How to Complete a Research Paper: A Comprehensive Guide

Writing a research paper can be an intimidating task, especially for those who are undertaking this challenge for the first time. Knowing "how to complete...

Writing a research paper can be an intimidating task, especially for those who are undertaking this challenge for the first time. Knowing "how to complete a research paper" is a crucial skill set for students and professionals alike. This article aims to guide you through the complexities of academic writing by offering a step-by-step guide to creating a research paper that stands out.

What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is an in-depth exploration of a specific topic based on credible research and evidence. It usually involves collecting data, conducting research, and presenting findings in an organized manner. Academic writing, such as a research paper, involves presenting your arguments coherently, substantiating them with research from primary and secondary sources.

How to Write a Research Paper?

The writing process for a research paper begins with brainstorming ideas and selecting a specific research topic. Preliminary research is essential for narrowing the scope. The next steps involve creating a research paper outline, conducting further research, and dividing the paper into various sections like introduction, methodology, literature review, discussion section, and conclusion. Citations and referencing play a critical role in establishing the credibility of your work.

What Are the Biggest Hindrances in Writing a Research Paper?

Distractions

With smartphones and social media just a click away, distractions are rampant and can significantly hinder your writing process.

Technology

Though beneficial, technology can be a double-edged sword, offering distractions and leading you down endless rabbit holes of irrelevant information.

Motivation

Lack of motivation can be a significant roadblock. Writing a research paper is a long and often tedious process, requiring consistent effort.

Topic

An unclear or overly broad research topic can lead to a scattered and incoherent paper.

Others

Procrastination, poor time management, and lack of organization also add to the challenges faced during academic research.

How to Complete a Research Paper?

Completing a research paper involves multiple rounds of revising and proofreading to ensure quality. Tools like plagiarism checkers are invaluable for ensuring the originality of your work. A good research paper is not just well-written but is also well-formatted in a specific citation style such as APA, MLA, or Chicago.

How to Stay Focused and Motivated?

Setting achievable milestones and rewarding yourself upon reaching them can keep you motivated. Blocking out distractions and dedicating specific times for writing can also help you stay focused.

What is the Format for a Research Paper?

Formatting depends on the citation style you choose, be it APA style, MLA, or Chicago. Elements include title page, headings and subheadings, in-text citations, and a reference list. Spacing, page numbers, and word count are other important factors.

What is a Research Paper Title and Why Does It Matter?

A research paper title is the first thing that a reader or a journal article reviewer will see. A compelling title can make your paper stand out and encourage further reading.

What is the Purpose of a Research Paper?

The purpose is to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on a specific subject. It allows you to explore your research question in depth and present your findings.

Tools You Need to Complete a Research Paper

1. Google Scholar

Cost: Free

Google Scholar is a search engine specifically designed for academic research. It indexes scholarly articles, theses, patents, and legal opinions. This makes it an invaluable resource for anyone working on a research paper.

One of its best features is the citation generator. With just a click, you can generate citations in APA, MLA, or Chicago styles. This feature simplifies the otherwise tedious process of manually creating citations.

Google Scholar is free to use, but not all articles may be freely accessible. However, the platform often provides alternative links to free versions of the papers, making it budget-friendly for students.

Top 5 Features

1. Easy to use
2. Vast database of academic articles
3. Citation generator
4. Free access to many papers
5. Integrated with Google Drive

2. Grammarly

Cost: Free version available; Premium starts at $11.66/month

Grammarly is a cloud-based writing assistant that goes beyond mere spell-check. It helps identify grammar mistakes, unclear phrasing, and even instances of plagiarism.

One of the features that sets Grammarly apart is its tone analysis. This can be crucial in academic writing where maintaining a formal tone is often required.

While the free version is quite powerful, the premium version offers advanced features like style-specific writing suggestions, which can be extremely helpful when writing a research paper.

Top 5 Features

1. Grammar and punctuation checking
2. Plagiarism detection
3. Tone analysis
4. Word choice suggestions
5. Sentence structure review

3. Zotero

Cost: Free

Zotero is an open-source tool designed to help you collect, organize, and cite your research materials. It can sense content on your browser, allowing you to add it to your personal library with a single click.

Its citation generator supports various styles including APA, MLA, and Chicago. You can also share your Zotero libraries with colleagues, making it easier to collaborate on research projects.

The software integrates with Microsoft Word and Google Docs, allowing you to insert citations and automatically generate bibliographies as you write. Zotero is free to download and use, making it accessible for students and researchers.

Top 5 Features

1. Source management
2. Citation generator
3. One-click saving of research
4. Collaboration features
5. Web browser integration

4. Mendeley

Cost: Free; Institutional edition available with additional features

Mendeley serves as both a reference manager and an academic social network. It allows you to import citations, generate bibliographies, and collaborate with other researchers.

Mendeley's PDF viewer lets you annotate and highlight text directly on papers saved in your library. These annotations can also be shared with collaborators.

While the basic version of Mendeley is free, an institutional edition with advanced features like unlimited private groups and priority support is also available.

Top 5 Features

1. Reference manager
2. PDF viewer
3. Annotation capabilities
4. Academic social network
5. Collaboration tools

5. EndNote

Cost: $249.95 for a basic package; free trial available

EndNote is one of the more advanced tools for reference management. It allows you to search online bibliographic databases, organize references, images, and PDFs, and create bibliographies and figure lists.

The software is popular for its integration with Word processors like Microsoft Word, where it can automatically insert citations and create a bibliography in a wide variety of styles including APA, MLA, and Chicago.

While EndNote is a paid software, the investment is often justified for researchers who require its advanced capabilities.

Top 5 Features

1. Advanced reference management
2. Research database search
3. Collaboration tools
4. Multi-platform support
5. Wide range of citation styles

6. Evernote

Cost: Free version available; Premium at $7.99/month

Evernote is a note-taking app that allows you to capture ideas, save interesting articles, and organize all your notes in one place.

Its Web Clipper extension lets you save full pages, snippets, or articles from the web directly into your Evernote account, which is incredibly useful for research.

The premium version offers additional features like searching within PDFs, which can be a huge time-saver when you're going through numerous academic papers.

Top 5 Features

1. Note-taking
2. Web clipper
3. Tagging system
4. Sync across devices
5. Templates

7. Scrivener

Cost: $49 for standard license; educational discounts available

Scrivener is a powerful tool for long-form writing projects like research papers. Unlike regular word processors, Scrivener provides a set of specialized tools for writers to structure complex documents.

Its Corkboard view lets you outline your paper with virtual index cards, providing a visual way to rearrange your paragraphs and main points.

While Scrivener has a bit of a learning curve, its comprehensive features are worth the investment for those who are serious about academic writing.

Top 5 Features

1. Document organization
2. Corkboard view for outlining
3. Split-screen feature
4. Writing templates
5. Comprehensive export options

8. Turnitin

Cost: Institutional subscription; pricing varies

Turnitin is a popular tool among educational institutions for checking the originality of student submissions.

Beyond its plagiarism detection capabilities, Turnitin offers a range of features like online grading and peer review options, which make it a comprehensive solution for academic evaluation.

The cost is usually covered by educational institutions and not directly by students, but it is a valuable tool for ensuring your paper is free of unintentional plagiarism.

Top 5 Features

1. Plagiarism detection
2. Feedback Studio for grading
3. Peer review features
4. Integration with LMS
5. Originality reports

9. Microsoft Word

Cost: Part of Microsoft Office Suite; pricing starts at $69.99/year for individual users

Microsoft Word is the quintessential word processing software and a standard in academic writing.

While it may not offer specialized academic features like some other tools, its robust editing, spellcheck and grammar check functionalities make it indispensable.

It also offers various templates for academic papers and has robust formatting options, allowing you to adhere to specific citation styles like APA, MLA, or Chicago manually.

Top 5 Features

1. Robust text editor
2. Built-in spellcheck and grammar check
3. Collaboration features
4. Various templates including for academic papers
5. Comprehensive formatting options

By utilizing these tools efficiently, you can enhance the quality and professionalism of your research paper.

FAQ

How to Write a Research Paper Step-by-Step?

1. Brainstorm and Choose Topic: Decide on a specific topic.
2. Preliminary Research: Conduct preliminary research to understand the scope.
3. Thesis Statement: Create a thesis statement that summarizes the main points.
4. Outline: Create a research paper outline.
5. Research: Conduct in-depth research.
6. First Draft: Write the first draft focusing on your arguments.
7. Revise: Revise multiple times to refine your work.
8. Proofread: Check for grammar, punctuation, and other errors.
9. Citations: Include all relevant citations.
10. Final Draft: Prepare the final draft for submission.

What Are the 5 Parts of a Research Paper in Order?

1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
3. Methodology
4. Discussion
5. Conclusion

What Are the 7 Steps of Writing a Research Paper?

1. Topic Selection
2. Preliminary Research
3. Thesis Statement
4. Research Paper Outline
5. Conduct Research
6. Writing and Revising
7. Proofreading and Citations

What Is the Most Important Part of a Research Paper?

The most important part of a research paper is the thesis statement, as it guides the rest of the paper.

What Are the 4 Types of Research Papers?

1. Analytical
2. Argumentative
3. Expository
4. Definition

How to Write a Research Paper Introduction?

The introduction should include background information, research question, and thesis statement. It sets the stage for the rest of the paper.

What Is a Proposal?

A research proposal is a document that outlines your research topic, methodology, and objectives. It is often required for academic or funding approval.

By following this guide, you will not only complete your research paper but also do so with finesse and academic rigor.