Before you begin writing a research paper, it’s essential to understand that it is quite different from an essay. Firstly, a research paper should include information and ideas from external sources instead of the writer’s own opinions and creativity. You need to build conclusions based on the data from various sources. While doing so, documenting the origin of the information is vital to avoid writing plagiarized content.
Types Of Research Papers
Regardless of the type, all research papers should represent a particular viewpoint or argument. Unlike a general essay, it should also be analytical and argumentative.
Argumentative Research Paper
An argumentative research paper means that the paper is meant to support the author’s viewpoint or stance regarding a particular issue. All the arguments need to be supported by evidence obtained from legitimate sources. These sources could be empirical data collected from experiments, other research papers, scientific journals, articles, books, and encyclopedias.
Analytical Research Paper
In contrast to an argumentative research paper, an analytical research paper revolves around analyzing the information regarding the topic. It can include data from authentic sources, as mentioned above. The primary focus is on evaluating the material critically and answering how and why a conclusion is reached.
Starting A Research Paper
Before you begin your research paper, here are some things that you need to do beforehand:
Choose A Topic
If a topic is not already given to you, choose something that will interest you and the readers alike. Depending on how far you’re willing to go, all topics can be researched upon. There’s a plethora of information available, and in today’s era of technology, it’s not difficult to get your hands on the information. Your research will be reflected in your entire paper. So don’t shy away from doing in-depth research. The more you research, the better your paper will be. When you choose the topic, make sure it’s not too broad nor too narrow.
Here are some examples to give you an idea of the topics you can choose:
- The Effect Of Global Warming
- Effective means of reducing air pollution
- The adverse effects of decriminalizing drugs on the young generation
- Threats of refugees on a hosting country
- Oppression of women in the 21st century
- Prevention of cancer is a necessity of today
- The importance of mental health awareness
State Your Thesis
When writing a thesis statement, try to write in one or two sentences. Be clear about the ideas that need to be proven. Your thesis statement is the main focus of your writing and research.
To formulate an efficient thesis statement, you can also get help from a custom thesis writing service.
Here’s an example of a thesis statement:
“Marijuana has several applications in the medical sector such as the treatment for cancer, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease. If its use is legalized, it will tremendously benefit the healthcare sector by allowing doctors to have easy access to this life-saving drug.”
Here, the second sentence of the thesis statement is a point that the author is making. In the research paper following this statement, the author’s job will be to provide facts and figures on how legalizing this drug will benefit the medical sector. The author will have to research marijuana’s medical applications. With that, the author will provide evidence that backs up the argument they are trying to make.
Research As Much As You Can
As mentioned before, research is an essential part of your paper. An excellent way to begin your research is by visiting a library and taking a look at all the work that has already been done on similar topics. Review all scientific journals and articles penned down by experts. Following legitimate sources will provide a stable place to start from. In today’s age, the internet is the biggest and the most accessible source to access information for any research paper. All you need to do is surf the internet, and you will get plenty of results on your chosen topic.
Create A Bibliography Draft
Make a note of all the sources that you come across while researching. Keep track of all the sources in a separate file. It will help you create a citation page when you’re working on the paper. Write down the author, quotes, page number, along with the title of the publication.
Tips To Follow For An Initial Draft
Here are some tips that will help your initial process:
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Organize Your Material
Keep all the notes and your data saved in a file. You can also use color-coding to help keep track of all the information. Another vital thing to do is keep your notes and find according to the research paper outline and structure that you will go forward with. It will be helpful once you reach the writing stage.
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Support All The Ideas
All the points that you make in your paper should be backed with supporting evidence. Without evidence, your statements will not be valid. They won’t hold any value and will be regarded as simple commentary.
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Avoid Writing long Sentences
Avoid unnecessarily long sentences on your draft, as they can distract the reader. Keep your sentences concise.
Keeping these things in mind will give you a good start before you begin writing your research paper. At Write My Essay 4 Me, we can help you with your essays, thesis, and research papers. So, next time you’re wondering, “how do I write my assignment on such short notice,” we can solve your problem.