Are you facing the need to write a research paper? If you are, chances are good that you are doing so with considerable apprehension. And it doesn’t matter whether you are new to the task or an old hand, writing a research paper can be a monumental task. Fortunately, by organizing yourself along the following guidelines you will find the task much easier than you had ever anticipated.
Getting Started
The first thing you should do to get started on your research paper is to make sure you understand your purpose in doing so. A research paper is your opinion on a topic, which you have informed by your research. It is not a summary of other’s ideas, an essay, a review, or a critique. A research paper is a project that teaches you critical thinking skills and helps you to focus on your path to successful completion.
After you understand what your mission is in writing a research paper, you should have your deadline date fixed securely in your mind, otherwise you’ll be forced to use research paper writing services. You should also decide how long it will take you to accomplish the various tasks in creating your paper, then assign deadlines along the course of finishing these steps. This will keep you on schedule to getting your paper completed on time.
What Are You Doing?
Early in this process, you should make sure you have a clear handle on what the instructor wants you to present to them. Are they looking for an analytical paper or an argumentative paper? The difference in these two is that the first is to scrutinize the subject, while the second is to present a stand on an issue and persuade the reader to a particular point of view.
Selecting a Topic
Selecting a topic for your research paper is often the most difficult part of writing. Here are some tips to make that process easier.
Generate topic ideas. If your instructor has assigned a topic, follow it. Otherwise, you should narrow the focus down to what interests you. For example, if your broad idea is Native American Mythology, you might narrow your topic down to The trickster myth of Native American Cultures.
You should also make sure that you have enough sources to support your paper, and do you have enough to say about this topic to make a paper?
Research and Taking Notes
This is listed as a separate stage of the research paper writing process, but in reality, it is a very fluid one that crosses several steps of writing your paper. You are actually doing research during every phase of writing your paper, so you should keep your attention focused so you don’t miss good ideas in your search for information.
There are many sources of good information for your research. These include:
- Books
- Encyclopedias
- Academic journals
- Magazines and other periodicals
- Newspapers
- Internet/Websites
- Interviews
Develop Your Thesis
After you have focused your topic, you should next develop your thesis statement. This is a declaration of what you intend to prove or the argument you plan to make in your paper.
A good thesis statement incorporates the following:
- A clear and succinct idea
- Expresses your idea
- Does not include a specific argument or evidence
- Does not describe your topic
- Is located at the end or near the end of your introductory paragraph
- Is a single sentence, but can be longer
Create an Outline
The next step in writing your research paper is to create an outline. An outline could be best thought of as a roadmap for your paper. It serves to crystallize your thoughts and puts them in an organized sequence from which to write. The steps to creating your outline are as follows:
- Group your notes together into similar material
- In light of the notes you have gathered, decide whether your thesis statement is still valid
- Identify the main points of your arguments
- Identify the main ideas that support your arguments
- Match the materials you have gathered to your points
- Order your ideas into a logical order
* Identify where in your notes you might have too little information and where ideas need more development
Write Your First Draft
Now that you have the research and outline complete, it’s time to write the first draft of your research paper. Your paper should be organized into three parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.
You should remember throughout this step that your first draft does not need to be perfect. This is where you put your thoughts on paper. Let the “fine tuning” come later. You should also note during this step where you might need additional information and where you might need to cut where there is extraneous information. Make sure that you make your points clearly and concisely. Does your paper make sense? Are your citations noted?
Citation and Bibliography
Now it’s time to give credit where credit is due. You need to credit your sources, ideas, and quotations. By documenting your sources, you let the reader know where you have built upon the ideas of others. Make sure you credit facts and statistics that are not common knowledge, direct or paraphrased information, and ideas, thoughts, and opinions expressed by others.
Proof and Submit
Now is the time for the final touch up. You need to correct your spelling, grammar, punctuation, and other errors that your computer doesn’t catch. You should also double-check your format according to whatever style your instructor desires.
If you have followed all of these steps, chances are very good that you have a good research paper.
If you need to write a research paper you are probably in a quandary over what to do and where to get started. This article will show you how to construct and style your paper. It will also show you how to avoid some of the most common pitfalls and mistakes when writing an academic paper.
What is a Research Paper?
First of all, in order to get a focus on your objective when writing a research paper, it is important to first understand what it is and how you focus your work on its accomplishment. Simply stated, a research paper is a document that presents your opinion on a topic, which is informed by the research that you have done. It is not a compendium of others’ thoughts, a review, or a personal essay. These assumptions lead to a lot of daunting misunderstandings to inexperienced writers. This short guide will give you a clear focus on how to create a successful research paper.
Getting Started
At the beginning of virtually all writing projects, there is a time when the writer stares at a blank sheet of paper with an equally blank mind. This is when the temptation to check email or surf the Internet is strongest. Don’t. You should first identify the tasks ahead of you and arrange a schedule for their completion.