Writing a research paper is a daunting task, and the stakes can be high if a big part of your semester grade is counting on this assignment. Writing a research paper, however, doesn’t have to be a stress-inducing endeavor. If you take the time to select the right topic, take sufficient notes during the research phase, and implement a solid structure within your paper, you can set yourself up for a successful assignment.
Keep reading to learn five research paper mistakes to avoid this fall.
Research Paper Mistake #1: Choosing the Wrong Topic
What’s right or wrong is somewhat subjective, but there are a few guidelines that can steer you in the right direction when selecting a topic. While you need to make sure your topic fits the scope of what you’ve been assigned, be sure to think about whether your intended topic is too broad or too narrow. You want something that is focused so you can target your research to sources that are the most relevant to your topic. However, getting too focused may make it difficult to find enough applicable sources. The key is to find a middle ground—a topic that still has unanswered questions and needs to be explored, yet is broad enough to give context to your research.
Research Paper Mistake #2: Taking Insufficient Notes During your Research
Before you can write your paper, you’ll need to read and analyze many primary and secondary sources. Make sure to take detailed notes about the information you get from each source. This will be helpful not only as you write your paper, but it will also keep you from having to go back to the original sources multiple times. One tip is to categorize information from each source on an individual notecard, which you can then organize into concepts or categories when you start outlining your paper.
Research Paper Mistake #3: Not Implementing a Clear Structure
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