Writing about anything that needs a certain amount of investigation and research on a subject, is simply called a research paper. According to Jim W.Corder, when a given subject cannot be developed based solely on the author’s own knowledge, requiring therefore “a specific treatment”, the assignment may become then, a research paper (Corder 407).
A good research paper must be able to offer the author as well as the reader, the opportunity lo learn something more about a given topic, providing therefore, a higher degree of specialization and knowledge to both. “The paper anticipates a potential reader’s questions about the topic and answers them” (Characteristics of an Excellent Paper).
Several aspects that a research paper must cover, in order to be considered as logic and helpful, are these:
A research paper is expected to have a clear and interesting outline sentence or thesis to capture people’s attention. This point is quite important for it allows the reader to obtain a general idea of what the paper will deal with and in what manner.
The text body is where the subject of the paper will be developed in a correct and simple form. It must show a clear focus on the chosen topic and it must not be unnecessarily long. On the contrary, its writing should be narrowed down to the specific area of interest in order to avoid divagation and useless rhetoric. “The normal English sentence construction of subject – verb – object should be followed whenever possible” (Characteristics of an Excellent Paper), trying to maintain simplicity as the common rule throughout the paper. It also must observe the correct use of grammar, punctuation and spelling. These aspects are so significant that their misusage can lead to a confusing and poorly developed work, regardless of how well documented it may be.
Research Paper Topic Information Template
Upon completing Unit 2, the next step in the research paper is to revise your research paper’s business-related topic and problem statement. As you compose this assignment, avoid performing research and using citations. Internet research is not needed because you are sharing your thoughts and not those of another author. The six parts of the critical thinking process provided as a Resource will ...
The summary is intended to show the readers the conclusions to which the author has arrived based on the research work done, as well as on personal knowledge and experience.
Finally, it must have an accurate bibliography of all the material consulted to acknowledge the contributions of other authors´ ideas and facts in the writing of the paper, giving the proper credits to those whose works were used as sources of information. Otherwise, the writer will be committing plagiarism, a very serious aspect that must be avoided at all times.
Plagiarism is defined “as the act of taking the writings of another person and passing them off as one’s own.” (Encyclopedia Britannica Online).
In a work done by the Capital Community College, of Hartford, Connecticut, the authors state that using someone else’s ideas, concepts, sentences, phrases and even conclusions without acknowledging the rightful owners is a serious offense. However, in the same work, the authors conclude that using facts of common knowledge does not imply plagiarism.
The bibliography must also allow the readers to investigate further more on any aspect treated on the research paper.
In sum, a research paper should be an extraordinary opportunity to investigate upon a subject considered of importance and relevance by the author, achieving and sharing therefore, a greater knowledge about the decided topic.
Works Cited
Characteristics of an Excellent Paper. Consulted 4 June 2008
Colder, Jim W. / Handbook of Current English 5th. / Glenview, Illinois / Scott, Foresman and
Company / 1978
Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Consulted 4 June 2008
A Guide for Writing Research Papers Based on Modern Language Association (MLA)
Documentation. “An Introduction to Research Techniques”. Capital Community College.
The Research paper on The Problem of Plagiarism Literature Review
A second form of plagiarism is when students have handed in reports that were written by their friends, even papers that were revised and handed in two or more times, making them obviously familiar to the teacher. Students can also find papers on many subjects on the Internet (for free or for a price); all they have to do is download and type their own name at the top (Renard, 2000, 39). A third ...
Consulted 4 June 2008
