The programme of study at a college or university includes the preparation of different writing assignments, and research is no exception. It is not the most straightforward academic paper, but we will tell you how to write a research paper, get high grades and complete this task efficiently. Remember that every detail and every section is important when writing research – don’t miss them, and move along with our step-by-step guide.
Research is the foundation of modern knowledge and one of the most effective ways to share relevant information on the Internet.
You train to write such studies from college or university and learn to understand the information they represent because in future you need to be perfectly oriented in the information you receive.
Research papers are among the most complex academic papers that require a systemic approach and analytical thinking. They test the ability to compare facts and statistics and draw conclusions from the information obtained. That is why it is crucial to figure out how to write a study correctly so that the professor highly appreciates it.
When you get an assignment to write a research paper, keep in mind that it should include evidence and reasoning for each conclusion. In addition, the college may ask you to write a research proposal. It is a different kind of paper that is not the research itself but refers to its importance and justifies the resources (human and financial) that can be used to prepare the research paper itself.
Different word-count may be assigned in research for a school, college and university. At the university, you can expect a document of 6,000 – 10,000 words; at the school, from 1,000 words.
In any case, the number of words is also influenced by the topic to be explored. In addition, the lecturer can specify the required amount of the task to check whether you can work within the defined limits or specific requirements for a particular level of student training.
Your research should show why you are undertaking this topic and what important value/thought/find you are promoting.
The research paper has a clear structure.
Unless otherwise specified by your assignment, you can use the IMRaD format to prepare the research. It means your paper should have an introduction, methods, results and discussion in the same sequence. We also recommend including an abstract, keywords, acknowledgements and citations.
Before writing your research paper, you must carefully read the assignment. Failure to comply with technical requirements can result in a lower rating, even if your research is well-written. Consider factors such as text length, formatting, and citation style.
Another critical point before writing the research is the choice of the topic. It is the topic that determines all your further work on the study, so its choice should be considered. Avoid too popular issues. Although on them you will find many sources of information, unlikely to be able to bring something new. Too narrow a topic can limit you in the sources of information, and it will be challenging to get the text to the required words count. The best option for you is to choose a topic that you really want to understand and discover something new for yourself. Stay involved and test a few topics in common. We are sure that you will easily find exactly your case.
The first step, start writing the research paper with a thesis statement. It briefly summarises your research work and reveals its primary meaning. According to your thesis statement, your instructor should clearly understand what he will read next. But uncovering all the research findings in the thesis statement is not worth it. If you have difficulty writing an affirmative thesis statement, try to transform it into a question and immediately answer it.
The second step, write an outline. Sometimes students ask themselves, do you need to write a research paper outline? Our answer is yes! The research paper is the kind of writing that requires a systematic approach and a clear structure. It is why the outline is primarily essential for the student.
How to write an outline for research? Write all the items you want to cover in the paper, then analyse them and arrange them correctly and logically.
The third step is to go to writing the research paper itself. If you have not missed the previous point and you have a detailed outline, writing a research paper will go smoothly for you, however voluminous it may be. Follow the IMRaD format unless otherwise specified in your assignment.
The most significant part falls on the body of the paper. Ensure that the sections in the body of the study meet the outline items. Do not be afraid to make a mistake; you will again re-read your paper. When completing your essay, pay more attention to the logical sequence and the correct substantiation of your findings, and correct the grammatical later.
The secret to the research paper’s success is brilliant insights (conclusions). Here you can demonstrate your eloquence skills and confirm your thesis statement emphasising the importance of research. Your opinion should also be present in the conclusions to explain to the professor the ability to evaluate facts and evidence and express your opinion on their basis.
You chose a great topic and wrote a great paper with findings and conclusions. Do you think you have your study ready? Still waiting! No less important point in writing such an academic paper is formatting.
Formatting makes text readable and whole. Try formatting your paper according to our recommendations or requirements from your university assignment.
Use high-quality and density paper, necessarily clean and only on one side.
Remember to leave indent fields 1 or 2.5 cm on each side of the sheet. Use 1/2 distance (1.25 cm) from the top right corner for page numbers.
Check with your tutor if you need the title page. Not all universities require it, but it should be by default for some.
All pages should be numbered in the upper right corner on the right. Write numbers with Arabic numerals. Students who write research for the first time can embellish their essays; page numbering is no exception. But do not do this. One number in the right place will be enough.
Citation style should also be specified in the research requirements. Several major styles are used in universities and colleges around the world:
But if the style is not specified in the requirements, remember that the most popular source citation in the UK is the Harvard style.
You can put a period at the end of your essay paper and nothing more. There is no word signal to complete the research paper.
There are different types of research papers, each with its characteristics. That is why you need to know what kind of research the teacher expects from you initially. Often, the definition of the type of research paper also depends on the topic. Let’s look at the most popular types of research papers among students.
For this research, it is essential to provide the collected facts and compare and/or contrast them.
In this paper, the analysis of all points of view and facts is the key. Conclusions should also demonstrate not dry facts and finds but their analysis. At the same time, one should avoid the predominance of one point of view over another and demonstrate the author’s preference.
This study needs to focus on solving the problem. But first, you have to make it straightforward so that during the research, even if you come across a very suitable source and you want to expand the topic – you have not done that. One problem – one solution – one study.
This type of research paper involves a few active research tools, but you will have to explore many sources that will help prepare a brilliant essay. All that is needed is to collect complete information on your topic. It does not even require analysis or your opinion.
The key source in this study is the respondents, and the researcher should conduct a survey on his topic, analyse the responses received and draw conclusions.
The main goal is to compare two opposing viewpoints. You will also need to indicate which of them you prefer and justify why.
To write the Experimental Research Paper, you need to experiment, describe the methodology and the entire experimental process, and specify the results and sources of citation. Use empirical analysis to construct your conclusions correctly.
You wrote the research paper, formatted it, and proofread it. But is that really the end of it, and it’s time for the university submission?
Let’s review the points that need to be in the paper and what should not be there.