Beginner's Guide to Writing Research Articles

Beginner's Guide to Writing Research Articles

A research paper is nothing but a detailed and brilliantly structured scientific and technical essay. A research paper helps in publishing your findings and helps others understand what you have found.

Writing a research paper may seem like a tedious or daunting task. It has several parameters, and one might come across various stages during the paper's formulation. This form of writing may not come naturally to most of us; however, it is relatively easy to be familiar with the format and rules. Most of these rules are explicit, while others are simply implied.

The key attributes of any research paper are:

  • Originality or novelty.
  • Specificity.
  • Relevance to a broad scientific community.

Here's a simple and effective guide for you to be writing your research article:

Picking your topic of Interest:

This is the first step. Choosing something that interests you within the domain brings everything together. Once you have decided on a topic and determine that enough information is available, you are ready to proceed. However, if you are having difficulty finding adequate and relevant information, studying and researching this topic by yourself is another way to go? However, this happens only on a larger scale.

Getting familiar with the topic or Assignment:

This is a rather obvious step. However, creating an outline regarding the topic plays a vital role in the overall outcome of the paper. This requires an in-depth study of the entire topic, including the gaps and the current trends and findings on the subject. The proper description and relevant references, subheadings, diagrams, etc., should be done the right way. Getting familiar with the subject and conducting a detailed study helps you get these things right. Using index cards and other simple tools can also help you organize the information you have collected.

Organizing:

Based on your preliminary reading and research, draw up a working outline covering all necessary subjects. The inclusion of any interesting, important, and provocative points is vital. Also, make sure you include your own ideas about the topic. The objective is to gather ideas in logically related groups and chronological order simply. You might revise this outline or mind map at any point in time; it is a lot easier to reorganize a paper by adding sections or cross out sections in the outline. Room for versatility and modifications is something to keep in mind. Without this room in the outline, it is difficult to start over with the writing itself.

Thesis Formulation:

Now that you know what you are writing about and how to go about it, you are ready to articulate your own opinion, argument, and/or assertion. Even if you are not arguing for or against anything, your paper will require a thesis. A thesis is nothing but a short statement that you as a researcher will put forward for the readers of your paper, showing clearly what you are trying to prove or elaborate. It is very important for you to take time to craft this thesis as it shall control the direction and development of the entire subject you intend to describe.

Bridging the outline and thesis:

After you have researched deeply and collected plenty of relevant data and information, expand and revise your working mind map by adding or deleting information, explanations, and examples. The sole aim for balance in developing each of your key points and ideologies should be highlighted properly. Returning to the library for additional information if necessary to evenly develop these points, or even simply review the thesis statement to reflect better what you intend to determine, is a great idea. Research while writing a paper is something that can be done multiple times. The greater the search, the better the paper.

Revising:

Read, revise, and ensure that your ideas and facts are properly organized and that they support your thesis statement. Every single paragraph must have a topic that is a derivative from the thesis statement. If any paragraph is not a derivative, cut it out, or revise your thesis if you think it is necessary. Also, ensure that you have quoted and paraphrased correctly and acknowledged your sources even for the paraphrasing portion of the paper. Every single thought or idea that did not come to you as a personal epiphany or as an outcome of your own methodical reasoning must be attributed to its owner.

Proofreading:

This is a rather important step in publishing or writing a paper. Give yourself a few days to elapse between the time you finish writing the last draft and the time that you take to make the final corrections. This "time out" shall allow you to have a whole new perspective on the research paper. On the final read, check for grammar, correct word choice, adequate punctuations, and smooth transitions, sentence structure, and finally, sentence variety. The time taken between the two sections helps you in several ways and helps you bring out the best in your work.

Once you are done following all the steps above, ensure you check them off using a checklist. This acts as a double-layered security blanket and helps you write and submit your best work. Some of the most common mistakes that are seen in research papers are:

  • Weak thesis statements.
  • Irrelevant information.
  • Lack of research.
  • Lack of data or proof to support the thesis statement.

Now, since conceptualizing a paper, breaking it into parts, referring to various sources in order to commit research, writing a research paper has become less challenging. Taking help from seniors, teachers, and academic writing agencies could also help you in making your paper better.  However, it all lies in the research and understanding of the subject, as in the end, it is all about detailing and highlighting the subject.


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