Your Exhaustive Guide on Writing a Research Paper

Writing a research paper is hardly many students’ favorite thing to do. Learners tend to postpone the writing and prep until the very last moment, which only leads to more stress and confusion. Luckily, if you don’t know how to write a research paper, you’re in the right place. MyPaperHelp has got you covered!

In this article, we will cover academic research paper writing from start to finish. By the end of this post, you’ll learn how to start a research paper, how to write a research paper outline, everything about writing the body sections, how to write a conclusion for a research paper, and of course, how to cite your sources properly. We will also touch on formatting references, editing a research paper and answer all your questions in the end. Without further ado, here’s how to write the best research paper of your life.

What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is one of the milestones in academic writing every student has to go through. Depending on your major, field of study and specifics of your school, you are likely to write from five to twenty research papers during your college years. Outsourcing this assignment to a professional service is a great shortcut for people who are busy with other commitments. Yet, knowing how to write great research papers is a valuable skill for students.

These types of academic papers are a chance for a student to show in-depth analysis and/or critique of a topic. To write a research paper, you must perform extensive research, experiments or an investigation to answer the main research question. There’s a lot that goes into writing a research paper, and in this article, we will cover all those aspects. 

There are several types of research papers that vary depending on the goal the author is trying to achieve and the area of study. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Analytical. 
• Argumentative. 
• Comparative. 
• Cause and effect. 
• Experimental/scientific. 
• Interpretive.

To make this guide comprehensive and useful, we will be focusing on the most common type of research paper, which is analytical.

How Long Should a Research Paper Be?

The length of a research paper depends on your academic level, topic, area of study and the school’s or your professor’s specific requirements. Usually, research papers assigned to undergraduate level students are between 5 and 20 pages. 

A less complicated, freshman-level paper can call for 2000 words, which is about 8 double-spaced pages. A research paper for a senior student may be 6000 words or more, which amounts to approximately 20-25 pages. 

How to Write a Research Paper Step by Step

Read the Assignment

This will probably be the most obvious tip on our list, but it’s only because this point is so often overlooked. Read through the instructions thoroughly several times. Your professor should supply you with all the information and guidelines for your future research paper. If you feel like they didn’t, approach your advisor with questions.

Read through the instructions thoroughly. The instructions are your main guide to writing a research paper. Note the requirements for the number of words. Page numbers may be misleading, since a single-spaced page will be double the words of a double-spaced one. That’s why you should carefully read the prompt and note all the technical details. Remember the required number of sources, as well as the formatting style your professor is looking for. 

Some professors may be specific about indentations, text alignment and other details that may seem insignificant to you. Make sure you don’t overlook any part of the prompt and follow the instructions diligently. In the worst case scenario, even if the professor doesn’t like the paper content, attention to detail and meticulous formatting can save the day. 

Choose the Topic 

Sometimes, a professor may allocate a topic to you without taking your opinion into consideration. Other times, a professor may share a list of acceptable topics for research papers with the entire group.

However, on most occasions, you will be given full creative freedom to choose a research paper topic on your own. Mind that you still have to have your topic approved by the professor. You can’t just start writing when you find a topic that seems interesting and worthy of exploring. 

The first research paper topic you choose can determine the direction of your academic writing for years on. Scholars often dwell and expand on their past works when more data has been discovered.

The most important thing about choosing a topic is the availability of information. The topics are usually derived from the course material. You are expected to dwell on some of the readings covered in class, while also finding your own sources. Choosing an overly narrow topic can mean insufficient sources. On the other hand, picking a topic that’s too wide will probably mean that it’s already been covered in enough detail. That’s why you must have your topic approved by your advisor before you start writing.

Conduct Preliminary Research

Before you start a research paper, you must get acquainted with the available literature. Your professor will expect you to partially rely on the class readings. However, you must show your aptitude for finding facts and sifting through sources on your own. It’s called a research paper, after all, one of the goals of this type of writing is for you to learn how to perform extensive research.

Once you are settled on the topic for your research paper, you can use the keywords and phrases in your search. Focus on recent publications and, of course, reliable sources. This might be obvious to some, but you must only use peer-reviewed sources. You absolutely cannot cite Wikipedia or other platforms that rely on users’ input. On rare occasions, these types of sources are permissible, but you don’t want to overuse them regardless. Otherwise, your research paper may be discredited.

Instead, focus on reputable academic platforms and your school’s library. JSTOR, EBSCOhost, ProQuest, PubMed are some of the most commonly used databases. Sites ending in .gov or .edu are acceptable as well.

Form the Thesis Statement

Once you get acquainted with the available literature, your paper will start to take shape. The next step in writing your research paper is drafting a thesis statement. 

If you’re wondering how to start a research paper, the answer is with a thesis statement. This sentence should briefly convey the main argument of your paper, and give the reader an idea about the paper’s contents. A perfect thesis statement is specific and brief. Go straight to the point, avoid generalizations, cliches and vague statements. Make your argument clear. 

A great hack for students who struggle with writing a research paper introduction is to start with a question. Try rephrasing your topic as a question and use the answer as a skeleton for the thesis statement. 

For example, your topic is “The Impact of Sociolinguistic Factors on Language Acquisition in Bilingual Children.” If you turn it into a question, it should look something like this: ‘Do sociolinguistic factors impact language acquisition in bilingual children?’ Then, you can rely on your preliminary research findings to answer the question. That answer can be the first draft of your thesis statement.

Collect Sources and Gather Evidence

So, how to write a research paper? You do lots of research. Once your thesis statement has taken shape, back to the literature you’ve gathered at the beginning stages. Take your time and carefully review the literature. Note all the information that you can use in your future paper. Make sure that you note page numbers or highlight the parts you intend to use in some other way. 

Categorizing your references is a great way to stay focused and avoid confusion. Primary and secondary sources can be your two main categories.

Primary sources are firsthand accounts of an event or phenomena. Examples are data sets, historical evidence, diaries, interviews and original research. 

Secondary sources, on the other hand, are an analysis or summary of an event written after the fact. Textbooks, biographies, and research papers are some of the examples.

Prioritize primary sources. They should form the basis of your research. Secondary sources can be used as well, since they are written by scholars and are still considered credible evidence. Yet, if a primary source is available, it’s better to use that. Prevalence of primary sources will make your paper more credible and help you display critical thinking and your analytical skills.

Write a Research Paper Outline

Writing research papers becomes a lot easier when you start with an outline. An outline is a skeleton of your future paper. How to write a research paper outline, you might ask? It’s very simple, yet it makes a big difference.

Since you’re already familiar with the references, you should have an idea of what you will be writing about. Use that knowledge to come up with headings and subheadings. Leave notes under each section with the arguments you want to present and sources that support or disprove those arguments. 

Come back to the previous point where we told you to note page numbers. Writing down such details in the outline will make the writing process much easier. You won’t have to read through the entire source again, instead, you simply go back to the page you noted before.

The outline can have as many or as few details as you see fit. Nevertheless, a detailed outline will give you a roadmap of the research paper, streamlining the writing process. Make sure that you get the outline approved by your professor before you actually start writing. 

Start Writing the Draft

You should see your advisor as often as possible. They will critique your work, guide you, and answer your questions like how to write an introduction for a research paper. Once your outline is approved, you can start writing.

Many students think that one must write a research paper section by section. It’s a common misconception, though. In truth, most scholars recommend starting with the main body sections. 

If you’ve done your prep work, you should be well acquainted with the sources’ content. While this information is still fresh in your mind, presenting the main arguments and supporting them with evidence will be easier. Once the rough draft of the body sections has been approved by your prof, you can move on to other sections. 

Your research paper conclusion comes next. Sum up the main points presented in the body paragraphs. Restate your thesis and confirm or disprove it. Point the reader to the significance of your findings, gaps in research, limitations, and potential areas for future inquiry. 

Usually, the introduction section is written last with the exception of the thesis statement. With the body and conclusion already written, you will be able to effectively introduce the work and prepare the reader for what to expect. 

Format the References Section

When your draft is approved, you can proudly say ‘I know how to write an academic research paper now!’ the majority of work is behind you, so congratulations! It is worth noting that formatting the references section is one of the more challenging parts of academic research papers writing. Still, it’s one of those things that gets easier the more you do it.

Firstly, check the instructions again and see what formatting style is required. Pay attention not only to the style itself (i.e., APA, MLA, Harvard, etc.), but to the edition of the guide. Formatting guides get updated often, and errors due to inattentiveness will not benefit your final grade.

Then, it’s all about attention to detail. Research papers are synonymous with meticulous work, so open the formatting guide and follow it closely. Pay special attention to publishers, editions, page numbers, and whether a title is to be italicized. 

Keep in mind that formatting requirements vary not only depending on the format, but also the type of reference. A journal article reference will look completely different from a book.

There are lots of free online tools that can be instrumental in formatting references. 

• MyBib
• Zotero
• Mendeley
• BibGuru
• Cite This For Me

These are some of the most popular tools recommended by students. Still, you should exercise caution, apply critical thinking, and double-check everything. Make sure that every in-text citation has a corresponding reference, and vice-versa. 

Review and Edit

No research paper can truly be considered finished before the editing stage. Check in with your professor once again, ask them how to write a conclusion for a research paper, and how to best approach editing. Take their comments into consideration and act accordingly. You might not agree with the critique, but sometimes, you have to trust your advisor’s judgment. They’ve read hundreds of ', so their input is extremely valuable. 

A rule of thumb when it comes to editing is to let the paper sit for a while. Give yourself at least one day to focus on other things. Then, you’ll look at your research paper with a fresh set of eyes and will be able to spot more mistakes or problematic areas. 

Another tip is to read the paper out loud. Hearing your own writing can help you identify areas that have poor flow or need to be worded differently. 

Editing doesn’t have to be linear either. You can edit sections in any order as long as you’re not rewriting entire paragraphs and changing the content completely. When you’re looking for grammatical and syntax errors, you need to focus on one sentence at a time. On the other hand, when you’re editing to improve flow and cohesiveness, reading the paper top to bottom is best.

Final Remarks on Writing a Research Paper

Research papers truly do come in all shapes and sizes. Luckily, though, the steps needed to write a research paper are more or less the same regardless of the type, length and other specifics.

Before you start writing, answer this question for yourself: what is a research paper? Apart from the obvious answer, a research paper is an opportunity for you to take on a challenge, expand your knowledge and gain new experience. 

All research papers start with a topic. Make sure that when you are choosing yours, you settle on a topic that truly interests you. This will make the writing process easier and more exciting. Conduct preliminary research to see if there’s enough data for your paper. Write a thesis statement based on your topic and initial findings. 

Gather references, review them thoroughly, and sort them into categories. Mark the page numbers, quotes and anything that can be useful to you later in the writing process. Put together an outline based on your research. Note your ideas for each section, or even write draft arguments. At this point, you can already cite sources for a research paper so that you don’t have to look for sources later.

Then, you can start writing your first draft. Make sure that you check in with your professor frequently, and follow his or her instructions. Finish up by editing and proofreading your research paper. And you’re done! Now, you can submit your assignment and finally relax. Congratulations!

And if you find the task too complicated, you can always get a hand from MyPaperHelp.