Research papers are commonplace in education. Although common, it does not make writing one any less daunting of a task. Thankfully, East Ohio College is here to help you understand how to cover everything you need to. Keep reading to learn all about research papers.
What Are Research Papers?
Research papers are tools used to convey information about a specific topic. This type of academic paper serves as a great way to learn and retain new information, and these papers follow a similar layout each time.
Students, researchers, and scholars write research papers, as they make it easy to publish and share data. As a result, research papers are commonly used throughout high school and college, so knowing what is needed for a strong paper is essential.
What Should You Include In A Research Paper?
The structure of a research paper ultimately depends on the topic, but they all follow a similar layout. For example, certain topics may require a results section, where data from tests and experiments is placed. Here is a good article that explains what should go in a research section if your paper requires one. Nevertheless, a research paper has four main parts: the introduction, the body, the conclusion, and the works cited or references page. Although the exact content varies depending on the topic, these four sections provide a great reference point for starting your research paper.
Introduction
The introduction section of a research paper broadly explains to the reader what the paper is about. This section tends to be a paragraph that explains why the topic is important. A strong introduction paragraph can persuade the reader to keep reading.
Body
The body of a research paper makes up the majority of your paper. The body takes everything covered in the introduction section and expands on it. The body paragraphs will contain and thoroughly explain your main points, arguments, and all the information used to support your statements.
Conclusion
The conclusion section of a research paper summarizes everything you covered in your paper. Therefore, it should reinforce your argument without adding any new information.
Works Cited or References Page
This section of your paper is where you will list your references on a separate page in order to avoid plagiarism. There are three main styles for papers: American Psychological Association (APA), Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), and Modern Language Association (MLA); however, the style you use depends on the format of your assignment. Each style has its own format, so it is important to ensure that you follow the proper format for your writing style.
Where Should You Begin Writing Your Research Paper?
The first step to writing an effective research paper is researching your topic. To write a strong paper about a topic, you first have to understand that topic. While researching, make sure to save any valuable sources that you found, so you can easily reference them later on when you start writing your paper.
After completing your research, create an outline for your paper. The purpose of an outline is to provide yourself with a guide. Format this outline however you like, as outlines are purely for the writer. You can use something as simple as a bulleted list to something as detailed as a rough draft. At the end of the day, it is up to the writer to use what is best for them.
After you have written your paper, it is time for the most critical step: proofreading. This step allows you to refine your paper and remove any mistakes. Furthermore, proofreading will enable you to organize your paper in a way that is easiest for the reader to understand.
What Are Some Tools That Can Help You Write Your Research Paper?
Students at East Ohio College have access to a plethora of resources that can help make the research paper process more manageable. In the Student Resources section of the East Ohio website, students can find the Library/Resource Center. This section has several valuable links to sites that can aid the writing process, including how to access the library through Canvas.
In this section, you can find a link to EasyBib. EasyBib is a great resource that quickly generates citations for your paper. An alternative to EasyBib is BibMe.
There is also a link to the Purdue Writing Lab. The Purdue Writing Lab has information on how to properly cite your source, as well as the proper writing technique for certain things. Depending on the style of your paper, you can also visit the website of the American Psychological Association (APA), Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), or Modern Language Association (MLA). Similarly to Purdue, these sites provide information about how to properly cite sources depending on which style is used.
How Do Research Papers Help Your Education
Research Papers are used by colleges, universities, and other institutions to allow students to complete in-depth research about their designated field. The information gathered through peer-reviewed studies, published essays, books, and other sources can enhance students’ education by allowing them to apply their research. For example, students in East Ohio’s Nursing program could write a research paper about nursing practices relevant to their degree. Research papers provide students with an excellent opportunity to refine their knowledge about a topic that interests them and applies to their field of study.
Do you want to further your education? If so, contact East Ohio College’s admissions office by Requesting Information online or calling 330-385-1070 today!