How to Write a Research Paper That’ll Get You a Good Grade
There are roughly 20 million people enrolled in colleges across America today. That’s a number that has grown considerably over the last decade.
What does increased college enrollment mean for our society?
Better educated people, less poverty, and oh yeah – a whole lot of research papers being written.
Expanding on that last point, research papers are the quintessential right of passage when it comes to success in college. If you’re currently in or have graduated from a higher learning institution, chances are you’ve written a considerable amount of them.
But have the research papers you’ve written thus far been good? And if not, how can you improve your writing?
Below, our team shares some “How to write research paper” tips that can give your grades a massive boost!
1. Understand Your Subject
This may seem like it goes without saying, but based on the research papers that we’ve seen over the years and trends that we’ve identified, we thought this point was important to open with…
When you’re writing research papers, you have to understand your subject.
Research papers are not casual bits of writing that people consume for entertainment. They’re papers that argue a perspective effectively.
In order to do that, you need to understand all sides of the issues that you’re lamenting on. If you don’t, your paper will be dismissed as one that’s void of adequate research or one that has closed itself off from opposing viewpoints which can undermine your credibility.
2. Develop a Thesis Statement
Your research paper success hinges on presenting a solid thesis statement.
Your thesis statement is something that you’ll pose in the introduction of your paper. It communicates your core argument which you’ll offer support for throughout your piece.
If you don’t have a clear point of view when you open your research paper, you’ll find that the body of your paper will feel unengaging.
If you’re having trouble forming a thesis around the topic you’re writing about, you need to dig deeper into your subject matter before starting your assignment.
3. Outline Your Paper
Writing a research paper without knowing your general direction is a recipe for being redundant and not creating a piece that’s compelling. The best way to ensure that you have a blueprint as you complete your assignment is to invest in creating an outline.
Outlines are nothing more than bulleted lists that let you know what core topics and arguments you’ll be addressing throughout your paper. They’re particularly helpful when fleshing out the body of your piece.
The more time and preparation you put into fleshing out an outline, the faster and more clear your ideas will flow when constructing your actual research paper.
4. Pay Close Attention to Your Introduction and Conclusion
Introductions and conclusions play vital roles in ensuring your research paper success.
Your introduction not only sets up your whole paper but it’s also the first impression you’ll leave on your reader. If your introduction feels dry and uninteresting, the likelihood of people enthusiastically reading the rest of your work is slim.
Conclusions are important because they’re where you give your readers a takeaway that can potentially impact their worldviews. A great conclusion summarizes your paper’s key points and reminds readers of your thesis so they can cement in their heads what they’ve just read.
Oftentimes, we see research paper grades suffer, despite strong body content, because writers haven’t put enough time into their introduction and conclusion.
5. Speak With Authority
A good research paper is an assignment that’s backed by substantial evidence and is written by a subject expert. In order to instill confidence in your readers that you’re a credible voice, you’ll want to speak with authority.
Speaking with authority in your paper means reducing your use of conditional phrases like, “for the most part”. It also means staying away from casual language and the overuse of contractions that could get you branded as somebody that lacks professionalism.
Most of all, a strong, authoritative voice when you’re trying to figure out how to write a research paper comes from having a strong opinion. If your thesis is strong, your voice’s strength should follow.
6. Use Citations
Citing sources is one of the hardest elements of writing a research paper. As a matter of fact, stress around citations is a reason why a lot of people do business with buy research paper companies.
When citing sources, you’ll want to use formats that are considered in line with your assignment’s requested writing format. These formats are typically either MLA or APA.
Furthermore, you’ll want to stay away from citing sources that come from pages like Wikipedia or personal blogs.
A good place to start when looking for credible sources is on Google Scholar. If your school gives you access to scholastic databases like EBSCOHost, that’s another great place to dig up citations.
7. Revise
Every paper, research or otherwise, needs revisions in order to be the best version of itself.
Get feedback from your peers. Ask instructors for feedback in your AP classes. Re-read your paper multiple times.
The effort you put into finessing the research paper you’re going to turn in can have a profound impact on the grade that it receives.
Wrapping Up How to Write Research Paper Tips That’ll Get You a Good Grade
There are a lot of people out there looking to get their hands on solid, how to write research paper pointers.
If you do your best to follow our tips above, we think that you stand a great chance of writing excellent research pieces that your educators (or other audience members) will love.
Want more information on all things education, research and everything in between? If so, check out more of our content on Upgifs today!
