Style and Process of Academic Research Paper Example

Introduction

The class throughout the semester has been interesting and educative. One of the areas that were most interesting to learn about was the aspects of academic research. Academic research is a style of expression in which someone uses to express their intellectual capacity is a particular discipline. This paper will be discussing the process and styles of academic research. In the paper, an outline of the process of and style of academic research is done. It outlines understanding the research question, selecting materials, and sequencing, creating an outline, making an elaborate introduction, discussion in the body and making an appropriate conclusion as the necessary steps to follow in an academic research process.

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Understanding the Research Question

To begin with, an academic research requires that one understands the topic with which they are dealing with. There is need to try and find out the elements of the topic that you are needed to conduct a research on. An understanding of the research question can be achieved better by talking to the course instructor and also to other classmates on their view of the said topic. After understanding the topic in question, it is important therefore to pose it as a question or an as a problem that will be solved. The question will act as a guideline to the process of conducting the academic research. For instance, one may take an element of industrial design like product planning and formulate a specific research question on the same. The understanding can then be summarized under introduction and the abstract of the research.

Selection of Sources

The second step in the process of academic research is the selection of the materials that one is going to use in doing conducting the research. The reading materials can be in form of a library catalog, periodicals or bibliographies. One can choose their own reading materials although the instructor can also provide a suggestion on the kind of bibliographies that would be appropriate in conducting the research for the stated research question. In determining the sources that are going to be used, one should be keen to make a choice whether they want to use primary or secondary sources in writing the research paper. Primary sources are those that provide firsthand information about the area of study. These can be in form of statistical data or results of particular experiments that were conducted. Secondary sources, on the other hand, are the kind of information that one uses even though they did not conduct the research at first hand. This source of information can be found in peer-reviewed journals or scholarly sources. It is important that while using the secondary sources, one would need to preferably use the information that has been published recently. These sources can then be summarized under annotated bibliography.

Sequencing

After the identification of the materials that are to be used in this research project, it is important that they are organized in a sequential manner for easy use. The materials can be organized into their order of relative importance. Notes can be taken based on each of the sources and specify the reason that particular source is going to be used.

Writing an Outline

The research topic having been identified and the sources of information, it is important that an outline of the research to be done is laid out. In the outline, note once again not the topic of the research and explain why it is significant to research on it. Conduct a background search of the project and why the materials that are being used are important and relevant in the process of conducting the research. The topic and the background statement will assist in formulating a thesis statement. Using the thesis statement, one can then come up with the best plan that will assist in achieving the objectives of the research.

Introduction

The introduction is the cores beginning of the academic research. At this stage, all the relevant facts from the background are presented. Whenever there are terms and vocabulary that are to be used which are not familiar to the intended audience on how you shall have used them, it is important to define them at this stage. The vocabulary does not mean the use of complex jargon but rather the terminologies that are relevant to the research area. The abbreviations that are going to be used as well can be defined too in the introduction. At the introduction, one needs to explain what the paper is all about and then make an organized plan on how their work is going to be presented.

The Body

This is where the research content is brought out. The methods that have been used in conducting the research are listed and define in the manner in which they are used. When dealing with a research that has the primary data, it is important that the manner in which the data was obtained be organized too in the body. The requirements that were to be used in conducting the research could be listed. Using the requirements, outline the procedure that would be followed in order to arrive at the data that one relies on the research project. Show the expected results when the procedure is conducted. An in-depth analysis of the results then follows. At the body, the points that one need to come out is supposed to be built. The assertions are supposed by integrating the sources that one intended to use. These sources are supposed to be analyzed and summarized not just to be reported in the research paper (McCuen, 179). This can be done in form of citations and reference. The other important factor in the body is to move away from generalization to specifics.

The Conclusion

The conclusion is supposed to provide a summary of what has been discussed in the research paper. This especially should be done for complex papers. The sequence with which the paper was should be used in writing of the conclusion. The significance of the finding of the research could also be written here at the conclusion. The other significant aspect of the conclusion is providing the suggestion for the areas that further research can be put.

An over view of the research should again be conducted to ensure that any errors are eliminated and there is clarity in all that has been put down.

Conclusion

Conclusively, the class has been interesting and educative. One of the most interesting areas of study was the aspect of academic research. The process of academic research should begin by understanding the topic of research. Selection and sequencing of the sources should the follow before creating an outline of how one would conduct the research. The introduction, the body, and the conclusion should also form part of the research.

Works Cited

Richard H. McCuen. Elements of Academic Research. American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE Press. New York.1996