The Meaning of a - Research Paper Example

The Meaning of a Research Paper Introduction People have unclear ideas about what is a research paper. Some people know that a research paper involves research, therefore, in order to write a research paper one has to gather enough information about a specific topic. Others know that a research paper is a written assignment that involves an important amount of research. If your understanding of writing a research paper confuses you, then this essay clarifies the understanding about what is a research paper. The aim of this essay is to clarify what is a research paper and what is not a research paper. When we talk about a research paper we refer to an assignment that involves an in-depth gathering of information and study on a distinct and specific topic. However, a research papers does not only involves a broad gathering of information from a wide range of sources but also interpretations of the writer of that particular research. This interpretation is one of the vital elements indicating a true research material. Research paper gives the writer a chance to use different myths or convince the readers to accept different or new ideas about a distinct or specific issue. However, a research paper must include reasonable backups and the writer should be able to back up his or her writing with facts to show the reader how he or she reached the conclusions (Marušić, Lana and Ana 45). Although writing a research paper entails that the writer must cover the topic he or she is writing about completely, the paper concentrates on a distinct and a specific topic that is opposed to a broad one. For instance, suppose a writer wants to write about cats. “Cats” by itself is one broad and general topic to cover and complete in the set time. Therefore, a better topic to write about would be, for example, ‘the proper nutrition that contributes towards cat’s longevity. In addition, a research paper refers to a culmination and the final product of the entire process of research that involves evaluation of sources, critical thinking, composition, and organization. A research paper is a combination of the above mention elements. Perhaps, it is essential to think of it as a living organism that grows and at the same time changes as the writer interprets, explores, and makes evaluation of the gathered information from sources that are related to a distinct and specific topic. The main elements that contribute to a research paper are secondary and primary sources(Klein 33). Therefore, it is good to acknowledge that without proper interpretation of the information gathered from these two types of sources, the research paper would definitely change to be another writing genre, for example, an encyclopedic article. A research writer must have good support of these sources as well as interaction since they provide a research paper’s nourishment. A research paper not only serves to further the topic which the paper covers, but also to improve the writer’s understanding and knowledge in that topic. Lastly, no matter what subject is being researched, a research paper must achieve the following specific goals. First paper must meet the assignment needs. Most instructors give students specific needs for research paper, which include, use of references, detailing topics, and documentation procedures. A writer must ensure that he or she fully understands the assignment’s scope. In addition, it is also essential to keep in mind the requirements of the research paper. It is advisable that you constantly consult your instructor to keep on the correct track(Marušić, Lana and Ana56). Second, a research paper must have a clear focus statement. The more the focus is narrow the easier the research paper will be. Thirdly, a research paper must have a clear thesis statement. The writer must express his or her point of view and not just reporting ideas of other researchers. The focus of a research paper should be on interpretations and opinions of the writer and not views of other writers. Lastly, a research must comment on both quality and quantity of the used sources. It does not just present and summarize ideas of other writers (Winkler and Jo 67). An excellent research paper is the one that can distinguish between biased and reliable sources, between questionable and authoritative statistics, and between opinions and facts. Although a research paper is made of facts, it is not simply factual report writing. Nor is a research paper an expression of opinions of the writer or an editorial, although these are also parts of a research paper. A simple gathering of research materials and information does not form to a research paper. The perspective of the writer is the one that differentiates a research paper from the other genres of writing. Doing a research does not simple mean summarizing the research topic using the secondary and primary sources. A research paper is neither a piece of opinion nor a book report nor a particular topic’s overview nor an essay that is solely consisting of the writer’s interpretation of certain text related to the research topic. Instead, a research paper is a writing genre that needs the writer to spend most of his or her time evaluating and investigating the relevant sources with the aim of offering his or her interpretations of the sources, and documenting insensible regurgitation of the references (Klein 45). The goals and objectives of a research paper is to draw on other peoples ideas about the issue being researched as well as engaging the relevant sources in order to come up with a unique viewpoint about the issue and not informing the readers on what other people says about the issue. A research paper is not a summary or rearrangement of information gathered from several sources. It is not a written report that one can include in an encyclopedia. In addition, a research paper is not a matter of copying information from different texts and pasting them to form one big document. This is known as plagiarism and not a research paper. Lastly, a research paper is not a result of Google search or quick yahoo search that enable people to gather useless information unless a writer knows how to use information gathered from websites well(Marušić, Lana and Ana67). A research paper writer must be conservative on how he or she builds his or her arguments and analysis. A writer is not supposed to jump to conclusion, which she or he does not have enough evidence to back it up. Therefore, a research paper can be challenging to write than writing essays because it not only means writing but also means that you must have good research skills. However, reading and gathering information from different sources help a writer to build momentum and get enough ideas about the research topic thus making the entire writing easy. It is therefore recommended that, before you start writing your paper, you should have a full understanding about what is expected to be included in your paper. This is because different instructors have different expectations. Therefore, there is no need of wasting your time writing a detailed research paper than it is required. On the other hand, the writer should avoid completing his or her paper only to notice that there are some important things that she or he neglected to include in the paper(Winkler and Jo 73). A research paper means an assignment that involves an in-depth gathering of information and study on a distinct and specific topic. This is because the goals and objectives of a research paper is to draw on other peoples ideas about the issue being researched as well as engaging the relevant sources in order to come up with a unique viewpoint about the issue and not informing the readers on what other people says about the issue. Works cited Klein, Lisl. The Meaning of Work: Papers on Work Organization and the Design of Jobs. London: Karnac, 2008. Print. Marušić, Ana, Lana Bošnjak, and Ana Jerončić."A systematic review of research on the meaning, ethics and practices of authorship across scholarly disciplines."Plos one 6.9 (2011): e23477. Winkler, Anthony C, and Jo R. McCuen.Writing the Research Paper: A Handbook. Boston, MA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2012. Print. Read More