Discussion:
To write a research paper you should first conduct the research regarding the topic of your interest. This may include reading about the topic in various sources such asassigned text books, academic literature, periodicals, newspapers, and the Internet.
In some cases you may also interview the subject experts. The information gathered from these sources is then compiled to support the focal points that you want to address in your paper.
Please refer to the Assessment Scheme for the minimum numbers of words required
for the research paper that you are about to write.
The following steps will assist you in writing a research paper.
STEP 1: CHOOSE A TOPIC
1. Choose a topic which interests and challenges you. Your attitude towards the topic will have major impact on the effort and enthusiasm you put into your research. You can also select one of the suggested topics (see the course
Assessment Scheme). In selecting a topic for the research paper, ask yourself the following questions:
What interests you the most about a particular subject?
Is there anything you want to explore further or are curious about with regard to that subject?
2. Once a topic is selected, you need to narrow the subject down to a manageable scope/focus. One method for coming up with a more specific focus is called brain storming. This entails putting your main idea in a circle in the middle of the page, then write down whatever comes into your head about your topic
STEP 2: FIND INFORMATION
1. Surfing the Net. Read and evaluate. Bookmark your favorite Internet sites. Pay attention to domain name extensions, e.g., .edu (educational institution), .gov (government), or .org (non-profit organization). These sites represent institutions
RESEARCH PAPER WRITING GUIDELINES
2. Check out ACU On line Library. Use the electronic catalog to look for books, periodicals, magazines, etc. on your topic. If you find a book that is useful, check the bibliography (list of sources) in the back of that book for other books or articles on the same topic. Check with ACU librarian (see the office hours posted on ACU site) if you need help finding sources.
Don't rely on just one source for all your information.
3. As you gather your resources, jot down full bibliographical information (author, title, place of publication, publisher, date of publication, page numbers, URLs, creation or modification dates on Web pages) on your work sheet, or enter the information into your computer for later retrieval. Keep a list of all the sources that you use. This information will help you to write the bibliography in Step 6.
STEP 3: STATE YOUR THESIS
Do some critical thinking and write your thesis statement down in one sentence. Your thesis statement is a declaration of your belief. The main body of your essay will consist of arguments to support and defend this belief.
STEP 4: MAKE AN OUTLINE
Develop an outline to organize your ideas. An outline shows your main ideas and the order in which you are going to write about them. The purpose of an outline is to help you think through your topic carefully and organize it logically before you start writing. A good outline is the most important step in writing a good paper. Include in your outline an INTRODUCTION, a BODY, a CONCLUSION and a paragraph on RECOMMEDATIONS / APPLICATIONS.
1. INTRODUCTION - State your thesis and the purpose of your research paper clearly. What is the objective of the paper? State also how you plan to approach your topic. Explain briefly the major points you plan to cover in your paper and why readers should be interested in your topic.
RESEARCH PAPER WRITING GUIDELINES
2. BODY - This is where you present your arguments to support your thesis statement. It consists of a number of paragraphs in which you develop your ideas in detail. Don't attempt to discuss more than one main idea per paragraph. Prove your points by using specific examples, quotations, grounded theories, supporting literature. Use transitional phrases to ensure a smooth flow of ideas from paragraph to paragraph.
3. CONCLUSION - Restate your thesis. Summarize your arguments. Explain why you have come to this particular conclusion.
4. RECOMMENDATIONS / APPLICATIONS - Based on the search results and conclusion derived, propose at least three recommendations for implementation at work or daily life. The recommendations should be both relevant and feasible.
STEP 5: WRITE YOUR FIRST DRAFT
This is the most important stage in writing a research paper. Here you will analyze, synthesize, and articulate on the information you have gathered and hopefully learn something about your topic which is the real purpose of doing a research paper in the first place. You must be able to effectively communicate your thoughts, ideas, insights, and research findings to others through written words. Do not include any information that is not relevant to your topic. Opposing views should also be noted if they help to support your thesis.
Make sure the information that you have noted is carefully summarized and paraphrased in your own words, if possible. Credit the sources for all ideas borrowed.
Plagiarism is ground for invalidating your paper. For detailed information, see the power point presentation on How to Avoid Plagiarism in Research Writing posted on ACU platform.
STEP 6: WRITE A BIBLIOGRAPHY
A bibliography is a list of the sources you used to get information for your report. It is included at the end of your report.
RESEARCH PAPER WRITING GUIDELINES
You will find it easier to prepare your final bibliography if you keep track of each book, periodical, magazine, or article you use as you are reading and taking notes described in Step 2.
When assembling a final bibliography, list your sources (texts, articles, interviews, and so on) in alphabetical order by authors' last names. Sources that don't have authors
(encyclopedias, movies) should be alphabetized by title. For detailed information, see the power point presentation on APA Style and Why Use posted on ACU learning platform.
STEP 7: PROOF READ AND FINALIZE YOUR DRAFT
Read your paper for any content errors. Arrange and rearrange ideas to follow your outline. Always keep the purpose of your paper and your readers in mind.
Checklist for the contents of the paper:
1. Is your thesis statement clear?
2. Did you follow the outline drafted in Step 4?
3. Are your arguments presented in a logical sequence and supported with documented evidence and examples?
4. Have you proved your thesis with strong supporting arguments?
5. Have you made your points interesting and convincing but remained objective?
6. Are all sources properly cited to ensure that you are not plagiarizing?
Checklist for the writing Style:
1. Did you begin each paragraph with a proper transitional phrase?
2. Is there any run-on or unfinished sentences?
3. Does one idea flow smoothly into the next?
4. Did you avoid using contractions? Use "cannot" instead of "can't", "do not" instead of "don't"?
5. Did you write as a third person? Avoid using phrases such as "I think", "I believe", "I suppose"
6. Did you leave the reader(s) with a sense of completion at the end of the paper?