Writing a research project is a challenging task which requires attention, diligence, experience, and proper guidance. If you have a brilliant professor engaged in your research paper writing you won’t probably need such tips like ours, but, unfortunately, such professors are scarce, and tips in textbooks are too diverse and theoretical. However, using our advice, you will be able to get started and keep yourself going from one milestone to another. Remember! Research paper writing is your training before thesis writing, you should master it!
Choose an Engaging Topic
Student’s are not always provided with choice, but some things can be done here. To begin with, a student must choose a proper professor, supervisor to write a research project with — if this choice is available of course. Then you should discuss with the professor the topics that can be used for your research paper.
If you come to the supervisor, not a week before the deadline, but at the beginning of the semester at least and show your true interest and adequacy, a normal professor will consider several options for you. It is best to take a few topics from the teacher have some time to analyze the information and think about something simpler or reverse, more complex, more interesting.
Please note that the research project you write usually becomes a part of the thesis. So think prospective!
Don’t Start Without a Proper Planning
When you get a general idea of the topic of your research project, start drawing up a plan. More precisely, there should be two plans. First, write a short plan for your research paper and discuss it with the professor.
Then write the plan in theses: to each paragraph – by paragraph or at least by the sentence: what are you going to write, which questions will be disclosed. And again – make sure your supervisor approves it. It is better to rewrite the plan five times than to rewrite the entire research paper!
Surf for Information
Of course, you will be given a list of books and articles you should use or at least consider using in your research project. It goes without saying that some of those won’t match, and even if they did it wouldn’t be enough. You will use your college or university library, but often they are not enough as well. Use online libraries because most probably your university has a partnership program signed with many of them and you can use them for free, or at least have limited free access.
When looking for information online, use a Google Scholar search instead of a simple Google search — there is no doubt your professor will pay extra attention to the validity of the chosen sources. Use encyclopedias and check complex words you are going to use — with a simple Merriam Webster and Urban dictionary when applicable.
Write a Stellar Thesis Statement
Some of the research papers don’t require a thesis statement, but most of them do. If you are not sure, it’s a good idea to ask your professor first. However, writing a thesis statement is a good idea in any case, because it helps you structure your thoughts and formulate the principle purpose of your research project. Your thesis statement should be 1-2 sentences long and should disclose the problem statement of your work. It is normal if you can’t formulate it from the first time — write 10-15 sentences on how you see the problem, underline the key ideas and then put them in 1 or 2 sentences.
Write and Confirm an Outline
The outline is an arrangement of topics and subtopics in your paper. When you are done with the outline for your paper you can consider the major part done. You have a confirmed topic, valid sources you have found offline, and online your thesis (problem) statement and your outline are assessed and approved by your professor.
Of course, there are much more you should do after finishing an outline, but it will take a long time to write a professional research project from scratch: from a title page to the last reference in work cited page. After you finish the points above, you will have a direct path to the finished research paper. Good luck!
