Originally posted on March 7, 2022 @ 8:54 pm
A good research paper is a piece of academic writing that contains in-depth independent research analysis, interpretation, and argument. Research papers are comparable to academic essays, but they are usually longer and more extensive assignments that are used to evaluate your writing abilities and your scholarly research abilities.
A research paper needs you to exhibit a thorough understanding of your subject, engage with several sources, and contribute something unique to the discussion.
This step-by-step tutorial will walk you through the whole writing process, from understanding your assignment to editing your final document.
Completing a good research paper entails completing the specific responsibilities assigned to you.
Before you begin, double-check that you fully comprehend the assignment task sheet: Read everything thoroughly, looking for any ambiguities you may need to clarify with your lecturer. Determine the assignment’s aim, deadline, length requirements, formatting, and mode of submission. Make a bulleted list of the most important elements, then go back and cross them off as you write. Consider your deadline and word count carefully: be realistic and provide adequate time to research, write, and edit.
There are various ways to develop a research paper topic, from brainstorming with a pen and paper to discussing it with a classmate or lecturer. You can try freewriting, which entails deciding on a broad topic and constantly writing for two or three minutes to find anything pertinent that might be fascinating. Start with some exploratory research.
Make a mental note of any debates that seem relevant to the topic, and try to narrow down a problem to which you can devote your paper. To guarantee you don’t miss anything important, consult various sources, including journals, books, and reputable websites. Not only should you double-check your ideas, but you should also hunt for sources that contradict them. Is there anything in your sources that people seem to overlook? Are there any contentious issues that you can address? Do you have a unique perspective on your subject? Is there any new research that builds on what’s already been done? You might find it helpful to establish some research questions at this point to assist guide you.
A thesis statement determines the goal and position of your article by stating your key point. The thesis statement should answer the research question if you started with one. It should also state what facts and logic you’ll use to back up your claim. The thesis statement should be brief, controversial, and well-organized. That is, it should summarize your thesis in a phrase or two, make a claim that requires additional proof or analysis, and make a logical point that connects all sections of the work. The thesis statement will most likely be revised and refined as you conduct more research, but it can act as a guide throughout the writing process.
A research paper outline is essentially a list of the main themes, arguments, and evidence you want to include, separated into parts with headings so you can get a general idea of how the paper will look before you begin writing. It’s worth devoting some time to creating a structured plan because it can make the writing process much more efficient.
It’s okay if your initial draft isn’t flawless; you can improve it later. At this point, your top priorities are as follows: We are keeping the momentum going – right now, perfect later. Paying close attention to proper arrangement and logical grouping of paragraphs and sentences will aid in the second draft. Use as few words as possible to express your ideas to remember what you were attempting to communicate when you returned to the text. You do not have to begin with the introduction. Start where it feels most natural for you – some people prefer to finish the toughest sections first, while others prefer to start with the easiest.
Three questions should be addressed in the research paper introduction: what, why, and how. After reading the introduction, the leader should have a good idea of what the paper is about, why it’s worth reading, and how you’ll support your claims.
What? Be explicit about the paper’s topic, provide background information, and describe important terminology or concepts. Why? This is the most vital portion of the introduction, but it’s also the most challenging. Answer the following questions as briefly as possible: What new information or perspectives do you have to offer? What crucial concerns does your essay contribute to the definition or resolution of? How? The opening should offer a “map” of what will be discussed so that the reader knows what to expect from the rest of the work.
Most authors grapple with organizing the information offered in their papers, which is why an outline is so helpful. However, keep in mind that the outline is merely a guide, and you can be creative with the sequence in which you present material and arguments when writing. Using your thesis statement and topic phrases as a guide can help you stay on track. Check: Topic sentences are compared to the thesis statement; topic sentences are compared for similarity and logical sequence, and each sentence is compared to the paragraph’s topic sentence. Keep an eye out for paragraphs that appear to cover the same topics. If two paragraphs cover the same topic, they must take various approaches. The purpose of the research paper conclusion is to assist the reader with exiting the document’s argument by providing a sense of closure. Follow the flow of the article, focusing on how it all fits together to prove your point. Ensure the reader understands how you resolved the concerns stated in the opening to give the article a sense of completion. You may also talk about the argument’s broader implications, highlight what the article offers future students of the subject, and identify any problems the paper’s argument raises but doesn’t try to answer.