Description
pls make sure I want zero plagiarism and zero AI
Unformatted Attachment Preview
How to Write A
Research
Paper?
What is a
research paper?
A research paper is a type of academic writing that
provides an in-depth analysis, evaluation, or
interpretation of a single topic, based on empirical
evidence. Research papers are similar to analytical
essays, except that research papers emphasize the use
of statistical data and preexisting research, along with
a strict code for citations.
How long
should a
research
paper be?
The length of a research paper depends on the
topic or assignment. Typically, research papers
run around 4,000–6,000 words, but it’s common
to see short papers around 2,000 words or long
papers over 10,000 words.
If you’re writing a paper for school, the
recommended length should be provided in the
assignment. Otherwise, let your topic dictate the
length: Complicated topics or extensive
research will require more explanation.
How to write a
research paper
in 9 steps
Below is a step-by-step guide to writing a research paper,
catered specifically for students rather than professional
researchers. While some steps may not apply to your
particular assignment, think of this as more of a general
guideline to keep you on track.
(1)Understand
the
assignment
For some of you this goes without saying, but you
might be surprised at how many students start a
research paper without even reading the
assignment guidelines.
So your first step should be to review the
assignment and carefully read the writing prompt.
Specifically, look for technical requirements such
as length, formatting requirements (single- vs.
double-spacing, indentations, etc.) and citation
style. Also pay attention to the particulars, such as
whether or not you need to write an abstract or
include a cover page.
In open-ended assignments, the student must choose their
own topic. While it may seem simple enough, choosing a
topic is actually the most important decision you’ll make in
writing a research paper, since it determines everything that
follows.
(2)Choose
your topic
Your top priority in how to choose a research paper topic is
whether it will provide enough content and substance for an
entire research paper. You’ll want to choose a topic with
enough data and complexity to enable a rich discussion.
However, you also want to avoid general topics and instead
stick with topics specific enough that you can cover all the
relevant information without cutting too much.
(3) Gather
preliminary
research
THE SOONER YOU START
RESEARCHING, THE
BETTER—AFTER ALL, IT’S
CALLED
A RESEARCH PAPER FOR A
REASON.
TO REFINE YOUR TOPIC
AND PREPARE YOUR THESIS
STATEMENT, FIND OUT
WHAT RESEARCH IS
AVAILABLE FOR YOUR
TOPIC AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. EARLY RESEARCH
CAN HELP DISPEL ANY
MISCONCEPTIONS YOU
HAVE ABOUT THE TOPIC
AND REVEAL THE BEST
PATHS AND APPROACHES
TO FIND MORE MATERIAL.
TYPICALLY, YOU CAN FIND
SOURCES EITHER ONLINE
OR IN A LIBRARY. IF YOU’RE
SEARCHING ONLINE, MAKE
SURE YOU USE CREDIBLE
SOURCES LIKE SCIENCE
JOURNALS OR ACADEMIC
PAPERS. SOME SEARCH
ENGINES—MENTIONED
BELOW IN THE TOOLS AND
RESOURCES SECTION—
ALLOW YOU TO BROWSE
ONLY ACCREDITED
SOURCES AND ACADEMIC
DATABASES.
(4)Write a thesis statement
Using what you found in
your preliminary research,
write a thesis
statement that succinctly
summarizes what your
research paper will be
about. This is usually the first
sentence in your paper,
making it your reader’s
introduction to the topic.
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. If you’re
having trouble putting it
into words, try to phrase
your topic as a question
and then answer it.
(5)Determine supporting evidence
At this stage of how to write an
academic research paper, it’s time to
knuckle down and do the actual
research. Here’s when you go through all
the sources you collected earlier and find
the specific information you’d like to use
in your paper.
Normally, you find your supporting
evidence by reading each source and
taking notes. Isolate only the information
that’s directly relevant to your topic;
don’t bog down your paper with
tangents or unnecessary context,
however interesting they may be.
And always write down page numbers,
not only for you to find the information
later, but also because you’ll need them
for your citations.
(6)Write a
research
paper outline
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.
(7)Write the first draft
Once your outline is finished, it’s time to start actually writing your research
paper. This is by far the longest and most involved step, but if you’ve properly
prepared your sources and written a thorough outline, everything should run
smoothly.
If you don’t know how to write an introduction for a research paper, the
beginning can be difficult. That’s why writing your thesis statement beforehand
is crucial. 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.
(8)Cite your sources correctly
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 . . .
problem is, there’s more
than one set of 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:
MLA (Modern
Language Association)
APA (American
Psychological
Association)
(9) Edit and
proofread
Last but not least, you want to go through your
research paper to correct all the mistakes
by proofreading. We recommend going over it
twice: once for structural issues such as
adding/deleting parts or rearranging paragraphs
and once for word choice, grammatical, and
spelling mistakes. Doing two different editing
sessions helps you focus on one area at a time
instead of doing them both at once.
To help you catch everything, here’s a quick checklist to keep in mind while you edit:
Structural edit:
Is your thesis statement
clear and concise?
Do your arguments
support and prove
your thesis?
Is your paper wellorganized, and does it
flow from beginning to
end with logical
transitions?
Have you avoided
repetition?
Do your ideas follow a
logical sequence in
each paragraph?
Are your sources
properly cited?
Have you used
concrete details and
facts and avoided
generalizations?
Have you checked for
accidental
plagiarism?
Word choice,
grammar, and
spelling edit:
•
Is your language clear and specific?
•
Do your sentences flow smoothly and clearly?
•
Have you avoided filler words and phrases?
•
Have you checked for proper grammar, spelling, and
punctuation?
Some people find it useful to read their paper out loud to catch
problems they might miss when reading in their head. Another
solution is to have someone else read your paper and point out
areas for improvement and/or technical mistakes.
Revising is a separate skill from writing, and being good at one
doesn’t necessarily make you good at the other. 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.
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
