Writing a research paper can be a complicated task. It involves much more than putting a few basic ideas on paper. The finished project should be able to demonstrate the knowledge you’ve acquired through your course of studies and ways to apply it. If you’re assigned the task of a research paper, there are a few basic guidelines you must follow in order to create a paper worthy of the effort you put into it.
1. Carefully Choose a Topic
A good research paper starts before you begin to put pen to paper. With such a wide range of topics to choose from you should always look for something that is not only of interest to you but is a challenge as well. The attitude you have towards the work ahead of you will have an impact on the quality of the paper you produce. If the topic is not strong enough to mentally engage you it will show in your finished paper.
2. Narrow it Down
Make sure that the topic is not too general, focus on specifics. Crime may be a good topic but it can be much too vague to produce a quality paper, however, if you zero in on a specific crime it can be much more relatable. For example, you could write about criminal law, medical crimes, or even the criminal mind.
3. Do Thorough Research
Research involves more than just gathering information. It also requires finding quality and reliable resources. We live in a world where information is easily found but all of it is not necessarily trustworthy. When doing research online, pay close attention to the extensions of the domains you use. Extensions like .edu, .gov, or .org all represent institutions that provide reputable sites. Many .com sites can be very good but may actually be biased in support of a particular advertiser; use those sites with discretion.
4. Develop a Good Thesis Statement
When you think of your thesis statement as the one sentence that will represent your specific ideas, beliefs, or concepts, you’ll see why it is important to take your time to develop it with a critical eye. After all, the main body of your paper will be dedicated to supporting it.
5. Use an Outline
Many students are reluctant to take the time to develop a good outline before they start writing but without one your paper may not flow smoothly; the thoughts, while good, may be disjointed and out of place, making it difficult for the reader to follow.
6. Your First Draft
A good research paper is rarely done perfectly the first time it is written. It should be done in several stages. Once you’ve read through your research and organized your thoughts, your first draft should be focused on getting all of your ideas down on paper. Each person may approach this stage differently, but in general, your first draft should merely be a pooling or paraphrasing of the ideas you want to incorporate.
7. Revise
Once your ideas are all down on paper, in a logical order, you can begin the revision phase of your paper. Read the paper first to make sure that everything flows smoothly and is understandable, check and recheck your research, and finally check for formatting, grammatical, and spelling errors.
Writing a good research paper requires dedication and time. Keep in mind that it will be a reflection of all the knowledge and understanding you’ve collected so it’s important to focus on sending that message clearly. While you may use a dictionary, thesaurus, and your computer’s spell check, never rely entirely on those devices. Get someone else to read it over as well; this will add a fresh pair of eyes to the material to make sure that it is all in order.