A research paper refers to an academic piece that analyzes, interprets, and argues on the basis of independent, deep research.
While research papers can be considered academic essays in the sense that they are longer and more thorough, they are designed to test your writing skills and ability to conduct scholarly research. You must have a good understanding of the topic as well as be able to engage with multiple sources in order to write a research paper.
You can ask the experts to help you with any type of paper like “write my thesis paper for me”.
This guide guides you through the entire writing process, from understanding and proofreading your final draft to understanding it.
- Understanding the assignment
To be able to complete a research paper, you must first complete the tasks. Before you begin, make sure you’ve read the assignment task sheets thoroughly.
- Take the time necessary to read the document and discuss any questions with your professor.
- Identify the assignment goals, deadlines, length specifications, and formatting.
- Write a bulleted list listing key points. You can then go back and add the completed items to your list.
Be realistic about your word limit and time frame. Allow enough time to research, write, and edit.
- Pick a topic for the research paper
You have many options for brainstorming ideas for research papers. These include writing them down on paper or sharing them with a professor.
It is possible to write freely. You can write for up to three minutes about a broad topic to locate any pertinent information.
Inspiration can also come through other research. Many research papers contain discussion or recommendation sections. These sections are often filled with ideas and suggestions for topics that warrant further research.
Once you have decided on a broad topic you can begin to narrow it down and find the topic that interests you, your assignment criteria, or is practical to research. The best ideas and topics should be original.
- A paper based solely on the chronology of World War II is not original or precise enough.
- Interesting and original research could be done on the experiences of Danish citizens that lived near the German border during World War II.
- 3. Do preliminary research
Keep track of important discussions and identify an area where you can write. Make sure you consult multiple reliable sources like books and journals to ensure that you don’t miss any crucial information.
You shouldn’t just confirm your ideas; you should also seek out contradictory sources.
- What are the most common mistakes people make in researching sources?
- Are you able to address any highly charged issues?
- Can you offer a unique perspective on your topic?
- Do recent developments expand upon existing research?
Here you can create research questions to help you. For research questions, use the following sentence: I want/what/why
- Write a thesis statement
Your central argument is the thesis statement. It is the central argument of your paper. If you have a research problem, the thesis statement should address it. The thesis statement should explain the reasoning and evidence you will use to support it.
The thesis statement must be concise, clear, and consistent. The thesis statement should be short, clear, and concise.
The thesis statement can be revised and improved during research. However, it can still guide you in the writing process. Each paragraph should support this central claim and advance it.
- A research paper outline should be prepared
An outline is a list of key topics and arguments that you wish to include in your research paper. You can view the outline in sections with headings before you start writing.
A structured outline can make writing easier. So it’s worth spending the time to create one.
- Go through the first draft.
Your second draft can be revised later. These are your priorities for this stage.
- Maintaining forward momentum — write now, perfect later.
- Pay close attention to how sentences and paragraphs are organized. This will make it easier for you to complete the second draft.
- Clarify your thoughts so that the text can be understood.
It doesn’t need to be written in the beginning. You can begin where you feel most comfortable. Some prefer to complete the most difficult sections first. Others prefer to begin with the easiest. While you are working, an outline can be helpful.
You shouldn’t delete large parts of the text. If you do not like large sections of text, don’t delete them.
Paragraph structure
Paragraphs form the core of research papers. Each paragraph should focus only on one claim or idea, which helps to establish the overall argument or purpose of your paper.
Citing sources
You must keep track of all citations to avoid accidental plagiarism. You should keep track of the source each time you use it.
- The introduction to a research article should answer three questions: What, Why, and How? The introduction should explain the purpose of the paper as well as why it’s important to read. This introduction also explains how your arguments are constructed.
What should you write? What should you write?
Why? This is the most important, and the most difficult part of an introduction. Briefly answer the following questions: What new information, insight or advice are we providing? Your essay can help answer these important questions.
How do you do it? How?
- Writing is difficult. It can often be difficult to organize all the information. An outline can help. It is not a guideline. You are free to alter the order in which the information and arguments are presented.
The topic sentences and the thesis statements will help you keep on the right path. You can do this:
- Topic sentences can be used in place of the thesis statements
- For similarity and logical ordering, use topic sentences in opposition to one another
- Each sentence must be related to the topic sentence of that paragraph.
Pay attention to paragraphs covering the same topics. You should approach the same topic from two different angles. Smooth transitions are required between sections, paragraphs, and sentences.
- The conclusion to a research paper is intended to guide the reader through an argument and give them the sense that it has been completed.
Keep the paper in its proper order and make sure you emphasize how it all fits together for your thesis statement. Make your paper final by explaining how the issues were resolved in the introduction.
It can be used to discuss and outline the arguments, as well as the potential benefits to future students.
It is not recommended to:
- Provide important information or new arguments
- Do not occupy more space than you need
- Begin with stock phrases to signal you are closing the document (e.g. “In conclusion”)
- The second draft
Four key points should be taken into consideration when preparing the second draft.
- Your vision should be compared to the first draft. Make sure your paper is clear and concise.
- As you identify assumptions that may require (more substantial) justification, be mindful of your reader’s perspective. You can remove points if they are not supported.
- You should be open to suggestions and changes. Examine whether some sections are out of place and if your ideas could be better.
- If you don’t like the ideas, you can remove them or condense them. There is a possibility that you had new and well-suited ideas in the initial draft. You can incorporate these ideas into the paper now.
- You must ensure you have completed all tasks during the revision and proofreading process and that your paper remains as concise and clear as possible.
Global issues
- Confirm that the paper has fulfilled all of your assignments.
- Make sure to check the organization and flow.
- Compare the paragraphs to both the introductions and the thesis statements.
Fine details
Be sure to read through every paragraph.
- Each sentence supports the topic sentence.
- There is no unnecessary or irrelevant information.
- All technical terms that may be unfamiliar to your audience are identified.
- Next, you should consider sentence structure, grammar, and formatting. You must use transition words correctly to highlight the connections between ideas. Verify for errors and eliminate any unnecessary words. Make sure you use consistent heading formatting and spellings.
Your paper must conform to the formatting requirements for each style. It is possible to add an MLA heading or an APA title.
