Are you spending long hours studying but getting poor results? Good study techniques can boost your effectiveness and save precious time.

The Washington Times suggests striving for consistency. Gabriella Boston's article "Learning how to study" quotes American University's Kathy Schwartz who says that studying consistently and having time to review the material over and over helps achieve a more thorough knowledge that is more likely to stick in the long run. Schwartz calls this process "overlearning."

In Surviving First Year Uni, Lauren Williams and John Germov recommend finding a good time and place to study. Learn whether you're more effective early in the morning or later in the day and if you work more efficiently alone in your room, in the library, or with friends. Also "be realistic about what you will achieve in a day. It's better to get a few hours of quality study in, then leave it and go and do something else rather than waste a whole day being unproductive."

Joe Landsberger's rich Study Guides and Strategies includes these valuable tips for developing habits that will help you succeed in your studies: "recognize that... you need to make decisions about your priorities, your time and your resources." Also, "Consider yourself in a win-win situation." "Look for better solutions to problems." And "Look to continually challenge yourself."

Finally, understand that becoming disillusioned about a course you began with high hopes, says Geoffrey Squires in Managing Your Learning, "may have more to do with the teaching or peer group than yourself. Try to discuss your feelings with one or two others in the group to see if they have the same reactions. You may be able to do something about it as a group, or at least support one another."

Worrying about your research paper assignment? Don't! Q&A! will lead you through the process with a comprehensive four-part series which begins right here with a research paper overview and guidelines for selecting your topic and developing your thesis statement.

First, a definition: A research paper is true academic writing that requires inquiry into the existing literature on your topic as well as your thoughts as compared to the established experts in the field. Your ability to use critical thinking will come into play.

Three common types of research papers are —

Analytical Paper – you investigate and scrutinize the subject of your paper, then present your analysis – from your own standpoint or perspective.
Example: The role of the Catholic Church in Medieval Europe.

Argumentative Paper - you present your particular stand on an issue, and your research serves as evidence to support your position.
Example: High-School drop-out rate among white males is linked to ADHD.

Literary Essay – you research a particular author or work to investigate a theme, setting, character or plot, then use analysis or compare and contrast using research or criticisms by others. 
Example: The Use of Animal Imagery in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

In other words, you'll present your own thoughts — either arguing a point or analyzing a concept or perspective — backed up by your research.

Selecting a topic is the first step in the research paper project, and it's an important one because a good topic helps make your paper more interesting to research and easier to write.

You'll know you have a good topic if you can answer "yes" to these questions:

• Am I interested in this topic?
• Is the topic large or broad enough? Is it specific enough?
• Do I have anything to say about this topic?
• Is the topic appropriate to the style of my paper?
• Do I have access to the types of resources and the time I need to research the topic?

Follow this four-step process to narrow down your topic:

1. Identify a broad subject area in which you're interested
2. Identify more specific aspects within this area
3. Do preliminary research to answer the questions above
4. Adjust your topic ideas as needed based upon your preliminary research, and select the most interesting and appropriate one

Once you've selected your topic, you're ready to develop a thesis statement which defines the main point of your paper and tells what you intend to prove about your topic. Usually one sentence (or several sentences in longer papers), it is typically located at the end of your introductory paragraph where it sets the tone of your paper and prepares the reader for what will follow. Take note: If you can't express your approach to your topic as a thesis statement, you need to reconsider and, perhaps, select another topic.

An analytical thesis statement answers the question of how or why.
Example: An analysis of modern day female artists reveals that they are undervalued and rarely see the same success of their male counterparts for two reasons: the media and the government.

An argumentative thesis statement makes a claim — via an opinion, an evaluation or an interpretation — and justifies the claim with supporting evidence.
Example: There is nothing of quality on television since Friends went off the air.

Inspiration for finding a topic can come from class lectures and readings, reference books, journals and magazines, TV, radio or the Internet.

Questia provides over 6,000 specific research topic ideas, and links each to related materials within the library's vast collection of nearly 2 million books, journals and articles.

For example. within a broad area such as Art and Architecture, you can explore such categories as Art of Specific Countries and Peoples, Artistic Styles and Movements, or Artists, among others. Click on a category or on any of the many listed topics to narrow your subject and review the resources which relate to that subject.

Along with Art and Architecture, other Questia research topic areas include Economics and Business, Literature, and Psychology, and many more.

You've found a wonderful web site which includes tons of information on your topic. To make sure it's legitimate, thorough, unbiased, etc., give it a quick litmus test.

Colorado State University's libraries explain How to Evaluate a Web Site by looking for the following:

Purpose: Why was the page created? To: Inform; Entertain; Share information; Advertise/Sell a product or service (business/marketing); Influence views, beliefs, elections (advocacy); Provide up-to-the-moment news; Personal enjoyment.

Sponsor/Owner: On what type of Internet provider or organization does the page reside? (Provenance.) Government agency; Educational; Business/Company; Association: Professional, Trade, Entertainment; News bureau; Personal (Individual).

Organization and Content: Is the page organized and focused? Is it well designed? Is the text well written? Are the links relevant and appropriate? Are the links evaluated?

Bias--political or issue stance: (of the author or sponsor).

Date of Production/Revision: When was the Web page produced? When was it last revised? How up-to-date are the links? Are the links still viable?

Usefulness: Is the Web page relevant to the current research project?

Authority/author: Who is responsible for the page? Is the author an expert in this field? What else has he/she written or produced? Does the author provide an e-mail address? How accurate is the provided information? Is a bias evident?

What is it? Web-only page, journal article, government source, blog, etc.?

Audience: To what type of reader is the Web page directed?

Coverage: Does the page cover the topic comprehensively, partially or is it an overview?

Illustrations: Are the graphics clear in intent, relevant and professional looking? Do the graphics add to or enhance the content?

Security: Are security and/or encryption systems employed when necessary?