Easy Tips & Examples to Write Different Types of Research Papers

• Super Admin
• 29/07/2019
• Research Paper Topics

There are different types of research paper and each has a unique format. To earn an A+ in your research papers, you need to be well-versed with all the formats. Given below is a detailed analysis of the three essential types of research papers along with valid examples.

Before learning about the different formats, you must understand what a research paper is. Research papers require writers to analyse a topic, take a stand on that topic and provide relevant evidence for the arguments. It can be referred to as a scholarly article that has findings of the original research or an assessment of research conducted by others.

You can’t just state the facts in a research paper. You need to provide your own analysis of a specific topic.

What Makes A Good Research Paper?

A research paper is way more than just a mere sum of sources on a topic. In a research paper, you need to present your own thinking on the basis of others’ idea and information. Apart from thorough analysis, here are the basic requirements of all research papers.

Requirement	Significance
Argument	It explains both sides of the issue or topic
Thesis	Defines the focus of your paper
Introduction	Presents the context of your paper along with the thesis statement
Body	This section discusses the issue, defends your thesis statement and provides evidence.
Quotes	Supports your arguments
Conclusion	Wraps up your research
References	Highlights the credibility of your research

 

Table 1: The requirements of a good research paper

You need to pay attention to each of these requirements to present a proper research paper. Besides these features, you need to know about the requirements of each type of research paper. Accurate interpretation of your research paper requirements is very important if you aim for good grades.

Different Types of Research Papers: What To Write, How & When

Here are the 3 most common types of research papers that you might have to write. Let’s check out the purpose, requirements and examples of each type.

1. Argumentative Papers

This type of research paper presents two sides of a controversial issue. You need to include in-text citations from researchers to present logical facts for both sides of the issue. You also need to analyse the pros and cons of each argument while writing the paper.

Argumentative paper blends research with prose. It lets you demonstrate skills such as description, synthesis, analysis and definition. In an argumentative paper, you need to take a stand on the issue. Also, you must come up with valid evidence to back up your opinion.

There are 6 parts of an argumentative research paper. You must attend to each part to write a successful research paper.

 

How To Write An Argumentative Research Paper?

If writing flawless papers scares you to no end, we have come up with smart tips to help you with the process:

1. An attention-grabbing introductory paragraph

This paragraph determines whether your professor will read the entire paper or not. If this section of your research paper is boring, the reader might avoid it. Take care of the following tips to craft a perfect introduction for your argumentative research paper.

Consider this example here:

‘When people start talking about the Mexico/United States border, a lot of issues and concerns come up. From environmental problems to illegal drugs, there can be a wide range of issues. The most important issue that I am going to address is the border wall along and between the two countries. It’s true that the wall may show signs of damaged relations between the two countries, racism and not let illegal immigrants visit our country. But, the border wall also has a positive impact on our country. We need to look back on the history of the US/Mexico border in order to understand the importance.’

• Start with an interesting opening sentence (coloured in yellow)- It can be a quote or a relevant or a catchy phrase or an anecdote. It has to grab the reader’s attention right at the beginning.
• Provide background details of the controversial topic (coloured in purple)- In the section, you must include why the issue is controversial. Why should your readers read about the issue? To provide an answer to these questions, provide enough background details.
• A precise thesis statement (coloured in green)- You want to make sure that the thesis statement is not more than two sentences. It must include your topic and the claim you are making about the issue.

2. Well-researched body paragraphs

In this section you have to provide relevant facts to support your argument. Consider the following tips to write the main part of your essay with precision.

• Write a topic sentence- This should be related to the claim that you made in the thesis statement of your essay. The first sentence of your body paragraphs should let the reader know about your argument.
• Add supporting details- After the topic sentence, the paragraph should deal with the argument. You can add relevant examples, facts, statistics or expert testimony as shown in the example (figure 4). It is not enough just to say ‘This is my claim.’ You need to give credible sources to give support.
• Transition sentence- You should make the switch from one paragraph to the other in a way that the transition is easily understandable to the readers. This will help you move into argument 2 smoothly.

You can add 3-4 body paragraphs as per the information.

3. Rebuttal paragraphs

After you’ve mentioned all the opinions, it’s time for the counter-arguments. You need to concede your point with valid points. Concession can strengthen your argument and make it more credible.

Aim at the weak spot of the opposing argument to help the readers see the ‘bigger picture.’ Make sure you don’t shove your viewpoints down your reader’s throat. Be tactful while presenting your point of views. The rebuttal paragraph makes your reader think ‘Oh now I see your point!’

4. Conclusion

After the rebuttal paragraph, it is time for you to go back to your argument and make it stronger. It is better if you don’t include any new information in the conclusion. Check out the tips to write the conclusion:

• Rephrase your thesis statement- Restate your thesis statement in different phrases
• Wrap-up your main points- Write the key points of your essay to make the final impression.
• Give a call to action- Let the reader know what you expect them to do after reading the essay.

2. Analytical Papers

An analytical research paper is all about analysing different perspectives from multiple sources on a specific topic. You need to remain objective while evaluating the works of researchers. To write an analytical research paper, you need to:

• Formulate a thesis
• Collect sources and evaluate them
• Use evidence to back up your ideas

Click here for an example of an analytical English research paper. Check out the tips to write a successful analytical research paper.

• Analyse the topic thoroughly

You can be asked to describe an existing situation which can be a problem, policy or organisation. Use that description for analytic purposes. You must respond to it, evaluate it on the basis of certain criteria, examine it for cause and effect linkages, contrast it to what the situation might have been. Background description is necessary and should not account for more than 20% of your paper.

List of common analytic designs to come up with new ideas:

• Comparison/ Contrast
• Cause/effect
• Change over time
• Proof/hypothesis
• Problem/solutions
• Question/answer

The example given above shows the use of cause and effect in the paper. It talks about the effects of human behaviour on society after it is modelled to reflect natural animal behaviour.

• Mention your hypothesis

Write the main purpose of your paper in the introduction as shown in the example. This provides your readers with a roadmap to proceed with your research topic. The thesis statement must be interesting enough to grab the attention of your readers right away. In the given example, the writer states the following in the thesis statement.

• State interesting facts

Now it’s time for you to choose the valid facts, examples and statistics. Turn them into arguments for and against your thesis statement. You must use quotations for analytic purposes. It’s okay if you disagree with them in the paper. It maintains the originality of your analytical research paper. Keep the following tips in mind while mentioning the facts:

• If you have big ideas related to your topic, break them down into concrete and measurable parts. It will help you focus on a small and manageable piece of the issue.
• Give reasons and evidence in case you express disagreements in the paper
• Examine counterarguments
• You must support key assertions with proper examples, footnotes, credible sources of information, etc.
• Do not forget to mention your criteria and assumptions while making evaluations or judgements. Go through the example carefully to understand the key requirements of the main section of your research paper.
• Sum up the main arguments in the conclusion

You need to reiterate the arguments in a similar manner to write the conclusion of your analytical research paper. You can write the central argument or thesis of your analytical research paper in different words. Make sure the conclusion and thesis statement doesn’t look similar. Keep these points in mind while writing the conclusion:

• Avoid generalisation and use active voice

Look at this example: ‘Hamlet by Shakespeare argues that ambivalence is a natural human quality.` You should write a conclusion like this: ‘It has been proven that Shakespeare’s Hamlet is mostly about ambivalence.’

• Leave your readers with a concise wrap-up of your evidence.

For example: Through the poet’s use of bright imagery, disjointed hyperbole and rhyme, we see that (put your argument here)

• Write your arguments using a broader context

Your conclusion should let the reader know about the larger implications of your research. You must mention how your argument can change the object of study in the future. Mention the significance that it holds for future scholars.

• Explain the work that needs to be done

Do not forget to show the limitations of the scope of your research in the conclusion. This will help your readers know about the potential ideas for future research in the same field.

3. Compare and Contrast Papers

This type of research paper is used in courses of literature to compare the work of two different authors. Students studying social sciences might have to compare different events and their effect on society.

In compare and contrast research papers, you need to use critical thinking skills to form connections between ideas and scrutinise different perspectives. Check out the steps here to write compare and contrast research papers like a pro.

• Identify the key concepts of two things that you need to compare/contrast

You must start your research paper with the analytical summary. This will help you use the most significant point from each comparison. You can determine what’s important for the paper and what’s not.

Look at this example here:

Say you need to compare and contrast Boccaccio’s ‘Decameron’, Longfellow’s ‘Tales from a Wayside Inn’ and Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales.’

All are collections of tales narrated by fictional narrators while they pass the time, while on a journey. You need to uncover the setting and purpose of the journeys through strict analysis and research. Alongside, you need to reveal any conflict encountered by the characters on the way.

Another example of compare and contrast research paper on Science

Say your topic is: Compare the velocity of theories that explain the occurrence of natural events such as the expansion of Earth Vs Plate Tectonics.

In this case, you need to collect measurable data that supports the motion of tectonic plates. Now compare it to the insufficient evidence available to back up the expanding earth theory. Relevant data and theories make a great foundation for the compare and contrast research papers.

You can list the similarities and differences between the two things on a piece of paper. On the other hand, you can also craft a Venn diagram and keep the similarities in the intersection. Keep in mind that you need to create a balanced compare and contrast research paper.

• Use the right approach to organise the paper

You can use two main approaches. Both approaches will have different effects on your analytical and writing strengths.

• Holistic Approach: A Focus on the Concepts

In this type of paper, you need to write the introduction and thesis. Then, you have to summarise each concept and note the crucial points only if you want to talk about them in the comparison section.

Say you have been asked to compare the understanding of freedom and participation of Aristotle and Constant.

You need to clarify what Aristotle had to say about participation and freedom. Then you can discuss Constant’s views on freedom and participation. Finally, you can compare both the point of views and present your analysis. The holistic approach should consist of the following points:

• Introduction/ Roadmap/ Thesis
• Assessment of concept one
• Assessment of concept two
• Comparison of both the assessments
• Conclusion
• Head to head approach

You don’t need to discuss individual work as you did in the holistic approach. Here, you need to use at least three key points of comparison and compare the works in three separate paragraphs.

Based on the same example as above, you have to discuss Aristotle and Constant on freedom, followed by the discussion on participation. This approach should consist of the following structure:

• Introduction/ Thesis/ Roadmap
• Compare different works
• Discussion of comparison (Point One)
• Discussion of comparison (Point Two)
• Discussion of comparison (Point Three)
• Conclusion

You may have a little problem understanding both the approaches initially. Here is a tabular form of the two approaches. Go through the table and you follow a suitable structure while writing the paper.

Holistic	Head to Head
Introduction/ Thesis/ Roadmap	Introduction/ Thesis/ Roadmap
Analysis of Country 1 Historical factors Cultural values State institution design Economy	First point of comparison between the two countries
Analysis of Country 2 (On the basis of the same factors as mentioned above)	Second point of comparison between the two countries
Comparison between the two countries on the basis of all the four factors	Third point of comparison between the two countries
Conclusion	Conclusion

 

Table 2: Difference between holistic and head-to-head approach

A research paper is incomplete without a precise and compact conclusion. It should restate your thesis statement in a new light. Your readers should be impressed by all the facts that you have used to back up your arguments. They should learn something new from your evidence so that they might have their opinions changed through your writing. Here is an example of a powerful conclusion in a research paper.

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