Final answer:
The first step of writing a research paper is to gain a thorough understanding of the material by reviewing and reflecting on the text or concept, followed by creating an outline and then conducting comprehensive research.
Step-by-step explanation:
Writing a research paper involves several preliminary steps that set the foundation for a thorough and structured academic piece. The first step is to become intimately familiar with the text or concept you're planning to write about, which involves developing a solid understanding and spending time contemplating the material. This insight provides the groundwork for formulating a research question or thesis statement, around which the entire paper will revolve.
Following this, you should begin outlining your paper's main ideas to devise a plan that will guide your writing process. Outlining helps in organizing your thoughts and identifying how different ideas will connect. At this stage, feel free to play with the structure and order of your points to achieve a logical flow.
The next step is to engage in pre-research reflections. Write down your initial impressions and conduct a basic search using popular resources to gather background information. Once you have a clearer understanding of your subject and have outlined your ideas, it's time to conduct comprehensive research. This involves exploring scholarly articles, analyzing existing data, and reviewing relevant literature to gather evidence and insights that will support your analysis.
It is important to remember that revising your outline and approach as you learn more about the topic is a part of the process. A flexible outline allows you to refine your focus and ensure coherence throughout your paper.