A research paper is a written task which importance can never be overemphasized. It plays a fundamental role in nurturing student on the fundamentals of the discipline he opted for. The guideline for every research paper varies depending on the discipline that is concerned. After being searching tremendously all over the place for a research paper topic and its relevant material, I have come up with the information that will be valuable to most of the university students and will aid them to conquer this troublesome task. Before moving towards on how to write a research paper, we must know what a research paper is. A research paper is sometimes also referred to as academic and scholarly paper that infuses the writers’ original research on a specific topic that critically analyzes the several aspects of the topic and interprets the research findings in the best possible way. A research paper can fall into three categories i.e. it can either be a term paper or a doctoral dissertation and a master’s thesis. I have highlighted the main points that will guide the students in formulating a research paper that aids them in the attaining of an A+ research paper which develops the valuable skill that caters to us throughout our career.
Q. Why a research paper is written?
The purpose of the research paper is to assist students to achieve supremacy in the subject or discipline that one opted for. For the achievement of supremacy, practical experience and exposure are needed which assist us to excel in the relevant discipline. It allows us to gain in-depth knowledge of the topic chosen which is well nourished into our brain by writing.
Q. What steps to follow in writing a research paper?
The steps have been listed down which will lead you towards the formulation of an effective and structured research paper.
Select a Research Topic:
The selection of the research topic plays an imperative role in determining the strength of the research paper. There are two situations that we face here. One is that instructor assigns us to the topic whereas in some cases we can choose one on our own. It presents a great opportunity to explore the topic that particularly interests us because it sets our enthusiasm and efforts that we are ready to put in. Opt for a subject after considering the following questions:
Gather Relevant Information:
After selection of the topic, search for the relevant material that you could induce it the paper. The resources that are helpful in to support the points that we plan to raise can be answered through a thorough research on the internet. Your course instructor may have perhaps suggested some sources for coming up with relevant and authentic pieces that could be used in the research. Determine the sources such as primary or secondary, depending on your research question. Previous journals, books, and other documents can also cater to your research.
Plan An Outline:
After gathering the significant and relevant information for the research paper, plan the outline which helps you to logically include the information in the paper. Creating an outline ensures that only prime information is encompassed and all the trivial information is discarded. It sets the boundary and aids us to remain focus; it also ensures that we are on the track of what we initially planned.
Organize Your Paper:
When done with the outline of the research, organize the paper. Organizing a paper assist us in forming our thoughts in a logical order and that all the information flows in a pattern that is easy for the reader to follow up upon. It helps in citing the sources that we have incorporated in the paper as an evidence for the information augmented in the paper; it demonstrates that all the information is authentic and well supported. It further evaluates the sources and determines if the paper is well supported or not.
Write a Draft:
Once done with the initial resourcing, start writing your research paper. Combine the thoughts and ideas that you want to tackle in your research question. Critically analyze how these are formed in a cohesive pattern and discuss every single element of the information in relation to your research. Give crucial attention to the citation to avoid plagiarism.
Revise The Written Draft:
It is the final step of your research paper. It checks the facts and figures once again. It helps rearrange the ideas according to the set outline if necessary, keeping the main idea of the research intact. Further any error in terms of grammar, typos can be corrected while proofreading. Also, it helps determine that the tone of the paper is consistent and appropriate illustrates the notion that a thorough research has been conducted to provide such a well-defined paper.
Give The Necessary Citation:
The keystone of an outstanding research is the citation. They assist the instructor or in charge to determine the authenticity of the research by reviewing the resources which we have used as supporting evidence in the research. Most professors assign their preferred style for the research. There are several citation styles such as APA (American Psychological Association) used in science, humanities students use (Modern Languages Association) citation format and many others such as Harvard style format and Chicago style format
This ultimate guide is written to provide you information of writing a research paper. I surely hope that the steps listed will be of assistance when this troublesome but knowledgeable task is assigned to you.