It may seem hard to start writing a research paper specially if you are a student, but with a clear understanding of the process and some valuable tips you can break down the research into manageable sections and write a high-quality paper.
Let’s look at some of the important steps together:
- Understand the assignment
Before beginning writing, it’s essential to understand the assignment. There are many online videos and PDFs available on the guidelines of a high-quality research paper. It is better to have a thorough understanding of the requirements of a research paper, before starting the research process. Additionally, it is important to understand the different types of research papers such as primary or secondary research, case studies, review papers and etc. Decide the type of paper you want to focus on and gather knowledge about that. Other than that, Make sure you understand:
- The topic or research questions
- Different types of research paper
- The required length and format
- Citation guidelines
- Choose a topic
It is time to choose a topic after you have a clear understanding of the assignment. Choosing a topic can be difficult. You can contact a professor of your choice and ask for a topic or join them on a topic they are already working on. Or, you can also come up with your own topic and present that to the professor. If you are finding it hard to choose a topic by yourself, you can start by reading other papers, journals and books related to your interest and narrow down your topic from there.
- Conduct the initial research
Now before you start writing your actual paper is it important to conduct initial research to get an idea of the topic. This will help you to identify key concepts and terms, understand the scope of the topic and determine the relevance of the topic to your course or field of study. You can conduct preliminary research by:
- Reading articles and books on the topic
- Surfing online databases and academic journals
- Consulting with instructors, professors or any other relevant persons
- Create an outline
Creating an outline first will help you organise your ideas and structure your paper writing process. Looking at the outline allows you to identify the key points and subpoints while also ensuring coherence throughout your work. You will also be able to view the general structure of your document at a glance. This makes it easier to arrange your research data, construct solid arguments, and maintain a clear writing style. An outline should include:
- Title
- Abstract (250 to 300 words)
- Introduction (background information, thesis statement)
- Methodology (approach, methods used)
- Results (findings, data analysis)
- Discussion (interpretation, implications)
- Conclusion (summary, recommendations)
- Gather resources
Gathering resources is a key part of writing a research paper. Without the necessary resource you will be lost when you start writing the paper. Make sure to include a variety of sources such as academic journals, books, online databases and documents. You may also need to collect data through various methods to conduct a thorough and comprehensive research. This could include doing fieldwork, conducting surveys, asking questions, and more deepnding on the type of research paper you are focusing on. These diverse materials will provide a strong foundation for your research. You can find these resources from Google Scholars, ReserchGate, JSTOR and many other online databases.
- Write the first draft
With the help of the ideas and researches you have acquired you can write your first draft. When you’re writing the first draft focus on the idea that you have instead of grammar and vocabulary as those can be fixed when you’re finalising the draft. You can start the process by writing the Abstract of your paper first. This draft will be the foundation from which you will build your main paper.
Here are some additional tips to help you succeed:
- Manage expectations– Keep in mind that research papers take a lot of time to complete.
- Stay organised.
- Seek help when needed! Consult with instructors or peers if you’re struggling.
- Be careful when using citations (e.g., MLA, APA) to ensure accuracy.
All these steps will guide you on how you can start writing your own paper. Stay focused and dedicated. Let the writing begin!