The research paper is a unique type of writing that takes skill, careful thought, and creativity. It involves identifying a problem or asking a question on a specific topic and then collecting and investigating facts and opinions about the topic from numerous sources. A research paper is different from a report in that the research paper writer must go one step beyond the mere summary of facts and inject an analytical or interpretive commentary on the subject, relying on the thoughts of others to support or clarify his conclusions. In the research paper, as in other essays, the writer must first define his purpose, then gather, select, and organize material, and finally develop his material into a unified essay.
There are eight steps in writing the research paper:
1. Selecting
a topic
2. Reading about and limiting the topic
3. Preparing a working bibliography
4. Formulating a thesis statement and a working
outline
5. Taking notes
6. Assembling notes and writing
the final outline
7. Writing the rough draft and creating
a works cited page
8. Writing the final copy (view format and a
sample)
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