How To Write A Research Paper

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER
1. Identify a research problem

Start with the question – what are you interested in? What are the questions that you
usually ask about that topic?
Brainstorming stage of research – be original, work on something that you are working
on. What problems do you usually have at work? What is the source of the problem? Do
you need data or information to be able to find out what it is? Do you know where to
find the information/data? Are the persons/ records where the data/ information can
be taken accessible (will you be able to get hold of them?) How will you be able to get
hold of the data?
WHAT TO DO?
- List topics
- Write down thoughts and answers to the questions
2. Review the literature

- Help you determine the current information that you have about your topic. When
you google it, how many data do you have at hand? What does google scholar say?
- Who defined the topic/ concept the way that you wanted it to be defined?
- What is not known? Or what had been recommended by the researchers/ writers?
- What re the topics related to your study
WHAT TO DO?
- Write and cite what you find using the APA format
- Define the concepts/ topic initially
- Outline information (from broad to specific) – provide personal remarks on the
information
 This will help you put down and organize ideas
 Arrange it in logical order – there should be headings and subheadings
 Help you make your key points clear
 Check your outline to make sure that the points covered flow logically from one
to the other.
3. Conduct field research
- Ask administrators/ experts/mentors – will they be interested in the study? What
can they say about your topic?
4. Refine research topic

– Come up with your thesis statement
A thesis statement is a main idea or the central point of the study. Do some critical
thinking and write your thesis statement down in one sentence. Your research paper
thesis statement is like a declaration of your belief. The main portion of your essay will
consist of arguments to support and defend this belief.
A thesis statement should do the following:
 Explain the readers how you interpret the subject of the research
 Tell the readers what to expect from your paper
 Answer the question you were asked
 Present your claim which other people may want to dispute
You must check:
 Does my statement answer the question of my assignment?

 Can my position be disputed or opposed? If not, maybe you have just provided a
summary instead of creating an argument.
 Is my statement precise enough? It should not be too general and vague.
 Does it pass a so-called “so what” test? Does it provide new/interesting information to
your audience or does it simply state a generic fact?
 Does the body of my manuscript support my thesis, or are they different things?
Compare them and change if necessary. Remember that changing elements of your work in
the process of writing and reviewing is normal
Write your statement of the Problem
Assignment 2: Make a research paper outline
A research paper basically has the following structure:
A. Title Page (including the title, the author’s name, the name of a University or college,
and the publication date)
B. Abstract (brief summary of the paper – 250 words or less)
C. Introduction (background information on the topic or a brief comment leading into the
subject matter – up to 2 pages)
State your thesis and the purpose of your research paper clearly. What is the chief
reason you are writing the paper? State also how you plan to approach your topic. Is
this a factual report, a book review, a comparison, or an analysis of a problem?
Explain briefly the major points you plan to cover in your paper and why readers
should be interested in your topic.
Do not include any information that is not relevant to your topic, and do not include
information that you do not understand. Make sure the information that you have
noted is carefully recorded and in your own words.
D. Manuscript Body, which can be broken down in further sections, depending on the
nature of research:
Materials and Methods
Results (what are the results obtained)
Discussion and Conclusion etc.
E. References
Write your first draft

How?
Start with the first topic in your outline. Read all the relevant notes you have
gathered.
Summarize, paraphrase or quote directly for each idea you plan to use in your paper
CHECKLIST ONE:
1. Is my thesis statement concise and clear?

2. Did I follow my outline? Did I miss anything?
3. Are my arguments presented in a logical sequence?
4. Are all sources properly cited to ensure that I am not
plagiarizing?
5. Have I proved my thesis with strong supporting
arguments?
6. Have I made my intentions and points clear in the
essay?
Re-read your paper for grammatical errors. Use a
dictionary or a thesaurus as needed. Do a spell check.
Correct all errors that you can spot and improve the
overall quality of the paper to the best of your ability. Get
someone else to read it over. Sometimes a second pair of
eyes can see mistakes that you missed
5. Identify research methods
WRITE YOUR FINAL PAPER

- Revise the outline and draft
 Read the paper for content errors
 Double check figures and facts
 Arrnage and rearrange ideas BUT keep the purpose of your paper and the
readers in your mind.
 Use a free grammar and reading checker – Grammarly
CHECKLIST TWO:
1. Did I begin each paragraph with a proper topic

sentence?
2. Have I supported my arguments with documented proof
or examples?
3. Any run-on or unfinished sentences?
4. Any unnecessary or repetitious words?
5. Varying lengths of sentences?
6. Does one paragraph or idea flow smoothly into the next?
7. Any spelling or grammatical errors?
8. Quotes accurate in source, spelling, and punctuation?
9. Are all my citations accurate and in correct format?
10. Did I avoid using contractions? Use “cannot” instead of
“can’t”, “do not” instead of “don’t”?
11. Did I use third person as much as possible? Avoid using
phrases such as “I think”, “I guess”, “I suppose”
12. Have I made my points clear and interesting but
remained objective?
13. Did I leave a sense of completion for my reader(s) at
the end of the paper?
FINALIZE THE PAPER
Read the assignment sheet again to be sure that you

understand fully what is expected of you, and that your
essay meets the requirements as specified by your teacher.
Know how your essay will be evaluated.
Proofread final paper carefully for spelling, punctuation,
missing or duplicated words. Make the effort to ensure
that your final paper is clean, tidy, neat, and attractive.
Aim to have your final paper ready a day or two before the
deadline. This gives you peace of mind and a chance to
triple check. Before handing in your assignment for
marking, ask yourself: “Is this the VERY BEST that I can
do?”

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HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER

1. Identify a research problem

2. Review the literature

4. Refine research topic

A thesis statement should do the following:

You must check:

 Does my statement answer the question of my assignment?

Write your statement of the Problem

Assignment 2: Make a research paper outline

A research paper basically has the following structure:

Materials and Methods

Results (what are the results obtained)

Discussion and Conclusion etc.

Write your first draft

1. Is my thesis statement concise and clear?

5. Identify research methods

WRITE YOUR FINAL PAPER

1. Did I begin each paragraph with a proper topic

Read the assignment sheet again to be sure that you

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