101 of How to Write a Research-Driven Article
Writing a research paper is not easy and needs hard work and patience. This is because research papers can get very lengthy at times, and with the amount of research one needs to carry out, it can be exhausting writing. In addition, a typical research paper is written to publish in a journal or even an academic publication.
Thus, it needs to be of a high quality so that it can find its place among thousands of other research articles contributed by career-proficient individuals. However, there are certain ways to be learnt that can help write a research paper.
This is why if you are writing a research paper and want it to be one of the best in your publication, read on to find out some excellent research paper help and writing tips gathered from expert writers.
What is a research paper?
A research paper is an academic paper that tries to explain the topic based on the writer’s findings. The writer has to present their information about the paper and support their claims with relevant findings or arguments. The main objective of a research paper is to survey a particular field of knowledge or study by researching for the best information available on the topic.
A well-written research paper helps to address a specific type of research question. The research question is the primary objective of study here and can also be called the paper’s main hypothesis. It is the central principle of the paper, and the writer has to frame their entire research content based on it. Therefore, whatever information is present on the topic given has to be present in the paper.
Typically, only one particular research question is addressed while writing a research paper. However, if your project or area of study requires you to explore related questions, then the same may be addressed along with the primary one. Thus, you will be looking at writing several thousands of words for your research paper. Most research papers are written more than 5,000 words, and some can even get longer.
Now that you know what a research paper or research-driven article is, let’s look at how you should be writing your research paper.
Essential Steps for Writing a Quality Research Paper
A research paper looks to convince the reader on a particular question. Thus, the writer has to use several factual pieces of evidence in the content. Apart from that, one also has to use stats, numbers and also insert references in their text. Collected from Purdue University, following these research paper writing steps will ensure your paper is lauded for its content and quality.
Step 1: Write the introduction
This is the first paragraph of your research paper. It is vital to capture your reader’s attention and generate their interest in your content. The best way to write your introduction is to use a question, a quote or even an anecdote.
This will hook the reader and encourage them to keep reading through your paper.
The next part of your introduction should stress context and purpose. This is where you can introduce the 5 W’s of writing a research introduction.
- Who
- What
- When
- Where
- Why
The reader should identify the purpose of your paper and understand what it is trying to convey.
The last part of your introduction will state your paper’s primary thesis or message. Next, you should write your paper’s main idea or claim and state how enough evidence will support your claim.
Step 2: Support your claims
Once you have established your paper’s primary claim in the introduction, you should support the claim with the main points you make. Most research articles use different research sources to find appropriate evidence for claims.
You should create a new section for each claim and start with a proper heading for each point that you make. Some of the places where you can search for evidence are:
- Domain names ending with .gov, .org, .edu
- Research studies reviewed by peers
- Fact sheets from major organizations
- Credible expertise from industry professionals
- Illustrations, data and statistics
All of the evidence you write will be hyperlinked to the original source. This brings us to our next step, referencing.
Step 3: Use correct references
By correct references, I mean using the right referencing style and formatting. If you are using a specific referencing style, you should be sticking to that throughout your paper.
Also, make sure that you are using the correct formatting style for that particular reference. Different referencing styles have varying formats that are used.
Some of the popular referencing styles used in research papers are:
- Harvard
- APA
- MLA
- Chicago
There are also plenty of other referencing styles that you can use in your paper. However, you should check with your governing body on the style of references you can use.
Step 4: Analyze your evidence
After you have presented your evidence-backed by proper references, you must explain how your evidence supports the claims you have made. This means writing how and why your evidence supports your claims. This is also known as analyzing your evidence. The writer should ensure that the evidence in their content is always adequately studied.
Divide your analysis into sections for each piece of evidence that you use. Ensure that you mention the significance of each piece of evidence and how it functions in the research paper.
Step 5: Create a suitable conclusion
The end part of your research article should synthesize all the information put together in your paper. The central claims and the points you made regarding them should be reviewed again in a cohesive manner. You will also have to write how all the points you made support your claim once again in your conclusion briefly. Parts of your conclusion can include:
- A final say on the different issues you have explained in your paper
- A revision of the critical points
- Demonstration of the importance of your ideas
- Create a lasting view of the subject on your readers
However, one thing to keep in mind here is that you should not insert any new evidence or claims in your conclusion. Just as the name sounds, your conclusion part is the place where you sum up all you have written. Also, make sure that your conclusion is short and to the point.
Your conclusion is also where you can use emotional or sensory language to leave a lasting impression on your reader. For example, you can try to use superlative adjectives here to generate emotions in your reader.
These steps above are the perfect way for writing any research-backed article or paper out there.
Final thoughts
The next time you write a research paper, refer to this guide. The result will be a correct and polished research paper that will be sure to top the ranks of other leading papers in your field and get featured in notable publications.
