Writing the research paper
A research paper is an argument built from sources. Your voice and thesis should lead, with sources supporting and complicating your claims.
The research paper's purpose
A research paper uses sources to answer a research question and support an original thesis. It is not a report that strings summaries together. Your job is to analyse, synthesise, and argue, using sources as evidence and conversation partners.
The annotated bibliography
An annotated bibliography lists sources with a short paragraph for each, summarising its argument, evaluating its credibility and usefulness, and noting how it relates to your project. Many instructors assign one before the paper to encourage careful source selection.
The literature review
A literature review surveys what researchers have found on a question, organised by themes or debates rather than source by source. It identifies agreements, disagreements, and gaps. Many research papers include a brief literature review to set up the writer's contribution: 'Previous studies have examined X, but few have considered Y.'
Balancing sources and voice
Your own analysis should guide each paragraph. A common pattern is your claim, source evidence, your explanation, and a link back to your thesis. If a paragraph is mostly quotations, you have handed your voice to your sources. Aim for more of your own explanation than borrowed text.
Handling conflicting sources
When sources disagree, do not hide it. Explain the disagreement, consider why it exists (different methods, samples, dates, or definitions), and argue for the more convincing view or a nuanced position. Engaging with conflict shows critical thinking and builds ethos.
Structuring a research paper
Many research papers follow introduction (context, research question, thesis), background or literature review, body sections developing the argument with evidence, counterarguments, and conclusion (findings, significance, limitations, further questions). Scientific papers often use IMRaD: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.
Avoiding plagiarism
Plagiarism is presenting someone else's words or ideas as your own. It includes copying without quotation marks, paraphrasing without citation, patchwriting, buying papers, and submitting AI-generated text where not permitted. Avoid it by taking careful notes, citing as you write, and checking drafts against sources.
Worked example
Weak research paragraph: three quotations from three sources about remote work, each summarised, with no connecting claim. Revised: a topic sentence arguing that remote work narrows informal mentoring for junior staff, a statistic from one survey, a contrasting finding from another study explained by its different sample, and the writer's conclusion that hybrid schedules with structured mentoring address the problem.
Key takeaways
A research paper argues a thesis using sources, rather than summarising them. Annotated bibliographies summarise and evaluate sources. Literature reviews organise research by themes and identify gaps. Keep your voice central; explain more than you quote. Address conflicting sources openly. Follow a clear structure such as IMRaD for science. Avoid plagiarism through careful notes and citation.
Flashcard
Argument built from sources
Check your understanding
What is the main difference between a research paper and a report that summarises sources?