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What Is a Research Paper: Definition & Writing Tips

What Is a Research Paper: Definition & Writing Tips

Published by on 2021-07-09 14:29:57

Many people are very afraid of research papers, as such tasks seem impossible to them. The main problem is a lack of prior experience and unconscious self-intimidation. Plus, your professor may be a man of few words. Imagine being handed a list of topics for research papers and a basic set of requirements. This is exactly the moment when an ordinary person can have a panic attack. But is it all that bad? Let's go over all the details of this task and start with a basic definition.

What Is a Research Paper Definition?

Let's be honest. The devil is not as black as he's painted. You shouldn't be afraid of such a task. It’s simple. Such a task is nothing more than an extended essay. You have a specific topic and a goal for which you must achieve. Let's say you have to analyze the results of some experiments. All you need is a short description, interpretation, an assessment of the results, or a strong argument. The main difference from a regular essay is that you must rely on facts, reliable sources, and verified info. This is exactly the research essay definition that you should remember.

How to Understand the Assignment?

Any military campaign requires a clear understanding of the objectives of each battle. Students should follow the same rule. Before you pick up a pencil or start typing on the keyboard, you need to understand in which direction you should move. Here is a small list of activities that will be useful to you:

  1. Familiarize yourself with all the objectives.
  2. Learn all about requirements, data retrieval techniques, and deadlines.
  3. Ask your professor about the things you do not understand.
  4. Create a small list of your goals to organize your data.

Many students may ask, "Why do I need these actions? I already know the academic paper definition. Why should I waste time on this?" These are reasonable questions. The main answer is very common but logical enough. You need to know your enemy. Just 30-40 minutes, and it will be much easier for you to proceed to writing a research paper.

Useful Tips for Everyone

Pick a Good Topic

Let's say your professor doesn't mind giving you creative freedom. This is great news. But how do you pick a good topic? Let's focus on a key issue that is crucial to all newbies. What does a research paper mean? What should a student do? Your task is to research some niche or area. If you choose a good topic, you can quickly check sources and back up your theses with real data.

Let's take an example with historical papers. Let's say you need to write about the Second World War, point out some key events and turning points. This is a very large body of information, and you do not need to choose a topic that is too broad. Concentrate on one military event, battle, or time stage. Your research shouldn't take several weeks.

Do Pre-Research

Once you have decided on your topic, you need to dive into the research process immediately. Find all the data sources that might be useful to you. Many beginners might ask a question like, "What is the point of a research paper?" Everything is very simple. You have a definite point of view and your statement. You need to find something that will help shed light on the little-studied aspects or help you. It is this stage that is crucial for the formation of research questions and methods section.

Make an Outline and a Raw Draft

If you want to achieve a good result, your paper should include a clear and structured outline. Indicate all the points and add even the first sentences for each paragraph to not lose key ideas. Then, it will be easier for you to start your draft. The point is that you can rewrite each paragraph several times as you work. This is fine, but a pre-built structure will help you minimize the edits and changes and we can help you with creating an outline. And don't forget to figure out a good title for a research paper.

Citing Sources

Any research will look more significant if you refer to the results of any tests or experiments. Choose trusted links and find something that will help confirm or emphasize the correct course of your thoughts. Sometimes it will be appropriate to rephrase sentences to achieve the originality of the paper. But do not forget to mention the source in a proper format. Then your assignment will meet all standards.