What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is a piece of academic writing that requires a more abstract, critical, and thoughtful level of inquiry than you might be used to. But not to worry, you'll gradually pick up that mindset the more you envelop yourself in tutorial discussions and lectures at the college level, and of course, the more you write. Not just research papers but any paper, period.

Writing a research paper involves
  1. First familiarizing yourself with the works of "experts"--for example, on the page, in cyberspace, or in the flesh through personal interviews--to build upon what you know about a subject and then

  2. Comparing their thoughts on the topic with your own.
You'll end up using relevant information--facts and/or opinions--from these expert sources, these "others," to support the topic you have been given or chosen to explore. Then, as our subsequent steps will outline, the final product will be a unique and appropriate integration of evidence you have located outside yourself and personal insights generated from your own internal think tank--your mind!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Research Paper Format

Image
Recommendations here are based on the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. It is important to note, however, that individual instructors and institutions or departments may vary from these recommendations somewhat and that it is always wise to consult with your instructor before formatting and submitting your work. Paper: Use white, twenty-pound, 81/2- by 11-inch paper. Erasable paper tends to smudge and should be avoided for a final draft. If you prefer to use erasable paper in the preparation of your paper, submit a good photocopy to your instructor. Margins: Except for page numbers (see below), leave one-inch margins all around the text of your paper -- left side, right side, and top and bottom. Paragraphs should be indented half an inch; set-off quotations should be indented an inch from the left margin (five spaces and ten spaces, respectively, on standard typewriters). Spacing: The MLA Guide says that "the research paper must be double-spaced," including quot...
Read more

Techniques for Custom Research Paper Writing

Image
Custom Research Paper writing is more than just gathering information; it requires to exercise critical thinking skills 1).Topic choosing 2).Focusing on a proper thesis 3).Investigating the subject thoroughly 4).Analyze valid information & Reporting the results. For the majority of students the most perplexing part of Custom Research Paper writing is not formulating good ideas, but finding words and phrases to express them. Consider the following guidelines to know about Custom Research Paper writing: 1).Try to select a topic that is of your interest so that you may like the process during which you are conducting your research. Present your personal perspective on the topic. Although you will extensively rely on the information presented in books, journals, and newspapers, try to generate your own thoughts and ideas. 2). Assemble all the details in one place and keep in consideration your research strategy. You are doing quantitative research means; you have to get informati...
Read more

Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

Image
1. Determine what type of paper you are writing: An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or thought, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience. Expository (explanatory) papers explain something to the audience. An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with exact evidence. The claim could be an opinion, an evaluation, a policy proposal, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The aim of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided. If you are writing a text which does not fall under these three categories (ex. a narrative), a thesis statement somewhere in the first paragraph could still be useful to your reader. 2. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with exact evidence. 3. The thesis statement normally appears at the end ...
Read more