Writing Tips
- Decide on the research paper's main topic and arguments first
- Write the body of the research paper first and then write the introduction and conclusion
- Everything in your research paper should point back to your research topic and arguments
Research Paper Format
Research papers should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion:
1. Introduction: summarizes what you will write and puts it into context
- Start the introduction with background that contextualizes the paper's main topic
- End the introduction with a topic statement, which outlines the main points of the paper and how you will address them
2. Body: presents the main points of the paper, with each paragraph representing one aspect of the paper's main focus. Each paragraph should include a topic sentence, evidence, analysis, and a transition sentence:
- The topic sentence summarizes the paragraph's main idea
- Use evidence from your research sources to support or make the argument for your main ideas
- Analyse your evidence to show how it links to your broader topic
- Include a transition sentence at the end of each paragraph to connect what you discussed in that paragraph with the main idea of the next paragraph
3. Conclusion: summarizes what you wrote and what you learned
- Restate your topic statement from the introduction in different words
- Briefly summarize your main points or arguments and pull them together into the paper's main topic
- End with a strong, final statement that ties the whole paper together and makes it clear the paper has come to an end
- No new ideas should be introduced in the conclusion, it should only review and analyze the main points from the body of the paper
