Writing well: What are the elements of a

research paper?
By Hailee Romain, Newsela staff on 03.25.22
Word Count 861
Level 830L

Writing a research paper is one of the most common types of writing in high school and college. Photo: pablohart/Getty images

Don't be afraid of writing a research paper! It is one of the most common types of writing in high
school and college, and the more often you write them, the easier they will become. What goes into
writing a successful one?

A research paper is academic writing. It has a strong central argument supported by information
found through research. The goal is to offer an original viewpoint. You also must cite sources
within the text, based on specific citation styles. You should also include a bibliography, or a
reference list, at the end of the paper.

A good research paper does not repeat what others have said. Rather, it uses reliable sources to
support an original argument. The writer analyzes the evidence and draws his or her own

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conclusions. Whenever possible, avoid using words like"I" or "you." The essay should also be free
of emotional language.

Getting Started

It's best to pick a topic with a narrow focus. It's harder to support broad arguments. Choose
something you like or are interested in. You don't need to know everything from the start.

Almost all research papers fall into one of three categories. These are argumentative, expository
and analytical. The goal of an argumentative research paper is to influence the reader about
something. In an expository research paper, you explain information using research. In an
analytical research paper, you use data to understand an event or process. These categories may be
mixed to some extent, but each gives a different way to present your topic.

Let's say you are curious about the Electoral College. These are the electors who come together
every four years during the presidential election. They cast their official votes for president and
vice president of the United States. You might choose to write an argumentative essay on whether
the Electoral College is the best way to choose the president. An expository paper would explain
why the Founders of America decided to create it. In an analytical essay, you could use
geographical data to compare the Electoral College with other ways of holding elections.

Once you have a topic and have decided how to present it, it's time to write a thesis statement.
Your thesis should be one to two sentences long. It should make a claim that can be supported by
evidence. Your thesis will likely change as you research.

Researching And Organizing

In researching your topic, use fact-checked sources, such as academic journals and magazines or
newspapers. Decide if the author is believable and if the piece was written with a particular
intention. Compare information from different sources to see if you find any differences.

Use both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are firsthand accounts. They include
government documents, autobiographies and personal letters. Secondary sources are written after
an event, like biographies or newspaper articles.

A quick internet search will get you familiar with your topic. Wikipedia has information about
many subjects. It often highlights important keywords and contains a list of references that you
can use for your own research.

Stay organized. Carefully record the source of your notes so you can cite them as you write. A
citation style is a set of rules telling how to cite sources. You also need to know which style guide
you should use. Usually, your teacher will recommend which citation style to follow.

In your notes, copy something down word for word only if you will be using a direct quote.
Otherwise, try to summarize the ideas in your own words. This will help you avoid accidental
plagiarism, or passing off someone else's work as your own.

Next, organize the information you've found. Group similar ideas together, and identify larger
themes. What new conclusions can you draw from the research? Check to see if you must change
your thesis to fit the facts you found. Create an outline before writing to keep your thoughts
organized.

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Writing A Draft

The introduction should grab the reader's attention. It shouldn't be boring! Give background
information on your topic, and end the paragraph with your thesis statement.

Each body paragraph focuses on one of your mini-arguments. Use proper paragraph organization.
Every paragraph should support your thesis. All information should be accurately cited, with the
correct citation style.

Once finished with the body, conclude the essay by quickly restating your argument and
supporting points. You should review and edit your paper several more times. Ask a trusted
classmate or family member to look over the paper and provide feedback.

Key Points

In a research paper, the author should use different sources and provide their own viewpoint.
Sources should be properly documented with a bibliography.

Choose a topic that you'd like to learn more about.

Decide how you want to frame your paper. Will it be an argumentative essay, an explanatory
essay or an analytical essay?

Use reliable primary and secondary sources.

The essay should begin with an introduction that hooks the reader. This should be followed by
at least three body paragraphs that support your thesis statement. The conclusion should sum
up your main point and restate your thesis in a different way.

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Quiz

1 How is the structure of the section "Researching And Organizing" similar to the structure of the section "Key Points"?

(A) They both compare different types of research papers.

(B) They both describe pros and cons of using secondary sources.

(C) They both explain steps in writing a research paper.

(D) They both show problems with writing research papers.

2 If the section "Getting Started" were organized as problem and solution, which sentence would come FIRST?

(A) It's best to pick a topic with a narrow focus.

(B) It's harder to support broad arguments.

(C) Almost all research papers fall into one of three categories.

(D) Your thesis will likely change as you research.

3 Read the article's Introduction [paragraphs 1-3]. Select the sentence from the section that shows WHY students need to learn to
write research papers.

(A) It is one of the most common types of writing in high school and college, and the more often you write
them, the easier they will become.

(B) It has a strong central argument supported by information found through research.

(C) You should also include a bibliography, or a reference list, at the end of the paper.

(D) Whenever possible, avoid using words like "I" or "you."

4 Read the section "Writing A Draft." Which sentence from the section supports the conclusion that outside advice is important
when writing research papers?

(A) The introduction should grab the reader's attention.

(B) Each body paragraph focuses on one of your mini-arguments.

(C) Once finished with the body, conclude the essay by quickly restating your argument and supporting
points.

(D) Ask a trusted classmate or family member to look over the paper and provide feedback.

The article explains how to write a strong research paper by following clear steps. First, choose a
specific topic and decide on the type of paper: argumentative, explanatory, or analytical. After
selecting the topic, create a thesis statement to guide your argument. Next, gather reliable
sources like books and journals, using both primary and secondary sources, and organize your
notes to avoid plagiarism. When writing, start with an engaging introduction that ends with your
thesis statement. Each body paragraph should support a part of the thesis, and the conclusion
should restate your main points. Finally, revise the paper and seek feedback from others, making
sure to properly cite all sources. A good research paper is structured, well-researched, and
original.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.