How to Write a Research Paper
A research paper is a time-consuming assignment because of its complexity. It is significant to a student’s academic success because they account for a more substantial part of their grade in coursework. It is a fact that writing an academic paper is not a walk in the park. It requires deep independent research, analysis, and interpretation of facts. It is designed to assess a student’s research and writing skills. A research paper is similar to an academic essay, but it always has more detailed instructions. A student must have a strong understanding of the study topic to write a standard research paper. If you’re having difficulties writing your research paper, this article provides a step-by-step guide to writing an influential research paper.
Understand the task
Successful completion of a research paper requires a student to accomplish particular tasks set out for them. Before they start, they should read all the instructions carefully to understand the assignment. If you come across anything confusing, you should inform your professor and let them clarify. You should also identify the deadline, goal, formatting, submission method, and length specifications of the assignment. As you continue with the project, make a list of crucial tasks and cancel any completed tasks as you continue writing. Additionally, word limit and timeframe are significant to research, and a student should carefully consider them.
Choose the research topic
Your research will be more exciting and easy to write if you choose a topic with your interest. Select a topic that can give you adequate information; to determine this, you may be required to conduct some preliminary research. There are several ways in which a student can generate ideas for a research paper. You can brainstorm with a pen and paper or discuss with your professor or fellow students. A student can also try free writing. The technique involves selecting a broad topic and pick out a relevant and interesting sub-topic. Previous research papers also provide ideas of relevant research topics for students. Their recommendations or discussion sections often offer ideas for particular topics that need further analysis.
Prepare a thesis statement
A thesis statement will guide a student’s analysis and helps them to stay focused on the research topic. The thesis statement should be concise and reflect the type of research paper being written by a student. There are three categories of research papers.
Ø Persuasive or argumentative if your reasoning out the conclusion
Ø Descriptive when explaining information
Ø Analytical when presenting specific information analysis
Students have to devote a significant part of their valuable time to create a strong thesis statement to give their projects a clear objective. Prepare a narrow and debatable thesis that would make your claims evidence-based. If you have a general claim, you require more evidence to back up your topic. An example of a thesis statement is; drug and alcohol use is the most significant challenge affecting jobless young people.
Conduct preliminary research
Research is the most significant part of your college paper. Read articles, books, and electronic databases that have discussions that seem relevant to your research topic. Look out for facts that focus on your topic. Using several sources of information such as books, journals, and reliable websites would ensure that you do not miss any vital information. As you read through a book or article, pick out specific and expert opinions. Pay attention to important points, details, and examples and differentiate between paraphrasing and direct quotes. Additionally, a student should understand that recent research is more valuable than previous research, especially in science.
Create an outline for your research
A research outline is a list of significant arguments, sub-topics, and evidence that a student wants to include. A research paper should be divided into parts with sub-headings to describe how it will appear before writing begins. An outline makes the writing process more efficient. It is therefore essential to dedicate enough time to create it. Without an outline, your research paper will lack focus. Your thoughts will appear jumbled, and your professor will need time to understand them. A good outline serves as a roadmap and keeps a student-focused on the research topic. The structure of a typical research paper commonly includes;
Ø Title page
Ø An abstract
Ø An introduction
Ø Literature review section
Ø Methodology section
Ø Results
Ø Discussion part
Ø Conclusion
Ø Recommendations
Creating the first draft
If you want to impress your readers, you should write a fascinating topic because it is the first thing they will see. It gives the first impression of your research and what they expect to find in your paper. List the keywords that introduce your research topic, methods used, and results. You then construct a sentence with all the listed keywords and remove those that are unnecessary. Afterward, you link the remaining words. Additionally, delete insignificant information and organize the remaining phrases and words logically.
The first paragraph should attract a reader’s attention by using a provocative question, an anecdote, statistics, or unusual facts. The fact that you are writing an academic paper does not mean that it should be boring. Secondly, provide the reader with the background information, discuss your objectives, and explain how you intend to approach your topic. Your introduction should end with your research question or thesis statement. The introduction part should not be too long.
How to write body paragraphs
Your research outline will guide you in managing this part of your project. However, you must not follow it strictly. You can revise your outline and make changes that suit your research paper. The important thing is focusing on your thesis. You should present your points and use evidence to support your arguments. Every topic sentence in the body paragraphs should have relevant proof that supports the arguments made.
Your research paper should conclude by restating your thesis statement. The critical points of your paper should be summarized or paraphrased in the conclusion part. The student can also explain the significance of the research findings. It is a good idea for you to provide recommendations or directions for more research based on the results of your investigation.