HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER

Research papers find their way into your curriculum around 12th grade. Some schools even have a designated research class, where the entire school year is dedicated to writing a single research paper.

In this entry, we will learn what is a research paper and how to write a research paper step by step. We will also present a list of exciting topics.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Topics To Help You Get Started
• Research Process
• Research Paper Outline
  • Research Paper Outline Template
• Writing Process
• Writing The Draft
• Proofreading and Editing
• Final Checklist
• Examples
• How to Get a Qualified Writing Help

What Is a Research Paper?

So what is a research paper? This paper is based heavily on in-depth research and analysis; the ability to document information and proposing original, useful insights on the research matter.

Comparing to a regular essay, writing a research paper requires thinking out of the box, being open to experiments and analyzing the results. Use its main features as tips for writing a research paper:

• a research paper is usually longer than other written assignments;
• the paper is based on extensive research of a particular problem;
• your insights should be based on your experiments and thought, but you are allowed to use literature references;
• usually, a writer supposed to find in a research process some novel solution or approach;
• support the information with evidence like your experimental studies, samples, and documents.

What is the purpose of a research paper you may ask? It shows your view on things you found through the research process.

How to Start a Research Paper?

Of course, you need to pick a topic in the first place. To not get bored during further research, try to choose a topic that is interesting and challenging for you. In my 12th-grade research class, most people picked boring themes. As a result, they had a hard time finding the motivation to study. Also, it might be evident to your teacher through the text how much enthusiasm and an effort you put into research.

It would be more comfortable and more productive for you to analyze a narrow subject. The example of a closed topic is “Complications caused by chickenpox”and the wide one is “Children diseases”.

Try not to overrate yourself and choose a topic you can manage. It’s always better to make in-depth research of an obvious what the first sight topic then pick a technical one and fail it.

Search for sources to make sure you have materials to work with. Make notes for further research.

Topics To Help You Get Started

Choosing a topic is all in the brainstorming. Typically, a professor will give you up to a week to explore all the possibilities of what you could write about.

It is entirely reasonable to change your topic. Most students go through about ten before settling on their favorite one.

Here is a list of interesting research paper topics which could be relevant today:

• Life outside the solar system
• Exploring exorcism in the modern church.
• Article 13 and Article 11: the EU meme ban.
• History of animal testing.
• How cybersecurity works.
• Is there life on Mars?
• Explore a law which you would change.
• Sports betting: is it gambling?
• History of the computer.
• History of slavery.

The most common topics are relevant social, political, cultural or technological issues.

After you have chosen a topic, it’s time to turn your ideas into a well-written research paper! However, you must first do some critical research.

Research Process

Preparation is vital before writing a research paper.

Most of your analysis, your conclusions, your understanding, formulating your point will come during the research stage.

The research stage is divided into two main subcategories: Selecting Sources and Documenting Information.

Selecting Sources

After you have chosen the topic, it is essential to find the information you can rely on. To do this, you will have access to a variety of academic sources.

• The Library
  • Your instructor will point you towards the school library first thing. Libraries have catalogs of rare books from different fields of study. They could be an excellent place to find primary sources for your paper.
• Primary and Secondary Sources
  • Primary sources are trusted sources like books or statistics from a .gov website. Real life surveys are also primary sources. In contrast, online articles or YouTube channels are secondary sources.
• Academic Journals & Other Documents
  • Academic Journals like JSTOR and Google Scholar are advantageous sources. Just type your search (for example Life on Mars), and they give you every academic document that has ever mentioned this term. If your library lacks the primary sources you need for your paper – academic journals are the way to go.

Once you have selected the bulk of your sources, skim through them and keep the useful ones. The next stage will be reading and documenting information.

Documenting Information

The next step is to group the primary and secondary sources. You may order them from most to least critical. You may also place them in a logical order of arguments in your research paper.

Lots of papers focus on a few primary sources as the main point of inspiration. That works if the paper attempts to expand on a previously explored theory or concept.

Some excellent ways to group and keep track of information are Note and Bibliography cards.

• Note Cards

Note Cards help you keep track of information from your sources. Take a note card, and write down relevant information on the front, with the source number on the back. This will help you with organizing your facts and writing your paper later.

• Bibliography Cards

Bibliography cards help you keep track of your sources. Write down your source on them in MLA format and number them for reference. Put source numbers on your note cards, so you know which source every note is from.

• Organizing System

Use these note cards to organize your paper. Place them in order of importance relative to your research paper outline and the points you wish to make.

Don’t let sources organize your research paper for you. Organize your paper based on your arguments and research.

Research Paper Outline

Once you are done with all of the above, let’s get right into how to write an outline for a research paper. The outline consists of the following:

• Title Page: the title of the paper, the name of the author, name of your school or college, and date of submission.
• The Abstract: a summary of the paper in about 250 words.
• Introduction. Relevant background information, a definition of technical terms. A research paper introduction tells the reader how the paper will be organized.
• Body Paragraphs: the build of your essay; summarizing, analyzing, explaining, evaluating sources.
• Conclusion. A summary of your argument, explaining the significance of your research. Also, return to the introduction, and plan for further research.

Research Paper Outline Template

A research paper outline looks like this:

Writing Process

Now that we know how to structure a research paper let’s go into detail on how to write a research paper.

Introduction

The research paper introduction is where you hook the reader and give them background information to help understand your topic. Also, explain the significance of your topic and why you chose it.

Big research papers like Darwin’s Origin of Species, outline every section of the paper with topic sentences in their introduction.

Find any famous research paper, and read the introductory paragraph. It will give you a good idea of how to start a research paper.

Thesis Statement

Before reading the rest of your paper, the audience needs to know the central argument, idea, or purpose. In other words: the thesis statement. In a research paper, thesis statements can be up to a paragraph or a page long.

In a research paper, the thesis is a declaration of your arguments. It shows how you will about obtain information and select sources. It is fundamentally necessary that the audience knows why you have chosen a specific topic and point of view.

Frequently, students, write the thesis statement last. It is a good practice because after writing the paper; the thesis comes to mind much more natural.

The Body

The next step to writing a research paper is unleashing your arguments and sources in the body paragraphs.

Body paragraphs are where you summarize, analyze, and evaluate published work. Body paragraphs follow this format:

• Topic sentence. The main argument you will discuss in this section of the paper.
• Source information. Explaining how primary and secondary sources give validity to your argument. Summarize each source if necessary.
• Conclusion. Wrap the paragraph together, offer final thoughts, and move on to the next point of your essay.

If you have done the note cards correctly, body paragraphs will be super easy. A little preparation goes a long way!

Conclusion

The last step to writing a research paper is making a reasonable conclusion paragraph. A research paper conclusion is the “Say what you have said” section of your work.

Here, you re-summarize the main arguments and sources. Once again, you must explain the importance of your research; how it contributes fresh ideas to your area of study.

Finally, leave your audience with a sense of completion. Wrap your paper up, and offer final comments or thoughts. Leave the reader looking hopefully towards the future.

Writing The Draft

After collecting sources and writing an outline, the first draft should come easy.

Here are a few steps to help you write the first draft:

• Refresh your memory by reading your note cards.
• Write off the note cards. Paraphrase, quote, or expand on the notes you have taken.
• Write summaries and explanations; brainstorm using note cards. Remember: this is your first draft! It doesn’t have to be perfect.
• At the end of each reference, quote, or statistic, write down the source. The source should already be written on your note card.
• Repeat for every section of the essay. Write body paragraphs before the introduction or conclusion.

And voila! You have a first draft ready for editing.*

As we have said before, you’ll spend most of the time doing research. Writing the first draft should be quick, as you will merely synthesize the information you’ve already learned.

When you’re writing, remember to offer your original ideas and insights into the topic. You don’t want to be paraphrasing other people’s work merely.

Research papers are all about fresh ideas.

Proofreading and Editing

The real magic of writing research papers lies in the editing process.

It is often best to write the first draft early so that you have several weeks left for editing. You are guaranteed to stumble on useful information and be inspired to add it to your paper.

The rule of thumb is to re-read your draft every few days and see if it reads naturally. Give it to your parents or peers, and ask them if the paper is exciting and straightforward.

Revising your draft means checking for a logical flow of ideas, analyzing the coherence and in-depth examinations in body paragraphs, and seeing whether the conclusion is valid.

It also means checking for grammar, and seeing whether you presented the essay in simple, understandable language. There are websites where you can check for grammar, clarity of writing and plagiarism like Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, etc.

Final Checklist

It’s time to go down the checklist to make sure you haven’t missed anything.

• Does my paper fully support the thesis statement?
• Does my paper adhere to my original outline?
• Did I present my arguments in the best possible logical sequence?
• Did I cite all my sources in MLA format?
• I gave personal insight into the information and statistics presented in my sources.
• Did I make my intentions clear in the introduction of the essay?
• Does the conclusion give the paper a sense of completeness?

We hope you have found this guide useful and you can now write a good research paper! With this knowledge, you can write a research paper and have fun doing it!

Research Paper Examples

As in every one of our blogs, we offer free research paper examples to help you with your writing.

Expert writers wrote these examples in the academic field. Feel free to download them and use them for reference.

1. IMPACT OF CONSUMERISM ON PERSONAL IDENTITY

Consumerism is known to influence the personal identity of the consumers through some ways. For instance, the advertisement and the concept that a manufacturer uses in its brand often have an impact on the user…

2. BUSINESS ETHICS: THE ETHICALITY OF SWEATSHOPS

Business ethics refers to the principles that guide the way businesses are carried out. It implies the distinction between right and wrong in conducting business (Shaw 2).

3. SHOULD PARENTS BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN’S ACTIONS?

Recently, it has been stated that youth gang connected attacks have been occurring, with some even causing deaths, such as the killing of a college student at Suburbs East.

HOW TO START A RESEARCH PAPER

Before we begin writing our research paper, let’s take a look at the definition. A research paper is a type of writing in which the author does an independent analysis of the topic and describes the findings from that investigation. Furthermore, one will have to identify the weaknesses and strengths of the subject and evaluate them accordingly.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Deciding On Topic
• Researching & Analyzing
• Writing Process
• Title Page

A research paper uses primary sources and data to support a thesis statement. Despite the level of your education or the chosen field of research, you will need to follow simple rules to spark your first words. This multi-step process includes:

• selecting a topic;
• formulating a thesis statement;
• conducting research using up to date sources.

Deciding On Topic

Choose the Best One

After filtering out various options, come up with the most suitable topic for the paper and begin researching. Sometimes, you may be forced to adjust your topic in the process of writing. This is a common occurrence so do not let it concern you.

How to Choose a Topic Quickly

You will probably bounce around from one good research topic to another until you finally decide on one. To choose a topic quickly, your best option is to select one that you are well versed in. Using the background knowledge you have will save you time so you can focus more on the writing process and less on the brainstorming.

Read the Assignment

It does not matter whether you are writing a research paper assigned by your high school teacher or college professor. Moreover, your paper will definitely have guidelines and requirements which will make the entire process much easier.

Find the Golden Center

Let’s imagine that you are writing about steroids and their effects. Surely, you can cover this theme in 200 pages, but if your assignment is to write a 10-page research paper, you will need to be more specific. Narrow down and focus on more specific questions. For example: Which steroids have the biggest side effects? Which components cause side effects? What are the side effects? How can sportsman avoid side effects?

Researching + Analyzing

Find primary and secondary sources

Depending on your theme, you will need to collect information to support your claims. If your paper is on a history topic, you will need to find primary sources like old documents, encyclopedias, old war footage, etc. to support your thesis statement. If your topic is about science, you may need to conduct an experiment and base your paper on the obtained findings. Otherwise, you can find information using labs, encyclopedias and other sources.

Don’t forget to take notes

While you are busy conducting research or analyzing an experiment, don’t forget to take notes. Taking thorough notes keeps your mind involved in your activity. It will help you create a paper outline later on, saving lots of time.

Check the reliability of your sources

Research and confirm the validity of the author and sources so you can be sure that they are credible.

TIPS:
Answer these questions to avoid careless mistakes.

• Am I sure that all my quotations, paraphrases, and summaries are accurate?
• Am I sure that my references are accurate?
• Is my documentation in the proper form that my instructor assigned?

Writing Process

Draft an Outline

The best thing about an outline is that it helps you organize your thoughts before beginning the writing process. Moreover, when your outline is done, it becomes much easier to identify what needs to come first.

Create the Thesis

• Make sure your thesis is clear
• Remember, the thesis is your argument. Make sure it sounds assertive.
• Write two-three versions of your thesis and choose the best one
• Share your thesis with a neutral person to get a straightforward outcome
• Discuss your thesis with others; sometimes people have good ideas
• It should appear in your introduction and be restated in conclusion

Introductory Sentence

Start your introductory sentence broad and work your way into a topic.

• Don’t make your subject look too boring
• Make sure that your statement relates to your thesis
• Make sure that everyone can understand your statement if you don’t want to be criticized from the very beginning.

Explain the Terminology

If you want to avoid any misunderstandings from your audience, the first thing you should do is lay out any specific/unusual words. Attempt to avoid using obscure terms so your reader won’t be confused.

What is convenient and what is not

You can start with an analytical statement or with a true story in almost all cases, but for example, if you are writing about photosynthesis in a plant cell, telling a story would be inconvenient.

Research Paper Title Page

MLA Title Page

Here are some tips from our writing team on how to format your research paper MLA title page:

• This page is double spaced and the letters are centered.
• Type the name of your university or college.
• Skip to about one-third of the page and type your research paper title, include a subtitle if you have.
• Skip several lines down and type your name, your course name and number, your instructor name and your paper’s due date.

APA Title Page

Place the running head in your page’s header:

• Use label “Running head:” then your shortened title (IN UPPERCASE LETTERS), align left
• Place the page number in this same header, but align right, begin with page number 1
• This header should be 1 inch from the top. Some teachers say 1/2 inch is okay too.
• Place your paper’s title in the upper half of the page, centered, capitalize the first letter of important words in your title.
• Place your University’s name below your name, double-spaced.

Writing the First Draft

Moving forward, you should consistently support the thesis with information collected during your research. Keep in mind that, before editing, you need to create a complete rough draft. Also, don’t forget about the research paper structure, since it is crucial to make the text easier comprehensible.

Check the Grammar

Spending hours writing endlessly may lead to poor results. This could be things such as grammar mistakes, misinterpretation of the facts, spelling mistakes, and an overall lack of eloquence in the text.

TIPS:

• Avoid homonyms such as lie (to recline)/lie (to tell a falsehood), mean (average)/mean (not nice), kind (type)/kind (caring), etc.
• Introduce direct quotations, spaces and punctuation properly
• Don’t forget to find and correct punctuation and sentence errors, especially regarding commas, sentence fragments, and run-on sentences
• Introduce direct quotations spaces and punctuations properly

Avoid Plagiarism

If you use another person’s opinions or ideas, make sure to give them credit. Consult your professor about the right citation style to use. Styles such as the MLA format and the APA format are the more common ones, and they have different requirements for citing sources.

Almost Done

Print out your draft and check it with a pen or pencil. Read it out loud, and when you hear how it sounds, you might notice unsuitable words or sentences. These things will ease your life and help to find little mistakes easier.

Go and get your A+!

Now after you have done all this hard work, you can go and submit your paper. Just don’t miss the deadline!

100 RESEARCH PAPER TOPICS AND HOW TO CHOOSE TOPICS TO WRITE ABOUT

Imagine you were selected to prove that homeschooling is as effective as traditional learning. Without proper evidence, these words cost nothing. It is the author’s point of view, and it is impossible to convince community pf your truth without facts and statistics.

How can one get them? The answer is obvious: through in-depth research that will show almost 2 million students were recently homeschooled in the United States.

With our research paper topics, you will learn how to pick relevant research paper ideas and find evidence. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is a Research Paper?
• 7 Types of a Research Paper
• How to Write a Research Paper
• How To Write a Research Paper Outline
• How to Choose a Topic for a Research Paper
• 100 Examples of Interesting Research Paper Topics
• Final Checklist
• Need Tutor Assistance?

What is a Research Paper?

Before moving on, let us define a research paper. It is a type of college academic writing assignment which explores the specific research paper topics based on the in-depth analysis of the problem. Research papers are one of the most common tasks set to encourage students to become familiar with the types of literature in the academic world. The assignment of this type has several goals to accomplish.

1. Define a certain problem
2. Collect and evaluate information
3. Provide new ways to solve the issue

Another purpose is to motivate the target audience to read the entire piece and continue exploring the suggested problem topics for research papers.

7 Types of a Research Paper

Without understanding the assignment and goals, a student will fail the mission. There are several types of research paper exist. They have different structures, formats, purposes, etc. Keep in mind the most popular types of such writing assignments:

Whether you are talking about high school level students looking at secondary sources or university students who are focusing more on primary sources, the task remains similar. The student needs to sift through a lot of papers. The institution wants a student to engage with the body of academic works. Research papers are a great way to assess how someone is comprehending and interacting with the writings within a field.

How to Write a Research Paper?

This section contains a brief list of tips to help students write their assignments. We will look at each element in the separate parts.

Simplify the writing process with these recommendations:

1. Plan ahead — do not postpone the work on the project (it is better to have a minimum of 1 month left before the submission date);
2. Develop a strong thesis statement and verify it with your tutor — it is the central claim which should be short, clear, relevant, and concise;
3. Take notes during the process of investigation;
4. Come up with a detailed outline;
5. Stick to the instructions / prompt;
6. Create a rough draft to show your teacher and keep on polishing it.

How to Write a Research Paper Outline?

An outline is a critical part of any writing as it is an action plan created to help the writer work on the essay step-by-step without losing the point. An outline may have a different number of points. A research paper outline is different from an essay by its structure. It consists of:

1. Title page
2. Abstract
3. Introduction
4. Methods
5. Results
6. Discussion
7. Annotated bibliography
8. Appendix

How to Choose a Topic for a Research Paper?

No matter whether you are interested in selecting high school research paper topics or research topics for college students, follow the algorithm used to pick the most interesting one!

Brainstorm. Brainstorming refers to the process of generating creative ideas and solutions through freewheeling, active discussion in the team. It means a student should gather with other peers or family members to develop plans. Make sure you have a:

• Personal issue of your interest;
• Strong position towards the social/political controversy;
• A recent news story related to the field of your attention;
• Inspect of a class that you would like to explore more.

Review background information. Start with reading a general encyclopedia article or the official glossary definition on the top 3-5 topics you think about. Read a broad summary. This way, a student can obtain an overview of the issue and see the way their idea is connected with the related problems. Such action guarantees a fresh source for detecting words used to discuss the chosen topic. Experts recommend turning such words into the keywords.

Example: International criminal law research topics would have such keywords as international, criminal, law, legal, regulations, court, justice, foreign, crimes, war, tribunals, etc.

Focus on the topic. The topic must be manageable. Check whether the topic of your choice is neither broad or narrow and come up with the necessary changes to make it readable and understandable. Here are ways to restrict the brand topic:

• By location
• By culture
• By period
• By discipline
• By population

Be flexible. Do not hesitate to make any changes during the writing process if you believe they will help to get the main point. Do not switch to another topic – change only the body. Stick to the recommended guidelines specified by the tutor (observe the table below to get what it means).

Extra Tips from Advanced Academic Writers

A topic should be a focused research question. Here are several examples to make you understand the point:

Ideas = Joanne Rowling or modern literature

Question = How has Joanne Rowling affected modern literature?

Focused question = What are some of the approaches to the genre of fantasy used by Joanne Rowling that are common in contemporary British literature?

Read more about the topic. Based on the selected keywords, surf the web to find the answers to the main question and see if any reasonable solutions are available.

Develop a thesis statement. It could be the answer to the question or a way to clearly state the goal of the study. Do not make a thesis statement longer than 2-3 sentences.

100 Examples of Interesting Research Paper Topics

College Research Paper Topics

College students first face research paper writing assignments during the first year. These topics to write about will do for the freshmen!

1. Tutor competency examinations VS degree requirements alone
2. Separation of church & state against religion’s contribution to the public good
3. Fairness to families who have to pay twice for education
4. Drug & alcohol abuse among teenagers
5. High rates of pregnancy among college girls
6. The desire to commit suicide while studying in college
7. A right to choose courses a student believes are important
8. Ability to skip useless classes
9. Reasons why young adolescents in the United States should adopt the British custom of running a “gap year” between high school & college
10. College education and funding

High School Research Paper Topics

High school teachers do not assign research papers often. Still, explore this list of topics to write about to be on the wave! Use these as good research topics for middle school as well.

1. Bilingual education compared to the traditional approach
2. Policing public schools
3. Permit corporal punishment
4. Placement by age & placement by skills
5. Students with disabilities should not be allowed to study with their healthy peers
6. The problems associated with bullying in the US high schools
7. Teacher’s demands against teaching being a service occupation
8. Is no child left behind act working?
9. Are standardized English tests efficient?
10. What are the primary reasons for grade inflation?

Psychology Research Paper Topics for College Students

What about exploring the possible psychology ideas. Be sure to cite papers like this using APA or MLA format.

1. Mental disorders, including self-harm and cutting
2. Eating disorders in the US community & childhood obesity
3. Tourette syndrome: Cause & effects
4. Exercising on work time as the way to reduce the level of stress
5. Common sleep disorders and ways to resist them
6. How can a patient’s family help to deal with schizophrenia?
7. What are the biological and psychological roots of sociopathy?
8. Is electroshock a legal, effective method of treatment?
9. Coma recovery on the mental level
10. Describing the pros & cons of modern asylums

Science Research Paper Topics

A scientific study is the heart of any research paper. Discover the top recommended scientific ideas!

1. Stem cells to play a crucial role in the medical treatment of various diseases
2. Forensic science technology
3. Discussing alchemy and the ways it has been implemented
4. Obstacles faced by scientists in breaking the sound barrier
5. Nuclear energy: Its opportunities & threats
6. Technologies available to households to assist them in conserving energy
7. The risks & possible adverse outcomes of using nuclear power
8. How can registered nurses save babies born before 27 weeks?
9. How does breastfeeding improve the infant’s health?
10. Is screwing for breast cancer effective?

Religion & Literature Research Paper Topics

This list is for students who love reading. Let us help choose the best literature ideas to analyze?

1. Reasons why the Bible should be viewed as literature
2. The controversies concerning Shakespearean authorship
3. The relationship between Dante and Virgil
4. Exploring the Divine Comedy as the world masterpiece
5. In-depth analysis of the unusual structure of A Winter’s Tale
6. The religious significance of the Quran
7. Compare Anna Karenina with Madame Bovary
8. Dickens failed with writing a serious, romantic narrative in his novels
9. A single true religion
10. The metaphysical in Donne’s poetry

Argumentative Research Paper Topics

In argumentative writing, a writer should take a particular position. Choose a debate and think which side you support.

1. Unborn victims of violence
2. Scientific evidence VS definition of viability
3. Reasons to support euthanasia in medical practice
4. The Internet makes modern people smarter
5. The federal government must regulate information available on the Internet
6. Body language is what matters in dating most of al
7. Congressional opposition to presidential filibusters
8. People infected with HIV should receive free treatment
9. Revoking drivers license: Necessity and interpretation
10. Animal protection is more important than business needs

Good US History Research Paper Topics

Do you need history research topics for high school students that cover only the United States or the entire world? We have examples of both!

1. The Blackwell Companion to religion in the United States
2. A revolution down on the farm of Northern America
3. American agriculture: Its social history
4. In the past lane: Historical Perspectives on the culture of the US
5. The dynamics of American politics: Approaches & explanations
6. Presidential campaigns & self-images
7. The market revolution: Jacksonian US
8. The battle cry of freedom: The Civil War epoch
9. Yankees today: Immigrants from Europe
10. The guide to the US females in the XIX century

Human Rights & Human Resource Paper Topics

Some of the research topics for high school students include those dedicated to our rights.

1. Discrimination in the workplace is the most significant issue of some contemporary companies
2. Diversity at the workplace
3. Ways to motivate employees to work harder
4. Whistleblowing and problems associated with it
5. Key performance indicator (KPI): How it works
6. Getting rid of stress at the workplace
7. Benefit programs every business is obligated to provide
8. The impact of wages on the productivity of employees
9. Ways businesses can adequately protect their private information
10. Strategies companies can use to hire qualified staff better

Law Enforcement Topics for Research Paper

Are you studying in a Law School? Are you attending MBA courses? In both situations, you will need a list of excellent topics on various regulations, legal cases, legislation, etc.

1. Racial discrimination: Reasons why people around the world feel the racial injustice
2. The way gender discrimination affects law enforcement and regulations in place
3. Things they must change to assist officers with getting to the scene of crime quicker
4. Typical offenses committed by juveniles
5. The impact of racial profiling on the riots
6. Border patrol: How do people receive illegal substances into their states when crossing the border?
7. Does the government contribute enough to guarantee community protection?
8. How do they detonate explosive equipment?
9. The amount of time necessary for the police officer to train
10. Mass emergencies: Measures to be taken

Business Research Paper Topics

Students who are getting ready to obtain their Business Administration degrees should focus on the following topics:

1. Making four generations getting on well with each other in the workplace
2. Sticking to the principal regulations of the corporate law
3. Features that define a true business leader
4. Ensuring positive staff relationships
5. Ways to represent shareholders in non-public companies
6. Small business & taxation
7. Crowdfunding & outsourcing: Contemporary financing techniques
8. The advantages of running a small business
9. Things that make young startups fail during the first couple of years
10. Investing company’s assets into charity: Benefits

Final Checklist

Let’s sum up how to choose a good research paper topic:

• Gather with other students, mates or family members to generate ideas. List each of them.
• Choose 3-5 most relevant concepts, read some general article about each of them to pick your favorite one and make sure there is related information you can use.
• Make sure the topic is manageable and narrow.
• Follow the guidelines specified by your tutor.

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE

Can you imagine cooking your favorite meal for the first time without having step-by-step instructions? It is easy to get lost! Just like a wanderer who cannot find a way out of the woods, a writer needs to know how to write an outline for a research paper. It will prevent one from facing writer’s block. In this article, we are going to discuss what does an outline look like, what’s it concept and goals and view some vivid examples.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Concept & Goals of a Research Paper Outline
• MLA Research Paper Outline
• Mastering APA Outline Format
• Writing An Outline
• Things to Remember
• Research Paper Outline Example
• Need Help with Creating an Outline?

Concept & Goals of a Research Paper Outline

What is an outline and why does it matter? A research paper outline is a plan written by the author to avoid stucking in the middle of the process. Call it an action plan. This part reveals the primary ideas of the study. Once a writer is done with the list of research paper topics to explore, it is necessary to dedicate some time to the outline development.

What is the difference between learning how to write a research paper outline and how to make a table of contents? Well, an outline is not that detailed, and there is no need to put numbers of pages next to each section. An outline allows the amalgamation and review of the study. A writer will not repeat their words; he will stick to the logical flow with the help of an outline.

The assignment’s prompt may not say to write an outline. However, if a project is more than 1000 words in length, a professor utilizes a research paper outline by default. For example, a 5-paragraph essay requires an outline. It will not be possible to develop a 10,000-word coursework or dissertation without having a plan. An outline structure depends on the type of academic assignment and its format.

MLA Research Paper Outline

MLA is the easiest and most frequently met research paper format, so we should start explaining how to write an outline for a research paper on this example. The Modern Language Association proposed this guide a long time ago. It is used to cite works by the students and professionals from the following fields:

• Comparative literary analysis
• Cultural studies
• History & Anthropology
• English Composition
• Literature
• Foreign language & literature
• Literary criticism

Use MLA outline when working on the papers from these fields. Start with the primary headings (“Intro” and “Method”) using the upper-case Roman numerals. If the paper is long, with many different subsections, the student should use letters and numbers for the various levels of subheadings.

In a draft, arrange the things in the proper order. Do not go into details until starting the final version of the research paper outline. This part defines how the writer will come up with other integral parts (example: Literature Review).

Use a couple of tips from college professors.

1. Depending on the tool a writer uses to create documents, he/she should make sure if the different levels of the outline (II, B, 3, c, j) correspond to the headings in the Microsoft Word as most professors accept only DOC & DOCS format.
2. MLA changes its writing guide! Before developing an outline for a research paper, read a recently released version of the manual to see if there are any changes to this resaerch paper format.

Mastering APA Research Paper Outline

An APA is a most frequently used format when it comes to writing a research paper, and it is more complicated than MLA. The American Psychological Association has established it. Students and professionals use APA essay format in these fields:

• Psychology
• Social sciences
• Humanities
• Healthcare & nursing
• Education

The representatives of other fields apply APA paper format from time to time too. We have prepared a tasty infographic with an APA outline example, which is based on the 6th edition of the manual.

Let’s view that structure in details.

A Detailed Outline: Critical Elements to Consider

Title/Cover Page

It is the opening section to introduce the major details. The length of the recommended title is 60 characters. On the whole, do not miss this information in the title page:

• Your full name
• Professor’s name
• Peers who took part in the investigation(if any)
• Submission date

Abstract

A summary is an integral part of the research paper. In college, they call it an abstract. The length of such text should not exceed 250-300 words (1/3 of an A4 page), and a student should include the basic findings, their significance, and a brief conclusion.

Introduction

Experts recommend painstaking the entire research into the investigation’s background. Try to explain why the chosen problem is necessary to analyze and discuss. Mention the results you expected to obtain during the working process, and state a hypothesis that should enclose the introduction (it would be the thesis). Also, don’t forget to mention the thesis statement or the topic of your research.

Methodology

List the tools, equipment, & techniques used to carry out a study. This section should make it possible to replicate the investigation step-by-step. The goal of the section is to allow other scientists interested in the same research question to continue the investigation.

Results & Discussion (R&D)

In most cases, writers combine results and discussion in one huge section. They are interrelated. Start with sharing the findings of the study. Go on interpreting the meaning of the results for the society and provide a short synopsis of the main components: figures and statistical examinations. While adding any visual elements for understanding (graphs, images, etc.), place the numbers next to each of them to provide details in the last section — Appendix.

Conclusion

In the Conclusion part, it is necessary to include:

• A summary of the results
• Paraphrased thesis statement
• Value of the research paper
• Ways to implement the findings
• Some forecasts
• References

Based on the chosen paper format, develop a full list of references. Each time you cite something, write the source’s details on a separate piece of paper. It will speed up the process at the end.

Things to Remember

• An outline is like an action plan which guides you through the writing process.
• You need to write an outline if your assignment is more than 1000 words in lenght.
• Basically, the outline contains three main sections: the Introduction, the Body and the Conclusion.
• The outline format depends on the type of academic assignment (MLA, APA).
• Before developing a research paper outline, read the latest version of the manual according to the chosen format of the research paper.

Research Paper Outline Example

Also, check free research paper outline template example: Developing an Attention-Grabbing Resume! The example is written according to APA writing style guidelines – the rules of the game maybe be different for other formats.

RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE TEMPLATE

HOW TO CITE A RESEARCH PAPER

Dissertations, thesis, and all kinds of academic papers will need to be cited using citation styles, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago. Citing academic papers properly are done to counteract plagiarism.

These citing formats are used to recognize related literary pieces and to mention references used. You should study various citing styles and research paper well before producing essays or any other pieces of academic writing.

In this article, we will be tackling how to format research papers as well as how to properly reference academic papers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• APA Research Paper Format
• How to Cite a Research Paper in APA
• MLA Research Paper Format
• How to Cite a Research Paper in MLA Format
• Research Paper in Chicago Style
• How to Cite a Research Paper in Chicago Style
• ASA Research Paper Format
• How To Cite a Research Paper in ASA Format
• Get a Prompt Help

APA Research Paper Format

APA (American Psychological Association) research paper format is often used in papers related to psychology and social sciences. In this citation, there is a general format in referencing through endnotes/footnotes, in-text, and reference pages. Academic papers in APA citation has general writing guidelines.

Papers should be typed, double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5″ x 11″) with 1″ margins on all sides. You should use a clear font that is highly readable. APA recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Include a page header at the top of every page. To create a page header, insert page numbers flush right. Then type the title of your paper in the header flush left using all capital letters.

The page header is a shortened version of your paper’s title and cannot exceed 50 characters including spacing and punctuation.

Talking about how to write a research paper in APA format, your APA paper should have four major sections:

• Title page
• Abstract
• Main Body
• References

How to Cite a Research Paper in APA

There are specific rules to follow when citing a research paper in APA. The following are the specific formats to follow:

• Book: Author, A.A.. (Year of Publication). The Title of work. Publisher City, State: Publisher.
• Example: Finney, J. (1970). Time and again. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
• Magazine: Author, A.A.. (Year, a month of Publication). Article title. Magazine Title, Volume(Issue), pp.-pp.
• Example: Tumulty, K. (2006, April). Should they stay or should they go? Time, 167(15), 3-40.
• Newspaper: Author, A.A.. (Year, Month Date of Publication). Article title. Magazine Title, pp. xx-xx.
  Rosenberg, G. (1997, March 31). An electronic discovery proves an effective legal weapon.The New York Times, p. D5.
• Website: Author, A.A.. (Year, Month Date of Publication). Article title. Retrieved from URL
• Example: Simmons, B. (2015, January 9). The tale of two Flaccos. Retrieved from {link}

MLA Research Paper Format

MLA (Modern Language Association) format format is commonly used in liberal arts and humanities. Let’s talk a bit about how to write a research paper in MLA format.This format has principles rather than a set of specific rules to be followed. Papers in MLA format provides a process of documentation.

MLA recommends using Times New Roman font in size 12. The entire paper should be double spaced with 1-inch margins on all sides. Tab once to indent paragraphs (½ inch). Your last name and a page number should be inserted on the upper right-hand corner of the first page.

How to Cite a Research Paper in MLA Format

The following are formats to follow in citing research paper in MLA format:

• Book: Last Name, First Name. Book Title. Publisher City: Publisher Name, Year Published. Medium.
• Example: Smith, John. The Sample Book. Pittsburgh: BibMe, 2008. Print.
• Magazine: Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Magazine Name Publication Date: Page Numbers. Medium.
• Example: Smith, John. “Obama inaugurated as President.” Time 21 Jan. 2009: 21-23. Print.
• Newspaper: Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Newspaper Name Publication Date: Page Numbers. Medium.
• Example: Smith, John. “Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2 Feb. 2009: 4-6. Print.
• Website: Last Name, First Name. “Page Title.” Website Title.Sponsoring Institution/Publisher. Publication Date: Page Numbers. Medium.
• Example: Smith, John. “Obama inaugurated as President.” CNN.com. Cable News Network, 21 Jan. 2009. Web. 1 Feb. 2009.

Research Paper in Chicago Style

The Chicago style of citing is commonly used in humanities. It requires writers to cite sources in end notes or footnotes. This citation provides the author with an avenue to express accountability and credibility to related literature or references used in written material. It helps an academic writer provide quotations in a research paper, as well as being commonly used for book bibliographies.

How to Cite a Research Paper in Chicago Style

The following are Chicago style formats to follow:

• Book: Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher City: Publisher Name, Year Published.
• Example: Brown, Dan. The DaVinci Code. New York: Scholastic, 2004.
• Magazine: Last Name, First Name. Article title. Magazine Title, Month Date, Year of publication.
• Example: Chan, Dan. The art of pandas. Panda Magazine, Nov 10, 1985.
• Newspaper: Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Newspaper Name, Publication Date.
• Example: Smith, John. “Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 2, 2009.
• Website: Last Name, First Name. “Page Title.” Website Title. Web Address (retrieved Date Accessed).
• Example: Smith, John. “Obama inaugurated as President.” {link} (accessed February 1, 2009).

ASA Research Paper Format

The leading American method of referencing and quotation created by Sociological Association. Sociological students and scholars use the ASA citation format primarily for writing university research papers in sociology or for submitting articles to ASA journals.

For the detailed information about ASA elements of style, visit the American Sociological Association official website or read our Guide to ASA Citation and Writing Style.

How To Cite a Research Paper in ASA Format

• Book: Author’s Last and First Name. Year of Publication. Title. Country of Publisher: Publisher.
• Example: James, Henry. 2003. The Turn of the Screw. New York: Barns & Noble Books.
• E-Books: Author’s Last and First Name. Year of Publication. Title. Country of Publisher: Publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year {link}.
• Example: James, Henry. 2003. The Turn of the Screw. New York: Penguin Books Kindle Version. Retrieved January 18, 2017. {link}
• Journal Article: Author’s Last and First Name. Year of Publication. “Title.” Journal Name issue #: inclusive page numbers.
• Example: Feekins, Bo. 2008. “Chasing Tree Frogs.” National Geographic #182. 6-10
• Magazine Article: Author’s Last and First Name. Year of Pub. “Title.” Magazine Name, Month Year, pp. Inclusive page numbers.
• Example: Geary, Rachel. 2012. “The Issue with Mastery Learning.” New York Times, April 2002. Pp. 15-23.
• Website: Author’s Last and First Name. Date of Publishing. Title. Publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year {link}.
• Example: Lee, Bruce. 03.09.2004. Birth of a Nation. Retrieved 18.01.2017. {link}

HOW TO CITE A RESEARCH PAPER USING MLA FORMAT

If you are a high school or college student, there will definitely be a time when you find yourself in a position where you need to cite a research paper, dissertation, or create an annotated bibliography. There are various styles of formatting, but the most commonly used ones are the MLA, APA, and Chicago styles. Using these formatting styles helps to ensure that the writers do not engage in plagiarism and it also simplifies the process of locating sources used within the essay. Our App will teach you how to correctly cite a research paper using MLA Format.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What Is MLA Formatting Style
• Formatting The Front Page
• The In-text Citation
• Example of a Research Paper in MLA Format

What is MLA Formatting?

MLA is the formatting style of the Modern Language Association. It is used in areas such as English studies, comparative literature, foreign language, and literature or cultural studies. It is an academic style guide extensively used in the United States, Canada, and other countries. It mostly provides guidelines for writing and documentation of research in humanities and English literature.

Formatting The Front Page

There are four key components that come with setting up within proper MLA rules:

• Page Margins should be EXACTLY 1 inch on both sides of the text.
• Set the line spacing from single to double-spaced. This makes reading the text less crammed on the eye and allows the professor to make necessary comments in a neat and organized manner.
• Create a header that has your last name as well as the automatic page number. This is done to keep track of the page order and it also looks pleasant on the eye!
• Lastly, enter the required course information on the top-left corner of the front page. It should look like this:
• Full Name
• Name of Teacher/Professor
• Name of Course
• Due Date for Assignment

The In-text Citation

When citing a research paper, include references within two sections:

• The quotes used within the essay
• The Works Cited page at the end

The citation information in the body of the paper itself is called the “in-text citation”. The most obvious time to use it in text is when you use a quote from a source directly or refer to it by title or author.

Generally, you need to list the writer’s last name and page number enclosed within parentheses straight after the quote. If the author’s name is included as a feature of your sentence, then you only have to include the page number in the bracket.

Example:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” (Frost 1).
Kenneth Burke has described human beings as “symbol-using animals” (3).

As you can see, Burke’s name was included in the sentence, so there is no need for repetition in the citation.

The Detailed Information

• References: When providing references in research paper you must inform the readers about the sources you used to cite this information. The reference page is known as the “Works Cited”. This page is where the author gives credit to the source. Things that are placed within a citation include: alphabetical order of authors last name, title of article and date issued.
• Follow this format exactly: Author(s)-> “Title of Article.” ->Title of Journal Volume.->Issue (Year): pages
  Electronic Sources. For electronic sources utilize the inventor’s name and page number or area number for in-substance references. This is only if the information does not have page or section numbers by any methods. By then, you would basically include the author’s name in the section after you have referred to the recorded information.

Selecting An Appropriate Method of the In-text Citation.

In-text citations are most times parenthetical, which means that information are always added to the end of the sentence in parentheses. But if you include that necessary information in the language of the sentence itself, you should not include the parenthetical citation.

For example, if the author’s name is found within the in-text citation, then there is no need to add it at the end; simply add the page number and your referencing is finished!

Arrangement of the In-text Citation

Having two sources from the same author may confuse the reader. When they check the source, they will find two different articles. To avoid this confusion, you must include a short title of the research citation, so the readers know which of the citations to look for.

When a source has two or three authors, you should include all authors’ last names. Whereas, when you have four or more authors then you have to write them all out following the last name of the first Author.

Example of a Research Paper in MLA Format

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