All You Need to Know About Writing a Research Paper

A good research work depends on formulating a good working research question. Framing an excellent research question reveals two important aspects of the student - outstanding capacity for logical thinking and good writing skills. Working on a research paper provides the writer the opportunity to research a topic he is interested in apart from utilizing the writing skills he has acquired through the years. It gives him ample opportunity to experiment with his own unique creative ideas. Bringing forth his research skills would mean his development into a better writer and thinker. But if the person is not ready to fret and toil, by putting his heart and soul into the work he may end up in plagiarism. Some students are found simply summarizing information and explaining terms that have been repeated umpteen times before. But if it is approached professionally research work will become a highly rewarding experience.

As you know selecting the topic is the primary step in producing a research paper. While choosing the topic make sure you do not choose a topic which is too broad or too narrow. The inconvenience regarding a narrow research question is that it can be answered with a simple statistic or factual report. Also the thesis questions should not be too narrow or too broad. The success of writing the research paper depends how much the student gets involved in the research and writing process. It also depends on his willingness to experiment with different theses and research questions. Thus the extent of success of producing the research paper not only depends on his knowledge and writing skills.

The focus for the writing is provided by the choice of the topic. Hence it is indispensable to select a topic where he can express his own ideas and opinions. Adhering to one major topic is also important to write coherently. It is a well understood fact that thus the creativity and power of expression of the writer increases with the number of research papers he produces.

Article Resource

Writing An Academic Paper - 12 Easy Steps To Success

Writing an academic paper remains a difficult, trying, and intimidating task for many students. This is unfortunate because much of the course subjects a student will take while in a university requires paper writing as an academic exercise. In the same manner, expressing one's self well in writing is frequently a critical ability in the professional community. Although eloquence and knowledge in composition are prized skills in any industry, writing an academic paper demands even more expertise. With academic writing, one need not only develop the ability to express one's self in words, but also the ability to conduct research from a continuously widening range of sources in order to select and decide which among the relevant morsels of data are actually the most relevant. The writer must be able to properly provide his/her own observations, discussions, and conclusions. Nonetheless, academic writing does not simply constitute the expression of a person's own opinions alone, but more importantly, it likewise calls for the expression of facts already established by others juxtaposed with one's logical opinions and conclusions based on the research.

Why does writing an academic paper fill many students with dread? My observation following my exposure to the most common (and even the most uncommon) problems in the course of my work where I review thousands of papers is quite simple. The fear stems from not knowing much about the technical aspects of writing a paper. There are no clear-cut rules or, in a manner of speaking, no black and white method to guide scholars on how to compose an effective academic paper.

There are multitudes of references on formatting bibliographic entries, using search engines, creating outlines, and using word processors, among other things. However, in most likelihood, one cannot find a correct, concise, and simple description of the modern method of research, which includes building a paper from scratch and into its varied stages of composition, and scaling efforts to the needs of the assignment. I have searched and have not found any material focused on this subject, presenting me with the realization that such literature is greatly needed by aspiring (and even seasoned) academicians. With this article I have written, I aim to address this deficiency by presenting you a supplemental tool to writing academic papers, arranged in easy and numbered steps, beginning with Step 1 and continuing through to Step 12.

STEP 1. Begin early.

If you are currently busy and thinking there will be more time later, you might do better to think again. The future may only seem in order because it is yet to arrive. When it does, it will be as chaotic as the current situation is. So how do you end up being late? It all happens a day at a time. It is impossible to know when you will have a clear chunk of time later, so proceed to the next step as soon as a paper is assigned. Not doing so immediately lands authors, and yourself, on the road to being late-and it all happens a little as each day passes.

STEP 2. Create a budget of pages.

Let us assume that the assignment is a descriptive essay or, alternatively, a common "compare/contrast" paper. For matters of example, let us take the latter:

Compare and contrast the roles played by Freedom Park and Liberation Field in immigrants' lives in America in the 1800s.(Please note that Freedom Park and Liberation Field are fictitious places and are only used as examples in our white paper.)

Let us say that the paper is intended to be around 2500 words (about six pages) in length when it has a margin of 1" all around and single-spaced. Let us further suppose that the paper will not have a cover page. We also have to remember that the bibliography is never included in the page count.

The page budget for the paper also serves as the outline of your paper. You would have to decide what the elements of the paper would be, and the allocation of the necessary number of words/pages for each element. In the sample assignment, the logical page budget is established as follows:

1/2 page Opening statement. What is the paper all about? What are the subjects that will be presented? What are the paper's objectives?

One page Facts about Freedom Park. Where is it located? When was it built? Who uses it? Are there noteworthy events that it has hosted?

One page Facts about Liberation Field. Where is it located? When was it built? Who uses it? Are there noteworthy events that it has hosted?

One page Immigration to New York, in general. What immigrant groups arrived during the time period specified? Are there interesting and relevant facts that may be cited for each group?

Two pages The meat of the paper; addressing the topic. What are the similarities and/or differences between the immigrant groups concerned, their respective involvement in their field/park, and the reason for their involvement?

1/2 page Summary and conclusion. How was the topic explored? What was determined / proven?

Page outlines provide authors with an overview of the appropriate coverage of each element of the paper. Without this outline, it is very easy to write excessively about issues you are already greatly familiar with, and much easier to write too little of issues you are not very familiar with. Moreover, you may not be able to address all issues involved. With a page outline, you can focus on addressing all issues within the corresponding amount of space coverage. More often than not, we find that with page outlines, we tend to edit down (lessen page coverage) than drag word count up with redundancies and/or generalizations. This is always a far much better position to have as an author.

Some professors specify page limits, while others do not. Thus, it is of extreme importance that you be able to plan your paper properly with the aid of a page outline. Writing is not about simply setting down on ink what comes to your mind, and then extending the words/phrases to meet page length limits. More than anything, it involves careful development of the proposed research statement or position on any given issue.

STEP 3. Gather resource materials.

Begin the paper with the assigned text if such is supplied. Academic textbooks usually contain bibliographies and/or footnote citations in reference to other books/articles. Hard copy publications remain excellent sources as the first set of resource materials to look for. When there is no assigned textbook relating to the assignment, you can begin with a search in an online library and with a subject search. The bibliographies and citations in this first batch of sources, if researched correctly, guarantee that much of the task will already be accomplished.

Next, build a list of the resources the first source of references point to. If the research task is small (less than 25 pages output, less than 15 sources), then a handwritten/typewritten breakdown is normally sufficient. However, if the research effort is greater (not too many undergraduate papers are, or will ever be), putting together the list in a spreadsheet and/or a Word document should be considered. Larger lists need search capabilities of the journal sources/references for better tracking of the subjects in each journal against subjects that cannot be found.

After locating the references/resources, prepare them for mark-up (always remember to do this only to photocopied/printed out copies and not to the original documents):

• For journals, always remember to photocopy journal covers and content tables because these pages usually contain the citation information for the articles that will be used.

• For Internet sources, print out the article/source and ensure that the URL (Web address of the source) is printed.

• Treat journal sources as you would your book sources.

Always remember that sources with their own bibliographies are the best references. As such, journals remain the most credible academic sources as opposed to ordinary publications like magazines. Unless your source is an acknowledged staple (or unless the paper's subject is historical) in your field of study, try to find the most recent references as they more often prove to be more credible than earlier literature; this is especially true in the areas of science/technology.

STEP 4. Make a first reading of gathered resource materials.

A first reading is a quick browse through your references. You would need a general concept of the subject matter at hand to help form your own ideas regarding the topic. Mark the references that appear important and/or related to the concepts and/or facts of the task. Do not hope to gain in-depth knowledge at this time, but try to form a specific judgment regarding the references.

First readings should be conducted even while the resources are still being gathered. This saves much time. Always have some journals available for a quick read at any given time; this may be between classes, while in a bus, on a train ride, during lunch, and practically anywhere else. Always remember where you left off reading so no time is wasted when the material is picked up again.

At this stage of research paper writing, you will find seemingly essential materials/information that may prove worthless in the end. Cull liberally. It is best to differentiate the mash from the real grain at this point. Once the first read is done, ensure that the selected references are properly marked within one's source sheet.

STEP 5. Draft a research statement.

After the first read, one should be ready to draft a research statement, which will be the core of the research paper. It is a simple statement with specific points that will form the coverage of the paper. Ideally, it is a paragraph composed of three to four sentences. Using our sample, the suggested research statement reads as follows:

The Irish were among the first big immigrant groups to land in New York. Through the years, these groups also came: the Swedes, the Germans, the Italians, the eastern Europeans, the Chinese, the Greeks, the Koreans, and more. The first generation of settlers often brought with them games that they played in their places of origin, but their second generations chose to adopt "American" sports, particularly baseball. Immigrant groups with access to venues such as Freedom Park and Liberation Field are most likely to develop skills needed to become sports professionals.

STEP 6. Read the selected references a second time around.

After having formed the research statement, one should read each of the selected sources a second time and in a more in-depth fashion, specifically searching for quotable passages that can support the research statement. Ensure that each potential quotable passage is marked for convenient reference, and that each of the reference sources is properly marked once the second reading is done for them.

STEP 7. Create the "backbone" of the document with a word processor.

First, set up the margins to 1" on all sides (or to what is specified by the professor/publisher). Next, create a header including page numbers, and footers with file name and path. Form a first page with name and title lines, and insert a page break to create a second page. Finally, label the second page as the "Bibliography." Note that there are no entries to be typed into the Bibliography at this stage, but citations will be added as quotes/references are typed in while the paper is written. Therefore, the paper now has pages: a start page with paper title, plus a blank Bibliography page.

Two points to keep in mind:

The bibliography documents whole books/articles.

Notes (these may be footnotes at the bottom of each page, or endnotes at the end of the research) link quoted phrases/sentences/concepts in the paper to a specific page in the bibliography.

Footnotes may be made in an MS Word document from the menu bar: Insert > Reference > Footnote

STEP 8. Type in the marked quotations, ensuring each has a comment regarding its relation to the research statement.

At this point in the paper, only typing is required. Transfer/type in all quotes that have been marked in the sources into the Bibliography page. Ensure that each entry is indented half an inch from the margin, and the entries are listed in alphabetical order. As each entry is typed in, form the citation footnote for the entry. These footnotes should be page specific to the reference being cited. Using this method, a credible citation list is created with minimized ambiguity, addressing imprecise citations that may be suspect.

As this step is largely mechanical, it may be started, paused, and re-initiated. With this stage, two significant aspects of the paper are remembered: the bulk of the paper is built with academically sound content and it completes the bibliography as well.

Once this step is completed, roughly 80% of the paper is also completed, given that proper care and attention have been placed in selecting the passages that are typed in.

STEP 9. Develop the thoughts of the content, ensuring each is supported by quotes.

Insert several blanks at the beginning of the paper before the first quote that will be used, and begin the draft of the paper's content. Note that this starting point will ultimately fall into the middle part of the paper, but writing begins here because it is the most significant content of the paper.

Next, introduce another point, and then cut and paste quotations from the list completed in Step 8. Explore (by adding supporting sentences), support (by citing/quoting the author/s of the reference), or simply elaborate on the idea. Following this, cite two or more powerful quotations from the completed list in Step 8, citing different sources, and finally restating and summing up the idea with one's original thoughts on the matter.

This pattern of writing should be followed until all the concepts of the core statement are addressed.

A nearly finished paper will emerge from this step.

STEP 10. Write the Introduction and Conclusion of the research paper.

In the example used, the Introduction would discuss details about Freedom Park and Liberation Field. This section does not form the heart of the paper, but ensure that quotes are still used to anchor the content to facts from the resources.

Make the conclusion concise and succinct. Re-state the major concepts explored by the paper, highlighting what has been "proven" using quotes and facts derived from the paper's main body (constructed in Step 8). Avoid redundancy in terms of word use and sentence structure, a common mistake committed by less experienced authors worried about word count. Trust that a careful execution of Step 8 guarantees that word count limits are met for the paper.

STEP 11. Write the Abstract of the research paper.

It may seem strange that writing the Abstract of the paper is reserved toward the final stages of drafting a paper, but this is the best time to introduce what is going to be discussed in the paper - after the actual paper has already been actually written.

At this step, there is clarity in purpose to present what has already been presented (once due consideration has been given to the content that has been drafted).

STEP 12. Have the paper go through a final English review by a professional editor.

This step presents the final opportunity to find any spelling, grammar, or comprehension lapses in the paper that has just been drafted.

Article Resource

The Correct Research Paper Format Helps

If there is one thing that we all live by, those are guidelines. Without rules and guidelines, we will all live in a chaotic world and this also applies to research papers. It has rules and regulations which one should abide to. There are even specifics on the size of the margin, the size and kind of the font used and others.

Before you even begin on doing research for your paper, you should decide what kind or research paper format that goes with your topic. Even your research materials, your index cards, should already follow the exact format dictated by the chosen format. When you do, writing your paper will be as easy as making a pie. You do not have to worry about the rest of your research paper because the content will depend on the material written down on your index cards.

Actually do you know that research papers (more or less) use the same format? The goal of the research paper is to find the information needed. Once you get the hang of it, the rules for every research paper, you can apply them every time to the same kind of discipline. For example, if you are going to write a research paper on Psychology, you can use the same kind of format every time you write a paper on any topic on Science. Although, one thing is for sure, you should never deviate from the standard format unless your professor told you to do so. Otherwise, never reinvent the wheel. It is as simple as that.

Article Resource

Research Paper - From Start To Finish

Writing is the key to your success in college and at a job. You should not just think of writing as a chore, but a process to convey your thoughts, ideas and visions. Before you even pick up a pen or sit at a keyboard you should try and develop a voice for your paper.

The First Steps For Your Research Paper

When developing your topic for your essay or research paper you should start with the end in mind. I am not saying that you should have preconceived conclusions of what the research will show, but how your conclusions will effect the rest of the paper.

Remember the most important aspect of a quality research paper is the research. If you quote unreliable resources or "quacks" no one will take your paper seriously. The next thing is to make sure your paper is organized and grammatically correct. To be properly organized it is best to start off with an outline. The outline should include your introduction, your subtopics and your conclusion. The introduction will include your thesis statement and lay out what the rest of the paper is about. Your subtopics will include your research that leads to your conclusion. Finally, the conclusion is a summary of your findings and an interpretation of the material in the body of the paper.

The Rough Draft

The next step is putting together a rough draft. Do not worry about style or grammar at this point but it is time to consider your audience. Your goal at this point is to get your information on paper. The rough draft will show if your thoughts and ideas are complete. It may be necessary to do some additional research for your paper at this time. As well as consider the terminology you are using and the appropriateness for your reader. Any ideas that seem incomplete need to be expanded upon.

The Working Copy

Now it is time is to create a working copy. All your ideas, thoughts and research for research papers should be complete at this time. You write the working copy as if you are going to present it or turn it in. It needs to be in the correct style, APA, MLA, Chicago, etc. The grammar and spelling should be readable. You will rewrite sentences for clarity at this point and make sure none of your ideas can be misinterpreted.

Your Research Paper Final Draft

To go from a working copy to a final draft requires outside help. You need an expert in the field, or at least someone in your intended audience to read for content. This person should challenge your ideas and conclusions. They must also understand what you meant to say. This will lead to a more cohesive research paper. The second person is a proofreader and an English Major can be of assistance here. They need to proof the paper for grammar, spelling and style.

Do Not Polish The Mud

This is a programing expression cleaned up a bit. It means when something is working stop move on. Do not keep rewriting the same sentence over and over again when it is already working. When your paper is 97% as good as it can be stop and move on to your next project.

Article Resource

Writing A Flawless Research Paper In 4 Easy Steps

When it comes to writing a good research paper, you can learn many of the latest methods in research and report writing from your professors and librarians. Assuming you don't wait until the last minute, most research papers can usually be completed by following a few general guidelines.

For detailed reports, you can write a good research paper just by practicing a few steps. In fact you can easily turn your standard paper into a flawless research paper just by going through 4 easy steps listed below.

Step 1: Selecting Topics and Initial Research

Start out by choosing a good topic for yourself as this will decide the outcome of your summary. Once you have locked your topic in place, proceed in collecting your references and bibliographies. That will help you decide where to seek for solutions and locate the information you need from various media resources like encyclopedias and informative websites. After you get them all together in one centralized location, get some index cards where you'll add these bibliography entries in preparation for your outline.

Step 2: Arranging and Structuring The Paper

You are going to need additional note cards to sort out all the relevant information in a logical manner. The trick with the note cards is to put all of the related ideas into one single paragraph to fill up the entire note card. Adding the bibliographies and references to that information will aid in keeping things organized.

Once all of your note cards are complete, separate them into different groups. The versatility of the note cards allows easy shuffling and experimentation with different outlines. Try to arrange them into a tree structure where you have the main topics, subtopics, details, etc.

Step 3: Drafting and Proofreading

With all of the note cards properly organized, you can now proceed in making your rough draft with confidence. Write a couple of rough drafts for your research paper and make sure it complies to the note cards which represents your entire research paper summary.

You can also try using writing software that can generate the outline for you based on ideas that you can give. After you are satisfied with what you are reading, give it a final check for spelling and grammar and then let your professor approve it.

Step 4: Preparation and Final Development

Get your bibliography cards out and start preparing your bibliography section in fuller detail. This process should be real simple if you sorted out your cards so you can easily place them in the relevant areas. This is important when your custom research paper is being checked as sources may be confirmed in order to evaluate the paper

After that, you can begin paginating and preparing the table of contents and matching title page. Refer to the online resources or teacher's reference on how to make the correct title page and check if everything is in order. You should be have a very organized research paper if these 4 steps were done correctly.

Now you can triple your productivity and write books, articles, reports & presentations faster than you ever thought possible.

Article Resource

Types Of Research Papers

Remarkable differences can be noticed between a research paper and a personal essay. In order to produce a research paper of quality the author must engage himself in extensive research work. Right from selecting the topic, collecting information from all the relevant sources to finally organizing it, the writer has to burn the mid night oil to create a research paper which is noteworthy. The author's ideas along with facts found in credible sources are skillfully intertwined in a research paper. There are two categories of research papers based on the way in which they are presented. They are Analytical and Argumentative. The two are entirely different that one can be easily distinguished from the other.

The author has to thoroughly explore the topic to produce an analytical research paper. The purpose here is to provide expert knowledge in the subject explained in the writer's own words. Objectivity is the key word here. The author does not take any sides; rather he treats the topic impartially and disseminates ideas and facts regarding it. He answers the research question without any bias or pre-conceived notions. After gathering in-depth knowledge about the topic he weaves together his findings in the best possible manner without any prejudice. Critical evaluation along with serious contemplation is visible in an analytical research paper.

Argumentative research papers are otherwise known as persuasive papers. The main difference between an analytical paper and argumentative research paper is that while the former is objective, the latter is subjective. While writing an argumentative research paper the author takes one side of an argument and uses it to form a thesis. The thesis is basically a statement highlighting one side of the argument that the writer feels must be taken into consideration. Here the writer tries to convince and persuade the readers to agree with his stand, by quoting reliable sources and making valid arguments.

Article Resource

Common Challenges With Research Papers

Just about every student needs to write research papers during their educational career. The research paper is a very classic assignment that first shows up in grade school. Many students first see research papers in the first or second grade. When students think of the phrase, "The dog ate my homework" many of them are most likely thinking of their research papers and what that famous dog could have helped them escape doing!

Many students feel challenged by research papers. Lots of students have problems with research papers. These students may be bright or may even be considered "slow" having a challenge with a research paper is not a problem that seems to discriminate. Learning strong research paper skills is something that will be useful to a student throughout their educational career.

Learn how to research. This is often where many students feel the most challenged. They actually do not know how to research a topic. While they may have been in the school library, or on the Internet they feel simply stumped when it comes to researching that paper that is due. Learning strong research skills takes practice. One of the most important skills is discerning if a source is good for your research paper. The best way to do this is to read the Table of Contents and the Reference notes in the back used to find exact information. When you see your exact topic listed in both of these places, then this is a great source for you to use for your research paper.

Do not only use the Internet as your source. Some students feel the Internet is the "best" source of information and what they mean is that it is actually the most convenient. They don't want to spend the time to go to the library at school or across town to the town library. It is much easier to surf at home and find sources that way. However, some sources are more easily located in a school or college library as books, magazines or journals that may not be accessible online.

Keep in mind also that not everything published online can be taken as accurate: there are many people that have created hobby websites about topics and they may not be completely 100% accurate on your topic. The best way to combat that is to view at least two websites on the Internet and to see if both have the same information.

Stay organized with your project. It is human nature: many of us put off what we don't want to do. When you are a student and you have a research paper due, it is critical that you start it as early as possible. This is especially important when you have a research paper on a topic you are less than confident about, or perhaps you know that your research skills are not strong. Starting early is a great key to success. Keep in mind that many students will be going to the library, and your starting early will mean that you discover the best books on the subject first before they have been picked over.

Have someone you trust read your research paper. Before you turn your research paper in, ask a friend or family member to read your research paper. Try to ask someone whose opinion you trust and someone that you consider to be intelligent. Ask this person to read and critique your research paper. They may make suggestions and we suggest that you be grateful if they do: they could help you get a much better grade. This friend or family member pointing something out now could save you from handing in a research paper that is not quite ready for your teacher's eyes.

Research papers do not have to be so challenging. Learning to be organized and developing strong research skills will help you become more confident. These skills can take some practice and any student can only improve. Research papers can be a valuable part of one's learning experience.

Article Resource