Research papers survey research done in a particular area. Their main emphasis is on bringing together theories and results from a number of studies to describe the "big picture" of an area of research.
Writing Tips
- Decide on the research paper's main research question and main points 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 the research question
Sections
1. Introduction: summarizes what you will write and puts it into context
- Start the introduction with background that contextualizes the paper's main research question
- End the introduction with a thesis statement, which outlines the main points of the paper and how you will address them
2. Discussion: Discusses your research results and interprets them in light of other research. Each paragraph represents one aspect of the paper's main focus. Prioritize and organize your main points and paragraphs to logically build your arguments to a compelling conclusion. 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 results and scholarly sources to support or make the argument for your main ideas
- Analyse your evidence to show how it links to your broader research question
- 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 research question from the introduction in different words
- Briefly summarize your research results and main points or arguments and pull them together to answer your main research question
- End with a strong, final statement that ties the whole research 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 research results and main points from the body of the paper (with the exception of suggestions for further research)
4. References list: a list of the sources you cited
- Cite your sources in APA Style
- Format your References list in APA Style
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