How to Write a Research Paper | A Beginner's Guide,Research Writing and the Academic Paper
WebWriting an academic essay means fashioning a coherent set of ideas into an argument. Because essays are essentially linear—they offer one idea at a time—they must present WebThese are the steps in the research writing process: Choose a topic. Plan and schedule time to research and write. Conduct research. Organize research and ideas. Draft your WebMar 16, · Here Are The Steps On How To Write A Perfect Research Essay Conduct Detailed Research. Many students confuse research essays and normal essays. WebJun 2, · Research proposals, like all other kinds of academic writing, are written in a formal, objective tone. Keep in mind that being concise is a key component of academic WebWho Are the Authors Who Will Take My Paper for Writing? The authors of our service are thoroughly selected specialists in particular fields meaning that your essay in history will ... read more
Talk to your teacher. If you are researching for a class, ask your teacher or professor for advice or suggestions as to the direction you should take with your essay. He or she might be able to help you out by narrowing or broadening your focus or by pointing you toward useful resources. This way, you will also be able to gauge whether your teacher approves of the topic you have in mind. Unless your topic was assigned to you in the first place, part of the assignment is for you to choose a topic relevant to the broader theme of the class or unit. By asking your teacher to do this for you, you risk admitting laziness or incompetence.
If you have a few topics in mind but are not sure how to develop objectives for some of them, your teacher can help with this. Plan to discuss your options with your teacher and come to a decision yourself rather than having him or her choose the topic for you from several options. Part 2. Break up your essay into sub-topics. You will probably need to address several distinct aspects of your research topic in your essay. This is an important tactic for producing a well-organized research essay because it avoids 'stream of consciousness' writing, which typically lacks order. What questions might the reader have right out of the gate? How do you want the reader to think about the topic?
Answering these kinds of questions can help you figure out how to set up your argument. Match your paper sections to the objective s of your writing. For example, if you are trying to present two sides of a debate, create a section for each and then divide them up according to the aspects of each argument you want to address. Create an outline. One of the most helpful things you can do when writing a research paper is to outline the various sections and primary points of the essay. Do this before you begin writing so you can visualize how each of the essay's parts will fit together. This will also allow you to rearrange components of the paper to make it flow logically.
Some people like to include a few sentences under each heading in their outline to create a sort of "mini-essay" before they begin writing. Others find that a simple ordered list of topics is sufficient. Do whatever works best for you. If you have time, write your outline a day or two before you start writing and come back to it several times. This will give you an opportunity to think about how the pieces of your essay will best fit together. Rearrange things in your outline as many times as you want until you have a structure you are happy with. Choose a format. Research papers, unlike creative writing pieces, usually adhere to a specific style guides governing the way sources must be cited and various other aspects of writing mechanics.
If you are writing a research essay for a class, your teacher will probably specify which style the essay must conform to. Common examples include MLA Modern Language Association and APA American Psychological Association style formats, but specific fields also have their own style guides. Consult your teacher if you aren't sure what style to use. If you are assigned a specific format, you must take care to adhere to guidelines for text formatting and citations. Some computer programs such as EndNote allow you to construct a library of resources which you can then set to a specific format type; then you can automatically insert in-text citations from your library and populate a references section at the end of the document. This is an easy way to make sure your citations match your assigned style format.
Make a plan. You should set realistic writing goals for yourself so you can stay on task without feeling overburdened. It is a good idea to create a schedule and set aside blocks of time each day to work on specific parts of your essay. This way you aren't stuck writing nonstop for two days to meet your deadline and you can check things off your list as you complete them. You may wish to start by simply assigning yourself a certain number of pages per day. Divide the number of pages you are required to write by the number of days you have to finish the essay; this is the number of pages minimum that you must complete each day in order to pace yourself evenly.
If possible, leave a buffer of at least one day between finishing your paper and the due date. This will allow you to review your finished product and edit it for errors. This will also help in case something comes up that slows your writing progress. Part 3. Create an introduction. In this section, introduce your topic and establish the purpose for your essay. If you intend to investigate a debated topic, state this in your introduction. You want the reader to have a good idea of what the essay is about and how it is constructed by reading your introduction. Save your opinions and any conclusions you've drawn for the rest of the essay.
For most papers, one or two paragraphs will suffice. For really long essays, you may need to expand this. Don't assume your reader already knows the basics of the topic unless it truly is a matter of common knowledge. For example, you probably don't need to explain in your introduction what biology is, but you should define less general terms such as "eukaryote" or "polypeptide chain. Build the body of your essay. This is the meat of your paper, on which you should place the majority of your focus. The length and detail of your essay will determine the form of its body, but at a minimum this should include any key arguments, any research methods used and results obtained in cases where you performed original research , and your main research findings. Alternatively, you can consider moving this to the introductory section, but only if your essay is short and only minimal background discussion is needed.
This is the part of your paper where organization and structure are most important. Arrange sections within the body so that they flow logically and the reader is introduced to ideas and sub-topics before they are discussed further. Depending upon the length and detail of your paper, the end of the body might contain a discussion of findings. This kind of section serves to wrap up your main findings but does not explicitly state your conclusions which should come in the final section of the essay. Avoid repetition in the essay body. Keep your writing concise, yet with sufficient detail to address your objective s or research question s.
Cite your references properly. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when writing a research paper is to fail to properly cite your sources. Passing off someone else's ideas as your own, whether intentional or not, is plagiarism, and it could land you a failing grade or even expulsion from your school. Take the time to ensure you are citing information the right way by following these guidelines: [11] X Trustworthy Source Purdue Online Writing Lab Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines Go to source Always use quotation marks when using exact quotes from another source. If someone already said or wrote the words you are using, you must quote them this way! Place your in-text citation at the end of the quote.
To include someone else's ideas in your essay without directly quoting them, you can restate the information in your own words; this is called paraphrasing. Although this does not require quotation marks, it should still be accompanied by an in-text citation. State your conclusions. This section stands apart from the essay body in that it is devoted solely to stating the conclusions you have drawn from your research. Avoid discussing details of your research or presenting results in this section. You may wish to rephrase your study objective and state how your findings address that goal. You should aim for one or two paragraphs, if possible. Conclusions should directly correspond to research discussed in the essay body. In other words, make sure your conclusions logically connect to the rest of your essay and provide explanations when necessary.
If your topic is complex and involves lots of details, you should consider including a brief summary of the main points of your research in your conclusion. Revisit your thesis or objective. Once you've completed your first draft, you should go back to your introductory paragraph s and evaluate whether your essay accomplishes the stated goals you presented in the beginning. A good essay will thoroughly address any questions or unknowns posed in its introduction. If your conclusions do not logically follow the stated purpose or objective of your essay, then you will need to fix this.
Doing this also prevents you from removing anything from the beginning of your essay that could accidentally make subsequent portions of your writing seem out of place. It is okay to revise your thesis once you've finished the first draft of your essay! People's views often change once they've done research on a topic. Just make sure you don't end up straying too far from your assigned topic if you do this. You don't necessarily need to wait until you've finished your entire draft to do this step. In fact, it is a good idea to revisit your thesis regularly as you write. This can save you a lot of time in the end by helping you keep your essay content on track. Construct a "works cited" section. This is a critical element of any research paper, because this is where you give credit to all the sources from which you borrowed information to write your essay.
This is not something that should be left for the end of your writing; rather, you should build your works cited section as you write, adding citations as you reference them in your writing. You can create a reference library and link it to your document, adding in-text citations as you write; the program creates a formatted works cited section at the end of your document. Be aware of the formatting requirements of your chosen style guide for works cited sections and in-text citations. Reference library programs like EndNote have hundreds of pre-loaded formats to choose from. Put finishing touches on your essay. After you have written your essay, there are some final things to take care of to turn your paper into a polished piece of work that your teacher will appreciate. While not all of these have to wait until the essay is fully written, it is a good idea to take care of the important stuff first -- which is the writing, of course!
Final tasks include: Create a catchy title. Waiting until you have finished your essay before choosing a title ensures that it will closely match the content of your essay. Research papers don't always take on the shape we expect them to, and it's easier to match your title to your essay than vice-versa. Read through your paper to identify and rework sentences or paragraphs that are confusing or unclear. Each section of your paper should have a clear focus and purpose; if any of yours seem not to meet these expectations, either rewrite or discard them. Review your works cited section at the end of your essay to ensure that it conforms to the standards of your chosen or assigned style format.
You should at least make sure that the style is consistent throughout this section. Run a spell checker on your entire document to catch any spelling or grammar mistakes you may not have noticed during your read-through. All modern word processing programs include this function. Revise your draft. The first draft of your paper should not be the version you turn in to your teacher unless you are really good at editing as you write. It is usually necessary to rewrite or at least reorganize and tidy up a research essay before it can be considered finished. Give yourself a day or so away from your first draft to get some distance from your project before going back to revise it.
Revisions are done to make sure the content and substantive ideas are solid; editing is done to check for spelling and grammar errors. Revisions are arguably a more important part of writing a good paper. You may want to have a friend, classmate, or family member read your first draft and give you feedback. This can be immensely helpful when trying to decide how to improve upon your first version of the essay. Except in extreme cases, avoid a complete rewrite of your first draft. This will most likely be counterproductive and will waste a lot of time. Your first draft is probably already pretty good -- it likely just needs some tweaking before it is ready to submit.
Begin with either an attention-grabbing hook risky, but has larger payoff or a general statement that provides context for the paper less risky and more common. This should be sentences before you transition into your thesis statement. Transition into and end with your structure statement, which will set up the framework for the topics of your body paragraphs. We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Claim Your Gift If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you.
Support wikiHow Yes No. Not Helpful 0 Helpful For each body paragraph, write down the main topic, and note the specific points you want to mention. Writing down quotes you plan to use is optional. For the conclusion, write how you plan to revisit your thesis. Not Helpful 2 Helpful 6. First of all, don't stress. Second of all, make sure you cite your sources, or you could get in some trouble for plagiarism. Also, try going to the library for research, instead of just online. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 5. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Typically, you can find sources either online or in a library. Some search engines—mentioned below in the Tools and resources section—allow you to browse only accredited sources and academic databases.
Keep in mind the difference between primary and secondary sources as you search. Primary sources are firsthand accounts, like published articles or autobiographies; secondary sources are more removed, like critical reviews or secondhand biographies. If a source seems useful, set it aside to give it a full read later. Using what you found in your preliminary research, write a thesis statement that succinctly summarizes what your research paper will be about. A thesis statement is the best answer for how to start a research paper.
Aside from preparing your reader, the thesis statement also makes it easier for other researchers to assess whether or not your paper is useful to them for their own research. Likewise, you should read the thesis statements of other research papers to decide how useful they are to you. A good thesis statement mentions all the important parts of the discussion without disclosing too many of the details. Normally, you find your supporting evidence by reading each source and taking notes. Aside from highlighting text and writing notes, another common tactic is to use bibliography cards. These are simple index cards with a fact or direct quotation on one side and the bibliographical information source citation, page numbers, subtopic category on the other.
A lot of students want to know how to write a research paper outline. More than informal essays, research papers require a methodical and systematic structure to make sure all issues are addressed, and that makes outlines especially important. First make a list of all the important categories and subtopics you need to cover—an outline for your outline! Consider all the information you gathered when compiling your supporting evidence and ask yourself what the best way to separate and categorize everything is. Once you have a list of what you want to talk about, consider the best order to present the information.
Which subtopics are related and should go next to each other? If your information is fairly straightforward, feel free to take a chronological approach and present the information in the order it happened. Because research papers can get complicated, consider breaking your outline into paragraphs. For starters, this helps you stay organized if you have a lot of information to cover. Moreover, it gives you greater control over the flow and direction of the research paper. Open with your thesis statement and then fill out the rest of your introduction with the secondary information—save the details for the body of your research paper, which comes next. The body contains the bulk of your research paper.
Unlike essays , research papers usually divide the body into sections with separate headers to facilitate browsing and scanning. Use the divisions in your outline as a guide. Follow along your outline and go paragraph by paragraph. One of the most common problems with writing long works like research papers is connecting paragraphs to each other. The longer your writing is, the harder it is to tie everything together smoothly. Use transition sentences to improve the flow of your paper, especially for the first and last sentences in a paragraph. Even after the body is written, you still need to know how to write a conclusion for a research paper.
Citations are part of what sets research papers apart from more casual nonfiction like personal essays. Citing your sources both validates your data and also links your research paper to the greater scientific community. Because of their importance, citations must follow precise formatting rules. You need to check with the assignment to see which formatting style is required. Typically, academic research papers follow one of two formatting styles for citing sources:. The links above explain the specific formatting guidelines for each style, along with an automatic citation generator to help you get started. In addition to MLA and APA styles, you occasionally see requirements for CMOS The Chicago Manual of Style , AMA American Medical Association and IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
Citations may seem confusing at first with all their rules and specific information. Keep in mind that each formatting style has specific guidelines for citing just about any kind of source, including photos , websites , speeches , and YouTube videos. Last but not least, you want to go through your research paper to correct all the mistakes by proofreading. Doing two different editing sessions helps you focus on one area at a time instead of doing them both at once. Some people find it useful to read their paper out loud to catch problems they might miss when reading in their head. If you want to improve your revision skills, read our guide on self-editing , which includes a more complete checklist and advanced tips on improving your revisions.
Technical issues like grammatical mistakes and misspelled words can be handled effortlessly if you use a spellchecker with your word processor, or even better, a digital writing assistant that also suggests improvements for word choice and tone, like Grammarly we explain more in the Tools and resources section below. If you want to know more about how to write a research paper, or if you want some help with each step, take a look at the tools and resources below.
Regardless of the degree or program, you enroll in, writing research papers is inevitable. The process can seem daunting due to the time and effort it takes. This article will guide you on how to write a research paper perfectly, including how to write a thesis statement for a research paper, how to write a conclusion for a research paper, etc. More specifically, there are nine steps you need to follow to pave the way to a successfully written research paper. A research paper can be considered an extended version of an essay.
The research paper aims to present your interpretation, argument, or evaluation. In contrast to essays, research papers are more complex and require deep research on a particular matter. A research paper is more than a summary, collection of other sources, or literature review. At its core, the research paper analyzes and argues your point of view, further backed up by other studies. Completing a research paper is a challenging task. But, with our help, you can start and build your way to a good end. Writing a research paper sounds easy; you pick the topic, develop your argument, research what other studies have said, and conclude it. Those are the general rules. But writing a successful research paper requires you to be more attentive, consistent, and detailed.
The following steps will guide you through a more detailed process of writing a research paper. Writing a research paper takes more than just listening to the instruction while your professor explains. Because many students are not cautious enough to carefully listen and analyze every given step, they end up with a poorly graded assignment or, in the worst case, even fail. Spend some time reading every instruction, and when in doubt, ask questions! Professors are always open to answering any questions you might have. Deciding on a topic is usually time-consuming since there are so many topics available.
If you need help deciding on a topic, think about what you are passionate about, but always remember to stay within the lines of the instructions. When choosing a topic, keep the following in mind:. The pieces you will go through will be lengthy, and sometimes only a few parts within those papers will be helpful. Secondly, find reliable sources. Visit sites such as Google Scholar, and focus on peer-reviewed articles since they contain information that has been reviewed and evaluated. Next, keep track of what you have read so far.
Instead of going back and forth between different sites, you can have everything in one place. You can bookmark the sources or link those sources to a document. That will save you valuable time when you start writing. Research until you reach your own opinion or argument on the topic, otherwise known as a thesis statement. A thesis statement is an introductory statement that puts forward your explanation or point within the paper. When formulating a thesis statement, remember the following:. Checking in with your professor after you have developed a clear, persuasive thesis statement can be helpful. Ask them whether they agree your thesis statement is the right one. A structure will simplify the writing process, regardless of length or complexity. It should contain detailed information for the arrangement of each paragraph and identify the smaller components per each paragraph in order, such as the introductory sentence and the supporting evidence.
The outline will create a visual board and help you define what to include and where. And most importantly, in this part, you can identify possible mistakes and not have them in your drafts. If you succeed in having a good topic, a strong thesis with backup evidence, and an already structured paper, half of the job is already done—you just have to fill in the blanks at this point. As you first start writing, remember that this is the first draft. Trust your memory and avoid going between sources and your paper. This way, you can prevent plagiarism and be original instead.
Start with the introduction and the body, and work through a conclusion. Introductions to research papers are always unique. It is the part where you set up the topic and hook your reader. Additionally, you must provide background to the existing research, position your approach, and put forward the thesis statement. Furthermore, you need to explain why your topic deserves immediate attention. I understand that my consent is not required to apply for online degree enrollment. While it may seem fine to write the introduction first, we suggest you focus on the body of the paper first. This is the longest part of the research paper. You are required to support your thesis and build the argument, followed by citations and analysis. Place the paragraphs in a logical arrangement so each key point flows naturally to the next one.
Similarly, organize the sentences in each paragraph in an organic structure. If you have carefully arranged your notes and created an outline, your thoughts will automatically fall into place when you write your draft. After introducing your topic and arguing your points, the conclusion will bring everything together. Focus on developing a stimulating and informative conclusion. Make it possible for readers to understand it independently from the rest of the paper. Usually, the first draft is followed by a second one. However, before proceeding with the process, highlight the errors and points you would prefer to avoid including in the final draft. With the help of a second draft, you will be able to notice mistakes and create a definitive outline for the final draft.
Furthermore, you can communicate your ideas more clearly and effectively by creating multiple drafts. Citations are what characterize the research paper. The importance of citations lies in reliability: citing sources will make your writing more reliable. But how do you cite correctly? The problem is that there is more than just a set of rules. If your professor has set no rules, you can ask them. After being given the right instructions on what citation style to use, do plenty of research and make sure to cite correctly.
Start editing with a fresh perspective. Firstly, focus on the content. It would be beneficial to create a checklist you can follow. You can produce a list that follows the instructions of your professor. If everything checks right, you can submit it. Here are some things you need to check:. It is also crucial to edit for grammar. Plenty of online tools, such as Grammarly and Hemingway Editor, can help you during the process. Their fresh perspective will pick up on many things you might have missed. Writing a research paper is one of the essential parts of academics.
The process might seem straightforward, but there are many steps you should carefully follow. And remember: always stay on track with your progress; otherwise, you will get lost in tasks. CURRENT STUDENTS. December 1, Academic Advice. How To Write a Research Paper: The Ultimate Guide . Manaferra Content. What Is a Research Paper? How To Write a Research Paper Writing a research paper sounds easy; you pick the topic, develop your argument, research what other studies have said, and conclude it. Get familiar with the assignment Writing a research paper takes more than just listening to the instruction while your professor explains. Choose a topic for your research paper Deciding on a topic is usually time-consuming since there are so many topics available.
Avoid choosing a topic that plainly describes scenes or characters. Find a topic with many previous studies available: Since research papers mainly focus on your research, you must ensure plenty of studies can support your arguments. And remember: always stay focused and within your topic area. Formulate your thesis statement Research until you reach your own opinion or argument on the topic, otherwise known as a thesis statement. Make a strong statement. Make it arguable. Introduction Introductions to research papers are always unique. Interested in pursuing a degree? Fill out the form and get all admission information you need regarding your chosen program.
This will only take a moment. Message Received! Thank you for reaching out to us.
Essay Structure,Understand the assignment
WebFeb 7, · You should refrain from using the following abbreviations in your research paper: Instead of using, e.g. and, i.e., use for example or for instance. Avoid using WebMar 16, · Here Are The Steps On How To Write A Perfect Research Essay Conduct Detailed Research. Many students confuse research essays and normal essays. WebWho Are the Authors Who Will Take My Paper for Writing? The authors of our service are thoroughly selected specialists in particular fields meaning that your essay in history will WebWriting an academic essay means fashioning a coherent set of ideas into an argument. Because essays are essentially linear—they offer one idea at a time—they must present WebJun 2, · Research proposals, like all other kinds of academic writing, are written in a formal, objective tone. Keep in mind that being concise is a key component of academic WebThese are the steps in the research writing process: Choose a topic. Plan and schedule time to research and write. Conduct research. Organize research and ideas. Draft your ... read more
Using what you found in your preliminary research, write a thesis statement that succinctly summarizes what your research paper will be about. If a source seems useful, set it aside to give it a full read later. Primary sources provide firsthand information or raw data. You will incorporate source materials into your paper and discuss each source thoughtfully in relation to your thesis or purpose statement. To answer the question you must examine your evidence, thus demonstrating the truth of your claim.
Did you look for the cheapest way to travel from Houston writing a research essay Denver? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been readtimes. Writing a research paper takes more than just listening to the instruction while your professor explains. After creating your first draft and citing all the references it is now time to create the second or the final draft of your research essay. Whether you are a scientist, an artist, a paralegal, writing a research essay, or a parent, you probably perform research in your everyday life. Take a few minutes to think about each of the following careers.
No comments:
Post a Comment