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Writing a Research Paper
Writing a research paper can be a difficult and tedious task, especially when the writer doesn't
follow the necessary steps to ensure a good paper. A good research paper compiles all of the available
information on a specific topic and summarizes it into a condensed form. This information can then
either be presented informatively or as part of a persuasive argument. A good paper develops a topic in
a logically consistent manner, which requires the writer to preemptively map out their ideas. The
research paper must then also be able to grab the reader's attention, present thorough knowledge of the
topic being discussed, and then wrap up all the information in a satisfying conclusion. These are a lot of
detailed steps, and missing one part of the formula can lead to an underdeveloped poorly written
research paper. A bad research paper can mean a bad grade for students. Writing a successful research
paper requires the writer to carefully read the instructions, perform initial research, write an outline,
develop a body, and to satisfactorily conclude the paper.
The most important and most often overlooked part of writing a research paper is reading the
instructions. When evaluating a paper, a Professor is looking for several key topics to be addressed in
accordance with the paper's rubric. If the Professor asks for a paper to be written on the effects of the
Plague on Medieval Europe, but instead the student writes a paper on Cholera, the paper is worthless
and will be poorly graded. A good research paper must address the prompt as written by the Professor,
and this means following all relevant instructions. The rubric may ask for the paper to be written in a
certain format, and this will change the presentation of the student's paper. There are two main styles
that are used, APA and MLA. APA is usually used for scientific and papers and MLA is mainly used for
literary or historical papers. It is important to thoroughly read the instructions and follow all of the

directions given carefully.

After the instructions are well understood, it is time to begin compiling the initial research. It is
important to thoroughly understand the topic that the research paper is covering. Not only will being
well versed in the subject matter make writing the paper much easier, but it will also result in a well
written and well thought out paper. Research can be compiled from either books, web sites, or
audio/visual media. The most important aspect of research is making sure that all of the citations from
which information is drawn from are reliable sources of information. For a research paper to be
credible its sources must first be credible. This means using sources that are unbiased and are presented
by a recognized expert or authority. For online research this usually means using web sites that end
with .org or .gov. While it may seem elementary, understanding the instructions thoroughly will help
the student write a successful research paper.
Once the information is understood, a general outline of the paper can be written. This helps to
keep a paper focused and to organize the writer's ideas. The outline should map out the introduction,
body, and conclusion of the research paper before any part of the paper is actually written. An easy way
to create an outline is to organize the compiled research into a skeleton. This skeleton creates a
framework that presents all of the ideas covered in the research paper in a logically consistent way.
This gives the writer an idea of what the paper will look like before it is written, thus avoiding topical
drift and ensuring a laser like focus.
After the outline is completed, the introduction to the research paper can be written. The
introduction serves two purposes for the writer. The first is to capture the attention of the reader and to
inform the the audience what the research paper will be about. The first sentence of the paper is the
hook, and it should present an interesting fact or statement that persuades the reader to continue reading
the paper. This is one of the most important parts of the research paper, as it may either grab the
reader's attention or lose it before any significant information has even been presented. After the hook,
the second purpose of the introduction is to give a general overview of the subject matter that will be

covered in the paper. The last sentence of the introduction is the thesis statement. The thesis sums up in
one sentence exactly what will be covered in the paper. A reader should be able to look at a thesis
statement and know all the content that will be presented. A good introduction requires both a strong
hook and a strong thesis statement in order to set the stage for the rest of the research paper.
After the introduction, the meat of the paper is the body. The body presents all of research that
has been compiled thus far. If an outline has been created, this is the easiest part of the paper to write.
Generally each topic covered in the body is divided into a separate subsection. Each subsection should
have it's own introduction sentence that acts as a thesis for the paragraph, with each following sentence
providing supporting details that add weight to the introductory sentence. The last sentence of the
paragraph should summarize the points covered in the paragraph. The use of first person or second
person pronouns should be avoided at all costs when developing the paper. Language should be specific
and avoid verbosity that doesn't carry information. Each subsection develops a particular topic or
aspect of the research paper, linking it logically to the next subsection. Each of these subsections in turn
develops a central point of the paper's thesis. It is the writer's duty to present the research compiled in
an easy to understand and concise manner, while still presenting original work.
One simple way to link ideas together is to use the chain method. The chain method helps to
logically develop arguments by having the idea of a new sentence carry on where the last sentence left
off. For example consider the following sentences, I went to the school cafeteria to get lunch. I sat
down and ate pizza as I saw my friends approached in the distance. It was Danny and Albert. I had
known them since I was a child. As you can see each sentence carries the idea of the last sentence,
developing it, and adding to it. We are initially told that the main character went to the cafeteria. So
what were they doing there? The next sentence tells us that the main character went there to eat, and
then introduces new information. This information tells us that the main character's friends are
approaching? The next sentence then tells us who these friends are. Each sentence logically develops
the previous sentence. The chain method helps writers to logically and coherently develop their ideas.

The final part of the research paper is the conclusion. The conclusion wraps up all of the points
covered in the paper and reiterates or reemphasizes the argument that the writer has been trying to
convey. In a persuasive research paper, the conclusion can have a call to action that tells the reader
what to do with the information presented. The thesis statement should be restated at the beginning of
the conclusion and the implications of the research presented should be explored. The conclusion
should be thought provoking and mentally satisfying for the reader. The writer can end the paper with a
quote or interesting fact that will leave a lasting impression on the reader.
In conclusion, understanding the instructions given by a professor, writing an outline, and
drafting a proper introduction, body, and conclusion are important parts to writing an effective research
paper. Research papers allow a writer to communicate complex ideas in a concise format that makes it
easy for an audience to read and understand what is being covered. The outline makes sure that the
paper stays focused and does not drift from its original purpose. The introduction both grabs the
reader's attention and tells them what the paper is going to be about. The body develops the thesis with
supporting details, and the conclusion wraps up all the information covered in a satisfying ending. As
Werner Von Braun once said, Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing.

Sources:
Tom, Johnson. "How to Write a Research Paper."American University in Cairo. American University in
Cairo. Web. 10 Mar 2014. <http://www1.aucegypt.edu/academic/writers/>.
Rice University, . "Writing Research Papers." Rice University. Rice University. Web. 10 Mar 2014.
<http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/tools/report/reportform.html>.