Writing your first research paper can be pretty intimidating. But you’re inevitably going to face this challenge through the course of your studying. It’s true that there are many things to watch out for, especially if you have no prior experience with this kind of work. But it’s not nearly as scary as it sounds. As long as you focus your attention, you’ll be perfectly fine.
Time Management
The first thing you want to do is to make sure you have enough time to properly finish your paper. Most of the time, the quality doesn’t matter as much as the deadline. A couple of minor mistakes can be given a pass if you turn it in early. But if you drag it on for an extra week trying to perfect your assignment, it might not even be accepted. So keep to the deadlines.
In order to consistently do that, start working on your paper as soon as possible. The earlier you start, the better. Even an hour a day sums up to pretty significant progress over a month or so. If you find yourself pressed for time, consider getting help from the outside. Getting the work done on a site like https://essaypro.com/custom-research-paper.html is way better than not turning it in at all. Besides, this way you can be sure about the quality.
Topic
Understanding your topic and keeping to it is another important criterion. Read the exact wording carefully. Then, imagine as if you were trying to explain it to your grandmother. It’s great if you’re already well-versed in the subject. But most of the time you’ll have to do extensive research. Keep doing it until you have no more questions left. Then, you can start writing.
Sometimes it’s more about the technical verbiage than the actual topic. In such cases, you can just go all over the place as long as your line thought remotely relates to the initial topic. This will get you a passing grade as long as you fulfill all the technical requirements. On the other hand, if you want to make a good impression, you’re better off putting actual thought into your work.
Language
Keeping the correct style of language is the easiest part. But it’s also frequently neglected. Remember that you’re writing a research paper, not a message to your friend. That means no abbreviations, no slang. Everything must be as clear and direct as it can be. Always use full forms, make sure there are no unclear ‘that’, ‘this’ references. It’s a formality, but it can cost you your grade.
Thankfully, the language of research papers is pretty much universal. There are plenty of guides online that you can refer to in regards to what you can and can’t do. Generally, all you have to do is remember that you’re writing for someone else. So, as a rule of thumb, try to make sure that anyone interested in the topic of your research could take your paper and get the technical info they’re looking for.
Requirements
There are many different types of research papers. Each of them has its own specifics. If you do absolutely nothing else, you should at least follow the writing requirements. Usually, you are provided with those along with the assignment. But if not, search for your type of research paper and look up the format, size, style, and other details that are standard for this sort of work. You can also discuss it with older students; they have already been through it.
It can’t be stressed enough – be as precise as possible. If the requirements tell you that you have to have a specific structure – keep to that structure. If there’s a certain word count – don’t fall two words short and don’t go a sentence over. And try working alone. Getting help from fellow students might seem like an easy way out, but suspicion of plagiarism will most likely land you in very hot waters.
Proofreading
Proofreading is a final stage. And it’s probably better to call it ‘proofreadings’ in the plural. Because going over your research paper once and calling it a day isn’t ever enough. Once you’re finished with your draft, you should go through as many revisions as possible before you turn in it. There are several things you generally want to watch out for.
- Overall structure;
- Grammar;
- Word count;
- Conciseness;
- Informal language.
Don’t be afraid to replace or even outright cut out parts of your work. At this stage, you should make sure that this is the best possible version of your text. Try enlisting the help of friends or family to help you out. Reading your own text for the hundredth time can be tiring and you can miss something because of it. Ideally, you would want to take at least a one-day break between writing and editing.
Final Words
There is no reason to be intimidated by your first research assignment. All you have to do is give yourself enough space to maneuver and follow the instructions given to you by the brief. Even if you don’t do everything perfectly on your first try, it’s always a great learning experience. Acknowledging things that you could’ve done better is the key to self-improvement.
So don’t freeze up thinking that your work won’t be perfect. Of course, it probably won’t be. And that’s absolutely fine. If you’re feeling stuck for whatever reason, you have to overcome this state as quickly as possible. And once you start working, you’ll see that the process goes much quicker and easier. One step at a time, and you’ll be sprinting sooner than you might expect.