Purpose
Focus on a problem or issue, make a logical argument and assert a position. You do not simply want to describe a topic, but critically give thoughts and opinions about it. Clearly state your paper's thesis—the main idea put forth. While drawing on ideas and theories from others in the field who have written about the topic, the purpose should revolve around giving new perspective.
Features
The introduction must alert the reader to the topic. Your thesis should describe an idea, pose a question or outline key issues. In the body of the paper, provide an overview of your key arguments. The conclusion should bring it all together. The goal is not to repeat the introduction. The paper should creatively summarize the thesis and present the reader with a response, or point to gaps in the literature.
Things to Consider
Use Mla format. In order to avoid accusations of plagiarism, you must cite external sources. Finally, always place the works cited or bibliography list for references at the end of the paper.
Misconceptions
Do not write a research paper as a collection of your opinions. For example, a paper about how much you love television is a personal essay rather than a research paper. Instead, after researching the literature on television, you could write a paper on its social impact. A research paper starts with extensive reading, not a casual browsing of literature. If you do not read, you will not know your topic.