Finalize formatting -- a title naming the paper's angle, consistent section headers, page numbers, and the Works Cited page -- and complete a full final proofread.
A submission-ready research paper needs a title that names the actual angle, not just the broad topic, plus consistent header and section formatting, page numbers, and the Works Cited page as the final page. Formatting consistency signals to a reader that the paper was cared for from start to finish.
Because this is the last major piece of this unit, the final proofread is comprehensive: read the ENTIRE paper aloud, start to finish, checking that section headers still match the plan, in-text citations are consistently formatted, and no placeholder notes to self remain anywhere in the text.
Mastery looks like: They finalize a research paper with a title naming its specific angle, consistent formatting throughout, and a clean, complete proofread.
Common stumbles: Leaving a title that only names the broad topic, or skipping a full start-to-finish read-aloud before calling the paper finished.