How to Write a Natural Resources Research Paper

Writing a natural resources paper requires organization, extensive research and an educated delivery. The topic of natural resources can be split up into various approaches or handled overall as a lengthy research paper.



During the writing process, you should refer to the proper style book for the assignment (MLA or APA) for any specific issues concerning citation, research and writing.

Things You'll Need

• Library access
• Internet access
• Pen and paper
• Computer
• Style books
• Dictionary or encyclopedia

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Instructions

Outlining and Conducting Research

• 1

  Decide which natural resources you will address in your paper. If you are given a more specific prompt than just "natural resources," address those issues in your paper. If there is no specification, decide whether you want to tackle the entire topic of natural resources (which will be a lengthy and extensive research project). You could split the topic into various approaches such as: renewable resources, non-renewable resources, a comparison of renewable and non-renewable resources, types of natural resources, resources used as energy, resources used as food, resources based on location, current debates on natural resources, natural resources and alternatives, benefits and detriments of using natural resources, the history of natural resources and more.

• 2

  Make an outline of how you will approach natural resources in your paper. Include the information you wish to gather during research. This will help you stay organized as you conduct research. Include questions in your outline that you hope to answer with researched information.

• 3

  Choose reliable sources. Go to your local or school library and search for "natural resources" or whatever specific angle you are taking. If you have access to academic databases, like JStor, take advantage of them because they can provide current, technical and academic approaches to your topic.

  Make sure your resources are reliable by checking the credibility of the author. Ask a librarian, teacher or professor if he or she has any recommendations.

• 4

  Conduct your research. Read through the literature you have decided will be beneficial for your paper. Find vital information by reading, skimming and utilizing the index and table of contents sections. Keep your outline and proposed questions in mind. Have a pen and paper close to you, so that as new questions or topics arise, you can make a note or even add them into your outline.

  Peruse articles and books to find out whether they contain pertinent information. Do not waste your time with literature that will not be useful in your research paper. Utilize the table of contents or index sections of books to expedite the research process.

• 5

  Draft a working thesis and continue to update your outline as you conduct research. For example, you might start out researching with the general topic of "natural resources" in mind. However, you may find that your original topic is too broad for the paper requirements and may change direction. Drafting a working thesis (a summary of your paper in two sentences or less) will help you stay on topic.

Writing the First Draft

• 6

  Start by elaborating your original outline. After you have done some research, add the vital information and key points into your outline. As you insert specific information about natural resources into your outline, you will find that your first draft will come together much more easily. An elaborate outline will also help shorten the length of time that it will take to write your first draft, because you will have an organized layout of information and valid points.

• 7

  Revisit your working thesis, and write another draft. If your working thesis is still appropriate and speaks to gathered research and your elaborated outline, stick with it. Your thesis is vital to readers, because it will prepare them for the information, as well as entice them to continue reading. Your thesis should be featured either at the beginning or end of the first paragraph.

  Continue to revisit your thesis after you complete your first, second and final drafts.

• 8

  Work on a title for your paper. Creative titles usually do not work for research papers, so look at your thesis, main points, best arguments and interesting quotes to find an appropriate title. Consult the MLA style book on how to format title and identification, or consult the APA style book on how to format a title page.

  For example, if you are focusing on non-renewable natural resources, your title could be "Natural Resources and How They Could Be Depleted."

• 9

  Write the introduction. The introduction will prepare your reader for what your paper has to say. Some find it difficult to introduce a paper that has not been written, so feel free to write the introduction after the body, or make sure to revisit the introduction after working on the body of the paper.

  For example, if your paper focuses on renewable energy sources, introduce which sources you will be discussing in your paper (i.e., solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, thermal, ocean, etc.) and why these issues are important. This will prepare and entice your reader to finish reading the paper.

• 10

  Write the body. The body of your paper will specifically address each element of each natural resource that you have chosen. Keep your outline in mind as you organize paragraphs, topics and supporting information. The body is where you will utilize your research materials. Make sure to include proper citations for your work (per MLA or APA) to avoid plagiarism. Make sure to be specific about your topics. For instance, do not just state that oil is a natural resource. Explain how oil is natural, how it is developed for use by humans, why it is important, sources of oil, etc. Be specific and present the information in a clear and concise manner.

  While working on the body, make sure to refer to style books for specific writing issues.

• 11

  Write the conclusion. This section of your paper will bring home all the ideas that you previously discussed. These are the last thoughts your reader will have concerning your natural resources paper. For example, "Energy Supply" by Lisa Yount uses the issue of "impact" as her closing statement. You could use the conclusion to demonstrate the relevance of your natural resources topics.

  Most research paper conclusions effectively present a reiteration of key points. Do not present your conclusion in a repetitive manner, but rather try to pull anecdotes from the body of your paper. It is best not to present wholly new information in your conclusion.

Writing Second and Final Drafts

• 12

  Revisit your thesis and title. Do they match what your first draft has to say? If not, rework the thesis and title to match what you found in your research. For example, if your thesis explains that your paper will discuss non-renewable resources, but you find that your paper touches on wind or solar power, you might want to rework the thesis and title. However, if the majority of your paper does talk about non-renewable resources, and there is only a small amount of information about wind or solar power, it might be best to eliminate the sections on wind and solar power.

  It is important to be consistent throughout your paper and to keep your intended thesis in mind at all times.

• 13

  Evaluate your first draft and your outline. Does the first draft meet your outline? If the draft adds issues or elaborates your original outline, you are off to a good start. If your paper has nothing to do with your outline and has no central point, you should reorganize and rewrite.

  Take the time to evaluate how your research materials have arranged information. For example, "Opposing Viewpoints: Energy Alternatives," edited by Helen Cothran, includes arguments for and against each issue. If someone argues that nuclear power is cheap, the next essay is about how nuclear power is expensive. This series focuses on arguments and counterarguments as a layout. It is consistent throughout in the fact that for every point, there is an opposing point.

• 14

  Continue research, and evaluate your organization. Are there statements made without supporting evidence? If so, revisit your research materials, and add whatever information is missing. Depending on your audience, you should assume that your reader has no previous knowledge of the subject. Put yourself in that position, and ask questions about each point made. Is the information presented supported by research?

  As for organization, make sure that your paragraphs are arranged in an orderly fashion. If you are writing about one specific resource, natural gas, for example, make sure that your points follow some order, whether it is chronological or by order of importance. If you do not have organization in your paper, your reader may be confused and lost in a mass of unorganized information.

• 15

  Edit for content, sentence structure, spelling, grammar and citations. It is best to consult the proper style book for these issues.

  You could also ask a friend or colleague to copy edit your paper for you. This will also help you edit your content and value the effectiveness of the presentation of information.

• 16

  Create a works cited or a bibliography page. Just as for your title/title page, it is best to consult the proper style book (MLA or APA) for citing references. This section of your paper is critical, because it will validate your research, add credibility and allow readers to seek additional information if desired.