Table of Contents
A research paper is one of the most frequent tasks that college professors assign to students of all academic levels. Some people mix it with an essay that is another instructors’ favorite. Indeed, these types are close. Still, this document is of a different type. Here all its specific features come, and all the issues that you might face.
We’ve created the current article to help you define what is a research paper and what you should review when you start to work on it. Let’s begin!
It’s Not an Essay! Then What Is Research Paper?
A research paper definition is similar to an essay. It is also an academic document where you need to conduct an investigation of some topic and expose the results and your position in a standard format. However, when you work on an essay, you put your own idea into the focus. Your ideas might be more essential than other resources.
Dealing with this study, you have to be much more careful about the secondary sources of data used as evidence. It will require expert opinions. Your position has the primary value, but you need quotations, statistics, authoritative voices, and access to other evidence in favor of your point.
What is research paper? It is the result of your thorough investigation of some issues made with extreme attention to every detail. You have to ground in on the most reliable academic information. It is not a task to paraphrase someone else’s word. Instead, you present your interpretation as an outcome of your diligent and dedicated study.
The Specific Structure of a Research Paper and Its Requirements
This document follows the standard “three-part” structure, but with special style. Traditional “Introduction, Main Body, and Conclusion” are present. Also, they involve specific fields.
Therefore, the parts of a research paper are the following:
- The Abstract that precedes the Introduction part. It should summarize your main statements and all your findings related to it. Ideally, it should be possible for the audience to read the Abstract and get a clear idea of the work you did overall.
- The Introduction opens the text of your work. It has to explain the subject of investigation and its value. Also, it sets the appropriate tone and engages the readers. Pay attention to the “Materials and Methods” section. You explain the methodologies involved and prove the validity of the knowledge obtained.
- The thesis statement is a formal part of the Introduction that also has the transition meaning. You claim this stance to name the central idea of your work. Then, it opens the exposition of your genuine investigation process.
- The Main Body is the biggest step of the work. In this part, you explain how you explored the issue, which statements you offered, which results got, and in which way. This information is present in the most significant section of the Body – Discussion. Here, you should explain your understanding of your findings and relate them to the practical issues that are burning for the community. Remember that your ideas must all be well-grounded. Your analysis should appeal to the authoritative voices, and your own conclusions should either prove or disprove them.
- The Conclusion is the summary of your findings and proof of your work’s practical value. It is important to stress how your work may impact the established viewpoints in the academic areas and which scientific perspectives it opens.
What Is the Purpose of a Research Paper in Simple Words?
The name of this piece suggests its essence: to be the result obtained from valid scientific investigation. The scholar’s goal is not to read some book (many books) and retell what the authors claim on some topic. Your job is to collect lots of reliable materials from different sources and make your own valuable interpretation.
It would be excellent if you could do the primary examination yourself and present the results of some surveying to prove your stance. However, secondary resources are helpful and suitable too. In any case, it is the depth of your analysis of sources that has the primary meaning.
Also, note the two main categories of this document, argumentative and analytical. Your purpose gets additional “shades” depending on the chosen type.
The Specificity of an Argumentative Research Paper Type
An argumentative research paper sets the goal as the persuasion of the audience. Keeping this purpose in mind, you learn and analyze the information to pick up weighty arguments to support your position.
It is critical to choose the right topic for such a study. It must allow at least two viewpoints. In plain words, the examination of “whether it is unhealthy to smoke cigarettes” would not suit here – it is unambiguous that it is harmful. But, when you explore how mass media imposed the social acceptance of smoking, it would do.
Peculiarities and Requirements of an Analytical Research Paper
The goal of an analytical research paper is not to convince the audience of something. Instead, the investigation relates to the sources and interpretations provided in them. Getting back to our example with smoking, we could check how the public opinion about smoking changed through the years and which factors impacted it.
We Are Always Ready to Help
If you had an idea to copy some facts to your research paper, it would be the biggest mistake. This type of work requires a great analysis to present your own vision of the topic. You may work on it individually or ask our custom research paper writers for help as well. If you feel you lack the time or knowledge to create an amazing research paper, leave your request and we will answer immediately.