When you write a good research paper, you already know what it will require the most of – research. A good research paper relies on research, this rarely means you are going to have a successful research paper using a single source, or even a couple of sources. Prepare to use no less than three sources – contemporary sources that demonstrate up-to-date information on your topic. A simple research paper may include your textbook, a reading assigned during class, and a single peer-reviewed article you obtain through a school database.

Gathering research is a little more difficult than the days of finding the elusive library assistant. Online databases contain many different types of article and research that will enable you to do a good research paper, but can be difficult to get through. Start with two important notes – Wikipedia is not an Encyclopedia and your school’s online library is not Google. (more…)