A research paper is a crucial piece of academic writing that is based on the original research on any topic, along with the interpretation and analysis of the findings. Regardless of whether it is a master’s thesis, doctoral dissertation, or term paper, a good research paper has certain signs that make it stand out from the rest. It is supposed to be well-organized, lucid, and interesting to read. Here is a list of 8 steps that will help you put up such a research paper.
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Start with a good topic
You need to choose a topic that interests you as a researcher that will determine the number of efforts you will put in it enthusiastically. Choose a topic that is more specific, for instance, instead of the religion in general, focus on a particular type of religion, Buddhism. Make sure that your teacher approves the topic and there are enough source materials for it.
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Finding relevant information
The internet has a world of information, and all you need to do is to find the sources of information that are relevant to your research papers. Make sure you get the information from reliable and authentic sources only. You can also get complete research papers for sale if you want to avoid the hassle.
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Make a good thesis statement
The thesis statement is the focal point or the central idea of your paper. It is important to include a thesis statement because all the arguments you present in the paper are based on this idea. Think critically and write down the thesis statement in not more than 1-2 sentences.
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Create an outline for the paper
You can create an informal outline to organize the ideas properly. You can revise, add, or cross out some points in the outline anytime to make it perfect. It will help you clear out the key points and arranging them in a proper manner to move on to the next step.
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Organize the notes properly
The next step is to use the outline to organize the information accordingly. Critically analyze the data that you gather and verify all the information you want to include. This is the step where you will analyze, synthesize, sort out, and digest the information that is there.
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Write the first draft
Begin with the first topic in the outline and read all the notes that you collect. You can summarize, paraphrase, or quote lines directly from your research material according to what suits you. Make sure you put numbers for each chapter that you write.
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Writing the final draft
The first draft that you write is only the detailed structure of the final draft that is yet to come. You need to now sit down to write the final draft by correcting the elements of the first draft – words, phrases, sentences. Incorporate or delete the parts that you do not like and edit the parts that you feel are unnecessary or superficial. You need to think of this one as the final copy that you will put up for submission, and thus, you need to exercise extreme carefulness in writing this draft.
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Revise and check the paper
Read the paper carefully to detect any errors in the content. Check the figures and facts and rearrange the ideas according to your outline. You can use software to check the grammatical or other such typing errors in your content. But at the end of the day, none of the software are foolproof, and you need to read the entire material thoroughly.
Now that you know all the steps that can help you create a good research paper. Get to work immediately!
