Most college students in the United States are required to write at least a couple of different types of research papers before they graduate. A research paper assignment often creates a great deal of anxiety among students, along with feelings of confusion and inadequacy, particularly if they are unfamiliar with this genre of writing.
This guide will take students new to academic writing through the different stages of writing a research paper, from understanding an assignment to proofreading the final draft. However, it is important to remember that writing a research paper is not the simple, linear process it appears to be; it is often recursive and sometimes messy and must be handled in a flexible manner.
What is a Research Paper?
A research paper is a genre of academic writing based on in-depth research of primary and secondary sources as well as analysis and interpretation of the data obtained. It is a medium through which the researcher offers their arguments and perspective on a specific topic.
Research papers are comparable to academic essays but differ in being longer and more detailed. They are designed to assess students’ ability to conduct scholarly research. Students are expected to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the topic, engage with multiple sources, and contribute to the debate from an original point of view.
A research paper is sometimes confused with a research proposal because of similarities in the writing process. A research proposal (also known as a prospectus) is a piece of persuasive writing that strives to convince its readers of the value and importance of a research project. A research paper, on the other hand, is a demonstration of the author’s knowledge of the subject. The research proposal, therefore, is the pitch, while the paper is the final product.
7 Key Stages of Writing a Research Paper
1. Understanding the Assignment
Research paper assignments consist of a series of tasks that the professor expects to be completed in a certain amount of time. Students must thoroughly understand the assignment task sheet before starting. Here are some tips to help:
- Students must read the assignment carefully and clarify any confusing information with the professor as soon as possible.
- They must determine the goal(s), word limit, formatting, method of submission, deadline, and other specifications.
- They should identify the key points and cross them off as they are accomplished.
- They must plan a realistic timeframe for researching, writing, and editing the final draft.
2. Choosing a Topic
Many students consider this the hardest part of writing a research paper. There are a variety of ways students can brainstorm for ideas, from talking it through with the professor or fellow students to freewriting (writing spontaneously for a pre-decided amount of time) their way through it. Students may also benefit from exploring the recommendations sections of old research papers for topic ideas and inspiration.
Once a broad area has been identified, it can be narrowed down to a topic that interests the student, meets the assignment criteria, and can be developed into an original research paper.
3. Conducting Preparatory Research
At this stage, students must thoroughly explore a variety of primary and secondary sources, including books, journals, clinical reports, case studies, dissertations, and accredited websites, for information about the topic. Primary sources such as speech transcripts, diaries, manuscripts, eyewitness accounts, interviews, records, and autobiographies must not be neglected.
It is also important for students to pay attention to scholarly discussions that have contributed to existing knowledge about the topic and identify an issue that the paper can focus on. They must not only look for ideas that corroborate their own beliefs and ideas, but also look for material that provides conflicting points of view. Here are some important questions that students must ask themselves during preparatory research:
- Is there anything that past researchers seem to have overlooked?
- Are there any interesting debates that need addressing?
- Is it possible to offer a fresh perspective on the topic?
- Are there any recent developments that add to existing knowledge about the subject?
It might also be helpful to formulate some research questions (how/what/why) to guide the process.
4. Developing a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement states the main argument of the research paper as well as its purpose and position on the topic. It answers the research question(s) raised in the paper and also describes the reasoning and evidence that will support that answer.
A good thesis statement is succinct and coherent. It summarizes the main argument in a few sentences, makes a claim that will be substantiated with further evidence, and articulates a point that ties together all parts of the paper. Each paragraph in the paper serves to support and develop the thesis statement. The statement may be refined as the research progresses while also effectively steering the paper through the writing process.
5. Creating an Outline
The next step in the writing process is to create an outline – a list of key topics, claims, arguments, and evidence divided into sections with headings. The outline gives the author a good idea of what the draft will look like before they even start writing. Creating a structured outline makes the writing process much easier and far more efficient.
6. Writing a First Draft
First drafts are unlikely to be perfect, but they can be polished later on. At this stage, students are expected to make sure all sentences and paragraphs are clearly organized and logically ordered. This helps maintain the momentum of writing and assists with the second draft.
It is important that students express ideas with clarity and precision while writing the first draft, so they know what they were trying to say when they embark upon the second.
While writing the first draft, it is not necessary to work in any particular order. Some prefer to start with the introduction; others like to get the difficult sections out of the way first; some choose to begin with the easiest parts. The outline that was created previously can be used as a map while the author works on different sections.
Tip – Instead of deleting large sections of text for any reason, moving them to a different document where they can be easily accessed if needed can be helpful; one never knows what might come of use later on.
Steps for Writing the First Draft
I Writing the Introduction
The introduction should inform the reader what the paper is about, why it is worth reading, and how the author intends to construct their arguments. The introduction defines the topic of the paper, establishes a background, and cites key concepts and terms. It also apprises the reader of the new material or fresh insights the paper contains as well as the main issues it addresses. In a nutshell, the introduction is the blueprint of a research paper, outlining its key elements in chronological order.
II Writing the Body Paragraphs of the Paper
While writing the main body of a research paper, many students struggle with organizing and coherently presenting the information they have so painstakingly gathered. While the outline and thesis statement can be useful guides to organize the paper, the author can be flexible with the order in which they present their arguments and information. It is important to set up logical transitions between sentences, paragraphs, and sections and to ensure that the paper is free of repetitive passages or redundant information.
III Writing the Conclusion
The conclusion should allow the reader to smoothly transition out of the paper and go beyond; it should give them a sense of closure. A good conclusion traces the course of the paper, tying everything together to justify the thesis statement and resolving the issues raised in the introduction. It also points out the general ramifications of the argument and highlights questions or claims that the paper has raised but not addressed. The conclusion must neither ramble in its course nor raise new arguments or questions.
7. Writing the Second Draft
Students must keep the following points in mind while writing the second draft:
- The paper should meet the requirements of the assignment.
- Any points that might require extra reinforcement should be identified. If they cannot be substantiated further, they must be removed.
- All the ideas and sections in the paper should be logically organized so they form a coherent whole.
- Ideas that do not fit well should be cut out or condensed. If new ideas suggest themselves while writing the second draft, this is the time to incorporate them in the paper
8. Revising the Paper
The process of revision and proofreading ensures that all assignment tasks have been accomplished and the paper is as error-free as possible. The author must ask themselves the following questions:
- Does the paper accomplish every task specified in the assignment?
- Is the paper logically organized and do its paragraphs flow in a cohesive manner?
- Does each sentence in each paragraph support the thesis statement?
- Does the paper contain any superfluous or irrelevant information?
- Does the paper show connections between ideas with the help of transition words and phrases?
- Does the paper have consistent formatting and spelling, appropriate use of endnotes or footnotes, and an acknowledgment of sources in accordance with the citation style?
- Does the paper contain typos and/or redundant words?
