How to Write a Research Paper: A Beginner's Guide? (ISCOPE Publication)

Writing a research paper is a complex and challenging task that requires a lot of skills and knowledge. A research paper is a piece of academic writing that provides analysis, interpretation, or argument based on in-depth independent research. Research papers are similar to analytical essays, but they are usually longer and more detailed, and they rely on statistical data and preexisting research.

If you want to write a research paper, you need to follow a systematic and structured process, from understanding your assignment to proofreading your final draft.

We will also provide some tips and examples to help you write a clear and effective research paper.

Step 1: Understand the assignment The first step of writing a research paper is to understand the assignment and its requirements. You should read the instructions carefully and clarify any doubts or questions with your instructor. You should also check the following aspects of the assignment:

• The goal: What is the purpose of the research paper? Is it to inform, persuade, analyze, or evaluate?

• The deadline: When is the research paper due? How much time do you have to complete it?

• The length: How long should the research paper be? How many words or pages are expected?

• The format: What citation style and formatting guidelines should you follow? How should you structure your paper?

• The submission: How should you submit your research paper? Should you print it, email it, or upload it online?

Step 2: Choose a topic The next step of writing a research paper is to choose a topic that interests you and meets the criteria of your assignment. You can brainstorm, search online databases, or consult your instructor for some ideas. You should also consider the following factors when choosing a topic:

• The relevance: How important and interesting is the topic for your field of study and your audience?

• The originality: How novel and unique is the topic? Does it fill a gap or address a problem in the existing literature?

• The feasibility: How realistic and manageable is the topic? Can you find enough and reliable sources to support your research?

Once you have a broad subject area, you should narrow it down to a specific and focused research question or hypothesis that guides your paper. Your research question or hypothesis should be clear, concise, and debatable. For example, instead of writing about "global warming", you could write about "the effects of global warming on coral reefs".

Step 3: Conduct preliminary research The third step of writing a research paper is to conduct preliminary research to find relevant and reliable sources that support your topic.

When conducting your research, you should take notes of the main points, arguments, and evidence from your sources. You should also keep track of the citation information, such as the author, title, publisher, and date, for each source. You can use tools like Zotero or Mendeley to organize and manage your references.

Step 4: Develop a thesis statement The fourth step of writing a research paper is to develop a thesis statement that expresses the main point or argument of your paper. Your thesis statement should be based on your research question or hypothesis and the evidence you have gathered from your sources. Your thesis statement should be clear, specific, and debatable. For example, instead of writing "global warming is bad for coral reefs", you could write "global warming causes coral bleaching, which threatens the biodiversity and ecosystem services of coral reefs".

Your thesis statement should be placed at the end of your introduction, where it provides a roadmap for the rest of your paper. Your thesis statement should also be revised and refined as you write your paper, to reflect your findings and arguments.

Step 5: Create a research paper outline The fifth step of writing a research paper is to create a research paper outline that organizes your paper into sections and sub-sections. Your research paper outline should follow the standard structure of a research paper, which includes:

• An introduction, where you introduce your topic, provide some background information, state your research question or hypothesis, and present your thesis statement.

• A literature review, where you review the existing literature on your topic, identify the main themes, gaps, and debates, and position your research within the context of the field.

• A methodology, where you describe the methods and procedures you used to collect and analyze your data, and justify your choices and limitations.

• A results, where you report and summarize the findings and outcomes of your data analysis, using tables, graphs, and charts to illustrate your points.

• A discussion, where you interpret and explain your results, answer your research question or hypothesis, and discuss the implications and significance of your research.

• A conclusion, where you restate your thesis statement, summarize your main findings and arguments, and provide some recommendations and suggestions for future research.

• A reference list, where you list all the sources you cited in your paper, following the citation style and format required by your assignment.

You can use tools like Microsoft Word or Google Docs to create and format your research paper outline. You can also use our research paper outline guide to help you create a detailed outline.

Step 6: Write the first draft of your research paper The sixth step of writing a research paper is to write the first draft of your research paper following your outline. You can start with any section that you feel comfortable with, but make sure to connect them with clear transitions and topic sentences. You can use our research paper writing guide to help you write each section of your paper.

When writing your first draft, you should focus on the content and structure of your paper, rather than the grammar and style. You should also cite your sources properly and avoid plagiarism. You can use tools like Scribbr Citation Generator or Scribbr Plagiarism Checker to help you with citation and plagiarism issues.

Step 7: Write the introduction and the conclusion of your research paper The seventh step of writing a research paper is to write the introduction and the conclusion of your research paper. The introduction and the conclusion are the first and the last parts of your paper, respectively, and they play an important role in attracting and retaining the attention of your readers.

The introduction of your research paper should provide some background information, state your research problem, and explain your objective and motivation. The introduction should also include your research question or hypothesis and your thesis statement.

The conclusion of your research paper should summarize your main findings, answer your research question or hypothesis, and discuss the implications and limitations of your research. The conclusion should also provide some recommendations and suggestions for future research.

You can use our research paper introduction guide and research paper conclusion guide to help you write these sections.

Step 8: Revise and edit your research paper The eighth and final step of writing a research paper is to revise and edit your research paper to improve its content, structure, and style. You should read your paper carefully and critically, and check for any errors or inconsistencies in your paper. You should also ask for feedback from your peers, your instructor, or a professional editor.

You can use our revision checklist to help you check for any errors or inconsistencies in your paper. You can also use tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid to help you with grammar and style issues.

Writing a research paper is a complex and challenging task that requires a lot of skills and knowledge. However, by following a systematic and structured process, you can write a clear and effective research paper that meets the criteria of your assignment and the expectations of your audience.