When students think of research papers, they imagine their eyes glazing over, their cramped fingers clacking on the keyboard, and their laptop emitting the only light left in the library.
But writing a research paper doesn’t have to be miserable. A
simple and painless process exists, and we have all the steps waiting for you
below.
In this blog post, we’ll give you a straightforward guide on
how to write a research paper.
We’ll outline the purpose of this type of academic writing
as well as break down the steps needed to produce an authoritative paper your
professor will rave about.
Before we dive into the world of sources and citations,
let’s first define what a research paper is.
What Is a Research Paper?
A research paper is a form of academic writing that examines
one topic at length and makes an argument backed by empirical evidence.
Research papers differ from analytical essays because of their longer length, emphasis
on data, and stringent citation requirements.
They also differ from research proposals. While a research paper summarizes
research conducted to support an argument, a proposal simply suggests an idea
for future research.
Most people encounter research papers in college. Students
often write them to demonstrate their information-gathering skills and cement
their understanding of course material.
However, professors, scientists, and engineers also examine
topics and publish detailed papers about their findings.
What is the Format of a Research Paper?
Citation style dictates the format of a research paper.
The most popular citation styles include the Modern Language Association (MLA),
American Psychological
Association (APA), and Chicago
Manual of Style (CMOS).
Each of them has distinct formatting guidelines. However,
most guidelines require:
- 1-inch
page margins
- 12-point
Times New Roman font
- Double
line spacing
- Page
numbers
- ½
indentations for every new paragraph
- Works
cited or references page
Like other pieces of writing, a research paper typically
follows a three-part structure: an introduction, body section, and conclusion.
However, APA papers reporting on the results of an
experiment also feature an abstract.
Their body section will contain headings for the methods, results, and
discussion of the experiment.
11 Simple Steps for How to Write a Research Paper
A research paper may have a straightforward structure, but
writing one can be challenging.
To simplify the process, we have 11 effective steps geared
specifically toward students.
1) Understand the Assignment
Before you begin your paper, ensure you have a firm grasp of
the assignment.
Read and re-read the instructions your professor provided.
Highlight key details like the deadline, page count,
preferred citation style, specific topics students should avoid, submission
method, and recommended resources.
Also, analyze the rubric so you
know what components your professor will scrutinize. Don’t assume your
instructor will only deduct for mechanical errors.
Some professors may take off points for failing to include a
specific number of sources.
With that being said, ask your professor if you need
clarification on the assignment or how it will be graded. That way, you don’t
submit a paper that overlooks an important criterion.
2) Select a Topic
Once you’ve clarified what the assignment entails, choose a
relevant topic.
Your professor may have provided a topic or specified ones
to avoid. In that case, choose a subject that meets your instructor’s approval.
If your professor didn’t assign a topic, then begin
brainstorming a list of subjects you would enjoy researching and writing about.
From there, refine your ideas and choose one feasible topic.
A feasible topic is clear, specific, and researchable.
For example, a research paper on the role of early
20th-century African-American photographers in promoting racial equality
satisfies that criteria.
However, a paper on African-American photographers in the
early 20th century, though likely to have ample scholarship to cite, is too
broad.
3) Conduct Preliminary Research
You’ve chosen a feasible topic. Now, you can proceed to
preliminary research.
Instead of poring over every article or book, you’re simply
finding out what kind of scholarship exists on your topic.
Consult databases provided by your university. Skim through
pertinent academic journals, reputable news websites, and digital or physical
books.
To expedite your pre-research process, browse sections that
summarize potential sources like the abstracts, introductions, and conclusions
of academic papers.
Based on this information, quickly determine whether the
material is useful and then save it for future reading.
When collecting potential sources, aim for a mixture of primary and secondary sources.
Primary sources are first-hand accounts of a topic like
speeches, interviews, datasets, and original research.
Secondary sources interpret and analyze the topic like books
on the subject, scholarly articles, and documentaries.
4) Write a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement summarizes an author’s argument in one to
two sentences.
It usually appears at the end of the introduction and before
the first body paragraph.
The success of your research paper depends largely on your
thesis statement, so write a clear and concise opinion on your topic.
A successful thesis statement might resemble this one:
“Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly addresses salient
social themes that put it in conversation with the liberatory objectives of the
Black Lives Matter movement.”
On the other hand, an unsuccessful thesis statement would
look like this:
“Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly addresses social
themes and so does the Black Lives Matter movement.”
The latter thesis lacks a debatable position. It may state
the general topic the paper will address, but the thesis doesn’t advance an
argument. It simply makes an observation.
5) Review Your Research for Supporting Evidence
After you’ve refined your thesis, you can revisit your
earlier research.
This time, you want to comb through all of the sources you
collected. Focus on the information supporting your thesis statement and ignore
any extraneous details.
As you gather strong supporting points, take notes on the
material.
Write down source names, page and section numbers,
statistical figures, quotations, and ideas on how you will tie the information
to your thesis.
Doing so will save you time. You won’t have to fumble
through files searching for a quote because you’ve already copied it down and
noted where to find it.
Organizing and taking notes on your research will also
prevent accidental plagiarism.
You’ll know when the words you’ve pasted into a document
come from you or another scholar. That way, you won’t forget to cite that
information once you begin creating your citations page.
6) Outline Your Paper
An outline divides your arguments and supporting evidence
into distinct headings.
Outlining gives you a bird’s eye view of your paper and
ensures it follows a logical flow. It also helps you identify unnecessary or
under-researched sections.
When creating an outline, put your thesis statement at the
top. Add your headings (introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion)
underneath. If you have specific titles for each, include them.
Next, put a main point under each heading. Follow that with
a few supporting points. Then, underneath those points, add links to or
descriptions of the type of evidence you’ll use.
Though you’ll likely add or remove sections, your outline
should look similar to this one:
7) Write the Introduction
A firm understanding of your topic coupled with a clear
structure simplifies the writing process.
You’ll usually start by writing the introduction. This
should capture the reader’s attention and encourage them to continue through
the paper.
To hook readers, open with an anecdote. If your paper
examines how science fiction programs inspired actual innovations, then vividly
describe a scene where Star Trek’s Captain Kirk uses his communicator,
which inspired the real-life invention of the cell phone.
However, not all research paper assignments permit such
creativity. In that case, give an intriguing overview of the subject or state a
surprising fact relevant to the topic.
Remember to include a strong and succinct thesis statement
at the end of your introduction.
8) Write the Body Paragraphs
Your body paragraphs form the bulk of your essay. The
majority of your analysis and evidence will appear in this section.
Normally, a research paper contains three to five body
paragraphs. Each paragraph should have five to seven sentences. This ensures
you adequately explain and support your argument.
When writing your body section, think of how it relates to
your thesis statement. You may want to copy and paste your thesis before each
paragraph so you don’t lose sight of your stance.
Also, remember to follow the TTEB method for constructing good body paragraphs:
- Transition
sentence: Uses transition words to link one sentence to another.
- Topic
sentence: Tells readers what to expect from a paragraph.
- Specific
Evidence and analysis: Supports your argument and expounds on your
topic sentence.
- Brief
wrap-up sentence: Explains how the information connects to your thesis
statement.
9) Write the Conclusion
The conclusion wraps up your paper and restates the thesis.
You should avoid introducing new information in this
section. Instead, summarize your argument and supporting evidence without
repeating prior sections word-for-word.
Make sure the conclusion demonstrates the value of your
research. Discuss how your paper adds to existing scholarship on the topic or
contributes an original perspective.
You could also address the limitations of your paper.
Scholars with opposing arguments may have offered valid
points, which you could acknowledge. This would also allow you to summarize any
counterarguments you made earlier in the paper.
Either way, remember to keep your conclusion focused and
concise. Information in this section should only reinforce your findings, offer
relevant insight, and bring your assertions full circle.
10) Cite Your Sources
One of the more tedious parts of the research paper writing
process is citing sources.
Citation rules vary depending on the style you use.
Humanities departments use MLA. Education, psychology, and
science departments follow APA. Finally, business, history, and fine arts
departments often use the Chicago Manual of Style.
Your research paper will feature both in-text citations and either a works cited or reference
page.
In-text citations appear throughout your paper and
distinguish your original thoughts from information you’ve gathered from other
sources.
The works cited or references page appears at the end of
your paper. It indicates where you found the external information mentioned
throughout the piece.
11) Revise and Proofread
The revision and proofreading stages conclude the research
paper writing process.
Revision involves examining your paper for major and minor
flaws and then correcting them.
Global revision takes a more structural approach. It focuses
on the quality of your arguments, organization, and evidence. Global revision
questions include:
- Is
the thesis statement clear?
- Does
the writer focus on the topic?
- Do
sections flow logically and seamlessly?
- Does
the writer anticipate and address the reader’s questions?
Local revision scrutinizes sentence-level details like
spelling, grammar, and mechanical errors.
Questions for local revision include:
- Are
sentences too long?
- Does
the writer use hedging language?
- Are
there misspellings or typos?
- Does
the writer use vague words?
After you’ve revised your paper, step away from it for a few
hours. Then, read it aloud.
You can also print it or change the font size to catch any
mistakes you missed the first time.
Still Wondering How to Write a Research Paper? Just Start!
A research paper doesn’t have to make your skin crawl and
fingers freeze. In fact, writing one can be as simple as the 11 steps in this
guide.
We’ve already broken down each of those steps. It’s now up
to you to craft an A-worthy paper.
Remember: the most challenging part isn’t finding or citing
sources. It isn’t even the writing itself.
The hardest part is starting.
This guide can take you by the hand and walk you to a
publishable piece of academic writing. But only if you commit to the process
and choose to go forth.
So trust yourself and the actionable insights enclosed in this guide. Then, make that first move.