The process of writing a research paper is very involving and fulfilling at the same time. It is important to understand that the main essence of writing a research paper is to argue a point and analyze a particular perspective with the help of different sources of information. A research paper should reflect the ideas and thoughts of a writer without much focus on the used sources.
Information from outside sources should only be used to support the writer’s ideas. Writing a research paper involves evaluating and interpreting what experts know about a topic that is well known to the writer. The quality of a research paper depends on the writer’s ability to follow the standard procedure recommended for writing a research paper.
The first step in the research writing process is to choose a research topic that is interesting. A research topic should be challenging to the writer in order for him or her to have the determination to come up with a quality research paper. A research writer should have the right attitude towards the research topic and should also be enthusiastic about it.
A research topic should be narrowed to a limited aspect of the entire topic. It is advisable for students to seek approval concerning their research topic from their supervisors or teachers before they begin writing a research paper. It is very important to choose topics that are manageable and have a wide range of source materials.
The next step after choosing a research topic is to find information from both primary and secondary sources. Search engines are useful in searching for online information about the chosen topic. A research writer can also retrieve research information from academic sites, books, government publications, magazines and academic journals.
Websites should be critically evaluated before deciding which ones to use in research writing. Public and institutional libraries are very useful in the search for research information. The next step after assembling the required materials is to come up with a thesis statement for the intended research. A thesis statement represents the position of the writer about the subject being discussed in the paper.
A research writer should think critically before coming up with a concrete thesis statement which they can support in the body of the paper. A thesis statement should be fully supported and defended within the paper. A thesis statement is normally declared in a single sentence and should actually portray the writer’s belief.
After coming up with a thesis statement, the next step in the process of writing a research paper is to generate a tentative outline for the paper. An outline contains all the main points to be discussed in the paper and the points should always relate to the major topic.
An outline should include the introduction, the body of the paper and finally the paper’s conclusion. The points in an outline should flow logically from the introduction to the conclusion. In the introduction, the writer should clearly state the purpose of the paper after stating the thesis statement.
The writer should inform the readers how he or she is planning to approach the research topic. It is also necessary to mention the category of research that the writer is carrying out. The paper may be an analysis, a comparison, a review or a report. The writer should also highlight the major points to be covered in the paper in order to capture the attention of readers.
The body of a research paper should contain all the arguments that support the thesis statement with concrete and credible evidence from both primary and secondary sources. Each position taken by the writer should be adequately supported and defended within the body of the paper.
It is advisable for research writers to come up with at least three supporting arguments for each position taken. A conclusion should also include a summary of the main arguments within the paper. A conclusion can also contain some recommendations on the topic covered and what should be done in future research.
The notes in a research paper should be organized in a logical manner according to the outline. A research paper writer should critically analyze the research data and at the same time ensure that all the sources available for the research are relevant and credible.
A research writer should also consider opposing views before deciding on the final thesis statement. Evaluation of the gathered information helps the writer to actually understand their purpose for conducting that particular research. Writers should be careful not to include in their paper any information that is irrelevant to their research topic.
A research writer should be able to communicate their ideas, thoughts and arguments in a compelling and persuasive manner. Information from outside sources should be paraphrased and well cited to avoid any kind of plagiarism. Bibliographical information of all the outside sources used within the paper should be transferred to the Works Cited page as a show of recognition. The method of organizing notes should be decided by the writer according to their preferences or instructions given in class.
The next step after the writer has organized his or her notes is to write the first draft. A research writer can use direct quotations, summaries and paraphrases in preparing a first draft for a research paper. The points in the first draft should be arranged and written according to the outline. The next step after writing the first draft is revision. Revision involves checking out all content errors within the paper and correcting them.
It is important to ensure that the ideas within the paper flow logically according to the outline. The outline of a research paper can be reorganized at the revision stage. During revision, a research writer should ensure that all the sources used within the paper are properly cited to avoid any instances of plagiarism. A research paper writer should also check whether there is anything missing from the outline.
The quality of a research paper can be improved by simply correcting all the content errors in the paper. After revision, it is important for someone else to go through the paper to ensure that all mistakes are corrected. The final stage in the process of writing a research paper is typing and printing the final draft.
A printer of good quality should be used to print the final research paper. It is important to proofread the final paper for any grammatical errors to ensure the paper is neat and attractive. Simple spelling and punctuation errors should be corrected before printing the final paper.
In conclusion, writing a research paper is a directional process that academic writers and students need to be conversant with. A research paper should represent the perspective of a writer on a particular topic backed by the ideas of experts. A standard research paper should include an outline, an introduction, a thesis statement, body paragraphs and the conclusion.
Plagiarism is a serious offence liable for prosecution in a court of law. Academic writers dealing with research papers should always document all the sources used in their papers in order to avoid instances of plagiarism. Academic writers should follow the standard procedure of writing research papers if they want to write quality academic papers.