Do you want to write your own research papers but don’t know where to start? Do you need an affordable route to publication but don’t have the talent? Do you want to develop your writing skills and become a better researcher?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this post is for you. We’ll break down the various steps you can take to get started writing research papers in a meaningful way. So, let’s get to it.
Decide What Type
Before you can start writing a research paper, you need to decide what type you will write. This largely depends on your school and the faculty you are affiliated with. If you are a business or economics major at a university, you will more than likely be asked to write a business paper. In this case, you will have to decide whether you want to write from a business or academic perspective. Of course, you can write from both perspectives but it’s a good idea to pick one and stick with it. Deciding what type of paper you will write can help you narrow your focus and determine the structure and theme of your paper. It can also help you figure out what would be the best platform for publishing your work. As a general rule of thumb, you want to avoid making your paper too long. The more you write, the more you risk losing the reader’s attention, especially if your paper is over 10 pages. Remember: you are trying to impress your audience with your knowledge and not just overwhelm them with information.
Choose A Niche
Once you have decided what type of paper you will write, you need to determine the niche you will fall within. The best way to do this is by choosing a specific topic. When you choose a topic, you are narrowing your scope and focusing on a smaller portion of the entire field. It is always a good idea to choose a topic that you are passionate about. In addition, choosing a niche will help you figure out what would be the best approach to take when writing your paper. For example, if you are a microbiology major and you choose to write about prions, you will have a better idea of how to approach the topic and what would be the most effective way to communicate your findings. Alternatively, if you are a chemistry major and you write about drug discovery, you will have a good idea of how to structure your paper and what would be the most effective way to approach the subject. So, by choosing a topic, you are increasing the chances of creating something meaningful and helpful to the field. In addition to choosing a helpful topic, you also need to pick your own area of expertise. For example, if you are an English major and you are not sure what to write about, you can choose American Literature as your topic but within that scope, you can decide to focus on the novel The Scarlet Letter or even pick one of the short stories within that text. Choosing your own area of expertise will provide you with a starting point from which you can build your paper. It will also give you a sense of direction and purpose as you write your paper. Without a specific area of expertise, it can be difficult to know where to start your paper and what would be the most effective way to approach the subject. In addition, you can use your area of expertise to determine the structure and theme of your paper. If you are not sure what would be the best approach to take, ask your tutor or a professor who has experience in your field.
Choose A Method
The next step is to decide how you will go about writing your paper. The best approach is to decide on a method that will enable you to write the paper in the most effective and least stressful manner. For example, if you are a psychology major and you want to write about the topic of love, you can choose to either conduct original research or you can choose to review existing literature. Conducting original research entails spending a lot of time reading journals and other reputable sources of information. In addition, you have to keep track of the extensive bibliography you will need for your paper. Writing a review entails taking an existing piece of literature and either rewriting it or providing a critique of the work. In many cases, it is both. When writing a review, you should try to keep the same organization as the original author. In addition, reviews should aim to be concise while still being as precise and well-structured as possible. Remember: if you want to impress your audience, writing a review is a great way to go. In fact, many times reviews are the only type of paper students are asked to write. Writing a review also provides you with experience in writing and it develops your critical thinking skills. In addition, reviews can be used to scope out specific topics for future papers. If you decide to conduct original research, you have to make sure that your topic is well-researched and that you do your best to avoid plagiarism. In order to keep up with this high standard, you should seek out experienced researchers and academics who can help you by providing either advice or even an opportunity to write up your findings. In addition to seeking out experienced researchers and academics, you should also consider reaching out to professionals in your specific field. If you are not sure where to start, ask your tutor or a professor who has experience in your field.
Once you have decided what method you will use to write your paper, you can start thinking about the structure and theme. As a general rule of thumb, you should write your paper from the perspective of a general rather than an expert in the field. In other words, you want to write from the perspective of someone with average knowledge rather than someone with extensive knowledge. In the end, nobody is an expert in every field and if you really want to write something worthwhile, make sure you include a balance of both expert and non-expert sources. In addition to choosing a method and deciding on the structure and theme of your paper, you can also use the above steps to determine the purpose of your paper and what exactly you want to say. In some cases, you may even be asked to write a statement of purpose for your paper. Once you have determined the purpose of your paper, you can choose a method and start working on your paper in a meaningful way. In some cases, this may mean writing a lot of drafts until you come up with something that works. Ultimately, the best way to find out what you are doing is by reading through your paper and making necessary changes (editing). When you are writing your paper, you should always be thinking about the reader. This is not necessarily about impressing your peers with your knowledge. Your aim should be to help other students and also post-graduates work in your field. If you do need to impress your peers with your knowledge, writing a textbook or a journal article is a great way to go about it. However, if you want to eventually become a professional in your field, make sure you develop your skills in a way that is beneficial to your audience. In order to do this, write and re-write your paper until you come up with something that is both useful and meaningful. This may mean spending a lot of time working on your paper but it will all be worth it in the end.
Organize Your Paper
After you have decided what method you will use to write your paper and you have written a substantial amount of the paper, you need to start organizing it. This entails firstly, getting everything into some kind of order and structuring your paper so that it makes sense. This is probably the most difficult part of writing a paper. In many cases, this means simply copying and pasting sections of your paper from one place to another so that it makes sense. In some cases, you may even need to re-write parts of your paper in order to fit them better into the structure you have created. Ultimately, you have to take a somewhat artistic approach to writing and trying to make sense of all the information you have collected. Simply put, you have to make your paper flow smoothly and logically. This may mean going back and forth between different files so that you can maintain your original flow. In addition to structuring your paper, you should also decide what would be the best platform for publishing your work. In many cases, this will be online but again, this depends on your school. If you are still unsure, ask your tutor or a professor who has experience in this area.
Now that you have a general idea of how to write a paper, you can get to work. Ultimately, writing a paper is not as difficult as you might think. If you are looking for a way to develop your writing skills and become a better researcher, writing a paper is a great vehicle. Not only will it help you develop your skills but it also provides you with a publication record. Even better, choosing your own topic gives you a sense of direction and purpose as you write your paper. So, go ahead and get started!