than most students might think. Students should begin seeking research paper help by using the resources within their own school. They may be able to schedule a consultation with their teacher or might have access to a school writing center. As the writing process gets under way, the student should consult a research paper writing manual for tips on formatting, and at last should ask a friend or family member to proofread the finished paper to double-check for spelling and grammatical errors.

Often, the best sources of research paper help are found within the student’s school or university. In many cases, the instructor who assigned the paper will be happy to offer a certain amount of guidance to individual students. She may, for instance, assess a student’s thesis statement or evaluate an outline of the student’s proposed arguments. The best way to obtain such advice is to simply approach the instructor in advance of the paper’s due date and ask if she would be willing to offer a brief consultation session.

Woman standing behind a stack of books
Woman standing behind a stack of books

Many schools and universities have an on-campus writing center. Usually staffed by teachers, graduate students, or other individuals with significant expertise in paper writing, these centers can be an excellent source of research paper help. Normally, students can consult with a staff member about any stage of the writing process, from coming up with an initial argument to organizing the bibliography. While some centers operate on a walk-in basis, others require an appointment, so it is important to be aware of the policies of one’s own center in advance.

Another good source of research paper help is a research paper writing manual. Depending on the subject, a student will likely be required to format his paper according to a particular style. Usually, the American Psychological Association (APA) style is used for papers in the sciences, while the Modern Language Association (MLA) style is used for papers that deal with the arts. There is a reasonably affordable, straightforward manual available for each of these styles. Students can consult the manual for advice on everything from brainstorming paper ideas to properly punctuating a bibliography entry.

Finally, friends and family can be a great source of last-minute research paper help. Every student should allow someone he trusts to read over his paper prior to submission. It does not matter if this reader has no knowledge of the paper’s subject area, because her job is to look for grammatical errors and spelling mix-ups — there instead of their, for instance — that the student’s word processor may have missed.

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      Woman standing behind a stack of books