Research Paper Timeline/Checklist
For
Nursing and Allied Health
Begin with your course syllabus. Estimate the time you can spend each week on this paper. Plan for library research time, interlibrary loan and document delivery of research articles, and time for writing and revising. Work backward to be sure your paper is ready on time.
Average Timeline
________Date paper is due
________2 weeks for editing/proofing
________2-3 weeks for writing
________2-3 weeks for ILL and document delivery
________2 weeks for library/Internet research
________2 weeks for topic selection/approval
________Date you should start your paper
Planning your timeline and systematically researching your topic will give you a head start with your paper. Not all papers require extensive research, so select a research strategy that makes sense for each assignment. Use the checklist ahead of time to identify what research tools you want to use, and use it as you work along to make sure you don’t forget something important.
Research Checklist
________1. Topic identification/background (medical or nursing dictionary or encyclopedia, textbook, etc.)
________2. Journal articles (use journal indexes such as CINAHL, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Health Source/Nursing Edition, PsycINFO)
________3. Book resources (search Feinberg Library's online catalog and booksellers like Amazon)
________4. Internet resources (use an internet search engine or links identified in this guide)
________5. Local resources (hospital libraries, health agencies, social service agencies, local chapters of American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, caregiver support groups, Red Cross…)
