Steps on How to Start a Research Paper
The beginning of a research paper is often the most difficult part for students. The intro should be compelling and should invite the audience to read the whole blog. To make it easier for you, this guide provides a step-by-step guide on how to start off a research paper.
A well-written research paper has a proper format, a good outline that explains the purpose of the research and also provides new information to the readers. Follow these steps to assist you with how to start a research paper:
- Choose an interesting research paper topic
- Understand the topic and make an outline
- Write your thesis statement
- Read the thesis statement again and rewrite the key points
- If the thesis statement is lagging anywhere, correct it
- Write a draft of your paper highlighting your point of view
- Revise your research paper intro
- Once done, proofread your document and double-check the primary sources.
- Cite your sources properly so you don’t get plagiarized for the content.
- Teachers usually pre-assign citation styles.
How to Start a Research Paper Outline
To write an outline for your research paper, read the steps mentioned below:
- Write your thesis statement at the beginning
- Using roman numerals, list the major points of your research paper.
- Use alphabets to list down related information under the main points.
- If there is more information that you can include as a subdivision, add it using 1, 2, 3, etc.
How to Start a Research Paper Intro
“How do you write a good introduction?”
To write the introduction of a research paper can be daunting as they are meant to leave an impression on the reader. To begin a research paper introduction, the topic you choose should be flawless and should have enough research that you can add.
Read these steps to understand how to start an introduction for a research paper:
1. Present your Essay Topic to the Audience
The foundation of your essay is the topic you choose. Therefore, choosing the topic wisely is very important to write a good introduction. The first few lines should effectively display your topic to the readers.
In short, the first paragraph of your essay should be a reflection of your topic and it should make the audience curious to keep on reading.
Feel free to start with a story or a quotation that will make your paper interesting from the beginning. You can also start by explaining the topic in a broad way. This will also help the readers to understand better.
2. Background Information
You probably did a lot of research on your topic and have enough background information on it already. However, keep in mind that the readers still need some context to understand what your topic is. Don’t add too much information but just enough so the readers can connect the dots.
Ensure that you don’t add too much information. This will distract the audience from the main idea and the readers might not even understand the main topic.
3. Explain Why This Topic is Important
The research question you choose might be one of your interests, make it known to the audience so they also understand why it is important. This is another way to grab your reader’s attention, by making them care about the topic at hand.
4. The Rationale of Your Research
The rationale of your research should explain why it is important. There should be a cause behind your research and it should target a problem that most people can either relate to or have witnessed themselves.
5. Significance of your Research
As already mentioned, your research should be something significant. Make it obvious by sharing literature reviews or other relevant information that you have on the paper topic.
Explain what significance your research has in this field and what improvements can there be. When readers relate to your work, it is proof that your writing has a persuasive effect.
6. Write a Clear Thesis Statement
“How to write a research paper thesis statement?”
Thesis statement is an important part of the introduction. The thesis statement comes at the end of the introductory paragraph. It is a very important statement with claims and reasons after doing an extensive literature review. It comes from valid sources and is a unique idea that will make the users curious as well.
How to Start a Research Paper Conclusion
Concluding paragraphs should effectively sum up what you have written in the paper. The writing process of a conclusion can be tricky. It is tricky to mention the important points again since you have to make sure that the information does not seem redundant. Keep the following tips in mind to write a research paper conclusion.
- Reiterate your research topic
- Highlight the thesis statement
- Give a summary of the main points
- Mention the significance of your research
You can write one of the following types of conclusion in your research paper:
Summarizing Conclusion
A summarizing conclusion means giving a summary of the main points written in your essay. It is the most common type of summary that you can write at the end of your research paper. If you are writing a persuasive research paper, argumentative paper, or scientific paper, then you can use this type of conclusion to reiterate the thesis.
Externalizing Conclusion
External conclusions are added at the end of a research paper to allow the readers to think from a new perspective. Although this type of conclusion diverts from the main points mentioned in the paper, it raises questions that are still relevant.
Editorial Conclusion
Edit your own thoughts and opinions if you are writing an editorial conclusion. At the end of your paper, an editorial conclusion means connecting your thoughts to the research you presented. This type works best for papers that have opinions in them.
Right after you are done with the conclusion, create a bibliography to add references at the end of your research paper.
How to Start a Research Paper with a Quote
If you decide to start your research paper with a quote, there are some tips that will be helpful:
- Choose a quotation that fits your topic, and does not seem off the topic.
- When selecting a quote for your research paper, consider your targeted audience and whether they will be able to understand it or not.
- Connect your quote to the point you are making.
- Make sure that you give credits to the book or research papers online you took the quote from.
These tips will help you to avoid plagiarism and allow the reader to trace the source you got the quote from.
How to Start a Research Paper Example
This example pdf will help you understand how to start your research paper effectively.
Tips on How to Start a Research Paper
- Take a strong start when beginning a paragraph, it will create a good impression on readers.
- When writing your paper, keep in mind the main point of your research paper.
- Be very skeptical of the information you add, including only the most relevant ones.
- Don’t be redundant, as it will decrease the quality of your work.
You can also ask your peers and friends to help you with the paper if you need more tips. If they have already written research papers, they might have good advice.
Writing a research paper is a time-consuming process but with the right topic and guidelines, you can write an excellent paper. It will impress your teacher and get you an A grade.
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