type research paper fast

How to Write a Research Paper Fast in 9 Steps

So you have a blank document opened and you don’t know how to write a research paper from scratch. Well, academic writing is indeed challenging and much different than other types of writing. If you haven’t written a research paper and it is your first time, it could turn out to be an overwhelming task.

It gets more challenging if you have to write your research paper fast. It really gets tough. And if you don’t learn how to write a good research paper fast that is more than a well-written paper, you’ll find yourself in deep trouble.

However, if you know what steps to follow and how to do a research paper, it will get a whole lot easier. All you have to do is follow a systematic approach. Follow a step-by-step guide and it will become a piece of cake. That’s why I created this guide below.

It shows you what steps you have to take in order to write a research paper and how to get it finished and submitted on time. It covers everything including topic selection, research, write-up, editing and proofreading, and much more.

This guide is all you need to write a killer research paper fast. Let’s get started.

What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is an extended form of essay that represents original research work of the author. It is an academic piece on a topic that is based on original research, arguments, interpretation, and analysis. Examples of a research paper include term papers, doctoral dissertations, and scientific research articles.

So who needs to write a research paper?

Anyone can write a research paper but generally, graduate students, PhDs, and academicians write research papers and have them get published in journals. The idea is to share your research and findings with the world.

Here is a research paper example from the Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal :

Here is another research paper example from the Journal of Academic Librarianship :

Yes, research paper involves a lot of research and this is one reason why a lot of people struggle. If you get to know how to write a good research paper and you know the exact steps, you can manage it easily.

How to Write a Research Paper: Step-by-Step Guide

Here are the steps that you can follow to write a good research paper fast:

Set objectives
Choose a topic
Review literature
Organize your research
Create a thesis
Create an outline
Start writing
Edit and revise

These steps are covered in detail below.

Step #1: Set Objectives

To learn everything on how to write a research paper quickly, the first thing you need to do is set clear objectives. Why do you need to write a research paper in the first place?

There are several reasons why you should end up writing a research paper:

It could be a requirement from your university or supervisor to get your degree
It could be to share your original research work with the right people
To move ahead in your career as an academician or a professional
You’re writing a research paper just to let others know of your experience and you don’t intend to get anything in exchange

If you’re writing a research paper as a degree requirement, you’ll approach it differently as compared to if you’re writing one as a professor. Setting the right objectives and goals for your research paper helps you stay focused and organized.

Ask yourself following questions to set objectives for your assignment:

Why do you need to write a research paper?

What is its deadline?

What is the research paper format?

Is there a specific word count requirement?

Do you have a topic in mind?

Where do you wish to publish your research paper?

Set realistic yet challenging objectives and goals for your assignment based on your answers. If you have to write a research paper as a requirement for your graduate degree, you will get clear objectives from your university. It will make your job easier. You just have to stick to them.

However, if you’re writing a research paper to get it published in a journal to strengthen your resume and to get a better job, you’ll have different objectives that will be more geared towards the journal’s requirements.

Step #2: Plan

After you have identified objectives for your research paper, you need to create a plan to achieve your objectives. If you’re serious about how to do a research paper, you should plan it. The best way to plan your research article is to create a Gantt chart.

A Gantt chart helps you manage your research paper and set schedule for different activities (discussed later in this guide). You’ll be able to complete important tasks on time so that you don’t end up missing deadlines.

If, for instance, you have to submit a research paper to a journal’s call for paper request, you’ll have to get it ready well before the deadline. This is where the Gantt charts are very helpful. You can set a schedule based on the priority of the tasks.

You can’t write your complete research paper in a single go even if it has to be 3K words or less. You need to collect data and you have to analyze your data using a statistical tool. And this is where things get complicated because data collection and analysis can take months. It isn’t necessary that you personally collect data so if someone else is collecting data, you have to manage things at your end smartly. You can’t do it without planning and proper scheduling.

Planning is essential because you have to rely on different resources for data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, data reporting, editing, etc. When there are multiple individuals and tools involved, you need to set your priorities and you need a proper plan that will show you what needs to be done, who will do it, when it should start, and when a task should be completed.

At the same time, there are certain resources that you’d need special access to from your university such as statistical tools. If you’re analyzing data in SmartPLS , you’d need a key from your university which remains active for 30 days. Not only that you have to request a key on time after you have collected the data, but you’ll also have to make sure that data is analyzed in 30 days else you’ll have to request for key renewal which takes a few days.

In the absence of planning, you might not get access to several critical university resources and this will significantly delay your research article.

A proper plan will let you put requests for resources well before the time that will be entertained as compared to putting requests at the last moment (that are normally rejected due to resource unavailability or overload).

Step #3: Choose a Topic

Your research topic is of central importance in the research article. You should give special attention to topic selection as everything else will be derived from the topic. A wrong topic selected and you won’t be able to get back on track very soon.

There are two ways to choose a topic for your research paper:

If you’re writing a research paper for a degree requirement, you’ll receive guidelines from your supervisor/university. Follow the guidelines. You’ll have to choose a topic of your interest.
If you’re writing a research paper for publication in a journal, you’ll have to identify a journal, read its scope, read author guidelines, and then choose a topic that is most likely to be accepted by the journal for publication.

Even if you’re writing a paper as an assignment, you’ll still have to get it published in a relevant journal so you have to choose an appropriate journal first. That’s the right approach to choosing a topic.

So your research topic should meet these two criteria:

You should have an interest in the topic.
You have identified an appropriate journal that’s likely to accept and publish your research article.

Choosing a topic of your interest will make it easier for you to write about it. Your passion will motivate you and you’ll rarely feel bored. Aligning your topic to a specific journal will make publication easier. Journals are very choosy and publish articles that meet their scope and won’t publish anything that doesn’t meet their scope.

Here is an example of the scope of the Alternative Law Journal:

If you submit an article to this journal, it will be accepted if and only if it meets the aims and scope. And this holds true for all the journals out there. So you have to choose a topic and then you have to find a relevant journal that will accept your research paper.

Here are a few actionable tips on how to choose a topic for your research paper:

The topic should meet the assignment requirements.
Use brainstorming to identify a decent research topic.
Start from a broad topic such as human resource management and then narrow it down. Ensure that the topic isn’t too broad.
Narrow down the focus. The more focused your topic is, the better. Broader topics don’t tend to do well. For instance, you can narrow down your human resource management topic to organizational citizenship behavior in the banking sector.
Don’t narrow your topic too much as it will limit your options for data collection. There has to be a balance between too broad and too narrow.
Ask industry experts as they might be able to help you identify a hot topic based on their experience and the challenges they’re facing in the industry. This will make your research practically applicable and useful for practitioners.
The topic needs to be of interest for practitioners or a certain group (e.g. researchers). If it only interests you and is considered invaluable by others, you’ll struggle to get your research paper published in a high impact journal.

Once you have finalized your topic, you then need to identify a journal to get your article published. This is the stage where you’ll be able to further refine your topic, tweak it, and make it compatible with the journal’s requirement.

Here are some tips to identify the right journal based on your research topic and how to make your topic compatible with your preferred journal:

Visit leading publishers such as Elsevier , Sage , Wiley , etc. and search for journals based on your topic.
Use Google Scholar to identify recent articles published on your topic.
Read the aims and scope of the journals to screen them and identify the ones that are most likely to publish your article.
Read the recently published article in these journals. This will give you an idea of what type of articles they publish. Tweak your research topic if needed to make it compatible with a journal’s policies.
Read author guidelines and any special instructions that will help you craft a better research paper.
Target one journal and stick with its requirements. This will help you focus on one journal’s requirements which makes acceptance easier as you’ll write specifically for it.

Once your topic is finalized, you’re ready to proceed with an in-depth literature review to create your thesis and outline.

Step #4: Literature Review

Reviewing literature is an essential step of how to write a research paper. You can’t do research without reviewing literature.

The literature review is a comprehensive summary of previous research on your selected topic. It involves reviewing existing research papers, books, scholarly articles, and any other authentic and reliable data source that is related to your topic.

The purpose of the literature review is to describe, summarize, and evaluate previous research on your topic to find what has already been done and where you want to move from here. Existing literature helps you identify theories on your topic, history of the topic, current issues, and future research directions that help you refine your research topic and build a thesis.

The literature review is essential as it lets you understand the topic and previous research. You don’t want to end up researching an issue that’s already covered by someone else. How’d you find what work other researchers have done on the subject? By reviewing literature. Besides, you get to learn methodologies, theories, models, and other critical information about your topic during the literature review process.

Since writing a research paper is much different than writing a novel where you can write a novel even if you haven’t read any novel in your life. In case of writing a research article, you can’t write a research paper (on any topic) without reading existing literature. You need a base and a theory to support your arguments. It’s a scholarly article that can’t exist in isolation.

Here is what in-depth literature review will help you with:

It will clarify your topic and will help you refine it
It helps you find theories and models
It helps you narrow the focus of your research
You get to learn everything about your research topic
You get resources that you can cite in your research paper
It helps you create a thesis for your research paper
You give an overview of the past research to the readers which helps them better understand your research and how it is relevant to the existing research

how to review literature for your research paper

Follow these steps to review the literature for your research paper.

Step #1: Select Literature to Review

Identify keywords that are relevant to your research topic and start searching for the existing literature. Google Scholar and your university’s library should be your starting point.

Besides, you can access databases like JSTOR , Medline , EBSCO , and others to search for articles, books, and other relevant material. You’ll be able to access databases and journals that your university has an agreement with so it’d be best to use your university’s resources.

Step #2: Take Notes

The literature review is a part of your research paper so it will be best to start writing it as you review and analyze literature. You need to interpret and synthesize published work with your critique.

If you want, you can create an Excel sheet where you can add article titles with their key findings and your comments. This type of sheet helps you keep a record of all the literature reviewed.

Step #3: Write

Don’t just write a summary of the literature rather add your arguments, critique, and analysis. Create a structure for your literature review as it makes writing easier. Here is a structure that you should follow:

Introduction: Tell readers the purpose of the introduction.
Body: Organize literature in one of the forms: Systematic, chronological, theoretically, thematic, or methodological.
Conclusion: Highlight key findings and summarize your literature review.

By the time you’ll be done with the literature review, you’ll have a thorough understanding of your research topic.

Step #5: Organize Your Research

If you’re writing a research paper for the first time and don’t know anything about how to write a good research paper or how to do a research paper, you’ll get lost easily.

Because writing a research article is not the same as how to write a novel. It’s much different. You have to read a lot of literature, you have to take notes, and you have to keep everything organized.

Organizing your research, literature, notes, PDFs, data files, and other resources are essential. Your research paper isn’t just the paper you write but it is based on and is linked to several other elements.

Organizing your research paper and research work is essential.

It also helps you write a research paper fast. I mean if you’re short of time, you don’t want to spend half of your day finding missing files, literature, and theories that you have already reviewed. This is why using tools is essential.

First off, if you’re interested in writing your research paper fast, you need a writing software like Squibler .

Why Squibler specifically?

Because it helps you organize your content, paper, literature, and everything else. Authors use it to organize their manuscripts and to get their books published fast (in as low as 30 days). This shows how powerful this tool can be for your research paper’s organization.

Squibler alone will reduce your writing time to a great extent. If you’re in a hurry, don’t miss it.

But Squibler isn’t all you need, it helps you manage and organize your files, manuscript, and content, you still need other tools to manage other stuff. Here is a list of tools that you must use to organize your research:

NVivo for reviewing the literature and for qualitative analysis
EndNote for managing references and citations
Grammarly for writing, editing, plagiarism, and proofreading
Evernote for taking notes and managing your research
Scrivener for writing and managing your research paper

You should also check with your university for tools and apps. You might get access to tools for free that have partnered with your university. In any case, don’t go without tools as they can save you a lot of time at the end of the day.

Step #6: Create a Thesis Statement

Now that you have reviewed a lot of literature, refined your research topic, and have organized your research work (so far) appropriately, it is time to create your thesis statement.

A thesis statement is a one-sentence that defines your research and topic. It tells the readers what your research paper will discuss. Here is an example of a thesis statement:

The thesis statement is derived from the literature. You can’t (and in fact shouldn’t) write a thesis statement without extensive review of the literature.

Here is what a thesis statement does:

It tells readers what big problem you’re addressing
It sets the expectations of the readers
It shows how you’ll interpretation of the question your research paper will address
It makes a claim

In simple words, your thesis statement is a sentence that represents your point of view (or argument) about the topic that you’ll defend in the rest of the research paper.

Here is an example of a good and a bad thesis statement:

Your thesis statement should be:

Unambiguous
Shows your position or point of view

A great technique to create a thesis statement is to convert your research paper topic into a question and then answer the question is a sentence or two. The answer to the question will be your thesis statement.

For instance, your topic is to discuss the benefits of cinnamon for weight loss .

Convert it into a question as: What are the benefits of using cinnamon for weight loss?

Answer it as: The benefits of using cinnamon for weight loss are …

This answer is your thesis statement. Make it a bit scholarly as: Using cinnamon will reduce weight by …

That’s how simple it is.

Step #7: Create an Outline

Once you’re done with the thesis statement, you need to create an outline for research paper. You can skip this step if you want but it isn’t recommended. If you plan to write a decent research article and if you want to know how to write a good research paper, you should know the ins and outs of creating an outline.

An outline for research paper helps you structure your paper. It tells you what you’re supposed to do and how to do it. And it helps you write your research paper fast.

Here is how an outline for research paper looks like :

The outline can be as detailed as you want or as short as you want it to be. You should, however, keep outline fairly detailed by listing all the headings and subheadings. List what you’ll cover in each subheading. The following outline for research paper is a perfect example that lists all the major portions of the article:

If you’re writing a research paper as a degree requirement, you’ll get an outline template from your university. Follow the template and stick with it.

If your university doesn’t provide you with a template, you can find a free template from the internet. There are tons of free templates available out there for research papers that help you with research paper format and outline.

For journal submissions, you’ll have to create an outline using the journal’s author guidelines. Journals have specific requirements in terms of word count, headings, subheadings, number of tables, number of figures, etc. They provide you with in-depth details so in this case, creating an outline becomes a whole lot easier.

Follow these tips to create a perfect outline for your research paper:

Start by listing the major headlines including abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, bibliography, and appendices.
Add subheadings by looking at previous research papers.
Since you have already reviewed literature, you’ll be in a better position to identify subheadings and sections for your research paper.
Keep outline flexible.
Don’t hesitate to tweak your outline. You should update it as you start writing your paper.

Step #8: Start Writing

Finally, it’s the stage in your how to write a research paper guide where you can start writing it. I have to admit that writing is the most difficult part. The good news is that you have already done most of the hard work by preparing an outline, thesis statement, and literature review.

You now need to write the remaining sections as per outline which normally includes:

Introduction

Methodology.

The introduction is derived from the thesis statement and literature review. You have to write the background, research purpose, research questions and objectives, the significance of your research paper, and the structure of the research paper.

It isn’t a very detailed section rather it lays the foundation of your paper. The introduction needs to be interesting so readers don’t lose interest and continue reading.

This section comes right after the literature review where you mention the methodology you’ll follow to conduct your research. This is an important section of your research paper that needs to be written clearly.

Methodology includes:

Research methods
Research philosophy
Population and sampling techniques
Data collection and data analysis techniques
Instruments and scale used
Pilot study details

You need to justify your selection of research methods and techniques with strong arguments. For instance, if you’re doing qualitative research, you need to present arguments as to why you selected qualitative research as opposed to quantitative.

This section covers the results of your research paper. It happens to be a crucial part of your research paper as it highlights the findings of your research which is your contribution.

Write your results scientifically in this section and relate them to your thesis statement and research questions. Add tables, figures, and other details from the statistical tool that you used in your study.

Explain your results in detail in the discussion section. Link results to theory and literature. You need to explain results in an easy-to-understand language not just scientifically. Provide arguments for your results that weren’t supported by theory or weren’t as expected.

The discussion section includes:

Discussion on results
Limitations of the research paper
Implications
Future research directions

Finally, write a conclusion that summarizes your research paper’s findings and contribution. The conclusion should give a concise overview of your research paper that should be meaningful in isolation.

Step #9: Edit and Revise

This is the last step in how to write a research paper process. You have written the first draft and it’s time to edit and revise it.

You need to complete the first draft of your manuscript well before the submission date so you get time to edit and tweak it. This is where the Gantt chart becomes so handy. In the absence of planning, you’ll finish your first draft right on the last day leaving no room for edits.

Editing your research paper is essential. You need to go through it once and fix errors and typos. Then use editing software like Grammarly to fix grammatical errors, typos, sentence structure errors, and to check plagiarism. It is an extremely handy tool. You can use its Word extension to fix errors as you type.

As you find and fix errors in your draft, revise it by fixing sentence structure and flow. Academic writing is different than other types of writing (fiction, non-fiction, etc.) so you have to make sure your research paper’s language is academic. You might have to revise sentences and even paragraphs to make them robust.

It is a good idea to have someone preferably a colleague review your research paper. This is a great way to find and fix errors that might go unnoticed otherwise.

Start Writing Your Research Paper

A research paper is way different than novel writing and other types of writing. If you know how to write a novel or how to write a book , it doesn’t mean you’ll know how to write a research paper. If you think you can write a research paper just because you have written a novel, you’re mistaken.

Research paper writing is something different. You need to learn it. You need to at least learn the basics. The 9-step to writing a research paper fast discussed in this guide is more than enough to help you get started right away. You’re all set to write an amazing paper.

Get cracking.

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Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students

How to Write a Research Paper Fast

Updated: June 19, 2024

Published: January 27, 2020

As a student, you knew it was inevitable. The day has come where you have to write a research paper, but you’ve put it off until the last minute. Now the pressure is sinking in to get it done quickly and you want to know how to write a research paper fast.

The good news is that it’s doable. The better news is that there are ways to avoid waiting until the last minute. We will tackle those after we give you everything you need to know to get it done.

Photo by Russ Ward

The process.

A research paper is what it sounds like — a paper that requires a thesis (or argument) along with the research to back it up. Research papers involve citing a variety of sources, analyzing arguments, and pulling different academic pieces together to prove a point.

1. Understand the Assignment:

The first thing you have to make sure you do before you get to outlining and writing is to understand the assignment. You will need to organize different pieces of information, from books, essays, interviews, articles and more.

2. Choose a Topic:

Depending on the assignment provided, you will either have a topic in front of you or you will have to decide on one yourself. If your professor did not provide you with a topic, here are some helpful ways to choose one that will work for your needs:

Choose something you understand enough so that you will be able to interpret the research about it
Before you get started, check that there is a lot of content about that topic by performing a simple online search to see what turns up
Write out your topic as a research question that you plan to answer
Research more about your topic and find evidence to back up what you want to answer
Make a list of keywords that you continue to see pop up about the topic
Create your thesis

3. Perform Research:

While performing research is as easy as conducting an online search for sources, the more important element is evaluating the validity of a source. Don’t use Wikipedia as a source, because it is crowdsourced and can be edited by anyone. Instead, rely on digital encyclopedias, scholarly databases, trustworthy publications like TIME magazine and the New York Times, and the like. Since you’re writing this research paper at the last minute, the library may not be a possible option. However, for the next time you write a research paper and plan in advance, definitely utilize books from the library.

4. Write Your Thesis:

A thesis statement is the gist of your entire paper. It is what you will spend your writing proving; therefore, it has to be strong and to the point. A thesis statement appears in the introduction of your research paper, following the strong hook statement that draws your readers in. There is a formulaic way to write a strong thesis statement, and it looks something like this:

“By examining (argument 1), (argument 2), and (argument 3), it is clear that (statement you will prove).”

A thesis statement is typically one sentence and it is clearly written so that the reader knows exactly what they will read about in your paper.

To check that you’ve written a strong thesis statement, ask yourself if it achieves the following:

Is it in the introduction?
Does it answer the question from the prompt?
Can others argue against my thesis?
Is it going to prove a single claim?
Does it answer something meaningful?

5. Outline Your Paper:

Now that you have the main ingredients for your research paper, namely your thesis and supporting research, you can start outlining. Everyone has their own way they like to create an outline for papers. Here’s one good example of how it can be done — this is called a flat outline:

List the topics you will discuss
Under each topic, write your sources
If you are lacking sources, revisit and research more to give more meat to your paper
Move your topics and their information onto your paper in an organized flow
Write your thesis at the top so you can ensure that you are answering/proving your thesis throughout the paper’s argument

6. The Body/Intro and Conclusion:

So, do you start with your introduction and conclusion and then fill in the body? Or, do you do it the other way around? Really, there is no right or wrong way. It ultimately depends on your preference. Some people like to write their introduction and use it to serve as an outline of their paper and then flow from there. Others like to write their points in the body of their paper and then extrapolate the introduction and conclusion from what they wrote.

Regardless of how you perform your work, there is a structure that the paper must follow, which looks like this:

Introduction – includes a hook sentence (grabs the reader), your thesis and a menu sentence (a list of what you will discuss).
Body paragraphs – each body paragraph comes from what you mentioned in your introduction’s menu sentence. Each body paragraph has a topic sentence, or a first sentence that clearly states what it will be about. Each body paragraph includes support and sources that prove the topic sentence or argument.
Conclusion – here, you restate your introduction and thesis in different words. You want to end with a strong and memorable sentence. Just like your introduction began with a hook statement, your conclusion should end with something that will be remembered.

7. Cite Sources:

One of the major differences between a research paper and any other academic paper is that you must cite your sources. The end of your paper will have a list of sources, or a bibliography. Depending on your professor’s preferences, they will either be listed in APA format , MLA , Chicago , etc. This is an imperative step because your entire research paper’s evidence is based on and backed up by these sources, so you must give them credit where credit is due.

While this is not in the cards for all paper writing, it is very important for a last minute research paper. You’ve likely spent hours crunching the information and regurgitating it in your own words to fill up the once blank pages. As such, it’s a good idea to step away from your paper, get some sleep, and then revisit it with fresh eyes in the morning.

9. Proofread Revise and Editing:

As with any paper, you want to make sure you read it over to catch any mistakes. Not only should you use the Word processing tool that checks spelling and grammar for you, but you must also read it out loud to find any mistakes.

10. Find and Remove Plagiarism:

Once you are done with the entire proofreading and checking phase, the last thing that you have to do is find and remove plagiarism in your research paper. Plagiarism has a lot of consequences, and you have to make sure that your research paper is completely free of it. To do this, you first have to use a plagiarism checker to find all the plagiarized parts. Once found, you can either remove them or give the required accreditations.

If there is time to ask a friend or peer to read over your paper one time, that will be a good idea, too.

Photo by Dan Dimmock on Unsplash

How to write a research paper in a day.

Granted, all the steps above can help you write a research paper fast. Here’s a brief look at how you can do this in a day:

1. Brainstorm Quickly

Use the prompt
Outline possible options
Perform a simple Google search and find what has the most information
Choose your topic
Create an outline

2. Research

Find research to support each point in your outline

3. Write Quickly

Put it all on paper as you think of it
Take time to edit, condense, and rewrite

Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

Find a good writing environment.

Before sitting down to get started on your last-minute task, make sure you set up an environment that is conducive to getting your work done. Things you want to consider:

1. Distraction-free:

Choose somewhere quiet and distraction-free. You will have to stay focused for a few hours, so you’ll want to choose a comfortable setting.

2. Good lighting:

Along with comfort, make sure you have adequate lighting to read and write.

3. Go somewhere studious:

Perhaps, if time permits, you can choose to work in somewhere like a library or a study lounge.

4. Bring just your supplies needed:

Even if you work at home, make sure you set up a table with only the supplies you need, as to limit distractions. This could include: a computer, tablet, pen, paper, highlighter, books, and sticky notes. Plus, don’t forget water!

Tips to Avoid Procrastination

Writing a last-minute paper, especially that involves research, is stressful and less than optimal . Instead of finding yourself in this position, you can follow this advice to avoid such a situation.

1. Start early:

Once you’re given the prompt, start thinking about what you want to write about. You can write down ideas on paper and look into the research that supports each point.

2. Outline first and take breaks:

Begin outlining your paper so that when you sit to write, you already have the bulk of it prepared. If you start early, you will have the advantage and ability to take breaks. This helps to revisit your argument with a clear head and potentially see things that you may have otherwise missed.

3. Ask for help if you need it:

Starting early means that you are not crunched for time. So, you have the added benefit of asking for help. You can solicit advice from friends, peers, family, your professors, teacher assistants, the online community, and more. Plus, when you finish writing your paper, you have time to ask for help from someone other than you to read it over and edit it.

The Bottom Line

While knowing how to write a paper fast is useful and at times necessary, it is not the optimal way to approach assignments. However, sometimes being in a bind is out of your control. Therefore, the best way to write a research paper fast is to follow the aforementioned steps and remember to stay calm.

While a research paper involves a lot of work, from creating a strong thesis to finding supporting research, it can be made into an enjoyable activity when you choose to write about something you are interested in. It gives you a chance to digest other people’s findings and make your own inferences about what they mean.

By following the typical structure of a research paper, creating an outline and finding good sources, you can get your research paper done in a night. Good luck!

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How To Write A Research Paper

Step-By-Step Tutorial With Examples + FREE Template

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Expert Reviewer: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | March 2024

For many students, crafting a strong research paper from scratch can feel like a daunting task – and rightly so! In this post, we’ll unpack what a research paper is, what it needs to do , and how to write one – in three easy steps. 🙂

Overview: Writing A Research Paper

What (exactly) is a research paper.

How to write a research paper
Stage 1 : Topic & literature search
Stage 2 : Structure & outline
Stage 3 : Iterative writing
Key takeaways

Let’s start by asking the most important question, “ What is a research paper? ”.

Simply put, a research paper is a scholarly written work where the writer (that’s you!) answers a specific question (this is called a research question ) through evidence-based arguments . Evidence-based is the keyword here. In other words, a research paper is different from an essay or other writing assignments that draw from the writer’s personal opinions or experiences. With a research paper, it’s all about building your arguments based on evidence (we’ll talk more about that evidence a little later).

Now, it’s worth noting that there are many different types of research papers , including analytical papers (the type I just described), argumentative papers, and interpretative papers. Here, we’ll focus on analytical papers , as these are some of the most common – but if you’re keen to learn about other types of research papers, be sure to check out the rest of the blog .

With that basic foundation laid, let’s get down to business and look at how to write a research paper .

Overview: The 3-Stage Process

While there are, of course, many potential approaches you can take to write a research paper, there are typically three stages to the writing process. So, in this tutorial, we’ll present a straightforward three-step process that we use when working with students at Grad Coach.

These three steps are:

Finding a research topic and reviewing the existing literature
Developing a provisional structure and outline for your paper, and
Writing up your initial draft and then refining it iteratively

Let’s dig into each of these.

Need a helping hand?

Step 1: Find a topic and review the literature

As we mentioned earlier, in a research paper, you, as the researcher, will try to answer a question . More specifically, that’s called a research question , and it sets the direction of your entire paper. What’s important to understand though is that you’ll need to answer that research question with the help of high-quality sources – for example, journal articles, government reports, case studies, and so on. We’ll circle back to this in a minute.

The first stage of the research process is deciding on what your research question will be and then reviewing the existing literature (in other words, past studies and papers) to see what they say about that specific research question. In some cases, your professor may provide you with a predetermined research question (or set of questions). However, in many cases, you’ll need to find your own research question within a certain topic area.

Finding a strong research question hinges on identifying a meaningful research gap – in other words, an area that’s lacking in existing research. There’s a lot to unpack here, so if you wanna learn more, check out the plain-language explainer video below.

Once you’ve figured out which question (or questions) you’ll attempt to answer in your research paper, you’ll need to do a deep dive into the existing literature – this is called a “ literature search ”. Again, there are many ways to go about this, but your most likely starting point will be Google Scholar .

If you’re new to Google Scholar, think of it as Google for the academic world. You can start by simply entering a few different keywords that are relevant to your research question and it will then present a host of articles for you to review. What you want to pay close attention to here is the number of citations for each paper – the more citations a paper has, the more credible it is (generally speaking – there are some exceptions, of course).

Ideally, what you’re looking for are well-cited papers that are highly relevant to your topic. That said, keep in mind that citations are a cumulative metric , so older papers will often have more citations than newer papers – just because they’ve been around for longer. So, don’t fixate on this metric in isolation – relevance and recency are also very important.

Beyond Google Scholar, you’ll also definitely want to check out academic databases and aggregators such as Science Direct, PubMed, JStor and so on. These will often overlap with the results that you find in Google Scholar, but they can also reveal some hidden gems – so, be sure to check them out.

Once you’ve worked your way through all the literature, you’ll want to catalogue all this information in some sort of spreadsheet so that you can easily recall who said what, when and within what context. If you’d like, we’ve got a free literature spreadsheet that helps you do exactly that.

Don’t fixate on an article’s citation count in isolation - relevance (to your research question) and recency are also very important.

Step 2: Develop a structure and outline

With your research question pinned down and your literature digested and catalogued, it’s time to move on to planning your actual research paper .

It might sound obvious, but it’s really important to have some sort of rough outline in place before you start writing your paper. So often, we see students eagerly rushing into the writing phase, only to land up with a disjointed research paper that rambles on in multiple

Now, the secret here is to not get caught up in the fine details . Realistically, all you need at this stage is a bullet-point list that describes (in broad strokes) what you’ll discuss and in what order. It’s also useful to remember that you’re not glued to this outline – in all likelihood, you’ll chop and change some sections once you start writing, and that’s perfectly okay. What’s important is that you have some sort of roadmap in place from the start.

You need to have a rough outline in place before you start writing your paper - or you’ll end up with a disjointed research paper that rambles on.

At this stage you might be wondering, “ But how should I structure my research paper? ”. Well, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution here, but in general, a research paper will consist of a few relatively standardised components:

Introduction
Literature review
Methodology

Let’s take a look at each of these.

First up is the introduction section . As the name suggests, the purpose of the introduction is to set the scene for your research paper. There are usually (at least) four ingredients that go into this section – these are the background to the topic, the research problem and resultant research question , and the justification or rationale. If you’re interested, the video below unpacks the introduction section in more detail.

The next section of your research paper will typically be your literature review . Remember all that literature you worked through earlier? Well, this is where you’ll present your interpretation of all that content . You’ll do this by writing about recent trends, developments, and arguments within the literature – but more specifically, those that are relevant to your research question . The literature review can oftentimes seem a little daunting, even to seasoned researchers, so be sure to check out our extensive collection of literature review content here .

With the introduction and lit review out of the way, the next section of your paper is the research methodology . In a nutshell, the methodology section should describe to your reader what you did (beyond just reviewing the existing literature) to answer your research question. For example, what data did you collect, how did you collect that data, how did you analyse that data and so on? For each choice, you’ll also need to justify why you chose to do it that way, and what the strengths and weaknesses of your approach were.

Now, it’s worth mentioning that for some research papers, this aspect of the project may be a lot simpler . For example, you may only need to draw on secondary sources (in other words, existing data sets). In some cases, you may just be asked to draw your conclusions from the literature search itself (in other words, there may be no data analysis at all). But, if you are required to collect and analyse data, you’ll need to pay a lot of attention to the methodology section. The video below provides an example of what the methodology section might look like.

By this stage of your paper, you will have explained what your research question is, what the existing literature has to say about that question, and how you analysed additional data to try to answer your question. So, the natural next step is to present your analysis of that data . This section is usually called the “results” or “analysis” section and this is where you’ll showcase your findings.

Depending on your school’s requirements, you may need to present and interpret the data in one section – or you might split the presentation and the interpretation into two sections. In the latter case, your “results” section will just describe the data, and the “discussion” is where you’ll interpret that data and explicitly link your analysis back to your research question. If you’re not sure which approach to take, check in with your professor or take a look at past papers to see what the norms are for your programme.

Alright – once you’ve presented and discussed your results, it’s time to wrap it up . This usually takes the form of the “ conclusion ” section. In the conclusion, you’ll need to highlight the key takeaways from your study and close the loop by explicitly answering your research question. Again, the exact requirements here will vary depending on your programme (and you may not even need a conclusion section at all) – so be sure to check with your professor if you’re unsure.

Step 3: Write and refine

Finally, it’s time to get writing. All too often though, students hit a brick wall right about here… So, how do you avoid this happening to you?

Well, there’s a lot to be said when it comes to writing a research paper (or any sort of academic piece), but we’ll share three practical tips to help you get started.

First and foremost , it’s essential to approach your writing as an iterative process. In other words, you need to start with a really messy first draft and then polish it over multiple rounds of editing. Don’t waste your time trying to write a perfect research paper in one go. Instead, take the pressure off yourself by adopting an iterative approach.

Secondly , it’s important to always lean towards critical writing , rather than descriptive writing. What does this mean? Well, at the simplest level, descriptive writing focuses on the “ what ”, while critical writing digs into the “ so what ” – in other words, the implications . If you’re not familiar with these two types of writing, don’t worry! You can find a plain-language explanation here.

Last but not least, you’ll need to get your referencing right. Specifically, you’ll need to provide credible, correctly formatted citations for the statements you make. We see students making referencing mistakes all the time and it costs them dearly. The good news is that you can easily avoid this by using a simple reference manager . If you don’t have one, check out our video about Mendeley, an easy (and free) reference management tool that you can start using today.

Recap: Key Takeaways

We’ve covered a lot of ground here. To recap, the three steps to writing a high-quality research paper are:

To choose a research question and review the literature
To plan your paper structure and draft an outline
To take an iterative approach to writing, focusing on critical writing and strong referencing

Remember, this is just a b ig-picture overview of the research paper development process and there’s a lot more nuance to unpack. So, be sure to grab a copy of our free research paper template to learn more about how to write a research paper.

Can you help me with a full paper template for this Abstract:

Background: Energy and sports drinks have gained popularity among diverse demographic groups, including adolescents, athletes, workers, and college students. While often used interchangeably, these beverages serve distinct purposes, with energy drinks aiming to boost energy and cognitive performance, and sports drinks designed to prevent dehydration and replenish electrolytes and carbohydrates lost during physical exertion.

Objective: To assess the nutritional quality of energy and sports drinks in Egypt.

Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study assessed the nutrient contents, including energy, sugar, electrolytes, vitamins, and caffeine, of sports and energy drinks available in major supermarkets in Cairo, Alexandria, and Giza, Egypt. Data collection involved photographing all relevant product labels and recording nutritional information. Descriptive statistics and appropriate statistical tests were employed to analyze and compare the nutritional values of energy and sports drinks.

Results: The study analyzed 38 sports drinks and 42 energy drinks. Sports drinks were significantly more expensive than energy drinks, with higher net content and elevated magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C. Energy drinks contained higher concentrations of caffeine, sugars, and vitamins B2, B3, and B6.

Conclusion: Significant nutritional differences exist between sports and energy drinks, reflecting their intended uses. However, these beverages’ high sugar content and calorie loads raise health concerns. Proper labeling, public awareness, and responsible marketing are essential to guide safe consumption practices in Egypt.

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Research Paper

29 Practical Tips On How To Write A Research Paper Fast (Without Sacrificing Quality)

Master the art of quick research paper writing! Learn efficient strategies on how to write a research paper fast. Achieve top-notch results now.

Feb 21, 2024

Delving into the realm of academia can be a whirlwind of deadlines and data, but mastering the art of how to write a research paper fast is within reach. From organizing your thoughts to fine-tuning your research paper structure , this guide will equip you with the tools to navigate the labyrinth of citations and analysis efficiently. So, buckle up and prepare to unravel the secrets of crafting a stellar research paper in record time.

How to rapidly plan your research paper to help you write your research paper fast, supercharge your researching ability with otio — try otio for free today.

student completing her research paper - How To Write A Research Paper Fast

When it comes to writing a research paper fast, the key lies in efficient planning. Start by selecting a focused topic that you are passionate about and have access to sufficient resources. Create a detailed outline with main points and subpoints, ensuring a logical flow of information. This will serve as a roadmap for your writing process, saving you time by preventing unnecessary tangents. Gather all your reference materials beforehand and organize them based on your outline . This will streamline the research phase and prevent interruptions while writing. Set specific goals and deadlines for each section of your paper to keep yourself on track and motivated throughout the process.

How To Write Your Research Paper Fast

Once your research and outline are in place, it's time to dive into writing your research paper. Start with the sections you feel most confident about to build momentum. Write freely without worrying too much about perfection on the first draft. The goal is to get your ideas on paper quickly. Use tools like Otio to help you easily organize and reference your sources as you write. Leverage features like AI-generated notes and AI-assisted writing to speed up the process and enhance the quality of your paper. Finally, take breaks to recharge your mind and avoid burnout, but stay disciplined in following your outlined schedule to ensure timely completion.

Otio's All-in-One AI-Native Workspace

Knowledge workers, researchers, and students often struggle with content overload and fragmented tools in their research workflows. Otio offers a solution with its all-in-one AI-native workspace designed to streamline the research process. From collecting diverse data sources to creating draft outputs, Otio simplifies the research journey. Embrace Otio as your AI research and writing partner to experience efficient research paper writing — try Otio for free today!

1. Choose a Manageable Topic

Opt for a topic that is focused and manageable within your time constraints.

2. Create a Detailed Outline

Organize your thoughts and research materials before diving into writing.

3. Set Clear Goals and Deadlines

Establish specific writing goals and deadlines to keep yourself on track.

4. Utilize Reliable Sources

Save time by using reputable sources for your research.

5. Use Online Tools for Research

Make use of databases, academic search engines, and reference managers to speed up your research process.

6. Limit Distractions

Find a quiet workspace and eliminate distractions to boost productivity.

7. Write in Blocks of Time

Break down your writing into smaller blocks of time to maintain focus and prevent burnout .

8. Utilize Templates

Save time on formatting by using research paper templates.

9. Write the Body First

Start with the main body of your paper as it often contains the most critical information.

10. Focus on One Section at a Time

Divide your paper into sections and focus on completing one at a time.

11. Write a Strong Thesis Statement

A clear and concise thesis statement will guide your research and writing process.

12. Use In-text Citations as You Write

Avoid going back to add citations by incorporating them as you write.

13. Proofread as You Go

Correct errors and polish your writing as you progress through the paper.

14. Seek Feedback Early

Share your work with peers or professors early on to catch any issues and make improvements.

15. Utilize Writing Apps

Use writing apps that offer features like grammar checking and word suggestions to enhance your writing process.

16. Take Breaks

Allow yourself short breaks to rest and recharge, improving overall productivity.

17. Stay Organized

Keep your research materials, notes, and drafts organized to save time searching for information.

18. Edit and Revise

Allocate time for thorough editing and revision to refine your paper.

19. Set Aside Time for Final Proofreading

Ensure your paper is error-free by dedicating time specifically for a final proofreading session.

A Complete Guide on How to Write a Research Paper Fast (Without Sacrificing Quality), Step-by-Step

Step 1: topic selection.

Choose a focused and manageable topic that aligns with your interests and assignment guidelines.

Step 2: Research

Conduct thorough research using reliable sources and take detailed notes.

Step 3: Outline

Create a comprehensive outline with main points and supporting evidence for each section of your paper.

Step 4: Writing

Start writing the body of your paper based on your outline, focusing on one section at a time.

Step 5: Introduction and Thesis

Craft a strong introduction with a clear thesis statement that sets the tone for your paper.

Step 6: Citations

Incorporate in-text citations as you write to avoid backtracking later.

Step 7: Proofreading

Proofread and edit your paper as you progress, correcting errors and refining your writing.

Step 8: Feedback

Seek feedback from peers or professors early on to make necessary revisions.

Step 9: Revision

Allocate time for thorough editing and revision to enhance the quality of your paper.

Step 10: Final Proofreading

Set aside time for a final proofreading session to ensure your paper is polished and error-free. Let Otio be your AI research and writing partner — try Otio for free today!

• Research Paper Outline Template • Research Paper Introduction Example • Research Paper Conclusion Example • How Long Should A Research Paper Be • How To Quickly Write A Research Paper • Tips For Writing Research Papers • 7 Steps In Writing A Research Paper

The ability to efficiently collect information from various sources is paramount. Otio recognizes this need and offers a comprehensive solution to streamline the data collection process. By allowing users to gather data from a wide range of sources such as bookmarks, tweets, articles, and even YouTube videos, Otio ensures that researchers have access to diverse and relevant information at their fingertips. This not only saves time but also ensures that researchers can gather comprehensive data to support their work.

Unlocking Insights through AI-Generated Notes and Q&A Chat

One of the most time-consuming aspects of research is extracting key insights from the vast amount of information collected. Otio simplifies this process by providing AI-generated notes on all bookmarks, including various types of content such as YouTube videos, PDFs, and articles. These notes offer a concise summary of the main points, enabling researchers to quickly grasp the key takeaways from their sources. Otio's source-grounded Q&A chat feature allows users to delve deeper into their research by asking specific questions and receiving detailed answers based on the content they have collected. This interactive feature not only facilitates a deeper understanding of the material but also enhances the research process by encouraging critical thinking and exploration.

Effortless Drafting with AI Assistance

Once researchers have collected and synthesized their data, the next step is to transform their findings into a coherent research paper or essay. Otio simplifies this process by offering AI-assisted writing capabilities that help users create draft outputs using the sources they have collected. By leveraging AI technology, Otio can assist researchers in structuring their ideas, improving the flow of their writing, and even suggesting relevant content to enhance their arguments. This not only accelerates the writing process but also ensures that the final output is well-organized, coherent, and backed by robust evidence.

Embrace the Future of Research with Otio

Otio is not just a tool; it is a research companion that empowers knowledge workers, researchers, and students to navigate the complexities of information overload with ease. By providing a unified workspace for collecting, extracting, and creating content, Otio revolutionizes the way research is conducted, making the process more efficient, insightful, and enjoyable. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or a student embarking on your first research project, let Otio be your AI research and writing partner — try Otio for free today and experience the future of research firsthand.

• Ai Research Paper Generator • Ai Generated Research Paper • Ai Research Tools

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Jul 29, 2024

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How Do You Write A Research Concept Map In 7 Simple Steps

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Jul 28, 2024

How To Do A Literature Search In 6 Simple Steps

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How to Write a Research Paper (+ Free AI Research Paper Writer)

Meredith Sell

Over the years, I've managed to vastly improve how I write research papers.

The three major game-changers for me, in terms of quality of the finished piece, have been:

Following the research paper checklist (see below)
Developing the thesis before starting to write
And, more recently, using AI to improve my research paper draft

Let's break down each of these elements and produce the kind of research papers that get cited in magazines.

FREE AI research paper writer > FREE AI research paper writer >

Write your research paper with the help of AI

What is a research paper, and how is it written differently?

Research papers are longer and more in-depth than essays. They require extensive research and evidence-based arguments. Research papers also typically have a more formal structure and require citations and references.When academics want to find a balanced and comprehensive view on a given topic, they usually seek a research paper.

Like most writing assignments, a research paper can be broken down into simple steps. Research papers follow the same basic writing process as explanatory or persuasive essays — but instead of making an argument or drawing greater meaning from the topic, the research paper is primarily concerned with concrete facts that may be analyzed, examined, or interpreted to better understand the paper’s central topic.

This is good news if you enjoy research: you’ll be doing a lot of it. The ultimate quality of your paper depends on you conducting thorough, complete research — and relying on reputable sources.

How to Properly Write a Research Paper Using AI

1. make a checklist based on the assignment description, and fill it out with ai.

Your professor has likely specified some criteria for your research paper:

Length (in pages or words)
Type of topic (the War of 1812, ancient Greece, agriculture, etc.)
Elements that must be included, such as analysis, discussion, and comparison.
Types of sources you must draw from (academic papers, encyclopedias, etc.)
Source attribution style
Formatting style

Go through the assignment description and create a checklist of those criteria. You can use this checklist throughout the research and writing process as well:

AI can really help you get some traction with your research paper in the preperation stage. This includes two main steps:

Brainstorming paper topic idea
Outlining based on your topic, basing the prompt on the assignment

2. Choose a topic you’re curious about, or use AI to help you with that

A sure way to write a boring research paper is to pick a topic you have no interest in, like summer temperatures in the desert or the life cycle of a flea. (Though someone’s probably interested in those things.)

Instead, follow your curiosity.

If your paper is for a writing class, you may have a lot of freedom to choose what you write about, so tap into your interests. Are you intrigued by the history of roller skating or the invention of the soccer cleat? Or how teen social dynamics have changed with evolving technology (think: home phones → online instant messaging → flip phones → smartphones)?

If you’re writing for a class in a subject like history, art, or science, you’ll probably have more restrictions on what you can write about — like a time period or type of art or science — but you can still use your curiosity to pick an interesting topic.

If you’re having a tough time, try brainstorming a list of things you’ve wondered about. Ask “ what’s up with… ” and see what comes to mind.

For example:

What’s up with traffic circles and why are they supposedly better for traffic patterns than a light or four-way stop?

What’s up with country music sounding more and more like hip-hop?

What’s up with people who have gluten allergies being able to eat bread in Europe but not the US?

Once you have a list, choose the topic you find most interesting (and appropriate for the assignment).

If your mind draws a blank, you can utilize AI to help you choose a topic. Let's say your course is about mid century art. You can go to a tool like Wotdtune and ask it to give you ideas for creative mid century art essays. See example below.

3. Develop your thesis (and guide your research) by asking a research question

Even though a research paper may not necessarily take a side on a topic, it still needs a thesis, aka a central idea or focus that drives the piece from beginning to end.

We wrote a whole guide on writing thesis statements , so here we’ll just give you this tip:

Use a research question to develop your thesis

A research question is a variation on the “What’s up with…” questions from the last tip — but it will zoom in more specifically on the aspect of your topic that you’re investigating.

Why were the Irish so dependent on potatoes?

Did any women in ancient Greece enjoy relative freedom and autonomy?

You may already know the answer to these questions, or you may not. Either way, they give you a place to start in your research. Once you have your question, set out to:

Find the initial answer.
Gather more context (the who, what, when, where, why, how) around that answer.
Revise your research question and turn it into your thesis.

This process helps tighten your focus from a broad topic that could fill books to a specific angle that can be meaningfully explored in the few pages of your paper.

Instead of the potato famine , write about why England was to blame for the potato famine’s devastating effects on the Irish.

Instead of ancient Greece or women in ancient Greece , write about how Spartan women’s lives differed from the lives of women in Athens.

4. Skim sources and use AI to perform research for your paper

Your research question can help you quickly determine whether information is relevant to your paper. As you gather initial sources, skim them — and then use your research question to decide whether to keep or discard the source.

Does the source cover information relevant to my research question?

Yes: Keep to read later.

No: Discard and move on to the next source.

This approach will save you precious research time. You won’t waste limited hours reading sources that don’t have a single helpful fact.

If skimming is hard for you (as a deep reader, I get it), Wordtune can help. Paste the link to your online source, upload a scanned PDF, or copy the text, and the tool will scan and summarize for you. You can always come back later and closely read the most useful sources.

Wordtune Read reading an argument about dangerous fungus

5. Make note of the most interesting facts you find

Along with taking detailed notes of your research (complete with all the source info you need to make proper citations), highlight the most interesting facts you come across. You could stick these in a section together or mark them in a way that makes them stand out.

Why should you do this?

Because later on, one of these fascinating factoids could have a direct connection to your thesis — and make a great hook for the start of your paper. Instead of digging through all of your notes to try to remember what that interesting tidbit was, you’ll be able to find it easily.

6. Organize your research

There are plenty of ways to organize your notes, but I suggest breaking them up into subtopics and categories.

Subtopic: A topic related to your main topic or thesis that needs to be explained and understood by readers in order to understand your main topic or thesis. For example: Land ownership in Ireland under British rule.
Category: An overarching concept that several subtopics fall under. For example: British restrictions on the Irish.

To start, I would focus on the subtopics and then group them into categories.

As you organize, use the formatting tools in your word processor to tag headings and subheadings. For example, all categories would be an H2 (Heading 2), while all subtopics would be an H3 (Heading 3).

Screenshot of Google Docs style tagging.

Tagging your categories and subtopics this way will help you develop your outline. Just organize your categories and subtopics in a logical order, and you’ll have a skeleton of an outline ready to go.

7. Write with your research document open

No one can remember everything they found while researching — you’ll need to reference your research document throughout the writing process. No question there.

But you can make this easier (and keep your writing process efficient) by:

Keeping your research document open and in clear view.

I like to put my draft document and my research document side by side on my screen, so I can see them both at the same time.

Another approach would be to paste the information you need directly into your draft document — in the order you’ll need it. (Your outline will help you know what you need.)

8. Steal the TK trick from journalists

In the middle of drafting your paper, you find that you’re missing a fact.

You neglected to write down how many Irish people starved due to the potato famine.

You don’t know what age Spartan women were able to own property.

Instead of derailing your writing and searching for that information, write the sentence you want to write and stick a “TK” where the missing fact should go.

“TK” stands for “to come” (don't ask us why) and is a placeholder used by journalists to mark missing information they’ll fill in later. Using TK allows you to keep writing without getting off track every time you discover your research didn’t cover everything.

A whopping TK Irish people starved, thanks to the combination of famine and British oppression.

At age TK , Spartan girls became women who were able to own property, a right that their sisters in Athens did not enjoy.

9. Revise, explain, paraphrase with AI as your research/writing assistant

Using the right researching tools can get you a lot way.

If you’re ever at a loss for words — writing clunky, clumsy sentences, struggling to explain a concept, or having a hard time paraphrasing a source — Wordtune can serve as your AI sidekick.

Simply highlight the sentence in question and browse Wordtune’s suggestion for a better wording.

You can also use Wordtune Spices to come up with examples and counter arguments for whatever you're writing about or even find stats and facts, complete with source citations

Wordtune doesn’t do all of the writing for you, but it can help you sharpen your ideas on the sentence level, so you can hand in a research paper with good writing that’s still very much your own.

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How to Write a Research Paper

If you already have a headache trying to understand what research paper is all about, we have created an ultimate guide for you on how to write a research paper. You will find all the answers to your questions regarding structure, planning, doing investigation, finding the topic that appeals to you. Plus, you will find out the secret to an excellent paper. Are you at the edge of your seat? Let us start with the basics then.

What is a Research Paper
Reasons for Writing a Research Paper
Report Papers and Thesis Papers
How to Start a Research Paper
How to Choose a Topic for a Research Paper
How to Write a Proposal for a Research Paper
How to Write a Research Plan
How to Do Research
How to Write an Outline for a Research Paper
How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Research Paper
How to Write a Research Paper Rough Draft
How to Write an Introduction for a Research Paper
How to Write a Body of a Research Paper
How to Write a Conclusion for a Research Paper
How to Write an Abstract for a Research Paper
How to Revise and Edit a Research Paper
How to Write a Bibliography for a Research Paper
What Makes a Good Research Paper

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What is a research paper.

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You probably know the saying ‘the devil is not as black as he is painted’. This particular saying is absolutely true when it comes to writing a research paper. Your feet are cold even with the thought of this assignment. You have heard terrifying stories from older students. You have never done this before, so certainly you are scared. What is a research paper? How should I start? What are all these requirements about?

Luckily, you have a friend in need. That is our writing service. First and foremost, let us clarify the definition. A research paper is a piece of academic writing that provides information about a particular topic that you’ve researched . In other words, you choose a topic: about historical events, the work of some artist, some social issues etc. Then you collect data on the given topic and analyze it. Finally, you put your analysis on paper. See, it is not as scary as it seems. If you are still having doubts, whether you can handle it yourself, we are here to help you. Our team of writers can help you choose the topic, or give you advice on how to plan your work, or how to start, or craft a paper for you. Just contact us 24/7 and see everything yourself.

5 Reasons for Writing a Research Paper

Why should I spend my time writing some academic paper? What is the use of it? Is not some practical knowledge more important? The list of questions is endless when it comes to a research paper. That is why we have outlined 5 main reasons why writing a research paper is a good thing.

You will learn how to organize your time

If you want to write a research paper, you will have to learn how to manage your time. This type of assignment cannot be done overnight. It requires careful planning and you will need to learn how to do it. Later, you will be able to use these time-managing skills in your personal life, so why not developing them?

You will discover your writing skills

You cannot know something before you try it. This rule relates to writing as well. You cannot claim that you cannot write until you try it yourself. It will be really difficult at the beginning, but then the words will come to your head themselves.

You will improve your analytical skills

Writing a research paper is all about investigation and analysis. You will need to collect data, examine and classify it. These skills are needed in modern life more than anything else is.

You will gain confidence

Once you do your own research, it gives you the feeling of confidence in yourself. The reason is simple human brain likes solving puzzles and your assignment is just another puzzle to be solved.

You will learn how to persuade the reader

When you write your paper, you should always remember that you are writing it for someone to read. Moreover, you want this someone to believe in your ideas. For this reason, you will have to learn different convincing methods and techniques. You will learn how to make your writing persuasive. In turns, you will be able to use these methods in real life.

What is the Difference between Report and Thesis Papers?

A common question is ‘what is the difference between a report paper and a thesis paper?’ The difference lies in the aim of these two assignments. While the former aims at presenting the information, the latter aims at providing your opinion on the matter. In other words, in a report paper you have to summarize your findings. In a thesis paper, you choose some issue and defend your point of view by persuading the reader. It is that simple.

A thesis paper is a more common assignment than a report paper. This task will help a professor to evaluate your analytical skills and skills to present your ideas logically. These skills are more important than just the ability to collect and summarize data.

How to Write a Research Paper Step by Step

Research comes from the French word rechercher , meaning “to seek out.” Writing a research paper requires you to seek out information about a subject, take a stand on it, and back it up with the opinions, ideas, and views of others. What results is a printed paper variously known as a term paper or library paper, usually between five and fifteen pages long—most instructors specify a minimum length—in which you present your views and findings on the chosen subject.

It is not a secret that the majority of students hate writing a research paper. The reason is simple it steals your time and energy. Not to mention, constant anxiety that you will not be able to meet the deadline or that you will forget about some academic requirement.

We will not lie to you; a research paper is a difficult assignment. You will have to spend a lot of time. You will need to read, to analyze, and to search for the material. You will probably be stuck sometimes. However, if you organize your work smart, you will gain something that is worth all the effort – knowledge, experience, and high grades.

The reason why many students fail writing a research paper is that nobody explained them how to start and how to plan their work. Luckily, you have found our writing service and we are ready to shed the light on this dark matter.

We have created a step by step guide for you on how to write a research paper. We will dwell upon the structure, the writing tips, the writing strategies as well as academic requirements. Read this whole article and you will see that you can handle writing this assignment and our team of writers is here to assist you.

How to Start a Research Paper?

It all starts with the assignment. Your professor gives you the task. It may be either some general issue or specific topic to write about. Your assignment is your first guide to success. If you understand what you need to do according to the assignment, you are on the road to high results. Do not be scared to clarify your task if you need to. There is nothing wrong in asking a question if you want to do something right. You can ask your professor or you can ask our writers who know a thing or two in academic writing.

It is essential to understand the assignment. A good beginning makes a good ending, so start smart.

Learn how to start a research paper .

Choosing a Topic for a Research Paper

How to Choose a Topic for a Research Paper

We have already mentioned that it is not enough to do great research. You need to persuade the reader that you have made some great research. What convinces better that an eye-catching topic? That is why it is important to understand how to choose a topic for a research paper.

First, you need to delimit the general idea to a more specific one. Secondly, you need to find what makes this topic interesting for you and for the academia. Finally, you need to refine you topic. Remember, it is not something you will do in one day. You can be reshaping your topic throughout your whole writing process. Still, reshaping not changing it completely. That is why keep in your head one main idea: your topic should be precise and compelling .

Learn how to choose a topic for a research paper .

How to Write a Proposal for a Research Paper?

If you do not know what a proposal is, let us explain it to you. A proposal should answer three main questions:

What is the main aim of your investigation?
Why is your investigation important?
How are you going to achieve the results?

In other words, proposal should show why your topic is interesting and how you are going to prove it. As to writing requirements, they may differ. That is why make sure you find out all the details at your department. You can ask your departmental administrator or find information online at department’s site. It is crucial to follow all the administrative requirements, as it will influence your grade.

Learn how to write a proposal for a research paper .

How to Write a Research Plan?

The next step is writing a plan. You have already decided on the main issues, you have chosen the bibliography, and you have clarified the methods. Here comes the planning. If you want to avoid writer’s block, you have to structure you work. Discuss your strategies and ideas with your instructor. Think thoroughly why you need to present some data and ideas first and others second. Remember that there are basic structure elements that your research paper should include:

Thesis Statement
Introduction
Bibliography

You should keep in mind this skeleton when planning your work. This will keep your mind sharp and your ideas will flow logically.

Learn how to write a research plan .

How to Do Research?

Your research will include three stages: collecting data, reading and analyzing it, and writing itself.

First, you need to collect all the material that you will need for you investigation: films, documents, surveys, interviews, and others. Secondly, you will have to read and analyze. This step is tricky, as you need to do this part smart. It is not enough just to read, as you cannot keep in mind all the information. It is essential that you make notes and write down your ideas while analyzing some data. When you get down to the stage number three, writing itself, you will already have the main ideas written on your notes. Plus, remember to jot down the reference details. You will then appreciate this trick when you will have to write the bibliography.

If you do your research this way, it will be much easier for you to write the paper. You will already have blocks of your ideas written down and you will just need to add some material and refine your paper.

Learn how to do research .

How to Write an Outline for a Research Paper?

To make your paper well organized you need to write an outline. Your outline will serve as your guiding star through the writing process. With a great outline you will not get sidetracked, because you will have a structured plan to follow. Both you and the reader will benefit from your outline. You present your ideas logically and you make your writing coherent according to your plan. As a result, this outline guides the reader through your paper and the reader enjoys the way you demonstrate your ideas.

Learn how to write an outline for a research paper . See research paper outline examples .

How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Research Paper?

Briefly, the thesis is the main argument of your research paper. It should be precise, convincing and logical. Your thesis statement should include your point of view supported by evidence or logic. Still, remember it should be precise. You should not beat around the bush, or provide all the possible evidence you have found. It is usually a single sentence that shows your argument. In on sentence you should make a claim, explain why it significant and convince the reader that your point of view is important.

Learn how to write a thesis statement for a research paper . See research paper thesis statement examples .

Should I Write a Rough Draft for a Research Paper?

How to Write a Research Paper Rough Draft

Do you know any writer who put their ideas on paper, then never edited them and just published? Probably, no writer did so. Writing a research paper is no exception. It is impossible to cope with this assignment without writing a rough draft.

Your draft will help you understand what you need to polish to make your paper perfect. All the requirements, academic standards make it difficult to do everything flawlessly at the first attempt. Make sure you know all the formatting requirements: margins, words quantity, reference requirements, formatting styles etc.

Learn how to write a rough draft for a research paper .

How to Write an Introduction for a Research Paper?

Let us make it more vivid for you. We have narrowed down the tips on writing an introduction to the three main ones:

Include your thesis in your introduction

Remember to include the thesis statement in your introduction. Usually, it goes at the end of the first paragraph.

Present the main ideas of the body

You should tell the main topics you are going to discuss in the main body. For this reason, before writing this part of introduction, make sure you know what is your main body is going to be about. It should include your main ideas.

Polish your thesis and introduction

When you finish the main body of your paper, come back to the thesis statement and introduction. Restate something if needed. Just make it perfect; because introduction is like the trailer to your paper, it should make the reader want to read the whole piece.

Learn how to write an introduction for a research paper . See research paper introduction examples .

How to Write a Body of a Research Paper?

A body is the main part of your research paper. In this part, you will include all the needed evidence; you will provide the examples and support your argument.

It is important to structure your paragraphs thoroughly. That is to say, topic sentence and the evidence supporting the topic. Stay focused and do not be sidetracked. You have your outline, so follow it.

Here are the main tips to keep in head when writing a body of a research paper:

Let the ideas flow logically
Include only relevant information
Provide the evidence
Structure the paragraphs
Make the coherent transition from one paragraph to another

See? When it is all structured, it is not as scary as it seemed at the beginning. Still, if you have doubts, you can always ask our writers for help.

Learn how to write a body of a research paper . See research paper transition examples .

How to Write a Conclusion for a Research Paper?

Writing a good conclusion is important as writing any other part of the paper. Remember that conclusion is not a summary of what you have mentioned before. A good conclusion should include your last strong statement.

If you have written everything according to the plan, the reader already knows why your investigation is important. The reader has already seen the evidence. The only thing left is a strong concluding thought that will organize all your findings.

Never include any new information in conclusion. You need to conclude, not to start a new discussion.

Learn how to write a conclusion for a research paper .

How to Write an Abstract for a Research Paper?

An abstract is a brief summary of your paper, usually 100-200 words. You should provide the main gist of your paper in this short summary. An abstract can be informative, descriptive or proposal. Depending on the type of abstract, you need to write, the requirements will differ.

To write an informative abstract you have to provide the summary of the whole paper. Informative summary. In other words, you need to tell about the main points of your work, the methods used, the results and the conclusion of your research.

To write a descriptive abstract you will not have to provide any summery. You should write a short teaser of your paper. That is to say, you need to write an overview of your paper. The aim of a descriptive abstract is to interest the reader.

Finally, to write a proposal abstract you will need to write the basic summary as for the informative abstract. However, the difference is the following: you aim at persuading someone to let you write on the topic. That is why, a proposal abstract should present your topic as the one worth investigating.

Learn how to write an abstract for a research paper .

Should I Revise and Edit a Research Paper?

Revising and editing your paper is essential if you want to get high grades. Let us help you revise your paper smart:

Check your paper for spelling and grammar mistakes
Sharpen the vocabulary
Make sure there are no slang words in your paper
Examine your paper in terms of structure
Compare your topic, thesis statement to the whole piece
Check your paper for plagiarism

If you need assistance with proofreading and editing your paper, you can turn to the professional editors at our service. They will help you polish your paper to perfection.

Learn how to revise and edit a research paper .

How to Write a Bibliography for a Research Paper?

First, let us make it clear that bibliography and works cited are two different things. Works cited are those that you cited in your paper. Bibliography should include all the materials you used to do your research. Still, remember that bibliography requirements differ depending on the formatting style of your paper. For this reason, make sure you ask you professor all the requirements you need to meet to avoid any misunderstanding.

Learn how to write a bibliography for a research paper .

The Key Secret to a Good Research Paper

Now when you know all the stages of writing a research paper, you are ready to find the key to a good research paper:

Choose the topic that really interests you
Make the topic interesting for you even if it is not at the beginning
Follow the step by step guide and do not get sidetracked
Be persistent and believe in yourself
Really do research and write your paper from scratch
Learn the convincing writing techniques and use them
Follow the requirements of your assignment
Ask for help if needed from real professionals

Feeling more confident about your paper now? We are sure you do. Still, if you need help, you can always rely on us 24/7.

We hope we have made writing a research paper much easier for you. We realize that it requires lots of time and energy. We believe when you say that you cannot handle it anymore. For this reason, we have been helping students like you for years. Our professional team of writers is ready to tackle any challenge.

All our authors are experienced writers crafting excellent academic papers. We help students meet the deadline and get the top grades they want. You can see everything yourself. All you need to do is to place your order online and we will contact you. Writing a research paper with us is truly easy, so why do not you check it yourself?

Additional Resources for Research Paper Writing:

Anthropology Research
Career Research
Communication Research
Criminal Justice Research
Health Research
Political Science Research
Psychology Research
Sociology Research

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Home / Guides / Writing Guides / Paper Types / How to Write a Research Paper

How to Write a Research Paper

Research papers are a requirement for most college courses, so knowing how to write a research paper is important. These in-depth pieces of academic writing can seem pretty daunting, but there’s no need to panic. When broken down into its key components, writing your paper should be a manageable and, dare we say it, enjoyable task.

We’re going to look at the required elements of a paper in detail, and you might also find this webpage to be a useful reference .

Guide Overview

What is a research paper?
How to start a research paper
Get clear instructions
Brainstorm ideas
Choose a topic
Outline your outline
Make friends with your librarian
Find quality sources
Understand your topic
A detailed outline
Keep it factual
Finalize your thesis statement
Think about format
Cite, cite and cite
The editing process
Final checks

What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is more than just an extra long essay or encyclopedic regurgitation of facts and figures. The aim of this task is to combine in-depth study of a particular topic with critical thinking and evaluation by the student—that’s you!

There are two main types of research paper: argumentative and analytical.

Argumentative — takes a stance on a particular topic right from the start, with the aim of persuading the reader of the validity of the argument. These are best suited to topics that are debatable or controversial.

Analytical — takes no firm stance on a topic initially. Instead it asks a question and should come to an answer through the evaluation of source material. As its name suggests, the aim is to analyze the source material and offer a fresh perspective on the results.

If you wish to further your understanding, you can learn more here .

A required word count (think thousands!) can make writing that paper seem like an insurmountable task. Don’t worry! Our step-by-step guide will help you write that killer paper with confidence.

How to Start a Research Paper

Don’t rush ahead. Taking care during the planning and preparation stage will save time and hassle later.

Get Clear Instructions

Your lecturer or professor is your biggest ally—after all, they want you to do well. Make sure you get clear guidance from them on both the required format and preferred topics. In some cases, your tutor will assign a topic, or give you a set list to choose from. Often, however, you’ll be expected to select a suitable topic for yourself.

Having a research paper example to look at can also be useful for first-timers, so ask your tutor to supply you with one.

Brainstorm Ideas

Brainstorming research paper ideas is the first step to selecting a topic—and there are various methods you can use to brainstorm, including clustering (also known as mind mapping). Think about the research paper topics that interest you, and identify topics you have a strong opinion on.

Choose a Topic

Once you have a list of potential research paper topics, narrow them down by considering your academic strengths and ‘gaps in the market,’ e.g., don’t choose a common topic that’s been written about many times before. While you want your topic to be fresh and interesting, you also need to ensure there’s enough material available for you to work with. Similarly, while you shouldn’t go for easy research paper topics just for the sake of giving yourself less work, you do need to choose a topic that you feel confident you can do justice to.

Outline Your Outline

It might not be possible to form a full research paper outline until you’ve done some information gathering, but you can think about your overall aim; basically what you want to show and how you’re going to show it. Now’s also a good time to consider your thesis statement, although this might change as you delve into your source material deeper.

Researching the Research

Now it’s time to knuckle down and dig out all the information that’s relevant to your topic. Here are some tips.

Make Friends With Your Librarian

While lots of information gathering can be carried out online from anywhere, there’s still a place for old-fashioned study sessions in the library. A good librarian can help you to locate sources quickly and easily, and might even make suggestions that you hadn’t thought of. They’re great at helping you study and research, but probably can’t save you the best desk by the window.

Find Quality Sources

Not all sources are created equal, so make sure that you’re referring to reputable, reliable information. Examples of sources could include books, magazine articles, scholarly articles, reputable websites, databases and journals. Keywords relating to your topic can help you in your search.

As you search, you should begin to compile a list of references. This will make it much easier later when you are ready to build your paper’s bibliography. Keeping clear notes detailing any sources that you use will help you to avoid accidentally plagiarizing someone else’s work or ideas.

Understand Your Topic

Simply regurgitating facts and figures won’t make for an interesting paper. It’s essential that you fully understand your topic so you can come across as an authority on the subject and present your own ideas on it. You should read around your topic as widely as you can, before narrowing your area of interest for your paper, and critically analyzing your findings.

A Detailed Outline

Once you’ve got a firm grip on your subject and the source material available to you, formulate a detailed outline, including your thesis statement and how you are going to support it. The structure of your paper will depend on the subject type—ask a tutor for a research paper outline example if you’re unsure.

Get Writing!

If you’ve fully understood your topic and gathered quality source materials, bringing it all together should actually be the easy part!

Keep it Factual

There’s no place for sloppy writing in this kind of academic task, so keep your language simple and clear, and your points critical and succinct. The creative part is finding innovative angles and new insights on the topic to make your paper interesting.

Don’t forget about our verb , preposition , and adverb pages. You may find useful information to help with your writing!

Finalize Your Thesis Statement

You should now be in a position to finalize your thesis statement, showing clearly what your paper will show, answer or prove. This should usually be a one or two sentence statement; however, it’s the core idea of your paper, and every insight that you include should be relevant to it. Remember, a thesis statement is not merely a summary of your findings. It should present an argument or perspective that the rest of your paper aims to support.

Think About Format

The required style of your research paper format will usually depend on your subject area. For example, APA format is normally used for social science subjects, while MLA style is most commonly used for liberal arts and humanities. Still, there are thousands of more styles . Your tutor should be able to give you clear guidance on how to format your paper, how to structure it, and what elements it should include. Make sure that you follow their instruction. If possible, ask to see a sample research paper in the required format.

Cite, Cite and Cite

As all research paper topics invariably involve referring to other people’s work, it’s vital that you know how to properly cite your sources to avoid unintentional plagiarism. Whether you’re paraphrasing (putting someone else’s ideas into your own words) or directly quoting, the original source needs to be referenced. What style of citation formatting you use will depend on the requirements of your instructor, with common styles including APA and MLA format , which consist of in-text citations (short citations within the text, enclosed with parentheses) and a reference/works cited list.

The Editing Process

It’s likely that your paper will go through several drafts before you arrive at the very best version. The editing process is your chance to fix any weak points in your paper before submission. You might find that it needs a better balance of both primary and secondary sources (click through to find more info on the difference), that an adjective could use tweaking, or that you’ve included sources that aren’t relevant or credible. You might even feel that you need to be clearer in your argument, more thorough in your critical analysis, or more balanced in your evaluation.

From a stylistic point of view, you want to ensure that your writing is clear, simple and concise, with no long, rambling sentences or paragraphs. Keeping within the required word count parameters is also important, and another thing to keep in mind is the inclusion of gender-neutral language, to avoid the reinforcement of tired stereotypes.

Don’t forget about our other pages! If you are looking for help with other grammar-related topics, check out our noun , pronoun , and conjunction pages.

Final Checks

Once you’re happy with the depth and balance of the arguments and points presented, you can turn your attention to the finer details, such as formatting, spelling, punctuation, grammar and ensuring that your citations are all present and correct. The EasyBib Plus plagiarism checker is a handy tool for making sure that your sources are all cited. An EasyBib Plus subscription also comes with access to citation tools that can help you create citations in your choice of format.

Also, double-check your deadline date and the submissions guidelines to avoid any last-minute issues. Take a peek at our other grammar pages while you’re at it. We’ve included numerous links on this page, but we also have an interjection page and determiner page.

So you’ve done your final checks and handed in your paper according to the submissions guidelines and preferably before deadline day. Congratulations! If your schedule permits, now would be a great time to take a break from your studies. Maybe plan a fun activity with friends or just take the opportunity to rest and relax. A well-earned break from the books will ensure that you return to class refreshed and ready for your next stage of learning—and the next research paper requirement your tutor sets!

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How to Write a Research Paper

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

Research Paper Fundamentals

How to choose a topic or question, how to create a working hypothesis or thesis, common research paper methodologies, how to gather and organize evidence , how to write an outline for your research paper, how to write a rough draft, how to revise your draft, how to produce a final draft, resources for teachers .

It is not fair to say that no one writes anymore. Just about everyone writes text messages, brief emails, or social media posts every single day. Yet, most people don't have a lot of practice with the formal, organized writing required for a good academic research paper. This guide contains links to a variety of resources that can help demystify the process. Some of these resources are intended for teachers; they contain exercises, activities, and teaching strategies. Other resources are intended for direct use by students who are struggling to write papers, or are looking for tips to make the process go more smoothly.

The resources in this section are designed to help students understand the different types of research papers, the general research process, and how to manage their time. Below, you'll find links from university writing centers, the trusted Purdue Online Writing Lab, and more.

What is an Academic Research Paper?

"Genre and the Research Paper" (Purdue OWL)

There are different types of research papers. Different types of scholarly questions will lend themselves to one format or another. This is a brief introduction to the two main genres of research paper: analytic and argumentative.

"7 Most Popular Types of Research Papers" (Personal-writer.com)

This resource discusses formats that high school students commonly encounter, such as the compare and contrast essay and the definitional essay. Please note that the inclusion of this link is not an endorsement of this company's paid service.

How to Prepare and Plan Out Writing a Research Paper

Teachers can give their students a step-by-step guide like these to help them understand the different steps of the research paper process. These guides can be combined with the time management tools in the next subsection to help students come up with customized calendars for completing their papers.

"Ten Steps for Writing Research Papers" (American University)

This resource from American University is a comprehensive guide to the research paper writing process, and includes examples of proper research questions and thesis topics.

"Steps in Writing a Research Paper" (SUNY Empire State College)

This guide breaks the research paper process into 11 steps. Each "step" links to a separate page, which describes the work entailed in completing it.

How to Manage Time Effectively

The links below will help students determine how much time is necessary to complete a paper. If your sources are not available online or at your local library, you'll need to leave extra time for the Interlibrary Loan process. Remember that, even if you do not need to consult secondary sources, you'll still need to leave yourself ample time to organize your thoughts.

"Research Paper Planner: Timeline" (Baylor University)

This interactive resource from Baylor University creates a suggested writing schedule based on how much time a student has to work on the assignment.

"Research Paper Planner" (UCLA)

UCLA's library offers this step-by-step guide to the research paper writing process, which also includes a suggested planning calendar.

There's a reason teachers spend a long time talking about choosing a good topic. Without a good topic and a well-formulated research question, it is almost impossible to write a clear and organized paper. The resources below will help you generate ideas and formulate precise questions.

"How to Select a Research Topic" (Univ. of Michigan-Flint)

This resource is designed for college students who are struggling to come up with an appropriate topic. A student who uses this resource and still feels unsure about his or her topic should consult the course instructor for further personalized assistance.

"25 Interesting Research Paper Topics to Get You Started" (Kibin)

This resource, which is probably most appropriate for high school students, provides a list of specific topics to help get students started. It is broken into subsections, such as "paper topics on local issues."

"Writing a Good Research Question" (Grand Canyon University)

This introduction to research questions includes some embedded videos, as well as links to scholarly articles on research questions. This resource would be most appropriate for teachers who are planning lessons on research paper fundamentals.

"How to Write a Research Question the Right Way" (Kibin)

This student-focused resource provides more detail on writing research questions. The language is accessible, and there are embedded videos and examples of good and bad questions.

It is important to have a rough hypothesis or thesis in mind at the beginning of the research process. People who have a sense of what they want to say will have an easier time sorting through scholarly sources and other information. The key, of course, is not to become too wedded to the draft hypothesis or thesis. Just about every working thesis gets changed during the research process.

CrashCourse Video: "Sociology Research Methods" (YouTube)

Although this video is tailored to sociology students, it is applicable to students in a variety of social science disciplines. This video does a good job demonstrating the connection between the brainstorming that goes into selecting a research question and the formulation of a working hypothesis.

"How to Write a Thesis Statement for an Analytical Essay" (YouTube)

Students writing analytical essays will not develop the same type of working hypothesis as students who are writing research papers in other disciplines. For these students, developing the working thesis may happen as a part of the rough draft (see the relevant section below).

"Research Hypothesis" (Oakland Univ.)

This resource provides some examples of hypotheses in social science disciplines like Political Science and Criminal Justice. These sample hypotheses may also be useful for students in other soft social sciences and humanities disciplines like History.

When grading a research paper, instructors look for a consistent methodology. This section will help you understand different methodological approaches used in research papers. Students will get the most out of these resources if they use them to help prepare for conversations with teachers or discussions in class.

"Types of Research Designs" (USC)

A "research design," used for complex papers, is related to the paper's method. This resource contains introductions to a variety of popular research designs in the social sciences. Although it is not the most intuitive site to read, the information here is very valuable.

"Major Research Methods" (YouTube)

Although this video is a bit on the dry side, it provides a comprehensive overview of the major research methodologies in a format that might be more accessible to students who have struggled with textbooks or other written resources.

"Humanities Research Strategies" (USC)

This is a portal where students can learn about four methodological approaches for humanities papers: Historical Methodologies, Textual Criticism, Conceptual Analysis, and the Synoptic method.

"Selected Major Social Science Research Methods: Overview" (National Academies Press)

This appendix from the book Using Science as Evidence in Public Policy , printed by National Academies Press, introduces some methods used in social science papers.

"Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: 6. The Methodology" (USC)

This resource from the University of Southern California's library contains tips for writing a methodology section in a research paper.

How to Determine the Best Methodology for You

Anyone who is new to writing research papers should be sure to select a method in consultation with their instructor. These resources can be used to help prepare for that discussion. They may also be used on their own by more advanced students.

"Choosing Appropriate Research Methodologies" (Palgrave Study Skills)

This friendly and approachable resource from Palgrave Macmillan can be used by students who are just starting to think about appropriate methodologies.

"How to Choose Your Research Methods" (NFER (UK))

This is another approachable resource students can use to help narrow down the most appropriate methods for their research projects.

The resources in this section introduce the process of gathering scholarly sources and collecting evidence. You'll find a range of material here, from introductory guides to advanced explications best suited to college students. Please consult the LitCharts How to Do Academic Research guide for a more comprehensive list of resources devoted to finding scholarly literature.

Google Scholar

Students who have access to library websites with detailed research guides should start there, but people who do not have access to those resources can begin their search for secondary literature here.

"Gathering Appropriate Information" (Texas Gateway)

This resource from the Texas Gateway for online resources introduces students to the research process, and contains interactive exercises. The level of complexity is suitable for middle school, high school, and introductory college classrooms.

"An Overview of Quantitative and Qualitative Data Collection Methods" (NSF)

This PDF from the National Science Foundation goes into detail about best practices and pitfalls in data collection across multiple types of methodologies.

"Social Science Methods for Data Collection and Analysis" (Swiss FIT)

This resource is appropriate for advanced undergraduates or teachers looking to create lessons on research design and data collection. It covers techniques for gathering data via interviews, observations, and other methods.

"Collecting Data by In-depth Interviewing" (Leeds Univ.)

This resource contains enough information about conducting interviews to make it useful for teachers who want to create a lesson plan, but is also accessible enough for college juniors or seniors to make use of it on their own.

There is no "one size fits all" outlining technique. Some students might devote all their energy and attention to the outline in order to avoid the paper. Other students may benefit from being made to sit down and organize their thoughts into a lengthy sentence outline. The resources in this section include strategies and templates for multiple types of outlines.

"Topic vs. Sentence Outlines" (UC Berkeley)

This resource introduces two basic approaches to outlining: the shorter topic-based approach, and the longer, more detailed sentence-based approach. This resource also contains videos on how to develop paper paragraphs from the sentence-based outline.

"Types of Outlines and Samples" (Purdue OWL)

The Purdue Online Writing Lab's guide is a slightly less detailed discussion of different types of outlines. It contains several sample outlines.

"Writing An Outline" (Austin C.C.)

This resource from a community college contains sample outlines from an American history class that students can use as models.

"How to Structure an Outline for a College Paper" (YouTube)

This brief (sub-2 minute) video from the ExpertVillage YouTube channel provides a model of outline writing for students who are struggling with the idea.

"Outlining" (Harvard)

This is a good resource to consult after completing a draft outline. It offers suggestions for making sure your outline avoids things like unnecessary repetition.

As with outlines, rough drafts can take on many different forms. These resources introduce teachers and students to the various approaches to writing a rough draft. This section also includes resources that will help you cite your sources appropriately according to the MLA, Chicago, and APA style manuals.

"Creating a Rough Draft for a Research Paper" (Univ. of Minnesota)

This resource is useful for teachers in particular, as it provides some suggested exercises to help students with writing a basic rough draft.

Rough Draft Assignment (Duke of Definition)

This sample assignment, with a brief list of tips, was developed by a high school teacher who runs a very successful and well-reviewed page of educational resources.

"Creating the First Draft of Your Research Paper" (Concordia Univ.)

This resource will be helpful for perfectionists or procrastinators, as it opens by discussing the problem of avoiding writing. It also provides a short list of suggestions meant to get students writing.

Using Proper Citations

There is no such thing as a rough draft of a scholarly citation. These links to the three major citation guides will ensure that your citations follow the correct format. Please consult the LitCharts How to Cite Your Sources guide for more resources.

Chicago Manual of Style Citation Guide

Some call The Chicago Manual of Style , which was first published in 1906, "the editors' Bible." The manual is now in its 17th edition, and is popular in the social sciences, historical journals, and some other fields in the humanities.

APA Citation Guide

According to the American Psychological Association, this guide was developed to aid reading comprehension, clarity of communication, and to reduce bias in language in the social and behavioral sciences. Its first full edition was published in 1952, and it is now in its sixth edition.

MLA Citation Guide

The Modern Language Association style is used most commonly within the liberal arts and humanities. The MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing was first published in 1985 and (as of 2008) is in its third edition.

Any professional scholar will tell you that the best research papers are made in the revision stage. No matter how strong your research question or working thesis, it is not possible to write a truly outstanding paper without devoting energy to revision. These resources provide examples of revision exercises for the classroom, as well as tips for students working independently.

"The Art of Revision" (Univ. of Arizona)

This resource provides a wealth of information and suggestions for both students and teachers. There is a list of suggested exercises that teachers might use in class, along with a revision checklist that is useful for teachers and students alike.

"Script for Workshop on Revision" (Vanderbilt University)

Vanderbilt's guide for leading a 50-minute revision workshop can serve as a model for teachers who wish to guide students through the revision process during classtime.

"Revising Your Paper" (Univ. of Washington)

This detailed handout was designed for students who are beginning the revision process. It discusses different approaches and methods for revision, and also includes a detailed list of things students should look for while they revise.

"Revising Drafts" (UNC Writing Center)

This resource is designed for students and suggests things to look for during the revision process. It provides steps for the process and has a FAQ for students who have questions about why it is important to revise.

Conferencing with Writing Tutors and Instructors

No writer is so good that he or she can't benefit from meeting with instructors or peer tutors. These resources from university writing, learning, and communication centers provide suggestions for how to get the most out of these one-on-one meetings.

"Getting Feedback" (UNC Writing Center)

This very helpful resource talks about how to ask for feedback during the entire writing process. It contains possible questions that students might ask when developing an outline, during the revision process, and after the final draft has been graded.

"Prepare for Your Tutoring Session" (Otis College of Art and Design)

This guide from a university's student learning center contains a lot of helpful tips for getting the most out of working with a writing tutor.

"The Importance of Asking Your Professor" (Univ. of Waterloo)

This article from the university's Writing and Communication Centre's blog contains some suggestions for how and when to get help from professors and Teaching Assistants.

Once you've revised your first draft, you're well on your way to handing in a polished paper. These resources—each of them produced by writing professionals at colleges and universities—outline the steps required in order to produce a final draft. You'll find proofreading tips and checklists in text and video form.

"Developing a Final Draft of a Research Paper" (Univ. of Minnesota)

While this resource contains suggestions for revision, it also features a couple of helpful checklists for the last stages of completing a final draft.

Basic Final Draft Tips and Checklist (Univ. of Maryland-University College)

This short and accessible resource, part of UMUC's very thorough online guide to writing and research, contains a very basic checklist for students who are getting ready to turn in their final drafts.

Final Draft Checklist (Everett C.C.)

This is another accessible final draft checklist, appropriate for both high school and college students. It suggests reading your essay aloud at least once.

"How to Proofread Your Final Draft" (YouTube)

This video (approximately 5 minutes), produced by Eastern Washington University, gives students tips on proofreading final drafts.

"Proofreading Tips" (Georgia Southern-Armstrong)

This guide will help students learn how to spot common errors in their papers. It suggests focusing on content and editing for grammar and mechanics.

This final set of resources is intended specifically for high school and college instructors. It provides links to unit plans and classroom exercises that can help improve students' research and writing skills. You'll find resources that give an overview of the process, along with activities that focus on how to begin and how to carry out research.

"Research Paper Complete Resources Pack" (Teachers Pay Teachers)

This packet of assignments, rubrics, and other resources is designed for high school students. The resources in this packet are aligned to Common Core standards.

"Research Paper—Complete Unit" (Teachers Pay Teachers)

This packet of assignments, notes, PowerPoints, and other resources has a 4/4 rating with over 700 ratings. It is designed for high school teachers, but might also be useful to college instructors who work with freshmen.

"Teaching Students to Write Good Papers" (Yale)

This resource from Yale's Center for Teaching and Learning is designed for college instructors, and it includes links to appropriate activities and exercises.

"Research Paper Writing: An Overview" (CUNY Brooklyn)

CUNY Brooklyn offers this complete lesson plan for introducing students to research papers. It includes an accompanying set of PowerPoint slides.

"Lesson Plan: How to Begin Writing a Research Paper" (San Jose State Univ.)

This lesson plan is designed for students in the health sciences, so teachers will have to modify it for their own needs. It includes a breakdown of the brainstorming, topic selection, and research question process.

"Quantitative Techniques for Social Science Research" (Univ. of Pittsburgh)

This is a set of PowerPoint slides that can be used to introduce students to a variety of quantitative methods used in the social sciences.

PDFs for all 136 Lit Terms we cover
Downloads of 1971 LitCharts Lit Guides
Teacher Editions for every Lit Guide
Explanations and citation info for 41,568 quotes across 1971 books
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Read research papers faster self.__wrap_n=self.__wrap_n||(self.CSS&&CSS.supports("text-wrap","balance")?1:2);self.__wrap_b=(e,n,t)=>{t=t||document.querySelector(`[data-br="${e}"]`);let r=t==null?void 0:t.parentElement;if(!r)return;let o=u=>t.style.maxWidth=u+"px";t.style.maxWidth="";let l=r.clientWidth,d=r.clientHeight,s=l/2-.25,a=l+.5,c;if(l){for(o(s),s=Math.max(t.scrollWidth,s);s+1 {self.__wrap_b(0,+t.dataset.brr,t)})).observe(r):process.env.NODE_ENV==="development"&&console.warn("The browser you are using does not support the ResizeObserver API. Please consider add polyfill for this API to avoid potential layout shifts or upgrade your browser. Read more: https://github.com/shuding/react-wrap-balancer#browser-support-information"))};self.__wrap_n!=1&&self.__wrap_b(":R126a6:",1)

It all starts with your information sources . self.__wrap_n=self.__wrap_n||(self.CSS&&CSS.supports("text-wrap","balance")?1:2);self.__wrap_b=(e,n,t)=>{t=t||document.querySelector(`[data-br="${e}"]`);let r=t==null?void 0:t.parentElement;if(!r)return;let o=u=>t.style.maxWidth=u+"px";t.style.maxWidth="";let l=r.clientWidth,d=r.clientHeight,s=l/2-.25,a=l+.5,c;if(l){for(o(s),s=Math.max(t.scrollWidth,s);s+1 {self.__wrap_b(0,+t.dataset.brr,t)})).observe(r):process.env.NODE_ENV==="development"&&console.warn("The browser you are using does not support the ResizeObserver API. Please consider add polyfill for this API to avoid potential layout shifts or upgrade your browser. Read more: https://github.com/shuding/react-wrap-balancer#browser-support-information"))};self.__wrap_n!=1&&self.__wrap_b(":R1aaa6:",1)

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Easily write, cite and uncover hidden themes . self.__wrap_n=self.__wrap_n||(self.CSS&&CSS.supports("text-wrap","balance")?1:2);self.__wrap_b=(e,n,t)=>{t=t||document.querySelector(`[data-br="${e}"]`);let r=t==null?void 0:t.parentElement;if(!r)return;let o=u=>t.style.maxWidth=u+"px";t.style.maxWidth="";let l=r.clientWidth,d=r.clientHeight,s=l/2-.25,a=l+.5,c;if(l){for(o(s),s=Math.max(t.scrollWidth,s);s+1 {self.__wrap_b(0,+t.dataset.brr,t)})).observe(r):process.env.NODE_ENV==="development"&&console.warn("The browser you are using does not support the ResizeObserver API. Please consider add polyfill for this API to avoid potential layout shifts or upgrade your browser. Read more: https://github.com/shuding/react-wrap-balancer#browser-support-information"))};self.__wrap_n!=1&&self.__wrap_b(":R1aia6:",1)

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" As a PhD candidate, Unriddle is my number one app for annotations, lit reviews and manuscripts. "

" With Unriddle, I’m able to do in 30 minutes what used to take 3 hours. There’s nothing else like it. "

" Using Unriddle is like speaking to the team who wrote the research paper. It’s fantastic. "

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Map your work into an interactive graph so you can find hidden patterns.

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March 15, 2022
Productivity

How to Write a Better Research Paper Faster

Whether you are a consultant researching an industry, a business analyst conducting competitive landscape analysis, or a student completing an assignment, writing up a research report can be a daunting task. Why daunting? Let’s look into a typical workflow of writing up a report. I first find references that can be included in the report on Google, paste all the links of the references to a document, start drafting a report, go back to the references, and… wait, which reference was the one that I needed on this part? Like this, I end up wasting so much of my time simply looking for references when I should be spending the majority of the time on writing a comprehensible report.

Then what could I do to reduce time on trying to organize and locate references when writing a report? I have a few steps and ideas you can follow along.

Tip #1: Save references to a “document”

One reason why it gets difficult to locate the references you researched is because they are not necessarily “saved” in context. Let’s say I have to write an industry report on the sustainable vehicle industry in the US. I Google the total market size of the industry and read up Mckinsey reports, and I save the PDF file of it on my desktop. I search up recent trends of sustainable vehicles on Google News and open up a few tabs of the articles I liked. However, these resources I “saved” are not actually meaningful unless they are tied to the report I would be writing.

Let’s think about the traditional hierarchical tree folder structure . You could be an expert in organizing resources into structured folders, but especially, if you are a researcher, consultant, or even a student reading and saving lots and lots of resources, the chances are locating your resources into the most “appropriate” folders would not work very well.

If keeping research sources organized is so important but the folder structure wouldn’t be effective, how should we organize resources then? To make the tie between a resource I researched and the report I’m writing, I have to save the resource to the document. This is effective in two ways. First, I will be able to remember the context of resources and references more easily if they are saved in a document that I am supposed to draft. Second, when I need to look for a past reference or resource later for other research reports, it would be easier to recall back to what document I needed the resource for instead of attempting to remember what the name of the resource was. For example, let’s say I wrote a research report on electric vehicle market trends a few months ago. Now I am trying to do a case study on Tesla and thought of a good article I referred to a few months ago. The chances are I won’t remember the name of that article but remember where I used the article in: the electric vehicle market trend report. If I had saved my resources “document-centrically”, all I have to do is find the report I wrote and locate the article that was utilized in the report.

One way to have your resources document-centric is to use a research and writing workspace tool Typed. Typed is built on top of Google Workspace , so you can simply import any Google Docs or Slides you have already written or start a whole new document from scratch on the software. But the highlight of the tool is that you are able to save your resources to the relevant document, creating that tie between resources and your research report.

Let’s go back to our sustainable vehicle industry report. To write up a market research report, I looked into a few different resources. I read a pretty interesting PDF file about factors affecting the EV market growth, came across an article about how the number of EV passengers is projected to increase drastically, and found a few web resources on the overall industry size and all. Instead of opening those links and articles as Chrome tabs, using Typed, I was able to save them to the report I am writing.

The screenshot above shows a workspace of my sustainable vehicle industry report. On the left, we have a “library panel” of the resources I mentioned above–from the PDF about EV adoption factors to some web resources on market share. These resources exist within this workspace of the EV industry report, so now I am sure I wouldn’t just “lose” these resources I found. This beats the folder organization because I don’t have to manually think of an appropriate folder for each report I write. Typed treats each report or document as a “folder” of holding document-centric resources automatically. This gives each resource a set “purpose” by being assigned to a document.

Tip #2: Annotate references

Saving references and resources within a document without losing them would save you tons of time since you don’t have to take time organizing, relocating, and finding resources again. However, this isn’t sufficient for actually utilizing the saved resources efficiently, though. The saved resources are not useful if you don’t know what you are going to make out of them for your report.

From the EV market report above, one of the resources I saved was a 50-page long PDF on factors affecting the market. It is a fantastic report on the EV market, but it would be far from being “effective” if I had to scroll through the whole PDF every time I had to look for parts to refer to. What I used to do was to copy and paste important quotes from the PDF to the report. However, when I wanted to go back and see the context of one of the quotes, there existed a silo in my workflow of going back to the resource and trying to find the quote again.

Making direct highlights on resources is a great way to effectively make annotations of the references. When skimming through the PDF resource, I would first highlight parts that I think would come in handy for my report. Then, when I am drafting my report, I only have to refer to the highlighted quotes and sentences and the context around them.

There are a lot of Chrome extensions for web highlighters. I recommend using Weava Highlighter which is available on the Chrome web store. The highlighter extension offers a few different colors and a simple annotation feature for you to mark any notes and highlights on a webpage or an article.

Typed also allows you to make highlights and refer to them in your writing in a seamless way. On Typed, you can open up both a document and a resource on the same interface by using a built-in split screen. Then, as you scroll through the resource, you can easily mark highlights.

On a web resource, you can even turn on the Read Mode to get rid of unnecessary content like ads, banners, and irrelevant images from the webpage and focus on the body content itself.

What’s better than using a simple highlighter extension online is that you can make highlights even on PDF files. This is especially useful for us research-heavy workers who encounter countless PDF reports and papers that we refer to.

The major difference of using Typed to highlight from using other highlight tools is that the highlights get saved directly to each resource, so that you won’t have to even leave the workspace to find highlights, refer to them, read the resource again, and write the report while checking the highlighted quotes.

Tip#3 – Refer to old reports of your own

One significant resource that a lot of researchers overlook when writing a research report is previous reports of their own. More often than not, the current report that I am writing is, in some form at least, related to or relevant to some of the previous reports and papers I wrote in the past.

Let’s say my new research report is going to be on different geographic factors affecting the EV adaptation in the United States. I’m definitely going to look into reports on how different states have EV facilities, papers on the EV adaptation rates of different states, and more. However, reading the previous report that I wrote above about the overview of the sustainable vehicle industry and market would be useful to refer back to as well.

Often, the significance of referring to your very own documents and reports you wrote before is overlooked. Especially if you are writing multiple reports within a similar topic or context, the chances are previous reports would come in very handy when writing a new one.

Roam Research is one of the most popular tools that automatically creates relationships among notes and documents you wrote, building what’s called a “networked-thought”. The popular productivity tool allows you to easily refer to relevant reports and documents you wrote in the past by making mind mapping and bi-directional links between notes . Even if you forgot you had written a previous report that is very similar to the current report you are writing right now, the Roam’s knowledge map will show you how the two reports are actually linked.

The workspace tool Typed also helps you refer to your previous reports easily as well. On Typed, I can create a new report about the geographic factors affecting the EV demands. Then, I can simply pull the previous report about the industry overview to the current workspace and view the two reports simultaneously.

It’s all about how you utilize your own resources. For some, past reports stay in the past. For others, using these tools like Roam or Typed, the past reports become your new resources for current and future reports, saving you time and effort dramatically.

Whether or not you enjoy the work of writing research reports, you want to get it done in the most efficient way possible. The effort of producing the best research reports should be focused more on actually researching relevant information, writing the content and creating insights, rather than organizing resources, looking for references, and going back and forth between past reports and files. If writing a research report still comes to you as a daunting task, these three tips I highlighted above will hopefully help you improve your research and writing and save you tons of time.

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Jan 5, 2022

How to Write a Research Paper Fast Using Predictive Text

When you're assigned a research paper, the last thing you want to think about is how long it's going to take you to write it. But if you want to get the assignment done on time, and done well, you need to have a plan. In this blog post, we'll give you tips for how to write a paper fast, without sacrificing quality. So read on, and get started!

Writing Fast vs. Writing Well

Before we get into the details of how to write a paper fast, let's first talk about what we mean when we say “fast.” Even though you might be tempted to crank out ten pages in an hour, writing fast doesn't necessarily mean writing badly. You can still produce quality work if you know how to use your time efficiently and have the right tools throughout the writing process.

Work smart, not hard . The key is consistency — put in 30 minutes every day rather than 2 hours sporadically throughout the week, and you'll be surprised by how much progress you can make.

Without further ado, let’s discuss the best tips for how to write a paper fast.

7 Tips To Help You Write a Paper Fast

Now that you know that both speed and good quality are possible, let's talk about some strategies for achieving both!

1. Set a timer and stick to it.

One of the best ways to ensure that you write a paper quickly is to set a timer and stick to it. When you know that you only have a certain amount of time to work on the assignment, you'll be forced to focus and get the job done. And if you're worried about meeting deadlines, try using predictive text technology like Lightkey , which can help you type up papers much faster than usual by predicting content as far as 12 words ahead and correcting spelling errors in real-time.

2. Outline your paper before you start writing.

If you want to make sure your essay is well-organized and flows logically, outline it before you start writing. This will help you stay on track while composing the paper and will make the revision process much easier.

3. Identify your action words, and use them.

If you want to learn how to write a paper quickly, start with using more action words in your writing. These are words like "conduct," "analyze," "perform," or "collect." They're strong verbs that will help you get into the meat of the paper, instead of spending too much time describing what occurred during an experiment or what happened when you interviewed people.

4. Get specific with language whenever possible.

For instance, if you're telling a story about how something occurred, use phrases like "I observed," "he/she said," "the results indicated," etc. These specific details will make your paper sound more authoritative and convincing.

5. Use bullet points to organize your thoughts.

If you find that you are struggling to keep your thoughts organized, try using bullet points. This will help you keep track of the main points you want to make in your essay.

6. Edit as you go.

Rather than waiting until the end to edit your work, edit as you go. This will help you catch errors early on and prevent them from snowballing into bigger problems down the line. Lightkey's real-time spelling correction capability, for example, identifies errors and makes editing suggestions as you type, so you don't waste time later.

7. Utilize predictive text technology.

Predictive text technology can help you write your essay significantly faster and more accurately . This is because the software anticipates the word or phrase you are likely to type next, allowing you to quickly input it without having to type the entire thing out yourself. This can be a major time-saver, especially when writing longer essays.

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How to Write a Research Paper: Student’s Practical Guide

Table of contents

1 What is a Research Paper?
2.1 Understanding the Assignment
2.2 Types of Research Papers
2.3.1 Tips for Choosing the Right Topic
2.4 Conducting Preliminary Research
2.5 Formulate a Thesis Statement
2.6 Create a Research Paper Outline
2.7 Writing a First Draft
2.8 Proofreading for Grammar, Syntax, and Structure Errors
2.9 Citing Sources
2.10 Creating a Bibliography or Works Cited Page
3 Tips on How to Write a Research Paper Fast
4 Final Thoughts on Your Journey to Research Paper Success
5.1 How long should a research paper be?
5.2 Why is it important to use citations within your research paper?
5.3 How many sources should a research paper have?
5.4 What steps can I take to make the process of writing a research paper less daunting?

Have you been wandering in the confusing maze of academic research, wondering where to turn for guidance on what should a research paper look like and how to set up a research paper? If so, you have landed in just the right spot. This article will discuss the intricate process of writing a top-notch academic research paper, providing step-by-step directions.

Our primary mission is to make the research paper writing journey accessible and stress-free for all the students. Here is a quick roadmap of what is ahead:

After reading the article, you will understand how to compose an outstanding research paper.
The article provides a step-by-step guide to structuring a research paper.
Clearly defining your research topic helps keep your paper focused.
When writing your first draft, don’t forget to think about your audience.
Citing sources as a crucial role in avoiding plagiarism.

Consider this article your trusted companion, offering practical research paper guidelines to make your research paper writing journey a breeze. Scroll down to learn everything you need to know about crafting a professional research paper without getting help from quick essay writers !

What is a Research Paper?

Unfortunately, many students begin their research paper writing journey without clearly understanding what a research paper is. Are you wondering, too? Well, think of it as a document where you dive deep into a topic, like becoming a detective for a while. You spend much time gathering information, evidence, and facts from various sources to understand and explain something.

Now, one question might pop into your mind – How does a research paper stand apart from others? The big difference is how you use all the gathered sources and facts. In a research paper, you use all your research to support your ideas, arguments, or theories. You are not just giving your opinion but backing it up with solid evidence from other experts.

Other papers, like essays, might focus more on your thoughts or feelings. They are often based on something different than your perspective and might not require you to conduct research. Research papers are like information-packed investigations, while other papers are more about expressing your thoughts.

Research Paper Writing Steps

Research paper writing can be an exciting journey, much like any adventure. Just like any trip, it is essential to have a roadmap to guide you through the process. Without the roadmap, you will sail aimlessly in a vast sea of information without a caption. Here are the steps you must follow to write research papers that impress your readers!

Understanding the Assignment

Imagine you are planning a road trip. Before you hit the road, you will want to know where you are headed, right? Similarly, when you start the research paper writing process, it is crucial to understand the scope of your journey.

Most research papers without a well-defined scope face the risk of rejection by academic journals or publishers. Identifying the scope of your journey is just like setting your GPS destination. It will help you stay on track, avoid getting lost, and reach your destination efficiently and timely. Here is why it matters a lot:

Keeps you focused: Imagine you are writing about climate change. If your paper’s scope is broad, like “Climate Change and its effects,” you might end up all over the place, discussing everything from carbon emissions to melting ice caps. However, with a clearly defined scope like “Impact of Climate Change on Polar Bear Habitats,” you will be more likely to stay focused.
Saves Much Time: With a well-defined scope, you will know where to look for information. It will further prevent you from gathering unnecessary information and save you much time during the research process.
Clarifies Your Purpose: Understanding the scope will help you determine the purpose of your paper. You will know whether your paper aims to inform, persuade, analyze, or compare.

Types of Research Papers

Once you are clear about the scope of your research paper, you will know what type of paper you want to write. Here are the most popular types of research papers :

Argumentative Research Paper: An argumentative research paper for college requires you to take a stance on an issue and support it with solid evidence. Think of this like a courtroom. You are presenting a case and arguing for a particular viewpoint. For example, if your topic is “Should Vaccinations be Mandatory for School Children?” your thesis statement might be “Mandatory vaccinations are essential to prevent the spread of various diseases in school-going children.” Here, you are taking a stance and providing evidence to support your argument.
Analytical Research Paper: Analytical research papers are focused on breaking the topic into its critical components to understand a target audience better. In an analytical paper, you are not required to take sides. Instead, you just have to break down the topic and examine all its parts. Let us say your topic is “The Industrial Revolution’s Impact on Society.” Your paper can explore the causes, effects, and societal changes without taking a stance on a specific viewpoint. It is like dissecting a complex machine to understand the workings of each part.

So, by clearly defining your scope, you ensure a focused and purposeful paper and determine whether it will be an argumentative journey or an analytical exploration.

Importance of a Relevant Topic and Tips for Choosing it

Think of your research paper topic as the starting point of your paper, like the first and main ingredient in a recipe. Choosing the right one will be like finding the perfect puzzle piece – it must fit just right. A relevant topic will keep your research and writing focused. Without it, you will end up writing a paper that is all over the place. Also, when you are interested in the topic chosen, the research and writing process becomes more enjoyable. Otherwise, it will just feel like a significant burden on your shoulders.

Moreover, a well-chosen topic will help your readers know exactly what to expect from your paper. It is like putting the correct label on the jar to tell people what is stored inside.

Tips for Choosing the Right Topic

Are you uncertain about what to write a research paper on? Here is how you can pick a good topic for a research paper:

Consider Your Interests : To write a good research paper, choosing a topic that genuinely interests you is important. If you are passionate about music, writing about “The Influence of Jazz on Modern Music” will be more engaging than a topic you have no interest in.
Start Broad, Narrow Down Later: Imagine you are writing about the “Impact of Technology on our Lives.” That is pretty broad, right? You could narrow it down to “Impact of Smartphones on Teenagers’ Social Lives’. By doing so, you are making your topic more specific and manageable.
Identify Research Potential: Before finalizing your topic, ensure enough information is available for research. If you cannot find any sources or data on the chosen topic, you must look for another.

Conducting Preliminary Research

Once you have your research topic in hand, it is time to gather the building blocks for your paper. The first rule of research is to find reliable sources. Think of it like baking a cake- you want the best ingredients. Credible sources are like high-quality ingredients that make your paper rich and flavorful.

Look for books, academic journals, articles from reputable websites, and research papers related to your topic. Libraries, online databases such as RefSeek, and university websites are great places to start your own research. However, avoid random websites, as most do not provide accurate or trustworthy information.

As you find valuable information, take notes of key facts, statistics, quotes, and source details. Also, take notes of where you found each piece of information. It will save you a lot of time and energy to cite sources later.

Once you have collected your information and notes, it is time to organize them. Think of this step as sorting your treasure into neat piles. Create categories or sections that match the structure of your paper.

Conducting preliminary research is like setting the stage for your research paper. Finding reliable sources ensures your paper is built on a strong foundation, taking notes helps you remember the valuable information you have discovered, and organizing your findings makes writing a research paper a breeze.

Formulate a Thesis Statement

Now that you have done your research and are starting to gather your thoughts, it is time to create the heart of your paper – the thesis statement. You might be wondering what exactly thesis statements are. They are like the main points or core ideas of your research papers. A sentence that tells your readers what your paper is about and your stance.

While formulating a thesis statement for your paper, keep it specific, arguable, concise, and connected to your research. Also, remembering that your thesis is not set in stone is worth remembering. As you continue to research and write, you can refine it to understand your topic better.

Create a Research Paper Outline

Imagine you are building a house. Before you start the construction work, it is important to have a blueprint, right? Well, think of creating a research paper outline as a blueprint for your paper. It will help you organize your thoughts and ensure your paper flows thoroughly. An outline will give your paper a better structure and provide clarity to readers.

Now, let us briefly discuss the parts of a research paper outline:

Title & Abstract: Start a research paper with the title page. It is the first page of the paper shows the title of the research paper and the author’s name. It also shows affiliations, acknowledgments, and other specific information relevant to the paper. Next comes the abstract – a concise summary of the paper that includes the main problem, the research paper question , the study’s goal, the methods implemented, the findings, and the study’s contributions.
Introduction: The introduction section is the first main section of your paper and sets the stage for what follows next. It offers readers the necessary background and context for your study. Also, the introductory paragraph provides an overview of the main points or technical arguments your paper will explore. The best research paper introduction section offers a concise presentation of your central topic while summarizing the existing state of research within the current scientific literature and community.
Literature Review: In this part, we look at past research and previous studies to find gaps. We also discover new possibilities in the topic. A good literature review in a paper gives a wider view of the study and its language. It also helps the reader understand other related works better.
Methodology: The methods section explains how the study was done, including the plan, who was involved, what materials were used, the steps taken, and how the data was analyzed. In a research paper, this section should contain all the steps and specifics used to find the research results. It must have detailed information enough so other researchers can repeat the study if needed.
Results: The results section shares the study’s main findings through visuals like figures and tables. It should stick to facts and avoid interpretation or discussion.
Discussion: The discussion section interprets the study’s results, explains how they relate to the research question and prior studies, mentions study limitations, and suggests implications or recommendations for future research or practice.
Conclusion: The effective research paper conclusion sums up the main points, restates the research questions, and highlights key contributions without introducing new information or unnecessary repetition.
References: The annotated bibliography summarizes all used materials, while the references section lists only cited sources in a specific citation style (like APA or MLA), excluding sources only read or consulted.
Appendices : Appendices should include supplementary materials such as charts, statistics, and efficient mathematical solutions and formulas that enhance understanding.

Remember, the outline will be your roadmap for the research paper. It does not need to be too detailed, just a skeleton of your paper’s structure. It will help you stay organized and ensure your paper is well-structured, making it easier for you to write and for your readers to navigate. So, before you start building the walls of your paper, focus on creating a solid outline.

Writing a First Draft

Once you have gathered your research and created an outline, it is time to dive into the exciting process of writing your first draft. It might not be perfect, but it is the starting point for something great. Now, one thing you must remember while writing your paper’s first draft is the target audience.

Take a little time to understand your paper’s target audience. Who are you writing for? Is it experts in your field, classmates, or a general audience? Knowing your target audience before writing your first draft will help you choose the right tone and language for your message. Just like you would not use complicated jargon when talking to the senior members of your family about technology, you will have to tailor your writing to your target audience’s level of understanding.

Also, when writing the first draft of your research paper, do not worry too much about perfection. It is more like building the framework of your paper. You can refine and polish it in later drafts. Just let your ideas flow and consider your target audience’s preferences!

Proofreading for Grammar, Syntax, and Structure Errors

Proofreading your research paper will help you catch spelling mistakes, fix awkward topic sentences, and tidy up your paper’s overall structure. While proofreading, take enough time and read aloud to help yourself spot errors that you might miss when reading silently.

Moreover, you can use spell-check and grammar-check tools to catch common mistakes. However, do not rely on them entirely, as they often miss context-specific errors. When proofreading your final draft, concentrate on one type of error at a time. For example, look for grammar errors first, then syntax and structure errors. It will make the proofreading process more manageable and efficient.

Remember, proofreading is like giving your paper the last layer of polish. Therefore, take your time, be patient, and give your paper the finishing touch it deserves. Your readers will be thankful for it!

Citing Sources

Using information or ideas from other sources is like borrowing pieces from someone else’s puzzle to complete yours. Citing sources is crucial as it shows you have done your homework and gives credit to the original creators of the ideas or information you are using. Also, it makes your paper look more authentic and credible.

Now, different citation styles are like different languages for your citations. Each style has its formatting style, but they all serve the same purpose – making your sources clear and accessible.

Here are a few citation styles for research papers:

APA (American Psychological Association) : is often used in social sciences and psychology. APA Style typically includes the author’s name and publication year in parentheses, like (Smith, 2023).
MLA (Modern Language Association) : is commonly used in the humanities. In a Modern language association, you usually include the author’s name and page number, (Smith 45).
Chicago Style: is used in history and other fields. It has two main styles: notes and bibliography (used for citations within the text) and author-date (used in the sciences).
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): is often used in engineering and computer science. It uses numbers in square brackets, like [1].

Each style has its unique rules and formatting guidelines. Therefore, choose the style that fits your field and adheres to your professor’s or institute’s guidelines. However, if you still struggle to cite the sources, you can use PapersOwl’s helping tools. These free citation generators will help you generate a citation in any style you want.

Therefore, there is no need to spend your precious time memorizing all the rules and formatting guidelines for each style. Also, be sure not to overlook the inclusion of page numbers. Page numbers are essential for proper citation and referencing in research papers.

Creating a Bibliography or Works Cited Page

Creating a bibliography or references list for your research paper is like giving credit where it is due. It is essential to list all the sources you have used, like books or websites, following a specific citation style (APA, MLA, etc.). Organize the research paper’s citations alphabetically by the author’s last name and use hanging indents. This clear and organized reference list adds credibility to your paper and helps readers explore your sources faster.

Tips on How to Write a Research Paper Fast

Do you wonder how to write a research paper fast without sacrificing quality? Here are a few tips on how to write a research paper fast:

Write in Sprints and Set Realistic Goals: Break your writing process into manageable chunks. Set aside specific blocks of time, like 30 minutes to an hour, and commit to focused writing during those periods. Also, you must set realistic goals for each sprint, like completing an outline or writing a specific section. By doing so, you will make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed.
Eliminate Distractions: For working on a research paper, you should find a quiet and comfortable space to work in. Turn off notifications on your phone or computer, and let your family or roommates know you need uninterrupted time. Distractions can interrupt your writing flow, so create a distraction-free zone.
Prioritize Sections of a Research Paper: When writing a research paper, start with the most interesting or comfortable sections. It will help build your momentum. Also, do not get bogged down if stuck on a particular part. Move to another section and come back to it later.
Revise and Edit Later: Do not obsess over perfection during your initial draft. Focus on getting your ideas down on paper. You can fine-tune and polish your writing while reviewing and editing your paper . Trying to write perfectly from the start can slow you down.
Use Academic Writing Tools: Take advantage of writing tools and software to help you stay organized and improve your writing. Tools like grammar and spell checkers, citation generators, and writing apps can save you time and reduce the chances of errors.

Final Thoughts on Your Journey to Research Paper Success

This step-by-step research paper guide on the steps to write a research paper has shown you the way to create a successful paper that meets research paper requirements and makes a good research paper. We’ve covered understanding your scope, picking interesting topics, doing research, making strong thesis statements, and organizing your ideas according to the format for research paper. We’ve also talked about writing with your readers in mind, checking for mistakes, and giving credit to your sources. With these tips, you’re ready to start your research paper journey. Remember, it’s not just about finishing; it’s about what you learn and share as you go. Happy writing!

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Research Paper Guide

Research Paper Writing - A Step by Step Guide

14 min read

What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is a scholarly document that presents a systematic and structured exploration of a specific topic, issue, or question.

It is a formal academic piece of writing that synthesizes existing knowledge, incorporates original research or analysis, and offers well-supported conclusions or insights.

Research papers are typically written by students, academics, or researchers and serve to contribute to the body of knowledge in a particular field of study.

How Long Should A Research Paper be?

Generically, a research paper typically falls within the range of 6,000 to 8,000 words, which is equivalent to approximately 15-20 pages double-spaced with standard formatting.

However, for different academic levels, here is a general idea:

Undergraduate Research Paper : Around 10-15 pages (double-spaced).
Master's Thesis : 50-100 pages or more, depending on the institution and discipline.
Doctoral Dissertation : 150-300 pages or more, depending on the field and research depth.

How to Write a Research Paper?

Writing a research paper is a structured and methodical process that involves several essential steps.

Following these guidelines will help you produce a well-organized and academically sound research paper.

How to Start a Research Paper?

A good research paper must follow a proper structure and format. The first important step in the writing process is to start your paper perfectly.

1. Understand the Research Paper Requirements

To succeed in your research paper assignment, it's crucial to comprehend the topic and the paper's structure requirements fully. Here are key steps to enhance your understanding:

Read Instructions : Thoroughly read assignment instructions. Seek clarification from your professor if any parts are unclear.
Identify Purpose : Understand the main purpose of your research paper, whether it's informing or persuading readers.
Note Key Details: Take note of essential details, including the deadline, word count, submission method, and required formatting style.
List Key Points : Create a list of key points you need to cover in your paper.
Set a Timeline : Plan a schedule for starting, writing, and editing your research paper.

2. Consider the Target Audience

Consider your audience's knowledge and expertise level as it influences writing style, word choice, and the depth of information required:

For master's level research, expect an expert audience.
Undergraduate papers can cater to both general and expert readers.

3. Choose the Right Research Paper Topic

Selecting the right topic is crucial. If you have the option to choose, follow these steps:

Brainstorm Ideas : Generate ideas for your topic. Seek input from professors or specialists for a unique approach.
Freewrite : Use freewriting to narrow down a broad topic.
Review Research Work : Find inspiration in other research papers, especially in their discussion and recommendation sections.
Challenge and Interest : Choose a challenging research paper topic that piques your interest and can engage your audience.
Specificity : Avoid overly technical or general topics. Opt for an original, specific idea aligned with your research paper's criteria.

4. Conduct Thorough Research

Thorough research is vital for finding relevant ideas, focus, and direction. Ask these questions:

Gap in Research : Is there a gap in previous research on your topic?
Recent Developments : Are there recent developments in your subject?
Debates : Are there ongoing debates related to your topic?
Unique Perspective : Do you possess a unique perspective on the topic?

5. Developing a Strong Thesis Statement

After research, create a strong, concise thesis statement. It should serve as the central argument, stating the purpose and position of your paper.

Support it with solid evidence and reasoning. Ensure your thesis is clear concise, and guides your writing throughout the research paper process.

If you’re struggling in starting your paper, check out this guide on how to start a research paper!

Preparing a Research Paper Proposal

A research proposal is vital for framing your research project. To create an effective research proposal, address these key questions:

What is your research objective?
Why is this research necessary?
How will you approach it?

A well-structured research proposal includes these sections:

Table of contents
Introduction
Background and significance
Literature review
Research design and methods
Hypothesis and discussion

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Writing the First Draft

In the first draft, your focus is on:

Translating ideas into arguments
Adding detail and structureUnderstanding the paper's overall flow
Adhering to the research paper format
Maintaining clear organization
Properly explaining ideas and findings
Ensuring flexibility for future adjustments
Providing proper citations

1. Create a Research Paper Outline

An organized research paper outline is crucial for planning your structure and content. It serves as a roadmap for your writing process. Here are some components of an effective outline:

Table of Contents
Literature Review
Bibliography

2. Writing an Abstract

The abstract is a concise summary of your paper. Keep it between 150 and 250 words, highlighting key points from each section.

3. Writing a Research Paper Introduction

The introduction should answer 'What,' 'Why,' and 'How' questions:

What : Clearly specify the topic, historical context, and key terms.
Why : Discuss the significance of your research.
How : Outline the main elements to be covered.

4. Crafting a Literature Review

In the literature review , discuss existing research on your topic. Locate and analyze scholarly articles, highlighting their relevance to your study. Present the past, present, and expected future of the issue.

5. Methodology

Methodology outlines how you conducted your research and collected data. It should be detailed enough that another researcher could replicate your study. In this section, you should include:

Study Design : Describe the type of study (e.g., experimental, observational, survey) and its rationale.
Participants : Provide information about the number, characteristics, and selection criteria of the participants.
Data Collection: Explain the instruments, tools, or techniques used to gather data. Include details such as questionnaires, surveys, interviews, or experiments.
Procedure : Describe the step-by-step process of your research, including how data was collected and any ethical considerations.
Data Analysis: Specify the statistical or analytical methods used to process and interpret the data.

The Results section presents the findings of your study. It should be factual and data-driven, without interpretation. Include:

Data Presentation: Use tables, figures, and charts to present your data clearly.
Descriptive Statistics : Report essential statistical measures like means, standard deviations, or percentages.
Inferential Statistics: Use appropriate statistical tests to analyze your data.
Textual Description : Summarize the key findings and refer to tables or figures where necessary.

7. Discussion

This is where you interpret your results, discuss their implications, and relate them to your research question. Include:

Interpretation : Explain the meaning and significance of your findings.
Comparison to Existing Research : Compare your results to previous studies and explain how they align or differ.
Limitations : Address the limitations of your study and potential sources of bias.
Future Research : Suggest areas for future research or improvements to your methodology.

8. Writing a Research Paper Conclusion

In the conclusion:

Summarize your paper
Reiterate how you addressed the main idea and research questions
Avoid introducing new information
Suggest potential future research

9. Bibliography

The Bibliography (or References) section lists all the sources you cited in your paper. It should follow a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). Arrange your sources alphabetically and format them according to the style guidelines.

10. Appendix

The Appendix is an optional section where you can include supplementary material that supports your research but is too detailed or extensive to include in the main body of the paper.

Examples of content for the appendix might include raw data, additional charts, questionnaires, or extended descriptions of methods.

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Writing the Second Draft

Once you've roughly organized your thoughts in the first draft, proceed to craft the second draft of your paper.

Consider the following aspects to perfect your second draft:

Effectively Address the Main Argument : Review your paper to ensure you've effectively addressed the main argument or research problem statement.
Identify Assumptions : Identify any assumptions that may need inclusion or clarification in your paper.
Logical Structure : Rearrange and structure your ideas logically to enhance the paper's flow.
Trim Irrelevant Ideas : Remove any outdated or irrelevant ideas from the first draft and introduce fresh, unique approaches.
Create a Work Cited List : Start compiling a list of works cited according to your chosen citation style guide.

Revising and Proofreading

The final step in the writing process involves revising and proofreading to ensure your paper is well-developed and error-free.

Confirm the following aspects:

Meeting Requirements : Verify if your paper meets all the specified requirements.
Logical Paragraph Order : Check for a logical order of paragraphs and ideas.
Eliminate Irrelevant Details : Remove any irrelevant or extra details.
Grammar and Punctuation : Look for grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors.
Sentence Structure : Identify and rectify any issues with sentence structures.
Consistency : Ensure consistency in font, headings, page numbers, and formatting throughout the paper.
Proper Referencing : Confirm that all sources are correctly referenced following the guidelines of your chosen citation style.

Research Paper Examples

Examples serve as valuable templates and guides, showcasing various formatting styles, organization, and approaches to research paper writing.

Research Paper Example

Research Paper Sample

APA Style Research Paper

MLA Style Research Paper

How to Write a Research Paper pdf

How to Write a Research Paper sample

How to Write a Research Paper for journal publication

How to Write a Research Paper format

If you want more examples for research papers, check out our blog about research paper examples !

Research Paper Writing Checklist

This stage often refers to the phase of conducting research for your paper. This checklist will help you ensure that you cover all the necessary steps during this phase:

In summary, this guide will assist you in writing a perfect research paper. However, we understand that it may be quite challenging for students who lack strong writing and research skills.

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You can hire an expert writer for your research papers from our essay writer service .

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Frequently Asked Questions

How to write a research paper using chatgpt.

While ChatGPT can assist in the writing process, it should not replace scholarly research, or critical analysis. Avoid relying solely on ChatGPT for factual information, and always verify data through authoritative sources. Use it as a complementary tool rather than the primary source for your research paper.

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19 Academic Writing Tools (that are completely free!)

A selection of tools for academic writing – from collaborating, time-tracking and project management to finding the perfect phrase or translation. We are continuously updating this list (latest update: April 2023).

I often get asked about my favourite academic writing tools. That’s why I compiled this scientific tools list for you with 19 great tools to support your academic writing. You can use all these scientific research tools for free and some of them have paid versions with additional features.

Just one word of caution: Exploring new academic writing tools can be a time-suck and distract you from getting your actual writing done. If you are one of those people who spend hours signing up for new software for academic writing and getting it set up, only to abandon the tool a few days or weeks later – then be careful reading this scientific tools list, and don’t get overenthusiastic. 😉

By the way, I don’t have any affiliation with any of the academic writing tools listed below, and none of these are affiliated links.

Here, we go, 19 tools for academic writing and scientific research I recommend in no particular order:

ACADEMIC Writing tools

1. writefull.

This proof-reading tool for scientific texts is powered by AI and big data. You can integrate the Writefull app into Word or Overleaf for free. A reader of the blog brought my attention to this tool (thank you so much!) and I’ve only recently started using it, so I can’t give you a full-blown review just yet but so far the results are promising. Writefull is owned by Digital Science, a company that has released several Open Science apps, such as figshare, Overleaf and Altmetric.

2. Phrasebank

Created by Dr John Morley from “The University Language Center” of Manchester University, the Phrasebank is a database of common phrases used in papers, dissertations and grant proposals – a real goldmine!

The phrases are organised both by the common sections in a paper such as the Introduction, Methods, Results or Discussion section. For example, in the tab for the Introduction section, one can find entries for “establishing the importance of the topic for the world or society” or “identifying a knowledge gap in the field of study”. If you click on the latter, you can find among others the following suggested phrases: “It is still unclear whether…”, “However, the behaviour of X has not yet been investigated” and “Causal factors leading to X remain speculative”.

You can also look for phrases by choosing a general language function. Some of the choices are “being cautious”, “describing trends”, “signalling transition”.

The Phrasebank is very useful to get inspiration for new wording but I do not endorse all entries. Sometimes you find language that is a bit clunky or overly complicated so do use your own judgement when you browse this academic writing tool. PS: You can also download the Academic Phrasebank as PDF or Kindle file.

3. Thesaurus.com

If you’re looking for synonyms, thesaurus.com is the best online thesaurus I’ve found so far. It divides the synonyms based on different meanings of the word and indicates the relevance of the synonym by using three shades of orange.

Just one word of caution: Don’t fall into the trap of using too many synonyms in your academic writing. Being precise is so much more important than varying the words you are using in your writing. In particular for field-specific terminology, I advise against using synonyms .

This is a hot tip for researchers who need to transcribe interviews (hello, social scientists!), who like to record research ideas or those who like to write by dictating text into their phone. Otter is an AI-based transcription tool that works for English language recordings. The quality of the transcriptions is comparable to other transcription services using AI, meaning they are often not accurate and can give nonsensical, even comical results — especially when the recorded voice has a strong or unusual accent. Still, the automated and quick transcriptions (real time transcriptions are available too!) can be a good starting point and are a huge time saver. What’s cool about Otter compared to its competitors is that they give you 300 minutes of transcriptions per month for free!

There are many online dictionaries but Linguee is my favourite for academic writing. It suggests a translation on the basis of previous translations published on the internet. Therefore, this dictionary is especially great if you’re looking to not only translate a word but a certain turn of phrase or idiom. Linguee translates to and from English in over 20 languages. An essential academic writing tool for all non-native English speakers!

ACADEMIC WRITING TOOLS FOR Collaboration AND CO-WRITING

6. authorea.

The magazine “ TechCrunch ” describes Authorea as “a Google Docs for scientists”. On the academic writing platform, you can write, edit, and insert citations, figures and data. And it’s great for collaborative writing: Co-authors can access the same text at the same time, track the changes they made, insert comments and even live-chat during writing sessions. Documents can be imported from LaTeX and Word and exported as LaTeX, Word and PDF documents. You can also submit your article as a bioRxiv preprint straight from the Authorea platform. This software for academic writing is free for up to ten documents with limited sharing options.

7. Overleaf

Overleaf is to LaTeX users, what Authorea (see tool #6) is to Word users: an online editor that allows you to access and collaborate on your writing projects from anywhere. You can, for example, invite others to comment on your work. Overleaf offers some other neat collaborative writing features, such as a track-changes function, but – unfortunately – only on the paid plan. LaTeX may seem a bit intimidating at first but you actually get the hang of it quite fast (and feel like a coder 😎). Also, in my experience, you save a lot of time formatting your text (and feel smug about it when you talk to Word users 😁).

Slack is a chat tool that you can use in your lab or with your collaborators. Used in the right way, it allows you to save time by cutting down on emails and create a group atmosphere even if the members are not working in the same location. You can easily add files to the chats and create different channels for subgroups or certain topics. There also exist virtual communities on Slack you can join, such as the New PI Slack community for Assistant professors around the world.

Loom is a great scientific research tool when you want to share a quick video with a colleague, student or collaborator. This could be a recorded presentation or lecture, your comments on the paper of a co-author, or a tutorial on using a piece of software. You can record your screen, camera and microphone. The neat thing is that after you’re done recording, Loom auto-generates a link you can share.

Academic writing tools for Productivity and project management

Toggl is a time-tracking app that you can install on your phone and computer. There’s only one way of knowing how long certain writing tasks typically take you, and that is by tracking the time they took you to complete . Time-tracking has another great advantage: You can identify time-sucks in your day. And these may be less obvious than you think.

I like to use Toggl for time-tracking because it’s quick to use and integrates with various other scientific research tools I am using. You just need to click the big red power button to start or stop a recording and assign tracked times to different projects. This scientific research tool has paid plans but for most people the free basic plan will be sufficient.

Are you easily tempted to check your phone when you really should be writing? This app called Forest may be just right for you then. Once installed on your phone, you can start planting a virtual tree whenever you want to focus. It grows from a little plant to a full-grown tree. When you pick up your phone and leave the app, the tree dies. This way, you can build your forest representing the time you have spent on focused work (or quality time with your family and friends…). I’m not using Forest myself, but I’ve heard that it works really as an academic writing tool well for some people. Give it a go!

12. Focusmate

As Forest (see tool #11), Focusmate is an app to help you stay focused. Instead of gamification, the concept of Focusmate is based on social accountability. Here is how it works: You schedule a 50-minute virtual co-writing session with another Focusmate member, turn on your webcam when your session starts, greet your temporary co-worker and then get to work silently.

Even though being filmed while working is a little strange in the beginning, co-writing sessions work really well for a lot of researchers. This is why we offer co-writing sessions as part of our academic writing program, the Researchers’ Writing Academy, as well.

13. Cold Turkey

If Forest (tool #11) or Focusmate (#12) don’t get you to focus on your writing, you may need to go Cold Turkey . This software for academic writing blocks any other application and turns your computer into a typewriter. You can choose whether you want Cold Turkey to prevent you from digital distractions for a certain amount of time or until you’ve hit a certain word count. With the paid version, you can even access integrated productivity soundtracks and text formatting.

Free writing training by the author of the blog post about free writing tools

Not an app exactly, but free as well: Click the orange button below to have me walk you through my step-by-step system to write clear & concise papers for your target journals in a timely manner . This free academic writing training is perfect for you if you’re reading this blog post because you are procrastinating on writing your paper.

Trello is an excellent project management tool for your academic writing, which you can use for managing each of your writing projects, for creating a publication pipeline and as a daily and weekly to-do list. Trello is a great introduction into project management because it’s a lot easier to learn and use than most other project management software. For each project called a “Board”, you can create different “lists”, which are vertical collection of “cards”, which you can move between lists. You can add due dates, checklist lists, links, files and text to each card. To work collaboratively, you can leave comments on cards and assign them to members on your team. You can also use Trello as a brainstorming tool, using the cards just as you would use post-it notes.

Members of my online course, the Researchers’ Writing Academy , get access to Trello templates I created to easily manage their publication pipeline, the writing process for each of their scientific papers and all of their other daily, weekly and monthly tasks and projects.

15. Todoist

Todoist is an alternative to Trello (see tool #16) or can be used in addition. It’s an online to-do list organiser and project management tool that comes as an app and browser version. You can organise your tasks in projects and schedule them for a certain day. This academic writing tool shows you today’s tasks as well as those for the next seven days. It also tracks your productivity, i.e. how many tasks you have completed.

academic writing Tools for finding and reading the literature

Feedly is a neat RSS feed manager that helps you stay up to date with the scientific literature. Instead of getting email alerts from journals (because who wants to get more emails…) you can view and organise the literature you are interested in by following journals’ RSS feeds. You can not only use this for scientific literature but also subscribe to blogs, for example the one you’re reading right now, by simply putting the URL in the Feedly search: https://annaclemens.com/blog .

Are you a mindmapper? Then you need Xmind , a free mindmapping and brain-storming tool. It’s intuitive, looks good and does exactly what you want a mindmapping tool to do. The free version allows for embedding of hyperlinks, images, attachments, so you can really use it however you like! That’s all I can really say about it as I’m not using mindmapping myself. But I know scientists who swear by it!

18. Audemic

Audio formats have become so popular (I’m a big podcast lover myself!) so it shouldn’t really come as a surprise that there now is an audio tool available for the scientific literature too: Audemic . This tool — completely free to use for individual researchers — creates summaries for you (that go beyond the abstract), lets you skip sections, highlight text and take notes while listening.

There are a few reference managers for your academic writing to choose from, some of which cost money. Zotero is free, open-source and doesn’t lack in functionality. You can easily save references from your browser, organise them in folders and with tags and create bibliographies with the right style. You can also create a citation library with your co-authors or share your library with others.

That’s it: 19 academic writing apps and scientific research tools to support your writing for free! However, the best academic writing software won’t make you more productive if you don’t rely on a streamlined writing process and if you aren’t using your writing sessions effectively. If you want to get your hands on a template to write scientific papers in a systematic fashion, sign up for this 1-hour writing training now. It’s free too!

Free writing training that goes beyond writing tools

Photography by Alice Dix

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12.1 Creating a Rough Draft for a Research Paper

Learning objectives.

Apply strategies for drafting an effective introduction and conclusion.
Identify when and how to summarize, paraphrase, and directly quote information from research sources.
Apply guidelines for citing sources within the body of the paper and the bibliography.
Use primary and secondary research to support ideas.
Identify the purposes for which writers use each type of research.

At last, you are ready to begin writing the rough draft of your research paper. Putting your thinking and research into words is exciting. It can also be challenging. In this section, you will learn strategies for handling the more challenging aspects of writing a research paper, such as integrating material from your sources, citing information correctly, and avoiding any misuse of your sources.

The Structure of a Research Paper

Research papers generally follow the same basic structure: an introduction that presents the writer’s thesis, a body section that develops the thesis with supporting points and evidence, and a conclusion that revisits the thesis and provides additional insights or suggestions for further research.

Your writing voice will come across most strongly in your introduction and conclusion, as you work to attract your readers’ interest and establish your thesis. These sections usually do not cite sources at length. They focus on the big picture, not specific details. In contrast, the body of your paper will cite sources extensively. As you present your ideas, you will support your points with details from your research.

Writing Your Introduction

There are several approaches to writing an introduction, each of which fulfills the same goals. The introduction should get readers’ attention, provide background information, and present the writer’s thesis. Many writers like to begin with one of the following catchy openers:

A surprising fact
A thought-provoking question
An attention-getting quote
A brief anecdote that illustrates a larger concept
A connection between your topic and your readers’ experiences

The next few sentences place the opening in context by presenting background information. From there, the writer builds toward a thesis, which is traditionally placed at the end of the introduction. Think of your thesis as a signpost that lets readers know in what direction the paper is headed.

Jorge decided to begin his research paper by connecting his topic to readers’ daily experiences. Read the first draft of his introduction. The thesis is underlined. Note how Jorge progresses from the opening sentences to background information to his thesis.

Beyond the Hype: Evaluating Low-Carb Diets

I. Introduction

Over the past decade, increasing numbers of Americans have jumped on the low-carb bandwagon. Some studies estimate that approximately 40 million Americans, or about 20 percent of the population, are attempting to restrict their intake of food high in carbohydrates (Sanders and Katz, 2004; Hirsch, 2004). Proponents of low-carb diets say they are not only the most effective way to lose weight, but they also yield health benefits such as lower blood pressure and improved cholesterol levels. Meanwhile, some doctors claim that low-carb diets are overrated and caution that their long-term effects are unknown. Although following a low-carbohydrate diet can benefit some people, these diets are not necessarily the best option for everyone who wants to lose weight or improve their health.

Write the introductory paragraph of your research paper. Try using one of the techniques listed in this section to write an engaging introduction. Be sure to include background information about the topic that leads to your thesis.

Writers often work out of sequence when writing a research paper. If you find yourself struggling to write an engaging introduction, you may wish to write the body of your paper first. Writing the body sections first will help you clarify your main points. Writing the introduction should then be easier. You may have a better sense of how to introduce the paper after you have drafted some or all of the body.

Writing Your Conclusion

In your introduction, you tell readers where they are headed. In your conclusion, you recap where they have been. For this reason, some writers prefer to write their conclusions soon after they have written their introduction. However, this method may not work for all writers. Other writers prefer to write their conclusion at the end of the paper, after writing the body paragraphs. No process is absolutely right or absolutely wrong; find the one that best suits you.

No matter when you compose the conclusion, it should sum up your main ideas and revisit your thesis. The conclusion should not simply echo the introduction or rely on bland summary statements, such as “In this paper, I have demonstrated that.…” In fact, avoid repeating your thesis verbatim from the introduction. Restate it in different words that reflect the new perspective gained through your research. That helps keep your ideas fresh for your readers. An effective writer might conclude a paper by asking a new question the research inspired, revisiting an anecdote presented earlier, or reminding readers of how the topic relates to their lives.

Writing at Work

If your job involves writing or reading scientific papers, it helps to understand how professional researchers use the structure described in this section. A scientific paper begins with an abstract that briefly summarizes the entire paper. The introduction explains the purpose of the research, briefly summarizes previous research, and presents the researchers’ hypothesis. The body provides details about the study, such as who participated in it, what the researchers measured, and what results they recorded. The conclusion presents the researchers’ interpretation of the data, or what they learned.

Using Source Material in Your Paper

One of the challenges of writing a research paper is successfully integrating your ideas with material from your sources. Your paper must explain what you think, or it will read like a disconnected string of facts and quotations. However, you also need to support your ideas with research, or they will seem insubstantial. How do you strike the right balance?

You have already taken a step in the right direction by writing your introduction. The introduction and conclusion function like the frame around a picture. They define and limit your topic and place your research in context.

In the body paragraphs of your paper, you will need to integrate ideas carefully at the paragraph level and at the sentence level. You will use topic sentences in your paragraphs to make sure readers understand the significance of any facts, details, or quotations you cite. You will also include sentences that transition between ideas from your research, either within a paragraph or between paragraphs. At the sentence level, you will need to think carefully about how you introduce paraphrased and quoted material.

Earlier you learned about summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting when taking notes. In the next few sections, you will learn how to use these techniques in the body of your paper to weave in source material to support your ideas.

Summarizing Sources

When you summarize material from a source, you zero in on the main points and restate them concisely in your own words. This technique is appropriate when only the major ideas are relevant to your paper or when you need to simplify complex information into a few key points for your readers.

Be sure to review the source material as you summarize it. Identify the main idea and restate it as concisely as you can—preferably in one sentence. Depending on your purpose, you may also add another sentence or two condensing any important details or examples. Check your summary to make sure it is accurate and complete.

In his draft, Jorge summarized research materials that presented scientists’ findings about low-carbohydrate diets. Read the following passage from a trade magazine article and Jorge’s summary of the article.

Assessing the Efficacy of Low-Carbohydrate Diets

Adrienne Howell, Ph.D.

Over the past few years, a number of clinical studies have explored whether high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are more effective for weight loss than other frequently recommended diet plans, such as diets that drastically curtail fat intake (Pritikin) or that emphasize consuming lean meats, grains, vegetables, and a moderate amount of unsaturated fats (the Mediterranean diet). A 2009 study found that obese teenagers who followed a low-carbohydrate diet lost an average of 15.6 kilograms over a six-month period, whereas teenagers following a low-fat diet or a Mediterranean diet lost an average of 11.1 kilograms and 9.3 kilograms respectively. Two 2010 studies that measured weight loss for obese adults following these same three diet plans found similar results. Over three months, subjects on the low-carbohydrate diet plan lost anywhere from four to six kilograms more than subjects who followed other diet plans.

In three recent studies, researchers compared outcomes for obese subjects who followed either a low-carbohydrate diet, a low-fat diet, or a Mediterranean diet and found that subjects following a low-carbohydrate diet lost more weight in the same time (Howell, 2010).

A summary restates ideas in your own words—but for specialized or clinical terms, you may need to use terms that appear in the original source. For instance, Jorge used the term obese in his summary because related words such as heavy or overweight have a different clinical meaning.

On a separate sheet of paper, practice summarizing by writing a one-sentence summary of the same passage that Jorge already summarized.

Paraphrasing Sources

When you paraphrase material from a source, restate the information from an entire sentence or passage in your own words, using your own original sentence structure. A paraphrased source differs from a summarized source in that you focus on restating the ideas, not condensing them.

Again, it is important to check your paraphrase against the source material to make sure it is both accurate and original. Inexperienced writers sometimes use the thesaurus method of paraphrasing—that is, they simply rewrite the source material, replacing most of the words with synonyms. This constitutes a misuse of sources. A true paraphrase restates ideas using the writer’s own language and style.

In his draft, Jorge frequently paraphrased details from sources. At times, he needed to rewrite a sentence more than once to ensure he was paraphrasing ideas correctly. Read the passage from a website. Then read Jorge’s initial attempt at paraphrasing it, followed by the final version of his paraphrase.

Dieters nearly always get great results soon after they begin following a low-carbohydrate diet, but these results tend to taper off after the first few months, particularly because many dieters find it difficult to follow a low-carbohydrate diet plan consistently.

People usually see encouraging outcomes shortly after they go on a low-carbohydrate diet, but their progress slows down after a short while, especially because most discover that it is a challenge to adhere to the diet strictly (Heinz, 2009).

After reviewing the paraphrased sentence, Jorge realized he was following the original source too closely. He did not want to quote the full passage verbatim, so he again attempted to restate the idea in his own style.

Because it is hard for dieters to stick to a low-carbohydrate eating plan, the initial success of these diets is short-lived (Heinz, 2009).

On a separate sheet of paper, follow these steps to practice paraphrasing.

Choose an important idea or detail from your notes.
Without looking at the original source, restate the idea in your own words.
Check your paraphrase against the original text in the source. Make sure both your language and your sentence structure are original.
Revise your paraphrase if necessary.

Quoting Sources Directly

Most of the time, you will summarize or paraphrase source material instead of quoting directly. Doing so shows that you understand your research well enough to write about it confidently in your own words. However, direct quotes can be powerful when used sparingly and with purpose.

Quoting directly can sometimes help you make a point in a colorful way. If an author’s words are especially vivid, memorable, or well phrased, quoting them may help hold your reader’s interest. Direct quotations from an interviewee or an eyewitness may help you personalize an issue for readers. And when you analyze primary sources, such as a historical speech or a work of literature, quoting extensively is often necessary to illustrate your points. These are valid reasons to use quotations.

Less experienced writers, however, sometimes overuse direct quotations in a research paper because it seems easier than paraphrasing. At best, this reduces the effectiveness of the quotations. At worst, it results in a paper that seems haphazardly pasted together from outside sources. Use quotations sparingly for greater impact.

When you do choose to quote directly from a source, follow these guidelines:

Make sure you have transcribed the original statement accurately.
Represent the author’s ideas honestly. Quote enough of the original text to reflect the author’s point accurately.
Never use a stand-alone quotation. Always integrate the quoted material into your own sentence.
Use ellipses (…) if you need to omit a word or phrase. Use brackets [ ] if you need to replace a word or phrase.
Make sure any omissions or changed words do not alter the meaning of the original text. Omit or replace words only when absolutely necessary to shorten the text or to make it grammatically correct within your sentence.
Remember to include correctly formatted citations that follow the assigned style guide.

Jorge interviewed a dietician as part of his research, and he decided to quote her words in his paper. Read an excerpt from the interview and Jorge’s use of it, which follows.

Personally, I don’t really buy into all of the hype about low-carbohydrate miracle diets like Atkins and so on. Sure, for some people, they are great, but for most, any sensible eating and exercise plan would work just as well.

Registered dietician Dana Kwon (2010) admits, “Personally, I don’t really buy into all of the hype.…Sure, for some people, [low-carbohydrate diets] are great, but for most, any sensible eating and exercise plan would work just as well.”

Notice how Jorge smoothly integrated the quoted material by starting the sentence with an introductory phrase. His use of ellipses and brackets did not change the source’s meaning.

Documenting Source Material

Throughout the writing process, be scrupulous about documenting information taken from sources. The purpose of doing so is twofold:

To give credit to other writers or researchers for their ideas
To allow your reader to follow up and learn more about the topic if desired

You will cite sources within the body of your paper and at the end of the paper in your bibliography. For this assignment, you will use the citation format used by the American Psychological Association (also known as APA style). For information on the format used by the Modern Language Association (MLA style), see Chapter 13 “APA and MLA Documentation and Formatting” .

Citing Sources in the Body of Your Paper

In-text citations document your sources within the body of your paper. These include two vital pieces of information: the author’s name and the year the source material was published. When quoting a print source, also include in the citation the page number where the quoted material originally appears. The page number will follow the year in the in-text citation. Page numbers are necessary only when content has been directly quoted, not when it has been summarized or paraphrased.

Within a paragraph, this information may appear as part of your introduction to the material or as a parenthetical citation at the end of a sentence. Read the examples that follow. For more information about in-text citations for other source types, see Chapter 13 “APA and MLA Documentation and Formatting” .

Leibowitz (2008) found that low-carbohydrate diets often helped subjects with Type II diabetes maintain a healthy weight and control blood-sugar levels.

The introduction to the source material includes the author’s name followed by the year of publication in parentheses.

Low-carbohydrate diets often help subjects with Type II diabetes maintain a healthy weight and control blood-sugar levels (Leibowitz, 2008).

The parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence includes the author’s name, a comma, and the year the source was published. The period at the end of the sentence comes after the parentheses.

Creating a List of References

Each of the sources you cite in the body text will appear in a references list at the end of your paper. While in-text citations provide the most basic information about the source, your references section will include additional publication details. In general, you will include the following information:

The author’s last name followed by his or her first (and sometimes middle) initial
The year the source was published
The source title
For articles in periodicals, the full name of the periodical, along with the volume and issue number and the pages where the article appeared

Additional information may be included for different types of sources, such as online sources. For a detailed guide to APA or MLA citations, see Chapter 13 “APA and MLA Documentation and Formatting” . A sample reference list is provided with the final draft of Jorge’s paper later in this chapter.

Using Primary and Secondary Research

As you write your draft, be mindful of how you are using primary and secondary source material to support your points. Recall that primary sources present firsthand information. Secondary sources are one step removed from primary sources. They present a writer’s analysis or interpretation of primary source materials. How you balance primary and secondary source material in your paper will depend on the topic and assignment.

Using Primary Sources Effectively

Some types of research papers must use primary sources extensively to achieve their purpose. Any paper that analyzes a primary text or presents the writer’s own experimental research falls in this category. Here are a few examples:

A paper for a literature course analyzing several poems by Emily Dickinson
A paper for a political science course comparing televised speeches delivered by two presidential candidates
A paper for a communications course discussing gender biases in television commercials
A paper for a business administration course that discusses the results of a survey the writer conducted with local businesses to gather information about their work-from-home and flextime policies
A paper for an elementary education course that discusses the results of an experiment the writer conducted to compare the effectiveness of two different methods of mathematics instruction

For these types of papers, primary research is the main focus. If you are writing about a work (including nonprint works, such as a movie or a painting), it is crucial to gather information and ideas from the original work, rather than relying solely on others’ interpretations. And, of course, if you take the time to design and conduct your own field research, such as a survey, a series of interviews, or an experiment, you will want to discuss it in detail. For example, the interviews may provide interesting responses that you want to share with your reader.

Using Secondary Sources Effectively

For some assignments, it makes sense to rely more on secondary sources than primary sources. If you are not analyzing a text or conducting your own field research, you will need to use secondary sources extensively.

As much as possible, use secondary sources that are closely linked to primary research, such as a journal article presenting the results of the authors’ scientific study or a book that cites interviews and case studies. These sources are more reliable and add more value to your paper than sources that are further removed from primary research. For instance, a popular magazine article on junk-food addiction might be several steps removed from the original scientific study on which it is loosely based. As a result, the article may distort, sensationalize, or misinterpret the scientists’ findings.

Even if your paper is largely based on primary sources, you may use secondary sources to develop your ideas. For instance, an analysis of Alfred Hitchcock’s films would focus on the films themselves as a primary source, but might also cite commentary from critics. A paper that presents an original experiment would include some discussion of similar prior research in the field.

Jorge knew he did not have the time, resources, or experience needed to conduct original experimental research for his paper. Because he was relying on secondary sources to support his ideas, he made a point of citing sources that were not far removed from primary research.

Some sources could be considered primary or secondary sources, depending on the writer’s purpose for using them. For instance, if a writer’s purpose is to inform readers about how the No Child Left Behind legislation has affected elementary education, a Time magazine article on the subject would be a secondary source. However, suppose the writer’s purpose is to analyze how the news media has portrayed the effects of the No Child Left Behind legislation. In that case, articles about the legislation in news magazines like Time , Newsweek , and US News & World Report would be primary sources. They provide firsthand examples of the media coverage the writer is analyzing.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Your research paper presents your thinking about a topic, supported and developed by other people’s ideas and information. It is crucial to always distinguish between the two—as you conduct research, as you plan your paper, and as you write. Failure to do so can lead to plagiarism.

Intentional and Accidental Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting someone else’s work as your own. Sometimes a writer plagiarizes work on purpose—for instance, by purchasing an essay from a website and submitting it as original course work. In other cases, a writer may commit accidental plagiarism due to carelessness, haste, or misunderstanding. To avoid unintentional plagiarism, follow these guidelines:

Understand what types of information must be cited.
Understand what constitutes fair use of a source.
Keep source materials and notes carefully organized.
Follow guidelines for summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting sources.

When to Cite

Any idea or fact taken from an outside source must be cited, in both the body of your paper and the references list. The only exceptions are facts or general statements that are common knowledge. Common-knowledge facts or general statements are commonly supported by and found in multiple sources. For example, a writer would not need to cite the statement that most breads, pastas, and cereals are high in carbohydrates; this is well known and well documented. However, if a writer explained in detail the differences among the chemical structures of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, a citation would be necessary. When in doubt, cite.

In recent years, issues related to the fair use of sources have been prevalent in popular culture. Recording artists, for example, may disagree about the extent to which one has the right to sample another’s music. For academic purposes, however, the guidelines for fair use are reasonably straightforward.

Writers may quote from or paraphrase material from previously published works without formally obtaining the copyright holder’s permission. Fair use means that the writer legitimately uses brief excerpts from source material to support and develop his or her own ideas. For instance, a columnist may excerpt a few sentences from a novel when writing a book review. However, quoting or paraphrasing another’s work at excessive length, to the extent that large sections of the writing are unoriginal, is not fair use.

As he worked on his draft, Jorge was careful to cite his sources correctly and not to rely excessively on any one source. Occasionally, however, he caught himself quoting a source at great length. In those instances, he highlighted the paragraph in question so that he could go back to it later and revise. Read the example, along with Jorge’s revision.

Heinz (2009) found that “subjects in the low-carbohydrate group (30% carbohydrates; 40% protein, 30% fat) had a mean weight loss of 10 kg (22 lbs) over a 4-month period.” These results were “noticeably better than results for subjects on a low-fat diet (45% carbohydrates, 35% protein, 20% fat)” whose average weight loss was only “7 kg (15.4 lbs) in the same period.” From this, it can be concluded that “low-carbohydrate diets obtain more rapid results.” Other researchers agree that “at least in the short term, patients following low-carbohydrate diets enjoy greater success” than those who follow alternative plans (Johnson & Crowe, 2010).

After reviewing the paragraph, Jorge realized that he had drifted into unoriginal writing. Most of the paragraph was taken verbatim from a single article. Although Jorge had enclosed the material in quotation marks, he knew it was not an appropriate way to use the research in his paper.

Low-carbohydrate diets may indeed be superior to other diet plans for short-term weight loss. In a study comparing low-carbohydrate diets and low-fat diets, Heinz (2009) found that subjects who followed a low-carbohydrate plan (30% of total calories) for 4 months lost, on average, about 3 kilograms more than subjects who followed a low-fat diet for the same time. Heinz concluded that these plans yield quick results, an idea supported by a similar study conducted by Johnson and Crowe (2010). What remains to be seen, however, is whether this initial success can be sustained for longer periods.

As Jorge revised the paragraph, he realized he did not need to quote these sources directly. Instead, he paraphrased their most important findings. He also made sure to include a topic sentence stating the main idea of the paragraph and a concluding sentence that transitioned to the next major topic in his essay.

Working with Sources Carefully

Disorganization and carelessness sometimes lead to plagiarism. For instance, a writer may be unable to provide a complete, accurate citation if he didn’t record bibliographical information. A writer may cut and paste a passage from a website into her paper and later forget where the material came from. A writer who procrastinates may rush through a draft, which easily leads to sloppy paraphrasing and inaccurate quotations. Any of these actions can create the appearance of plagiarism and lead to negative consequences.

Carefully organizing your time and notes is the best guard against these forms of plagiarism. Maintain a detailed working bibliography and thorough notes throughout the research process. Check original sources again to clear up any uncertainties. Allow plenty of time for writing your draft so there is no temptation to cut corners.

Citing other people’s work appropriately is just as important in the workplace as it is in school. If you need to consult outside sources to research a document you are creating, follow the general guidelines already discussed, as well as any industry-specific citation guidelines. For more extensive use of others’ work—for instance, requesting permission to link to another company’s website on your own corporate website—always follow your employer’s established procedures.

Academic Integrity

The concepts and strategies discussed in this section of Chapter 12 “Writing a Research Paper” connect to a larger issue—academic integrity. You maintain your integrity as a member of an academic community by representing your work and others’ work honestly and by using other people’s work only in legitimately accepted ways. It is a point of honor taken seriously in every academic discipline and career field.

Academic integrity violations have serious educational and professional consequences. Even when cheating and plagiarism go undetected, they still result in a student’s failure to learn necessary research and writing skills. Students who are found guilty of academic integrity violations face consequences ranging from a failing grade to expulsion from the university. Employees may be fired for plagiarism and do irreparable damage to their professional reputation. In short, it is never worth the risk.

Key Takeaways

An effective research paper focuses on the writer’s ideas. The introduction and conclusion present and revisit the writer’s thesis. The body of the paper develops the thesis and related points with information from research.
Ideas and information taken from outside sources must be cited in the body of the paper and in the references section.
Material taken from sources should be used to develop the writer’s ideas. Summarizing and paraphrasing are usually most effective for this purpose.
A summary concisely restates the main ideas of a source in the writer’s own words.
A paraphrase restates ideas from a source using the writer’s own words and sentence structures.
Direct quotations should be used sparingly. Ellipses and brackets must be used to indicate words that were omitted or changed for conciseness or grammatical correctness.
Always represent material from outside sources accurately.
Plagiarism has serious academic and professional consequences. To avoid accidental plagiarism, keep research materials organized, understand guidelines for fair use and appropriate citation of sources, and review the paper to make sure these guidelines are followed.

Reference management. Clean and simple.

Types of research papers

Analytical research paper

Argumentative or persuasive paper, definition paper, compare and contrast paper, cause and effect paper, interpretative paper, experimental research paper, survey research paper, frequently asked questions about the different types of research papers, related articles.

There are multiple different types of research papers. It is important to know which type of research paper is required for your assignment, as each type of research paper requires different preparation. Below is a list of the most common types of research papers.

➡️ Read more: What is a research paper?

In an analytical research paper you:

pose a question
collect relevant data from other researchers
analyze their different viewpoints

You focus on the findings and conclusions of other researchers and then make a personal conclusion about the topic. It is important to stay neutral and not show your own negative or positive position on the matter.

The argumentative paper presents two sides of a controversial issue in one paper. It is aimed at getting the reader on the side of your point of view.

You should include and cite findings and arguments of different researchers on both sides of the issue, but then favor one side over the other and try to persuade the reader of your side. Your arguments should not be too emotional though, they still need to be supported with logical facts and statistical data.

Tip: Avoid expressing too much emotion in a persuasive paper.

The definition paper solely describes facts or objective arguments without using any personal emotion or opinion of the author. Its only purpose is to provide information. You should include facts from a variety of sources, but leave those facts unanalyzed.

Compare and contrast papers are used to analyze the difference between two:

Make sure to sufficiently describe both sides in the paper, and then move on to comparing and contrasting both thesis and supporting one.

Cause and effect papers are usually the first types of research papers that high school and college students write. They trace probable or expected results from a specific action and answer the main questions "Why?" and "What?", which reflect effects and causes.

In business and education fields, cause and effect papers will help trace a range of results that could arise from a particular action or situation.

An interpretative paper requires you to use knowledge that you have gained from a particular case study, for example a legal situation in law studies. You need to write the paper based on an established theoretical framework and use valid supporting data to back up your statement and conclusion.

This type of research paper basically describes a particular experiment in detail. It is common in fields like:

Experiments are aimed to explain a certain outcome or phenomenon with certain actions. You need to describe your experiment with supporting data and then analyze it sufficiently.

This research paper demands the conduction of a survey that includes asking questions to respondents. The conductor of the survey then collects all the information from the survey and analyzes it to present it in the research paper.

➡️ Ready to start your research paper? Take a look at our guide on how to start a research paper .

In an analytical research paper, you pose a question and then collect relevant data from other researchers to analyze their different viewpoints. You focus on the findings and conclusions of other researchers and then make a personal conclusion about the topic.

The definition paper solely describes facts or objective arguments without using any personal emotion or opinion of the author. Its only purpose is to provide information.

Cause and effect papers are usually the first types of research papers that high school and college students are confronted with. The answer questions like "Why?" and "What?", which reflect effects and causes. In business and education fields, cause and effect papers will help trace a range of results that could arise from a particular action or situation.

This type of research paper describes a particular experiment in detail. It is common in fields like biology, chemistry or physics. Experiments are aimed to explain a certain outcome or phenomenon with certain actions.

Types of Research Papers

There are different kinds of research papers that need a special approach. No matter if you are assigned to write a research paper of a particular type or need to pick it on your own, you need to know what accents you should make and how to present information. The tone of the entire paper should correspond with the chosen type of research paper. But before proceeding to the types of research papers, let’s consider what actually is a research paper and what is not.

What is a research paper?

A research paper is a written work which involves the processes of researching, critical thinking, source evaluation, composition, and organization. Research is based on already known results, so students need not only to carefully read them, but also be able to analyze them.

What is not a research paper?

With this list of ideas you will probably have a better understanding of what a research paper is:

It is not merely a depository of quotations. Quotations take place only to document or clarify findings.
It is not a rewriting of someone’s thoughts or ideas. A research paper is not a description or summary of the facts from textbooks or the Internet.
It is not a defense of your opinion. The aim of every research paper is to reveal the truth. Avoid fighting the opposite opinion (unless you need to write a persuasive paper.)
It is not a simple presentation of one’s point of view. Research papers demand facts, information, and data which support a certain opinion or idea.
It is not emotional persuasion. Vocabulary that is used in research papers should be neutral and free of emotional language and superlatives.

At the college level, students are expected to make a deep analysis of existing information about the topic and draw personal conclusions and solutions for a particular problem. Analysis is about dividing the idea into several parts and organizing them into appropriate logical “boxes.”

What are the two main types of research papers?

Analytical research paper

Describe multiple points of view → Analyze all points → Draw a conclusion

This paper is about posing a question, and the thinking involved in answering this question. Usually this paper starts with the description of the question and finds an element to analyze throughout the work. For this paper you need to collect relevant data from other researchers and make a personal conclusion about the topic.

For an analytical paper, it is important to keep neutrality. An analytical research paper should not show your negative or positive position on the matter. If you want to define something as better or disagree with some aspects of your topic, switch to a persuasive research paper (but consult your tutor on whether it is acceptable).

Persuasive/argumentative research paper

Describe the problem from two view points → Propose pros and cons → Give preference to one

This research paper is aimed to get the reader to the side of your point of view. Unlike an analytical research paper, this kind is more emotional, but still should be supported with logical facts and statistical data. Usually a researcher describes the object or event from two opposite viewpoints, analyzing pros and cons. It is expected that the researcher will give preference to a certain opinion: for or against, better or worse, etc.

Along with these two types, there are other kinds of research paper types, such as: cause and effect, experimental, survey, problem-solution, and report types.

Cause and effect research paper

Describe situation → Present causes/effects → Draw a conclusion

This paper is usually assigned to freshmen both in high school and college. It’s aimed to teach students to write research papers. This usually includes a thorough study of a researched topic, organization of the writing process, learning how to apply certain styles to text, and citations and references. Simply, a cause and effect paper answers two main questions: “Why?” and “What?” which reflect effects and causes. It is not applicable to mix several causes and effects, as it may lose the main focus.

In further studies like business and education, cause and effect research papers will help with tracing a relationship of probable results from particular actions.

Experimental research paper

Conduct the experiment → Share useful experience → Provide data and sum up

Describe a particular experimental case in detail. It is commonly written for biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology. Experiments are aimed to explain some causation or predict a phenomenon with certain actions. In this paper you need to describe your experiment with supporting data and an analysis of the experiment.

Survey research paper

Conduct a survey → Analyze findings → Draw conclusions

This research is frequently used in sociology, psychology, marketing, public health, business, and advertising. It demands the conduction of a survey that includes asking questions to respondents. Survey research collects certain information about opinions, knowledge, and social facts through interaction with respondents to analyze their behavior in certain conditions.

Problem-solution research paper

Describe the problem → Propose a solution → Defend it

Problem-solution research papers are written both by students and scholars. It is aimed to solve certain problems that have some challenges with proposed methods. The researcher should analyze the existing information about the problem, identify possible solutions, and prove its effectiveness with evidence (examples, details, statistical data, and everything on why this solution is the best.)

Report paper

Outline the work done on particular topic –> Sum up findings

This type of research paper may seem the easiest. The researcher needs to look through information about a particular object or event and describe data and the most valuable characteristics. The main aim of this research paper is to inform readers on the main facts about a particular topic based on research of existing information.

If you face difficulties with writing, apply for research papers for sale from EssayShark writers to improve your writing skills and be on time with homework assignments.

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# The Typing-Productivity Connection: Boost Your Output

In today's digital age, typing has become an essential skill that can significantly impact your productivity. Whether you're a student, professional, or anyone who spends time in front of a computer, your typing speed and accuracy can make a world of difference. But have you ever considered how your typing abilities might be affecting your overall output? Let's dive into the fascinating world of typing tests, WPM (words per minute), and the surprising ways in which improving your typing speed can boost your productivity.

# The Science Behind Typing and Productivity

# the cognitive load of typing.

When you sit down to type, your brain is juggling multiple tasks simultaneously. You're thinking about the content you want to convey, translating those thoughts into words, and then physically executing the keystrokes to bring those words to life on the screen. For slower typists, this process can be mentally taxing, leaving less cognitive resources available for the actual task at hand.

Research has shown that individuals who type faster experience a reduced cognitive load when it comes to the physical act of typing. This means they can allocate more mental energy to the content they're creating, leading to higher quality work and increased productivity.

# The Flow State and Typing Speed

Have you ever found yourself in a state of deep concentration where time seems to fly by, and your work feels effortless? This is known as the "flow state," and it's closely tied to productivity. Interestingly, your typing speed can play a crucial role in achieving and maintaining this state.

When your typing speed matches the pace of your thoughts, you're more likely to enter and sustain a flow state. Conversely, if your typing lags behind your mental processes, it can disrupt your train of thought and pull you out of that productive zone. By improving your typing speed, you're essentially removing a potential barrier to achieving flow, allowing for longer periods of uninterrupted, high-quality work.

# Measuring Your Typing Speed: The Importance of Typing Tests

Before you can improve your typing speed, it's essential to establish a baseline. This is where typing tests come in handy. A good typing test will measure your WPM (words per minute) and accuracy, giving you a clear picture of your current abilities.

# What is WPM?

WPM, or words per minute, is the standard metric used to measure typing speed. It's calculated by dividing the number of characters typed by five (the average length of a word) and then by the time taken in minutes. For example, if you type 250 characters in one minute, your WPM would be 50 (250 / 5 / 1 = 50).

# Accuracy Matters

While WPM is important, it's not the only factor to consider. Accuracy is equally crucial. After all, what good is speed if your text is riddled with errors? A comprehensive typing test will provide both your WPM and accuracy percentage, allowing you to focus on improving both aspects of your typing skills.

# Strategies to Improve Your Typing Speed

Now that you understand the importance of typing speed and how to measure it, let's explore some strategies to boost your WPM and, consequently, your productivity.

# 1. Practice Proper Finger Placement

The foundation of fast typing is proper finger placement. Familiarize yourself with the home row keys (ASDF for the left hand, JKL; for the right hand) and practice reaching for other keys without looking at the keyboard. This muscle memory will significantly increase your typing speed over time.

# 2. Take Regular Typing Tests

Consistent practice is key to improvement. Set aside time each day to take typing tests. Not only will this help you track your progress, but it will also expose you to a variety of texts, improving your versatility as a typist.

# 3. Focus on Accuracy First, Then Speed

It might be tempting to focus solely on increasing your WPM, but accuracy should be your primary concern. Start by typing at a comfortable pace where you can maintain near-perfect accuracy. As you become more confident, gradually increase your speed while maintaining that high level of accuracy.

# 4. Use Typing Games and Exercises

Typing doesn't have to be a chore. There are numerous typing games and exercises available that can make the learning process fun and engaging. These games often focus on specific skills, such as improving your speed with numbers or punctuation marks.

# 5. Customize Your Keyboard Setup

Your typing speed can be influenced by your hardware. Experiment with different keyboard layouts (QWERTY, Dvorak, Colemak) and types (mechanical, membrane, ergonomic) to find what works best for you. Some typists find that a mechanical keyboard with tactile feedback improves their speed and accuracy.

# The Ripple Effect: How Faster Typing Impacts Your Work

Improving your typing speed isn't just about winning bragging rights or topping the leaderboards on typing test websites. The benefits extend far beyond the keyboard and into various aspects of your professional and personal life.

# Enhanced Communication

In our digital world, much of our communication happens through text. Whether you're crafting emails, participating in online discussions, or engaging in real-time chat, faster typing allows you to articulate your thoughts more quickly and efficiently. This can lead to more dynamic and productive conversations, especially in fast-paced work environments.

# Increased Output

It's simple math: the faster you type, the more you can produce in a given amount of time. This is particularly beneficial for professionals who produce written content, such as writers, journalists, and content marketers. Even if your job doesn't primarily involve writing, faster typing can help you complete reports, presentations, and other documents more quickly, freeing up time for other tasks.

# Improved Multitasking

While true multitasking is a myth, faster typing can help you switch between tasks more efficiently. For example, you can quickly jot down notes during a meeting or respond to an urgent email without significantly interrupting your workflow.

# Reduced Fatigue

Slow, hunt-and-peck typing can be physically and mentally exhausting. By improving your typing speed and accuracy, you'll likely find that you can work for longer periods without feeling fatigued. This is because efficient typing requires less conscious effort, allowing you to focus more on the content rather than the physical act of typing.

# The Future of Typing: Trends and Technologies

As we look to the future, it's clear that typing will continue to play a crucial role in our digital lives. Here are some trends and technologies that may shape the future of typing and productivity:

# Voice-to-Text Technology

While voice-to-text technology is improving, it's unlikely to completely replace typing anytime soon. Instead, we may see a hybrid approach where voice input is used for initial drafts or brainstorming, with typing used for refinement and editing.

# Predictive Text and AI Assistance

Advanced predictive text and AI writing assistants are becoming more sophisticated. These tools can help boost productivity by suggesting words, phrases, or even entire sentences based on context. However, the ability to type quickly and accurately will remain valuable for customizing and fine-tuning AI-generated content.

# Ergonomic Innovations

As awareness of the health impacts of prolonged computer use grows, we're likely to see more innovations in ergonomic keyboard design. These advancements may help reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries while potentially improving typing speed and comfort.

# Biometric Typing Analysis

Future typing tests and training programs may incorporate biometric data, such as eye movement and muscle tension, to provide more personalized recommendations for improving typing speed and reducing fatigue.

# Conclusion: The Power of Efficient Typing

In conclusion, the connection between typing speed and productivity is clear and significant. By investing time in improving your typing skills through regular practice and typing tests, you're not just boosting your WPM – you're enhancing your overall productivity, communication abilities, and potentially even your career prospects.

Remember, the goal isn't to become the world's fastest typist overnight. Instead, focus on steady improvement, balancing speed with accuracy, and finding a typing rhythm that allows you to stay in that productive flow state. With consistent practice and the right strategies, you'll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish in less time.

So, are you ready to take your typing skills to the next level and unlock your full productivity potential? The keyboard is your gateway to enhanced efficiency – it's time to make every keystroke count!

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How to Effectively Plan and Write a Research Paper Fast?
How to Write a Research Paper Fast in 9 Steps
How To Write A Research Paper Fast
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Step #2: Plan. After you have identified objectives for your research paper, you need to create a plan to achieve your objectives. If you're serious about how to do a research paper, you should plan it. The best way to plan your research article is to create a Gantt chart.
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Choose a research paper topic. Conduct preliminary research. Develop a thesis statement. Create a research paper outline. Write a first draft of the research paper. Write the introduction. Write a compelling body of text. Write the conclusion. The second draft.
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A research paper is a type of academic writing that provides an in-depth analysis, evaluation, or interpretation of a single topic, based on empirical evidence. Research papers are similar to analytical essays, except that research papers emphasize the use of statistical data and preexisting research, along with a strict code for citations.
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Here's one good example of how it can be done — this is called a flat outline: List the topics you will discuss. Under each topic, write your sources. If you are lacking sources, revisit and research more to give more meat to your paper. Move your topics and their information onto your paper in an organized flow.
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Step 1: Find a topic and review the literature. As we mentioned earlier, in a research paper, you, as the researcher, will try to answer a question.More specifically, that's called a research question, and it sets the direction of your entire paper. What's important to understand though is that you'll need to answer that research question with the help of high-quality sources - for ...
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1. Choose a Manageable Topic. Opt for a topic that is focused and manageable within your time constraints. 2. Create a Detailed Outline. Organize your thoughts and research materials before diving into writing. 3. Set Clear Goals and Deadlines. Establish specific writing goals and deadlines to keep yourself on track.
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How to Properly Write a Research Paper Using AI. ‍. 1. Make a checklist based on the assignment description, and fill it out with AI. Your professor has likely specified some criteria for your research paper: Length (in pages or words) Type of topic (the War of 1812, ancient Greece, agriculture, etc.)
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To write an informative abstract you have to provide the summary of the whole paper. Informative summary. In other words, you need to tell about the main points of your work, the methods used, the results and the conclusion of your research. To write a descriptive abstract you will not have to provide any summery.
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This should usually be a one or two sentence statement; however, it's the core idea of your paper, and every insight that you include should be relevant to it. Remember, a thesis statement is not merely a summary of your findings. It should present an argument or perspective that the rest of your paper aims to support.
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There are different types of research papers. Different types of scholarly questions will lend themselves to one format or another. This is a brief introduction to the two main genres of research paper: analytic and argumentative. "7 Most Popular Types of Research Papers" (Personal-writer.com)
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Tip #2: Annotate references. Saving references and resources within a document without losing them would save you tons of time since you don't have to take time organizing, relocating, and finding resources again. However, this isn't sufficient for actually utilizing the saved resources efficiently, though.
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What follows is a step-by-step guide on how you can make your research paper a good read and improve the chances of your paper's acceptance: CONTENTS. 1. How to dive into the process of writing. Outline of a research paper. Keep sub-topics and references ready. 2. Getting the title of your research paper right. 3.
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Now, let us briefly discuss the parts of a research paper outline: Title & Abstract: Start a research paper with the title page. It is the first page of the paper shows the title of the research paper and the author's name. It also shows affiliations, acknowledgments, and other specific information relevant to the paper.
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Set the top, bottom, and side margins of your paper at 1 inch. Use double-spaced text throughout your paper. Use a standard font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, in a legible size (10- to 12-point). Use continuous pagination throughout the paper, including the title page and the references section.
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Set a Timeline: Plan a schedule for starting, writing, and editing your research paper. 2. Consider the Target Audience. Consider your audience's knowledge and expertise level as it influences writing style, word choice, and the depth of information required: For master's level research, expect an expert audience.
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12.1 Creating a Rough Draft for a Research Paper
Apply guidelines for citing sources within the body of the paper and the bibliography. Use primary and secondary research to support ideas. Identify the purposes for which writers use each type of research. At last, you are ready to begin writing the rough draft of your research paper. Putting your thinking and research into words is exciting.
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These are mind-mapping apps that can guide you in making visual sense of what goes where. Once you have made a map of your material, you can use Google Doc to make a detailed outline of what you ...
What are the different types of research papers?
Experimental research paper. This type of research paper basically describes a particular experiment in detail. It is common in fields like: biology. chemistry. physics. Experiments are aimed to explain a certain outcome or phenomenon with certain actions. You need to describe your experiment with supporting data and then analyze it sufficiently.
Types of research papers
Persuasive/argumentative research paper. Describe the problem from two view points → Propose pros and cons → Give preference to one. This research paper is aimed to get the reader to the side of your point of view. Unlike an analytical research paper, this kind is more emotional, but still should be supported with logical facts and ...
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# The Typing-Productivity Connection: Boost Your Output
Research has shown that individuals who type faster experience a reduced cognitive load when it comes to the physical act of typing. This means they can allocate more mental energy to the content they're creating, leading to higher quality work and increased productivity. # The Flow State and Typing Speed
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Highlights. Researchers from the Intel Visual Compute & Graphics (VCG) Lab will present papers at SIGGRAPH and High-Performance Graphics (HPG) 2024 from July 26 through August 1 in Denver, Colorado, US. Researchers from Intel will explain how N-dimensional Gaussian mixtures can fit high-dimensional functions, making scene dynamics, variable lighting, and more possible within the same efficient ...
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In accordance with the needs of the study, this paper begins with the pre-processing of the data. Firstly, the sample of the elderly group is selected according to the legal retirement age. Secondly, the main research object of this paper is urban workers, so the sample data of the new rural social pension insurance type is excluded.
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Type 1 diabetes accounts for fewer than 5% of all cases. As of 2021 about 529 million people around the world were diagnosed with diabetes, representing about 6.1% of the global population, or ...

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How to Write a Research Paper Fast in 9 Steps

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is a Research Paper?

How to Write a Research Paper: Step-by-Step Guide

Step #1: Set Objectives

Step #2: Plan

Step #3: Choose a Topic

Step #4: Literature Review

Step #1: Select Literature to Review

Step #2: Take Notes

Step #3: Write

Step #5: Organize Your Research

Step #6: Create a Thesis Statement

Step #7: Create an Outline

Step #8: Start Writing

Introduction

Step #9: Edit and Revise

Start Writing Your Research Paper

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How to Write a Research Paper Fast

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1. Understand the Assignment:

2. Choose a Topic:

3. Perform Research:

4. Write Your Thesis:

5. Outline Your Paper:

6. The Body/Intro and Conclusion:

7. Cite Sources:

9. Proofread Revise and Editing:

10. Find and Remove Plagiarism:

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1. Brainstorm Quickly

2. Research

3. Write Quickly

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1. Distraction-free:

2. Good lighting:

3. Go somewhere studious:

4. Bring just your supplies needed:

Tips to Avoid Procrastination

1. Start early:

2. Outline first and take breaks:

3. Ask for help if you need it:

The Bottom Line

How To Write A Research Paper

Overview: Writing A Research Paper

Overview: The 3-Stage Process

Need a helping hand?

Step 1: Find a topic and review the literature

Step 2: Develop a structure and outline

Step 3: Write and refine

Recap: Key Takeaways

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29 Practical Tips On How To Write A Research Paper Fast (Without Sacrificing Quality)

Table of Contents

How To Write Your Research Paper Fast

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1. Choose a Manageable Topic

2. Create a Detailed Outline

3. Set Clear Goals and Deadlines

4. Utilize Reliable Sources

5. Use Online Tools for Research

6. Limit Distractions

7. Write in Blocks of Time

8. Utilize Templates

9. Write the Body First

10. Focus on One Section at a Time

11. Write a Strong Thesis Statement

12. Use In-text Citations as You Write

13. Proofread as You Go

14. Seek Feedback Early

15. Utilize Writing Apps

16. Take Breaks

17. Stay Organized

18. Edit and Revise

19. Set Aside Time for Final Proofreading

A Complete Guide on How to Write a Research Paper Fast (Without Sacrificing Quality), Step-by-Step