Romeo And Juliet
This document covers the most frequently asked questions students have when confronted with writing a research paper. Every effort has been made to keep these instructions brief, but writing a research paper is complex, so the first lesson is to give yourself plenty of time! Reading and following these tips, however, can save a student hours of unnecessary work.
A list of other RSCC OWL Links with additional information appears below.
What Is a Research Paper and Why Am I Writing One?
Research papers are required in many college and university level courses. Research papers place an emphasis on the development of a student's critical thinking and writing skills. To write an effective paper, students must be able to incorporate the ideas of others with their own ideas and analysis. A successful paper is logically organized, fully developed, and free of error. Outside sources should be used properly.
There are several types of research papers.
A research paper may be argumentative in nature. In other words, the student may take a stand on an issue and then research others who agree and disagree with the stand and cite them (quote them in the paper). In this type of paper, it is generally expected that students will learn how to anticipate the objections of others and make concessions.
A research paper may also deal with a particular problem encountered in any field of study, such as health care or social and environmental issues. In this case, the student will state the problem and write about its relevance to the field. A history of the problem may be written, along with possible solutions. Outside sources are used for support. They might show the seriousness of the problem, for instance.
Or a research paper may simply be a report. An instructor may give a student a topic and ask that the student write a research paper on the topic. This is a type of individual study which indicates how well a student has learned to conduct research, think...
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