How to Write Research Papers that Rock
Have you ever thought about all those things that make up a happy student’s life? Hanging out with peers, learning new things, participating in thought-provoking discussions and creative workshops, attending interesting lectures, and partying… Indeed, being a student is fun.
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Nonetheless, a college life is not only about pleasure and entertainment. It’s also about hard work, sleepless nights, fatigue, ability to multitask and write research papers, of course.
It so happened that a phrase “research paper” instills awe in a majority of young learners that dread scrupulous, monotonous, and painstaking activities that devour all their free times. And writing a successful research paper does require much time and energy. Still, the more you practice, the more efficient writer you become. And for desperate students that cannot spare time for research papers in their hectic schedule, there are respectable and legitimate academic writing services. You can pay for research papers and get it written in the shortest possible time. Anyway, knowing how to write a truly successful research paper won’t hurt. That’s why we suggest that you take a look at our simple tips and recommendation that, hopefully, will help you impress your teachers with an impeccably written paper.
Get to Know Your Essay Prompt
We know that the majority of students will consider our first tip too obvious and thus unworthy of dwelling on, but we highly recommend that you don’t take it lightly. The truth is lots of people get down to writing a research paper without understanding the essence of the selected prompt. You need to be fully aware of what your teacher expects of you when opting for a particular prompt. In other words, be sure to understand what your research paper needs to accomplish. It’s a good idea to identify the key word in your prompt that may help you take it all in and come up with more accurate ideas for your future paper. Key words often instruct you, outline the scope of your objectives. Among such words can be “analyze,” “identify,” “figure out,” or “explain.” Stick to the subject matter and resist temptation to delve into topics that don’t pertain to your main task.
Search for Reputable Sources
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As its name suggests, a research paper is about researching a certain phenomenon, issue, problem, idea, and a concept. So, take care to locate relevant, credible, and actual sources wherewith you’ll be able to substantiate your claims and backup your findings. If you don’t know where to start, start with the sources you have at hand. They may be your syllabus, textbook, or an anthology you’re using in the classroom. Then, set your sights at scholarly online databases such as EBSCO, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science.gov, DOAJ, CIA World Factbook, or JSTOR. Credible sources include scholarly articles, scientific studies, trustworthy news bureaus, and books published by authoritative publishers such as Oxford, Harvard, or Cambridge. Evaluate each selected source’s relevance to your topic and ascertain that your source is up to date.
Choose a Topic and Come Up with a Thesis
Once you do some research you may proceed to narrow you paper’s subject. For instance, you start with a general subject, such as Dark Romanticism and its characteristics and eventually, narrow your scope to exploring the theme of fascination with the demonic in Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories, say The Cask of Amontillado or The Masque of the Red Death. Once you pick a topic, it’s about time you crafted a succinct thesis statement presenting your main argument. Keep in mind that your thesis shouldn’t be a mere statement of a fact or presentation of your opinion. It’s a specific and defensible claim, a debatable argument usually presented at the end of your introduction section. You can refine and change your tentative thesis as you go along. The last sentence of your paper should be a transitional hook welcoming your readers into the following part.
Draft Your Paper
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Start with an introduction section where you’ll warm up your audience and explain your topic. Then, include the thesis statement to let your audience know what you’ll be arguing.
Once you’re done writing out intro, get down to composing your paper’s main part. It’s a good idea to set a context to make sure your audience understands your research topic and is ready to follow the argument you’ll be developing throughout your paper. The body of your essay should have 3-5 paragraphs, each of which should be started with a topic sentence relating to the thesis statement. You’ll need to present evidence to support your thesis in each paragraph. The last sentence of your paragraphs also should include a transitional hook to tie into the following paragraph.
In the concluding paragraph, make sure to restate your ideas discussed throughout the essay. Use the original language and avoid merely duplicating your thesis. Once you provide a brief summary of your key points, finish your research paper with an effective final statement that will provide your audience with a sense of closure.
Revise and Proofread
Once you complete your draft, read it out loud. Figure out if some parts need editing or expanding. Proofread for grammar, spelling, syntactical, or stylistic errors. Also, pay special attention to the organization of your paper.