Proper way to start a research paper

If the writer does not care about the paper, why should the reader? Such rules may seem demanding and constricting, but they provide the liberation of self discipline.

Writing Sociology Papers

By choosing a topic, doing the research, and writing the paper you take control over a vital part of your own education. What you learn in the process, if you do it conscientiously, is far greater that what shows up in the paper or what is reflected in the grade.

EMPIRICAL RESEARCH PAPERS Some papers have an empirical content that needs to be handled differently than a library research paper. Empirical papers report some original research. It may be based on participant observation, on secondary analysis of social surveys, or some other source. The outline below presents a general form that most articles published in sociology journals follow. You should get specific instructions from professors who assign empirical research papers.

Introduction and statement of the research question.

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Review of previous research and theory. Description of data collection including sample characteristics and the reliability and validity of techniques employed.

Presentation of the results of data analysis including explicit reference to the implications the data have for the research question. Conclusion which ties the loose ends of the analysis back to the research question. End notes if any.

References cited in the paper. Tables and displays of quantitative information should follow the rules set down by Tufte in the work listed below. In addition, include reliable details and evidence that is supportive of your assertions and thesis statement. Objective writing tip 3: Use objective language Objective writing is about always presenting information fairly and credibly to allow someone to draw conclusions.

Avoid subjective language whenever possible to increase the credibility and objectivity of your words. Also reword any language that singles out a specific group of people in a negative light.

Objective writing tip 4: Avoid first-person and second-person pronouns While taking one side of an issue ual personal statement advice another is clearly based on your opinion, you can make objective writing a reality by avoiding first-person and second-person pronouns.

The fact that the paper is yours makes it clear that the ideas, thoughts and conclusions that are not cited are your own.

Break up information into sections and subsections and address one main point per section. Include any figures or data tables that support your main ideas. For a quantitative study, state the methods used to obtain results.

Tell the reader what you have found, why it is relevant to the field, and what future studies could be done to further this research.

Avoid repeating information that has been stated elsewhere in the paper.

Clearly state and summarize the main points of your research paper. Discuss how this research contributes to the field and why it is important. Propose future directions that build upon the research you have presented.

The Discussion and Introduction are generally too long. The Methods and Results are generally too short. Write the introduction after the bulk of your paper is complete so you know exactly what is necessary to include for the reader to understand your paper.

Introduce your reader to the topic of your research paper.

Provide basic background information, why you are writing this paper, and what they can expect as a result of reading it. Discuss what is currently known and what is lacking in the field. State the objective of your paper.

Keep the introduction short. An abstract summarizes the article by highlighting the main points and allows the reader to know what information your paper contains.

Write the abstract last after you have finished the paper so you can properly summarize everything you have written about.

State why your conclusions are important. Be concise in your summary of the paper. Show that you have a solid study design and a high-quality data set.

Citing sources is an absolute must to avoid plagiarism and give others credit for their ideas. Adding citations while you write the paper is much easier than digging through your sources at the end to determine where an idea came from.

Add citations at end of a sentence to indicate that you are using someone else's idea. Use these throughout your research paper as needed. They include the author's last name, year of publication, and page number.