Coming up with a comprehensive research paper can be a daunting task especially based on the fact that sometimes this type of academic paper exemplifies one the longest type of essay
But that’s not all;
Research papers require detailed research and valid information, which in most instances should be backed by scholarly-based evidence.
This guide will provide all the information you require to write compelling research papers, including examples of winning papers from our academic writing assistance service.
But first, here’s what you should expect.
- Definition of a Research Paper
- Details on the Ideal Length of A Research Paper
- Guidelines on How To Write A Comprehensive Research Paper
- Sample Research Papers
Without wasting time, let’s get started.
What is A Research Paper?
A research paper is a type of academic writing that analyzes, interprets, and argues positions based on valid and reliable in-depth information.
Conventionally, research papers are long and detailed.
These academic papers are also assessed based on research (especially when exploring scholarly information) and writing skills.
That said;
For your research paper to be compelling enough, you must demonstrate your understanding of the research topic, engage with different sources, and present topic-based ideas.
What is the Ideal Length of A Research Paper?
In as much as our academic assistance team [internal link to the service or even home page] has answered this question severally in daily conversations with students, we wouldn’t hesitate to share our thoughts one more time.
Get this;
The length of research papers varies based on a set of underlying factors such as the research paper requirements, selected topic, and recommended length.
This means that you can come across some research papers ranging from 2000 to 5000 words and others over 9,000 words.
Either way, most academic assignments [link to the papers category] specify the recommended number of words an assignment should have.
How to Write A Comprehensive Research Paper
The process of writing a compelling and comprehensive research paper can be summarized into ten actionable steps.
Step One: Evaluate the Assignment
In this step, you should review the assignment instructions, including the writing prompt, and evaluate your approach to answering the research questions.
Remember to look for technical information such as:
- Recommended Length
- Citation Style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago)
- Formatting specifications such as indentations and spacing
Apart from the technical information, research papers can have an additional set of instructions, such as the inclusion of an abstract section, appendices, table of contents or cover page.
The bottom line is;
This step requires you to read all instructions carefully, identify the assignment goal, and clearly understand the accompanying specifications, such as maximum length, format, and submission method.
Step Two: Select A Research Topic
Sometimes the research paper assignment might have an already defined topic, whereas the assignment is open-ended in other instances.
In an open-ended scenario whereby you are instructed to choose a research topic, you should:
- Pick a research topic that has enough content to meet the assignment needs
- Choose a topic that comes along with supportive data and insights that would lead to professional discussion
- Avoid general topics
- Select a topic you are interested in to keep you engaged whenever possible.
Step Three: Gather Preliminary Data and Insightful Information
In this step, you should focus on refining your topic and preparing your thesis statement.
Look;
Insights and data from the refinement process should dispel any misconceptions about the selected topic and reveal the best approaches for additional resources.
Best Practice: For online resources, only use credible sources such as scholarly articles and journals and/or data from credible websites (e.g., government and approved institutional websites).
During this process, you should consider the difference between primary and secondary sources and their applicability to your research topic.
In most instances, you’re likely to encounter different pieces of information scattered everywhere across the internet. As a result, you should save time by skimming through the resources to identify the best fit instead of reading each of the articles. Select qualifying articles and set them aside for full exploration later.
Approaching your topic this way can be handy, especially in situations where you are required to submit a literature review of the research topic.
Step Four: Create A Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is a statement that holds the central idea or argument of an academic paper. Put in another way, it defines the purpose as well as the position of the paper.
As for this step, it would be necessary for you to come up with a thesis that summarizes the contents of your research paper.
According to our academic assistance [insert a link to the home page] team of experts, a thesis statement guides one on how to start the research paper. Furthermore, it prepares the reader and assists in determining whether the paper is useful for other research-based activities.
You should know that;
A good thesis statement considers all the important parts of the research paper (in summary).
Take for example, if your research paper is based on ‘The Effects of Childhood Obesity in the United States.’
In this case, you can examine the prevalence of childhood obesity in America, including the morbidity and mortality rates.
From your analysis, your thesis can be something like ‘Do the current childhood obesity prevention programs help in reducing and managing prevalence rates?’
Step Five: Identify and Collect Supporting Evidence
The actual research characterizes this step.
That said;
You are expected to examine the sources (collected earlier) and pick specific information that you will use to complete the research paper.
You can decide to first read the sources and then take notes on important information that will be included in the research paper, or you can skim through each source and highlight important information for your research paper while at the same time writing specific sections of the paper.
Either way, the ultimate goal is to identify and collect evidence that would help develop a unique and comprehensive research paper.
Step Six: Begin the Research Paper Outline
A research paper outline lists the main and sub-topics of a research paper or essay. The outline also contains arguments and evidence to support the arguments.
Look;
Your outline should be structured in a way that would make the writing process easier and more efficient.
Step Seven: Get Your First Draft Together
Up to this point, I believe you have everything you require for the research paper in one place, and you’re ready to begin your first draft.
Let’s get the ball rolling.
Your first draft does not have to be perfect; all you need to do is;
- Write and edit/ correct later
- Make your ideas clear to maintain a precise flow
- Maintain a logical order of paragraphs and sentences
The research paper should adopt the following format in terms of the flow of ideas.
Sample Research Papers
Final Thoughts
We hope this guide will help you create the most comprehensive research paper. Remember that we can also help you comes up with one. Just click here to get started. Otherwise, feel free to share this article.