If you've been asked to write a research paper, you may be unsure about what, exactly, it is that you're supposed to do. What is a research paper?
When you write a research paper, you're attempting to answer some question related to the topic you've chosen. Your answer needs to be informed by the scholarly conversation about that topic: What have other researchers and scholars learned about this topic? Your job is to learn what experts are saying, and use what you learn to inform your own answer.