Welcome to Lindell Library's Paper Planner! The purpose of this page is to provide you with a planning outline for your research paper.
In the lefthand column, you'll find the calculator. Enter the date that you plan to start the assignment as well as the date you would like to finish it, click "Generate Timeline", and you will see estimated dates for completing your research steps. These dates are an outline that may differ from your personal preferences; for example, you may want to spend more or less time writing a first draft than recommended by the calculator. Use it as a guideline for breaking down your assignment into smaller, more manageable tasks, or giving yourself deadlines to accomplish those tasks, and adjust as necessary.
On the right, you'll see a more detailed description of each of the steps to help guide you through them. You can also check out our Getting Started With Research Guide or any of the topic-specific Subject Guides for research help. At any point in your research, you can reach out to a librarian for help!
This calculator is based on the Assignment Calculator tool from the University of Minnesota.
Calculator
Research Steps
Below, you'll find a description of each step in the assignment calculator. Remember, you may need more or less time than the calculator estimates. You may also find yourself repeating steps. That's okay! Research is not a perfectly linear process. Use these steps to understand what you might need in order to move forward and contact a librarian for questions.
1. Understand the Assignment
Read through your assignment to review exactly what type of research sources you will need. Take some to understand what you will be looking for and what your end result will be before you start searching.
2. Draft a Research Question
Think about what question you want to answer for your assignment. This is also a good time to collect background information and understanding about potential topics. Jot down a few keywords that you might use to help you search for your sources.
3. Find & Evaluate Sources
Use the keywords you found in step 2 to search the library website or subject-specific database for books, articles, or other sources. Evaluate whether the search results help answer your research question.
4. Write an Outline
Start the writing process by creating an outline that will address the main findings of your research and any specific requirements of the assignment. Visit the Outline Guide from Indiana University Bloomington for tips on this step.
5. Write a First Draft
Use your outline to shape your first draft. As you incorporate your research findings, be sure to cite your sources in the appropriate style. Contact the Writing Center for help at any point in the writing process.
6. Edit Final Draft
Read through your first draft and rewrite any sections as needed. Be sure that all citations are in place and that your bibliography is formatted correctly. Check out our Citation Guide for help.