How to Write an Outstanding Research Paper

Writing a Perfect Research Paper

Any academic paper intends to test a student’s understanding of a subject. Though written similarly, a research paper is different from a prospectus (research proposal). The prospectus is the typo, and the research paper is the finished product. As such, the student must be keen when working on it.

When writing your paper, one must follow the following steps;

STEP 1. Familiarize yourself with the assignment

This is an obvious but crucial part. Understanding what is required of you in your research paper will determine your final grade. As such, one must set aside time to go through the instructions, read them a couple of times, and take note of some of the highlights. If something is not clear, ask for clarification.

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step 2. Choose a topic

Choose a topic you are conversant with. Don’t choose a complex topic to impress but if you do, ensure you can write it exemplary. Each subject has various research paper topics; go through them before making the final call.

 STEP 3.  Do the research

An academic paper requires each point to be thoroughly written. Facts and evidence must support it. As such, a lot of research has to be done. It is now easy to find information on nearly everything on the internet; however, it would help to be careful when using online sources. For academic purposes, AVOID using .com sites; instead use sites with domain names such as .gov, .edu, and .org.

You can also visit the library to find good books for your research paper. As you go through the sources and materials, note your findings, not the books or article’s title, author(s), date and place of publication and modification, number of pages, and the URLs. All this information will be used in your citation and referencing.

STEP 4. Form a thesis statement

The thesis statement is a summary of your research. It is also the basis of your research.  It also acts as a guide for your readers, allowing them to connect the dots from the beginning to the end of your paper.

STEP 5. Have an outline

Once you’ve formulated your thesis statement, organize your work logically following the correct research paper outline. This comprises the introduction, the body, and conclusion. Jot down what points, facts, and ideas will be in each section to support your thesis. The points you note don’t have to be complete sentences, just a basic overview.

This is also a chance to get rid of any information that does not support your idea.  This is because not every piece of information, no matter how fascinating, will fit in your academic paper.

STEP 6. Organize your work

With the outline at hand, use it as your research paper structure to guide you when organizing your research. Go through your notes, analyze, sort, and digest them. This is hell your to formulate your subheadings and the supporting material for each subheading.

Ensure your facts and ideas are well laid out and communicated clearly, and there are no instances of plagiarism.

STEP7. Write your first draft

With all the research and outlining done, you can now work on your first draft. This is the point where you make sense of your research by connecting all the dots to establish a flow of ideas and thought in your paper. Work on your draft as you would your final paper.

STEP 8. Revise and proofread

When you finish your draft, print a hard copy, then take read pen. Go through your work section after section and highlight the errors and mistakes made, including the grammar and sentence structure. Revise your citation and referencing and note the sections that may not be clear or need more supporting ideas.  If need be, rearrange the ideas that may not be clear.

Checklist for revising your draft

• Is the thesis statement clear?
• Does the paper have a good flow of ideas from beginning to end, is there logic?
• Do the points in each paragraph have a logical transition?
• Do these points, facts, and ideas support the thesis statement, and are they strong enough?
• Are there instances of plagiarism in the research paper?
• Is the citation and referencing done correctly?

Editing checklist

• When editing, it is advisable to read your paper out loud as you check;
• If the grammar used clear and precise
• If there a flow in each sentence and paragraph
• If there are filler word and phrases
• When revising and editing, be keen on details.

STEP 9. Write your paper

After all the revising, editing, and proofreading are done, start writing your paper. Follow the research paper format;

The Introduction

Start with an engaging and strong opening sentence. Present the background information of your paper. State the purpose of your research and how you have approached your discussion topic—also, state how you have organized your information. Answer the what, why, where, and how questions.

The Body

Make use of your outline as a draft when working on the body section. As you write and support your points and ideas, ensure they flow with the thesis statement—correct any instance where there might be a deviation in your write-up. You may review one research paper sample 1, research paper sample 2, research paper sample 3 & research paper sample 4 available to check how the ideas are presented.

You the ‘find supporting arguments for each point, start with the strong point, proceed with an even stronger point and conclude with the strongest point’; Finish strong.

Conclusion

It’s now time to finish what you started. In conclusion, restate your thesis statement by rewording it. After that, briefly summarize your body section and each point you’ve discussed. Tell your readers why your facts support your thesis statement.  There could be an instance where the reach is inconclusive; point out why it may need further discussion and research.

Summary

When writing a research paper, it would be best not to rush. Read through the instruction to make sure you understand them. Choose your topic for the research and gather much information from credible sources such as books and .gov sites. Create an outline for the paper and highlight the information to use in each section. Prepare the first draft and revise/edit it thoroughly. As you write the final paper, use the correct format.