Writing is essential because, throughout your course, you will have to write many academic scripts on different subject matters. Whether it is your first time writing a research paper or not, you will usually feel a little overwhelmed initially. However, once you know how to start your research process, things will be easier and less stressful. Each research paper tackles a specific subject matter. The first paragraph should hence describe your objective.
The second paragraph will then give an insightful summary of any issues related to the topic in question. Additionally, you must provide a critical analysis of all text in this section while also giving a conclusion. Lastly, always ensure that you use the citation format required by your instructor. Here are some tips that will come in handy when writing a high-quality research paper.
- Establish the type of research paper you’ll be writing
The first step is to figure out the kind of paper you’re expected to write. There are different types of research papers, including original research reports and literature reviews. With original research reports, you will be expected to formulate a research paper on an experiment or study that you have conducted. On the other hand, your literature review will report studies that other people have conducted in your research field.
For instance, if you are writing a research paper on the origin of the occult, you’ll need to find literature such as original books on this particular topic. See more here if you need a collection of great original occult literature.
- Come up with a great idea
Once you have figured out the research paper you are writing, the next important step is to settle on a good topic. This is often quite difficult. Sometimes your instructor may specify an overall theme or assign you a topic. If you are at liberty to pick your own, go with an interesting and meaningful case. Apart from that, make sure that there is enough research material and sources for that topic.
When picking a topic, remember to avoid picking generalized or very broad topics. Narrowing your subject will allow you; to have focused research. However, overly narrowing a topic will present an issue when trying to find reference material. If you notice that the topic you chose is inappropriate, it is best to discard it and restart.
- Do thorough research on the topic
Finding the research material that you need for your topic of choice may be very time-consuming. To make this step more manageable, you should start by checking the most common sources first. Sources like books, online resources, and journal articles contain a lot of information that might be useful to you. While sourcing your information, remember to ascertain its credibility.
Because it is ideal to use the correct research methodology, try to balance your sources. For instance, you could incorporate both historical and modern research data.
When you’re writing your paper, there are some mistakes that you need to avoid. That includes mentioning the number of subjects in another person’s study and including another researcher’s variables in your work. The three tips above will anchor you through the entire writing process.