| Whether in high school or college, often one | | | | and credit information used to their |
| is required to develop a research paper for | | | | originators. There are several style sheets |
| an assignment. Research paper writing has a | | | | available for the proper footnote marking and |
| specific focus and should not be confused | | | | systems of regulating the presentation of |
| with essays or thesis writing. | | | | your source material. This formula is |
| | | | different for various institutions so |
| A research paper is not designed to offer new | | | | checking for the authorized style sheet |
| evidence or report on developing work but as | | | | before starting the actual composition is |
| a collation and presentation of existing | | | | very important. Those who grade the research |
| work. The research is to uncover existing | | | | paper will be especially critical of this |
| knowledge of a topic and synthesize a focused | | | | area. It is essential you have your facts |
| and coherent report on this subject. A | | | | accurate and provable. |
| research paper is not intended to prove a | | | | |
| hypothetical point but to present an existing | | | | Once you have finished the first draft of |
| fact. | | | | your research paper it is a good idea to let |
| | | | it sit for awhile and then come back to |
| There are three directions you can take in | | | | reread it in an objective manner. No one is |
| designing your research paper. A simple | | | | able or expected to be letter-perfect through |
| analytical approach discusses the major | | | | the first writing. The cooling off period is |
| points of your subject, evaluates them each | | | | necessary to take you far enough from the |
| in turn and then concludes with an evaluation | | | | original creation that you can see within a |
| of the research to the reader. An expository | | | | later viewing any areas that need revision to |
| research paper does not so much offer | | | | tighten up to presentation of your |
| altering viewpoints on your topic as it seeks | | | | information. While you can proofread your |
| to inform and explain what the subject matter | | | | work to some degree, it is always recommended |
| is. | | | | that you obtain a second person to proof it |
| | | | as well. They may catch grammar or |
| A much more involved research paper is the | | | | typographical errors that have fallen into a |
| argumentative form. In this type of research | | | | "blind spot" for the original writer. |
| paper you pick a point of view and present | | | | |
| your research findings to prove your opening | | | | Critical areas of review at this point are |
| statements. One thing the person writing the | | | | the transition areas between proof points and |
| research paper must be mindful of through the | | | | that you have refined the data to a tight |
| entire process is that they stay on focus. If | | | | focus. Here you can see if certain patterns |
| the subsequent research convinces you to | | | | of extraneous words have "fluffed" your |
| modify the original statement of purpose, you | | | | writing and you can eliminate the unnecessary |
| will have to revise your opening arguments | | | | wording. |
| and any other parts of your paper that this | | | | |
| change entails. | | | | The final part of research paper writing is |
| | | | to put your final version on the paper (or |
| Another aspect of research paper writing that | | | | the required computer file format) that your |
| is of the utmost importance is in keeping | | | | specific institution requires. Even the |
| your source information accurate. A research | | | | presentation of the physical artifact of your |
| paper is not creative writing and you will | | | | research paper can have some weight on its |
| need to reference the sources of your facts | | | | final acceptance or rejection. |