Writing a Research Paper
by MairaS on March 13, 2009
in Research Papers
A Research Paper is a formal Article, mostly academic in nature. At times, long established traditional views on a topic may appear to warrant a second look and a Research Paper examines this aspect. The Research paper is not to be confused with a Research Thesis. While a thesis starts with a Hypothesis and ends by either validating or repudiating it, a Research Paper may either propose a Hypothesis or examine various ones as possible areas for study.
How to write a Research Paper: Begin with the collection of existing knowledge on the topic. Read these carefully and arrive at tentative ideas for your Paper Look for gaps in information or weakness in argument. Read further or re-read what is already read. At this stage it would be helpful to access information from the Internet and check books in specialized libraries. The National Library, the Library of National Parliament (Congress in the U.S.) or of major technical Associations, Trade bodies etc. can help. Prepare your first draft.
Document all the sources of information to be relied upon. List them in an alphabetical order, and collect them in an annexure. Now give a second look at your draft. Let your senior colleague or Mentor examine it for cohesion and originality of thought. Revise, if need be. Now, hand it over to a Publisher’s Editor to proof read for grammatical errors, bad grammar, syntax etc. It is time now for the final version to be made.