Completing a research paper can be a difficult and time-consuming job. But assuming a more structured framework, then it becomes much more manageable. The preparation of an outstanding research paper involves organization, precision, and sequenced procedure. Compared to passer essays, research papers require the writer to grasp informative material to present logical arguments and reference or cite a source. The paper may sound overwhelming at first glance, but a clear plan can make the process much smoother and turn your work into a best-looking and meaningful paper. So, no matter whether you are a learner, a working person or a scholar, the secret lies in segregating the process into segments. Here’s a 7 Steps in Writing a Research Paper.
Step 1: Choose a Research Topic
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Picking a good research topic is important for any paper that you are going to write. The topic creates the context for all that comes later; thus, it warrants time spent on generating and refining options. Ideally, the topic chosen should be interesting,100% relevant to the field of study, and fit the timeframe and word limit.
Tips for Selecting a Topic:
- Choose the area to discuss the work with which you are enthusiastic. Your interest will be shown in your writing.
- Assure that there is a sufficient quantity of authoritative sources on the specified subject.
- Make certain that the topic addresses everything you need to do for your assignment.
- Decide on concrete and searchable categories from giant themes that formalize broad concepts.
Example:
A general area, such as Energy Solutions, may be narrowed down to Exploring Renewable Energy Solutions for Urban Areas, which are well-defined, feasible and topical.
Step 2: Conduct Thorough Research
When you have your topic selected it is now time to begin gathering information and establish the facts to support your cases. Effective research entails identifying sources of information, how to arrange this information and lastly, how to locate research gaps. Your research paper is as good as your research and hence the quality of the work that you produce.
Tips for Effective Research:
- The sources you should use include journals, books, and research papers published and written by scholars.
- They include Google Scholar, which is an internet search engine for scholarly literature; JSTOR, which is a digital library of scholarly journals; and PubMed, which is a digital library of the National Library of Medicine.
- Record the titles, authors, sources and registration numbers of any worthy references and jot down significant details on the sideline.
- Develop a file folder system for the notes that you will be taking, like putting all notes related to a particular subject, topic or subtopic together.
During the research, one needs to search for both original work or data such as actual studies, experiments or data and subsequent work that interprets, reviews or analyzes original data.
Step 3: Develop a Strong Thesis Statement
In brief, your thesis statement is the central body of your research paper. Simply, it’s the organization’s statement that defines briefly the main point or the thesis that you are going to make. Having a good thesis statement makes it easier for one to follow a certain course while writing.
Steps to Develop a Thesis Statement:
- State the purpose of your paper in terms of a principal research question or question of concern.
- It is all well and good to ask that question but can you formulate a good answer to that question without it sounding rather trite and clichéd?
- You should make certain your statement is concrete and controversial.
Example:
- Weak thesis: “This is one of the things which can be said: Renewable energy is good for the environment.”
- Strong thesis: “Cities have enormous opportunities to decrease the carbon footprint through increased renewable energy usage while fostering economic growth and energy security.”
A good thesis statement does not merely lead your writing; it informs the reader of what to expect as you write your paper.
Step 4: Create an Outline
An outline is the skeleton on which the entire structure of your research paper is developed; you want your thoughts to be coherent. It is your guiding map that will help you manage all the information flow and avoid getting lost.
How to Create an Effective Outline:
- The material must begin with a set of preliminary remarks containing an exciting hook, the context for the given topic, and the thesis statement.
- Divide the body part into sub-topics, where each sub-topic presents a different angle in relation to the topic.
- Provide subsections containing evidence for your arguments, evidence against them, and elaborate discussion.
- Last the conclusion that would state your discoveries and restate the thesis.
An outline is helpful for planning in writing so that all necessary points are included, while there is no need to look for a specific detail that has been left out.
Step 5: Start Writing the First Draft
Now that you have your outline complete, you are ready to start on the letter proper. The first draft is a process where you put together the information collected and the ideas you have in mind. There is no need to be concerned about how clean your papers look at this stage\u2014your task is to put your ideas into words.
Section Breakdown for Writing:
- Introduction: Great leads for a speech begin with an appeal, include relevant facts, and conclude with a call to action.
- Body Paragraphs: The sources used when arguing the points in each paragraph should be supported by a topic sentence and analysis. In addition to section headings, use transitions to facilitate an easy shift between one paragraph and the other.
- Conclusion: Main points, conclusion and things for further research (if needed) and implications for future studies.
Allow yourself to write with complete liberty throughout the first draft mode because you have the liberty to refine it in the next step.
Step 6: Revise and Edit
Revision and editing take the work that you have written and make it the best that it can be as far as style and professionalism are concerned. While revising is majorly about fine-tuning the content of the paper, editing is majorly about the fineness of language.
Key Steps for Revising:
- Make sure that your arguments are presented clearly and evidence-based.
- Make sure to have cohesion between the sections, as well in terms of the manner and language used.
- Delete and eliminate redundancy or provide inadequate and unneeded data.
Editing Tips:
- You can also correct mistakes using the Grammarly, Hemingway Editor or ProWritingAid applications.
- Learn your paper and attempt to locate the part of it that sounds clunky when you read it out loud.
- Share it with peers or a teacher in order to get another point of view.
Revise several times to ensure the paper is as perfect as possible and will stand out.
Step 7: Cite Sources Properly
There is no need to state that citation is an essential part of any writing and that plagiarism must be avoided. It also demonstrates to the opponent that your ideas are substantiated with valid information. Various fields and organizations practice various citation styles so ensure you adhere to the ones stated above.
Popular Citation Styles:
APA: Used in social sciences.
MLA: Common in humanities.
Chicago: Most popular in history and some of the social science courses.
Tips for Citing Sources:
- One can also use citation tools such as Zotero, EndNote or Citation Machine to achieve the correct format.
- Write footnotes or endnotes and references or works cited page if you choose a MLA format.
- Check the format of your citations and make sure they are written in the style needed.
Example of APA Style Citation:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Publisher.
Conclusion
Well, actually, writing a research paper doesn’t have to be complicated. Using the seven steps of choosing a topic, research, thesis, outline, writing the first draft, revising the paper, and citation, you can divide the work into easily manageable parts.
To give oneself the best shot at success means that one needs to be organized, start early and go through each step methodically without undue haste. By implementing these strategies, you will work through the writing of a research paper that is not only going to be well written but will also demonstrate your critical thought and research.
Final Tip: Never feel embarrassed or shy when you need help or support in something. It can be from a professor to a colleague or from a writing tool – help often eases the work and speeds up the process.
