Reference management. Clean and simple.

How to start your research paper [step-by-step guide]

best way to start a research paper

1. Choose your topic

2. find information on your topic, 3. create a thesis statement, 4. create a research paper outline, 5. organize your notes, 6. write your introduction, 7. write your first draft of the body, 9. write your conclusion, 10. revise again, edit, and proofread, frequently asked questions about starting your research paper, related articles.

Research papers can be short or in-depth, but no matter what type of research paper, they all follow pretty much the same pattern and have the same structure .

A research paper is a paper that makes an argument about a topic based on research and analysis.

There will be some basic differences, but if you can write one type of research paper, you can write another. Below is a step-by-step guide to starting and completing your research paper.

Choose a topic that interests you. Writing your research paper will be so much more pleasant with a topic that you actually want to know more about. Your interest will show in the way you write and effort you put into the paper. Consider these issues when coming up with a topic:

  • make sure your topic is not too broad
  • narrow it down if you're using terms that are too general

Academic search engines are a great source to find background information on your topic. Your institution's library will most likely provide access to plenty of online research databases. Take a look at our guide on how to efficiently search online databases for academic research to learn how to gather all the information needed on your topic.

Tip: If you’re struggling with finding research, consider meeting with an academic librarian to help you come up with more balanced keywords.

If you’re struggling to find a topic for your thesis, take a look at our guide on how to come up with a thesis topic .

The thesis statement is one of the most important elements of any piece of academic writing. It can be defined as a very brief statement of what the main point or central message of your paper is. Our thesis statement guide will help you write an excellent thesis statement.

In the next step, you need to create your research paper outline . The outline is the skeleton of your research paper. Simply start by writing down your thesis and the main ideas you wish to present. This will likely change as your research progresses; therefore, do not worry about being too specific in the early stages of writing your outline.

Then, fill out your outline with the following components:

  • the main ideas that you want to cover in the paper
  • the types of evidence that you will use to support your argument
  • quotes from secondary sources that you may want to use

Organizing all the information you have gathered according to your outline will help you later on in the writing process. Analyze your notes, check for accuracy, verify the information, and make sure you understand all the information you have gathered in a way that you can communicate your findings effectively.

Start with the introduction. It will set the direction of your paper and help you a lot as you write. Waiting to write it at the end can leave you with a poorly written setup to an otherwise well-written paper.

The body of your paper argues, explains or describes your topic. Start with the first topic from your outline. Ideally, you have organized your notes in a way that you can work through your research paper outline and have all the notes ready.

After your first draft, take some time to check the paper for content errors. Rearrange ideas, make changes and check if the order of your paragraphs makes sense. At this point, it is helpful to re-read the research paper guidelines and make sure you have followed the format requirements. You can also use free grammar and proof reading checkers such as Grammarly .

Tip: Consider reading your paper from back to front when you undertake your initial revision. This will help you ensure that your argument and organization are sound.

Write your conclusion last and avoid including any new information that has not already been presented in the body of the paper. Your conclusion should wrap up your paper and show that your research question has been answered.

Allow a few days to pass after you finished writing the final draft of your research paper, and then start making your final corrections. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gives some great advice here on how to revise, edit, and proofread your paper.

Tip: Take a break from your paper before you start your final revisions. Then, you’ll be able to approach your paper with fresh eyes.

As part of your final revision, be sure to check that you’ve cited everything correctly and that you have a full bibliography. Use a reference manager like Paperpile to organize your research and to create accurate citations.

The first step to start writing a research paper is to choose a topic. Make sure your topic is not too broad; narrow it down if you're using terms that are too general.

The format of your research paper will vary depending on the journal you submit to. Make sure to check first which citation style does the journal follow, in order to format your paper accordingly. Check Getting started with your research paper outline to have an idea of what a research paper looks like.

The last step of your research paper should be proofreading. Allow a few days to pass after you finished writing the final draft of your research paper, and then start making your final corrections. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gives some great advice here on how to revise, edit and proofread your paper.

There are plenty of software you can use to write a research paper. We recommend our own citation software, Paperpile , as well as grammar and proof reading checkers such as Grammarly .

best way to start a research paper

IMAGES

  1. دانلود تز

    best way to start a research paper

  2. How to Write a Research Paper in 11 Easy Steps

    best way to start a research paper

  3. Mla Paper Example Sale Shopping, Save 65%

    best way to start a research paper

  4. How to Write a Research Paper Introduction

    best way to start a research paper

  5. 🎉 How to start a research paper on a person. How to Write the Opening Paragraph of a Research

    best way to start a research paper

  6. Research Paper Introduction Paragraph Example

    best way to start a research paper

VIDEO

  1. How to Start My Research Journey Part-1 in (Bangla)

  2. How to Start My Research Journey Part-10 in (Bangla)

  3. How to Start My Research Journey Part-9 in (Bangla)

  4. How to Start My Research Journey Part-3 in (Bangla)

  5. How to Start My Research Journey Part-7 in (Bangla)

  6. How to Start My Research Journey Part-11 in (Bangla)

COMMENTS

  1. Writing a Research Paper Introduction | Step-by-Step Guide

    Learn how to introduce your topic, provide background, establish your research problem, specify your objective, and map out your paper in five steps. See examples of hooks, problem statements, and paper outlines for different types of research papers.

  2. How to Write a Research Paper: the LEAP approach (+cheat sheet)

    Reading Time: 13 minutes. In this article I will show you how to write a research paper using the four LEAP writing steps. The LEAP academic writing approach is a step-by-step method for turning research results into a published paper.

  3. How to start your research paper [step-by-step guide]

    Learn the basics of writing a research paper, from choosing a topic to revising and proofreading. Follow the 10 steps with tips, examples, and links to related articles and software.

  4. A Beginner's Guide to Starting the Research Process - Scribbr

    Learn how to choose your topic, identify a problem, formulate research questions, create a research design and write a research proposal for your thesis or dissertation. Scribbr is a trusted source of academic writing tips and tools.

  5. The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Research Paper - Grammarly

    We’ll cover areas like how to start a research paper, how to write a research paper outline, how to use citations and evidence, and how to write a conclusion for a research paper. But before we get into the details, let’s take a look at what a research paper is and how it’s different from other writing .

  6. How to Write a Research Paper | A Beginner's Guide - Scribbr

    Write the introduction. Write a compelling body of text. Write the conclusion. The second draft. The revision process. Research paper checklist. Free lecture slides. Understand the assignment. Completing a research paper successfully means accomplishing the specific tasks set out for you.