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Expressing your ideas as clearly as possible, so you know what you were trying to say when you come back to the text. Paying attention to clear organization and logical ordering of paragraphs and sentences, which will help when you come to the second draft. Maintaining forward momentum - write now, perfect later. Your priorities at this stage are as follows: Your first draft won’t be perfect - you can polish later on. Write a first draft of the research paper Create a research paper outlineĪ research paper outline is essentially a list of the key topics, arguments and evidence you want to include, divided into sections with headings so that you know roughly what the paper will look like before you start writing.Ī structure outline can help make the writing process much more efficient, so it’s worth dedicating some time to create one. Every paragraph should aim to support and develop this central claim. You will probably revise and refine the thesis statement as you do more research, but it can serve as a guide throughout the writing process.
That means it should briefly summarize your argument in a sentence or two make a claim that requires further evidence or analysis and make a coherent point that relates to every part of the paper. The thesis statement should be concise, contentious, and coherent. It should also show what evidence and reasoning you’ll use to support that answer. If you started with a research question, the thesis statement should answer it. Develop a thesis statementĪ thesis statement is a statement of your central argument - it establishes the purpose and position of your paper.
To write research questions, try to finish the following sentence: “I want to know how/what/why…” 4. In this stage, you might find it helpful to formulate some research questions to help guide you.
Have there been some recent developments that build on the extant research?. Do you have a unique take on your topic?. Are there any heated debates you can address?. Is there anything people seem to overlook in the sources you research?. Use a variety of sources, including journals, books and reliable websites, to ensure you do not miss anything glaring.ĭo not only verify the ideas you have in mind, but look for sources that contradict your point of view. Note any discussions that seem important to the topic, and try to find an issue that you can focus your paper around. A paper on the experience of Danish citizens living close to the German border during World War II would be specific and could be original enough. A paper following the chronology of World War II would not be original or specific enough. Aim for ideas that are both original and specific: Once you have a broad subject area, narrow it down to choose a topic that interests you, m eets the criteria of your assignment, and is possible to research. The discussion or recommendations sections of research papers often include ideas for other specific topics that require further examination. You can also gain inspiration from other research. Does final draft 11 read final draft 10 documents free#
You can try free writing, which involves taking a broad topic and writing continuously for two or three minutes to identify absolutely anything relevant that could be interesting. There are many ways to generate an idea for a research paper, from brainstorming with pen and paper to talking it through with a fellow student or professor.
Make a bulleted list of the key points, then go back and cross completed items off as you’re writing.Ĭarefully consider your timeframe and word limit: be realistic, and plan enough time to research, write and edit. Identify the assignment goal, deadline, length specifications, formatting, and submission method. Read it carefully, looking for anything confusing you might need to clarify with your professor. Before you start, make sure you thoroughly understanding the assignment task sheet: Write a first draft of the research paperĬompleting a research paper successfully means accomplishing the specific tasks set out for you.