Nov 17, 2022 Research papers stand out from other kinds of academic written assignments for several fundamental reasons. A student should follow our detailed guide to create an excellent research paper that will be noticed and appreciated by a teacher. This article will talk about how to write a research paper step by step, making it unique and meaningful. We collected the most helpful tips for writing a research paper and pieces of advice from authors with long-time experience in writing and sourcing. If needed, you can request, “Please, write my paper for me,” to engage a knowledgeable research paper writer to work with your assignment. And by reading our guide, you will gain significant knowledge that will help you boost your writing performance and improve your GPA level. We hope that you will find the provided information helpful.
What Is A Research Paper?
Before we start speaking exactly about writing a research paper, we must step back to define the core terms of our guide. What elements and qualities differentiate research papers from other academic written tasks? First, a research paper is a type of assignment always written on a particular topic. The kind of research and the amount of work to perform at the preparation stage to writing depends on the case. For example, if the topic for a research paper is narrow, a student must concentrate on sources that relate specifically to the subject. The second core aspect of a research paper is that the research on the stated topic must be unique and original. Hence, if one aims to write a good paper, a lot depends on collecting practical and relevant research topic ideas to choose the most efficient among them.
Choosing A Topic
Before you start researching, you must choose a topic that will reflect the actual situation in the industry in your view. Choosing compelling research paper topics is a responsible stage that prevails the phase of collecting relevant information. Experienced authors usually recommend students pick exciting topics to motivate them to dig deep into the materials.
Speaking about how to formulate a topic correctly, we insist on starting with a problem or a question and putting it into the title. The topic must precisely describe the core aspect of your research but not provide answers to the main question. By reading a topic you generate, the reader must clearly understand the aim and significance of the research you provide.
Collect Essential Data
Any student who works on a research paper must realize that a lot will depend on the quality of research on the topic. Before writing a research paper, gather information to verify your preliminary ideas and widen your knowledge on the subject. Create a list of primary and secondary sources that fit your case and collect data. Use different sources to get information from various experts who have different viewpoints. At the same time, look for opinions that support your ideas. However, a lot depends on the discipline, and it would help if you included in the list of sources some of the following:
- Scholarly articles
- Scientific journals
- Dissertations
- Other research papers
- Case studies
- Databases
- Podcasts
- Websites
- Online libraries, etc.
Generate The Main Thesis
A crucial element is a central argument of your research paper or a so-called thesis statement. All core purposes and ideas must be reflected in the central statement. Work on the precise and clear formulation to make the main thesis meaningful. If your research aims to find answers to a central question and prove a hypothesis, supplement the statement with relevant words. Note that each research paper paragraph will contain evidence to support the main thesis.
Research Paper Outline
Any good paper must be readable and clear. Readers must get the core points from the beginning and easily follow the author’s thoughts. Knowledgeable writers know that a well-written and thoughtful outline is the key to success. Writing an outline saves time and makes creating a research paper effective. A detailed outline will economize your resources even if you have limited time to write a research paper.
The first draft
Experienced writers always start by drafting a detailed outline for the research paper. A draft could be created following the standard research paper outline template that consists of an introduction, body, and a conclusion. The core idea of writing the first draft is to avoid perfectionism and not try to polish and edit the text. It would be best to put the body paragraphs in a logical sequence. Add headings to divide paragraphs from each other and easily navigate the draft.
It is OK not to start writing the first draft of the introductory part. You can begin with any element, including the conclusion, if you already have enough arguments. Be clear and do not overload the text. The first draft must be more like a road map to proceed with writing.
Introduction
Ensure to answer several core questions in the introduction to a research paper. First, specify the subject and refer to the topic. Explain to the audience why this research is crucial and the potential benefits it could bring to the industry. Define the terms if needed. Provide detailed information about the core questions and hypothesis. Present the main statement to let readers know about your ideas.
Body
The body must explain the ideas thoroughly and contain arguments to support each statement. It would be best if you were precise in arranging information in each paragraph. Each different idea must be written in a new paragraph from the new line. Note that you must add transition words to let readers track the flow of your thoughts. The total word count usually defines the volume of the body. Presume to make the body about 70-80% of the whole research paper text.
Conclusion
The easiest way to understand how to write a conclusion for a research paper is to remember several taboos. First, one should avoid adding new ideas and arguments related to the thesis statement. Second, you should not give the reader a hint that it is time to wrap up by adding some words like “to sum up.” Third, do not write a vast conclusion.
An effective conclusion for a research paper must help the audience recall the essential ideas and the purpose of the research. Highlight the core arguments that prove your opinion and answer the research’s core questions. Add some thought about the additional research in the same area or raise some questions for new papers.
The second draft
After you have finished writing the first draft, you need to polish the core elements of the paper: an introduction, body, and a conclusion. You will get the second draft of your research paper by updating the text.
You should exclude the points which are not clear enough and do not have support by arguments. If some ideas require rearranging, you can switch the paragraphs or remove some of them. Ensure that there are still pieces of evidence that support the main statement.
Editing Stage
You are ready to polish the second draft and finalize the writing process. Note that a lot depends on editing, and it is crucial to be patient at this stage. Re-read the research paper from the beginning. Ensure that all requirements are counted. Pay attention to grammar and punctuation. If required, use additional tools to check the errors, repeated words, etc. Many students use online tools to prevent mistakes. Most of them are free. The style matters a lot when it comes to research papers. One must apply a scholarly tone of voice (or other if mentioned in the manuals). Never avoid the stage of proofreading – plan enough time to edit the research paper.
Research Paper Format
If you look over any research paper template, you will see that each text has differences in fonts, margins, spacing, referencing style, etc. A teacher usually sets formatting types for research papers in their instructions. Students must follow a particular style and work on the text to update each element in a certain way. Here are several of the most widespread styles of formatting for research papers:
MLA (Modern Language Association)
Mainly MLA format is applied to research papers on so-called humanity disciplines. Among the essentials that define the MLA style of formatting are one-inch margins, header, first page, double spacing, 12-size Times New Roman font, and page number in the top left corner of the page. The references list must be at the end of the paper. In the center of the list, there must be the obligatory title “Works Cited.”
ASA (American Sociological Association)
This style of formatting is used for papers on sociology topics and scientific articles. The main peculiarities of ASA formatting are double spacing everywhere (in the references as well), size 12 font (Times New Roman), subheadings in bold and italics in the body are crucial, obligatory abstract up to 200 words on a separate page, and references list in alphabetical sequence. If you add names of journals, you should capitalize all words in the titles, excluding prepositions, and write in italics.
APA (American Psychological Association)
To write a research paper in this format, students must apply such standards as 12-size Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, page number on all pages, including the title page, an abstract of up to 250 words with the extraction of the core statements, citations of sources in the body, and references on a separate list in alphabetical sequence.
Turabian
This format is called Chicago because the Chicago Manual of Style initially established it. But strictly, Turabian is mainly used for research papers on humanity disciplines. To write a paper in Turabian format, apply double spacing, use a 12-size Times New Roman font, left-aligned text, and one-inch margins. The body can not contain the subheadings, but it is crucial to include in-text citations and notes in paragraphs. The page number on a title page is not obligatory. The headings must be with headline capitalization.
Here Is A Research Paper Example To See The Essentials
The best way to realize and remember how to write a research paper is by getting an example of a well-written piece. Read the sample below to learn more about structuring and formatting a research paper. This is one of the working research paper examples that will help you learn more about such works and their qualities.
How Is Sexism Portrayed in Different Types of Media (Music, Film, Video Games, Etc.)? Has the Occurrence of Sexism Changed Over the Years?
Introduction
The debate over sexuality and the gender connection is as old as the world itself. However, since the advent of modern mass media, the discussion about gender representation, gender prejudice, and sexually explicit content in the media, as well as the psychological consequences they can have has become a major source of concern. All types of media portray sexism by glorifying and objectifying the female body and projecting females as subordinate to males. However, sexism has considerably reduced in the post-modern era.
Sexism
Pauline M. Leet most likely originated the term “sexism” during a student faculty forum at Franklin & Marshall College on November 18, 1965 (Pearson, 1997). Prejudice or discrimination based on sex or gender is known as sexism. Sexism can harm everybody, but women and girls are the ones who are most affected. It has been related to stereotypes and gender roles, and it could involve the assumption that one sex or gender is fundamentally superior to the other.
Depiction of sexism in media
Sexism is depicted in different types of media:
- In movies
Retrospectively, films have been the primary wheel to portray the gendered conception of society. Males are always shown as alpha characters having stout bodies. Women, on the other hand, are shown as fragile and dependent (Rendon 2012). In most Bollywood movies, the hero is a male character who rescues the heroine by fighting goons, and at the end of film, the heroine falls in love with the hero. Even in Hollywood, males are portrayed as the ones helping others and fighting all the evils to save the world. Superman, Batman, and Spider Man are few examples of these kinds of movies. Furthermore, costumes and dialogues are such designed that they reduce the female body to a mere tool of pleasure. It conveys the idea that temptation of the female is irresistible for males. For instance, in the movie Gone with the Wind, the male character commits marital rape of the female and says, “This is one night you are not turning me out.”
2. In music
In the modern world, there are three things those under the age of 25 love: music, sex, and the internet. The interconnection between music and sex is intimate. The lyrics and videos of music convey sexism by showing different criteria for judging men and women, glorification of unrequited love, and stereotypical representation. For instance, the lyrics of a song read: “Take you to Paris, Take you to London. (As) long as you are with me, you will live in abundance.” These depict money as a major determinant of a man’s desirability. Similarly, lyrics of another song objectify women: “You are a cold drink, I will gulp you.” Women and sex are employed as hooks in multi-million-dollar songs ranging from rap to rock. Taylor Swift’s new song “The Man” sings, “I’m so sick of running as fast as I can, wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man.”
3. In games
Games are a popular form of entertainment. Millions of people of different ages around the globe are addicted to games. It can be said that these are popular because of their appeal to masculinity. In most games for kids, the central character is a male, and he fights all other male characters, who are often villains. This construes the stigmatized believe that males are impolite and barbaric in nature. In some games, women are shown as characters assigned to them in children’s books, like as a kidnapped princess or as passive beings. On the other hand, in games for adults, the female character usually wears obscene dresses. In a comprehensive analysis of 41 games, it was found that female characters were more likely than male characters to wear low-cut attire and expose their arms (Stanley 2009). In Grand Theft Auto Vice City, females are shown lying naked on the beaches.
How has sexism changed?
Taylor concluded that the amount of sexism has considerably reduced over time. People are now more conscious than ever of their societal roles and are breaking all the shackles. In the postmodern era, stories of films are totally different from what they were in the past. Previously, movies only showed the problems of females. However, these are now focused on suggesting ways to empower women. Wonder Woman is one such movie where women are shown as independent characters.
Likewise, in games, one can now select a female character to fight the evils of the world. A pertinent example is PUBG, where one can make an avatar of his or her choice, and the avatar has same strengths irrespective of its sex. A similar decrease in sexism can be observed in print media. The use of gender specific language is abolished to great extent (Sexism in Language 2014). For example, chairperson is used instead of chairman.
However, sexism is believed to have increased in electronic media. Female news casters can be easily identified as more beautified than they were in the past. In the past, more focus was on the delivery of dialogue, but attire is given more importance now.
Conclusion
To conclude, it can be said that different forms of entertainment have actively portrayed the prejudiced images of both males and females. Generally, women are stigmatized as weak, help-seeking, and as sex objects. However, in the modern era, sexism has been considerably reduced.
Works Cited
Miller, Rendon. “Deconstructing the portrayals of Haitian women in the media: A thematic analysis of images in the Associated Press Photo Archive.” Psychology of Women (2012): 227–239. Available: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0361684311429110.
Pearson, Patricia. When She Was Bad: How and Why Women Get Away With Murder. 1st ed., 1997. Online. Internet. 31 May 2021.
Standley, Collins. Shirt vs. skin: Clothing as an indicator of gender role stereotyping in video games, May 31, 2009. Online. Internet. 31 May 2021. Available: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/S15327825MCS0503_3.
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