Research papers are written to examine and evaluate previously collected and new information, and then present evidence to support an argument. The academic writing standards are followed and almost every college student will have at least one. Research papers are essential to scientific fields. They provide the best way to share your knowledge.
Steps for Writing a Research Paper
You’re now sitting at your computer staring blankly at a document. What now? What do you need to know in order to write a research paper? We asked our partners from here – https://mypaperdone.com/pay-someone-to-write-my-research-paper and combined their knowledge with our point of view. These are the seven steps to writing a great academic research paper.
1. Understanding your goal
Writing a research paper is similar to trying to make a cake by following a recipe. It’s possible to make mistakes and get bad results by using the wrong techniques and ingredients.
Instead, examine carefully the requirements of your assignment.
- Rubric and assignment instructions–provided by your instructor
- Components and length requirements, literature review, reference lists, etc.
- Style guide for citations, body text – APA, CMOS or AMA
- Formatting requirements–double spacing, margins, etc. (often depend on style guide)
- Deadline and submission format: Date and time, file format, etc.
It might be helpful to make a checklist to help you review the work in step 7. Ask your instructor if you have any questions about the elements. This will save you time and money by not having to redo everything.
2. Select your topic
You will need to choose a topic if you are not assigned one. These are questions that you can ask to narrow down your topic.
- What are my interests? It will be easier to choose a topic that interests you.
- Which aspect of the topic should I be focusing on? It’s important to not be so general about a topic that you don’t have anything new to say, but specific enough that you can find relevant information.
- Do I have enough material? It is important that you are able to present evidence for and against your position.
- Which question(s) would you like to answer? This question will help focus your research and it might even lead to your main idea. You might also want to consider sub-research questions.
- What is my unique perspective? Consider what topic offers you the opportunity to bring new insights to existing research.
You may need to spend some time looking through online and library resources in order to answer the above questions. Make sure to cite any resources you find.
3. Do your research on the topic
After you have settled on a topic, start the preliminary research. While choosing your topic, you can dive deeper into the sources that you have already looked at. You should look for evidence and data that answers the questions you asked in step 2. Examine a range of reliable sources to support or contradict your view.
When conducting research, be sure to keep track of citation information. This includes direct quotes as well as page numbers. It’s tempting to just concentrate on further research and forget about this task. But you will regret it. It’s already time to look at the sources. Why waste your time on a second trip?
4. Create a thesis statement and an outline
Now that you have all the information, it is time to organize it so the reader can go from being uninformed to being informed. An outline for a research paper is like a map that shows the way to your conclusion. An outline is a way to break down your paper into sections that follow a logical flow. You can add as much or as few details as you like, but it should contain the main points and any pertinent information you don’t want missed.
Your thesis statement should be likened to the destination’s address. It is part of the introduction to the research paper (and in the outline), and tells the reader what you are going to do in your paper. The thesis statement answers the question that inspired you to research. It also summarizes your main points in one or two sentences.
5. Write your first draft
Once you have outlined the words you want to say, you can start writing. It’s really that easy. You don’t have to suppress your thoughts or change your phrasing. Instead, focus on getting your ideas down.
It doesn’t matter if you start with the introduction. You can start where ever you feel most inspired. Once all sections have been completed, you can ensure that everything flows together.
6. Cite your sources
Learning how to cite sources is the key to writing a research essay. You may have to create in-text and/or works citations, a Works Cited page or bibliography depending on the style guide. Be sure to pay attention to how citations are formatted and punctuated.
Research papers are based on existing information and research. Not citing the source correctly can have serious consequences. This could include expulsion or failure to receive a grade, jail time, or even expulsion.
7. Proofread and edit
Although you may think that the final step is complete, the truth is that you are just beginning to get there. You’re still in the final step, so you’re very close to the finish.
Editing effectively requires that you consider both the large picture and the details. You may find it easier to split these views into two editing steps. Additionally, you might want to revisit each step more than once. These are the major points that the big-picture stage addresses.
- Formatting
- Organization and headings
- Flow of ideas, arguments
- Support for the thesis statement or main research question
After you have finished with the larger issues, you can get on to the finer details.
- Grammar, spelling, punctuation
- Clear, precise sentence structure and word choices
- Words and phrases that are transition words
- Readers may not be familiar with the definition of certain terms
- Citations in-text as well as full
- These are the requirements listed in step 1.
Both stages should be used to remove any material that does not support your thesis. The most difficult part of writing can also be the most productive.
If your paper is too small after cutting, or if some parts are not quite right, you might need to add content.
After you have completed the editing, and your research paper has been submitted, proofread it. To catch any errors, go back through the entire document slowly.
