A research is a systematic study or investigation of something for the Once you have a broad subject area, narrow it down
wn to choose a topic
purpose of answering questions posed by a researcher. Its main purpose
is the discovery of truth.
A research paper is a piece of academic writing that provides
analysis, interpretation, and argument based on in-depth independent
research.
After a thorough investigation of the chosen problem or topic, the
researcher gives a factual presentation of his findings based on the
gathered materials.
What is the importance of writing or composing a research?
It plays an important role in discovering new treatments and making
sure that we use existing treatments in the best possible ways. Research
can find answers to things that are unknown, filling gaps in knowledge
and changing the way that healthcare professionals work.
Writing a research paper can also be a great opportunity to explore a
topic that is particularly interesting to you. The research process allows
you to gain on a topic of your choice, and the writing process helps you
remember what you have learned and understand it on a deeper level.
STEPS IN WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER
1. Selecting/choosing a topic
2. Narrowing the topic from general to specific
3. Gathering of materials
4. Taking down notes
5. Outlining
6. Writing the paper
● Writing the first draft
● Revising
● Documenting the research paper
7. Writing the Final copy
STEP 1: Selecting A Topic
The most crucial step in writing a research paper is what topic to
select. Here the researcher should be very careful so time should not be
wasted once in the middle of the work, he finds out that he has to
discontinue what he is doing. To avoid this to happen, he has to
remember these pointers:
1. Topic should be of your interest. Something which is familiar and
within your research. Something that you can understand.
2. The topic is one of which you think sufficient materials are available.
3. The topic can be researchable.
4. The topic can be investigated adequately within the given timeframe.
There are many ways to generate an idea for a research paper, from
brainstorming with pen and paper to talking it through with a fellow
studentor professor.
You can try free writing, which involves taking a broad topic and
writing continuously for two or three minutes to identify absolutely
anything relevant that could be interesting.
You can also gain inspiration from another research. The discussionor
recommendations sections of research papers often include ideas for
other specific topics that require further examination.
that interests you, meets the criteria of your assignment, and is possible
toresearch. Aim for ideas that are both original and specific:
• A paper following the chronology of World War II would not be
originalor specific enough.
• A paper on the experience of Danish citizens living close to the German
border during World War II would be specific and could be original
enough.
STEP 2: Narrowing the Topic from General to Specific
When you have chosen the topic, the next thing to do is to limit or
narrow it down from general to specific. Topics that are too broad
cannot be adequately explored in the limited nature of high school
research paper.
When you set about narrowing your broad topic, decide exactly on your
purpose.
For example:
Topic: Computer (broad)
Topic: Computer Graphics in Television (specific)
STEP 3: Gathering of Materials
After finalizing your title, formulate 4 to 5 questions which will serve
as your guide. This time you are ready to visit other libraries to look for
the possible answer to your question.
Example:
Topic: Computer Virus
1. What is a virus?
2. What are the kinds of computer virus?
3. How are they identified?
4. What are the hazards brought by the viruses?
5. What are the ways on how these viruses are eradicated?
Get ready with 3 x 5 cards for your reference materials.
Go over the title cards in the card catalog and other available resources
in the library (can be online library). Use one index card for one
reference material. Enter on the card the information you get from each
reference material.
STEP 4: Taking Down Notes
At last, you are ready to take down some information you can actually
use in your paper from all the potential sources you identified by
searching out materials. Conduct a research and assemble your
preliminary citation cards in groups according to where you will have to
look for the books, periodicals, videos, and internet and so on; then
head for the sources. Practice taking notes without copying word-for-
word to reduce the risk of plagiarism.
Let us start with Computer database. As you may know from using a
personal computer, a database is a collection of records about a
particular subject that has been brought together and organized for easy
access. One special reward of being able to use a computer database is
that you get a printout at the end of a search that eliminates the need
for you to hand write what may be rather long lists.
Libraries usually have two kinds of databases, one is CD-ROM
(compact disc read only on memory) on which information is compiled
and stored under useful headings.
Just as in a periodical index, the disc is set to the library, and you
access it directly on a computer screen. The content on such disc is
updated frequently, so you will get the most current information on this
sort of database.
The second kind is one that transmits information over
telephonelines, as a fax does.
How to take notes
1. When the material is already at hand, read then evaluate the
sourceto get only important and related information.
2. Notes must be clearly and accurately written. Be careful in noting a
summary, a paraphrase, or an exact quotation.
3. Acknowledge the source of information that you borrowed.
4. Label your notes properly and arrange them logically before writing
the first draft of the paper.
5. Notes must be written on index cards of uniform size (use 4" x 6" or
5"x 8" cards) for quotations, sentences, statements, or paragraphs.
6. Write only on one side of the index card.
7. Indicate the source of information on the upper left-hand corner of
the note card. The source is expected to be in your bibliography; hence,
you may just write the author's last name, an abbreviated title of the
reference, and page number.
8. Write the label or heading of the information written on the card on
the upper right-hand corner of the note card.
9. Take down only the main points and condense lengthy discussions.
Summarize or restate the materials in your own words.
10. When quoting materials, observe accuracy in spelling, punctuation,
and the context itself. Enclose direct quotations in quotation marks.
11. Do not copy sentence word for word. Paraphrase the ideas.
STEP 5: Preparing the Outline
By this time, you should have sufficient information about your topic.
The next step is to organize your notes and thoughts into a systematic
manner. An outline will help you do this.
As stated in English IV textbook by Bermudez et.al. (p.41-43) an
outline is a summary of the main points and the ideas that support
them. It helps you in organizing the information you have gathered as
well as focus more on your written work. Oftentimes, a comprehensive
outline provides a thesis statement. A thesis statement is your point of
view on the topic and is stated directly and often in one sentence only. A
formal outline shows the main points of a topic, the order in which they
are to be presented, and the relationship among them. There are two
types of a formal outline: the sentence outline and the topic outline. In a
sentence outline, each main topic and subtopic is written in a complete
sentence. A topic outline is useful for the quick and efficient
organization of ideas. It only uses words or phrases instead of sentences.
The most important part of an outline is what you put into it, the
words that carry your ideas and help you organize what you plan to say
in your research paper. Here are some guides for making the content of
your outline meaningful and therefore help you in writing.
1. Every word in the outline should say something about the content of
your paper. For that reason, "introduction", "body" and "conclusion" are
words that do not belong in an outline. They only describe the part of
any piece of writing which have a beginning, a middle and an end but
give no information about the subject or what you plan to say about it.
Instead of such "empty words", always use content giving words in an
outline.
Example:
Thesis: Environmental damage disposal of hazardous waste materials
continues in many States.
I. Sources of Hazardous Waste
II. Current disposal methods
a. Landfills
b. Incinerators
c. Storage
1. Deep-well Injection
2. Containers
2. The information for each subheading must be directly related to, and
subordinate to the heading under which it appears. The outline shows
relationship among ideas, so the entire content is a matter supportive,
and subordinate must be so designated.
Example:
Thesis: Arthur Miller used elements of a sophisticated mistress in one
story and a childlike wife in another to develop the character of Roselyn
Taben in his cinematic novel "The Misfits".
I. Roselyn is an eastern sophisticate in "The Misfits" (1937).
A. She enjoys new rights and experiences.
B. She feels sorry to hit animals.
II. Roselyn is a charming...
3. Make relationships clear by using the same symbol (that is Roman
numerals, capital letters and so on) for ideas of equal importance.
Because the outline divides ideas, the symbols must show how the
content of the research paper will be divided or subdivided into groups
of thoughts related to one another.
Example:
Thesis: Earnest Hemingway's writing evolved from his own life.
I. Early journalistic career
II. Participation in WW I
III. Expatriate novelist years
A. The Sun Also Rises
B. A Farewell to Arms
IV. Participation in Spanish Civil war.
4. Only principal points appear in an outline.
Illustrations, amplifications, and development of the main points are
added in the actual writing. You will be reminded of these matters when
you rearrange your note cards to coincide with the structure of the
content you have decided on. Thus, you should concentrate on putting
ideas, rather than this support, in the outline.
The ability to group details together under one major idea is a skill in
preparing an outline. Such useful skill helps Grade 10 students,
specifically, in Go over the skeletal outline and take note of the
suggestions.