How to write a research paper — undergraduate level

Question

Undergraduate courses often require research papers, or essays that provide an evidence-backed conclusion about a topic based on credible and recent scholarly research. These papers are expected to follow standard formatting and citation styles, use proper grammar and spelling, and synthesize complex ideas based on academic articles. Regardless of the field, undergraduate-level instructors expect high quality writing that is clear, concise, and coherent. How can undergraduates conduct effective research and convey credible information in a structured, persuasive way?

Answer 1

Undergraduate research papers may seem complicated and overwhelming at first, but once you grasp the basic foundations of the research process and essay structure, they become assignments that help you become familiar with experts and current evidence in the field—and ones that can earn you a lot of points towards a good grade!

Research papers generally attempt to answer a topical question in a field by evaluating and explaining what the best available evidence shows. The process of completing a research paper has three main parts: planning, researching, and writing the essay itself.

During the planning stage, the writer develops a guiding question that they wish to answer and that will be addressed by gathering information. For example, "How were North Americans' body sizes affected by the Little Ice Age from 1500-1850 A.D.?" Forming this question may require some initial research to develop a basic understanding of a topic, and it may need to be revised if there is not enough credible evidence available. This means the writer may return to the planning stage after having started researching.

After the writer forms the research question, they will search for relevant evidence that explores potential conclusions or tests a hypothesis. During this stage, the writer must find a variety of sources and assess the credibility of their contents and conclusions. This involves a lot of skimming and a smaller, but significant amount of close reading. Researching centers on evaluating how extensive the evidence is (is it collected from a single instance, such as in a case study, or does it come from multiple sources with a large set of data, such as in a systematic review or meta-analysis?), the reliability of the source (who is conducting the research and for what purposes, and ?), and the trustworthiness of the conclusions (is this an believable answer to the question based on what the researchers examined?).

Once the writer has established an understanding of what has already been studied and identified credible sources, they will start to synthesize what they have learned. What do most studies agree upon? Where do they differ or come to different conclusions? What are the most robustly-supported answers for the question?

Finally, the writer will organize what they have learned into an essay. Academic writing generally follows one of several writing style guides—Chicago, Turabian, APA, MLA, etc. While these guides vary by field, common features include title pages, abstracts, in-text citations, footnotes, endnotes, and a references section or bibliography. Within the body of the essay, however, the writer will generally convey information in a similar order regardless of formatting style. In the introductory section, the essay lays out the question being explored, basic information needed to understand the question and its context, and assert the most supported answer based on the available evidence. The body of the essay, or paragraphs that follow the introduction, usually each make a claim based on what the literature shows and then provides the evidence to support each claim. The writer may also choose to include a paragraph that anticipates likely assumptions that an informed reader might make and lays out arguments to explain why they are incorrect. Finally, the writer will restate the answer to the question, briefly summarize the support for that answer that the body paragraphs communicated in detail, and lay out potential avenues for future exploration.

With repetition and assistance, undergraduate students can master the research paper and hone their analytical and communication skills. As you gain knowledge in your field and practice the process, research papers will become a chance not only to learn a lot, but also to earn high marks in your classes!

Answer 2

One of the mot important things to keep in mind when you are writing a research paper is that it's a multi-stage process. If you sit down with three books and thesis statement 4 hours before your paper is due, you won't have enough time to critically analyze your paper and think of meaning arguments. So do yourself a favor and divvy up your assignment into stages, even if this hasn't been done for you by your professor.

1. Start reading. This seems obvious, but the best way to find a topic you actually want to write about it to do some preliminary research. Read a few journal or newspaper articles in your topic of general interest so that you can find a topic you want to know more about.
2. Craft a preliminary thesis statement. After you've done some initially reading and discovered a topic you want to learn more about, write out what you want to know. That's it - you are declaring what you'd like to discover with your research.
3. Let your thesis question guide your research. Now that you know you're looking for, start researching! Do yourself a favor and create an annotated bibliography as you read, so that you know the summary and argument of each of your sources. This will make things so much easier as you start writing, and it will also help you create you Works Cited page - you'll be able to copy and paste your situations into a document, and you won't be left reviewing MLA or APA at midnight when you assignment is due.
4. Write an outline. You can go broad strokes here, but a more detailed outline will be really helpful when you write. Write out your topic sentences so can see how your argument will flow, and pull in quotes and summaries you think you'll want to use.
5. Write a rough draft. DON'T SKIP THIS STEP. The draft is where you can throw all of your ideas, good and bad and see how they work. Once you have a workable draft in hand, you can take it to a tutor and they can be your first reader, providing valuable feedback that you can work on before you submit your assignment for a grade. Between you and your tutor, you can figure out if you've created a sound argument or if you need to a little more research. *GASP*! I know, you thought you were done! But you'll often find after you start writing that there are gaps in your knowledge that you didn't anticipate. That's why it's important to plan ahead and give yourself enough to work through your draft.
6. Write a final draft. Armed with your feedback and your new research take a final crack at your draft. Make sure to back in time to spell check and put the finishing touches on your situations. If you have the time, connect with your tutor once more and get any last minute feedback that might help your words to shine.

And you're done! But how to do all of this realistically, when you several classes and a life to lead? Trust me, I get it. It's a lot to juggle. The answer is simply to plan ahead. Look at your syllabus at the beginning of the semester and identify any more assignments and their due dates. Keeping in mind your schedule and your other classwork, break down your larger assignments into these 6 smaller chunks, and set your own deadlines so that you have enough time to complete everything. And if you're still not sure how to set up your own schedule and feel intimidated to do it on your own, reach out to a tutor like me. I'll guide you - I'm happy to help!

Michelle

Answer 3

Hello, I am happy to answer your question! I have just completed an undergraduate research program with my university, and I'm happy to share my experience with you.

Undergraduate research is very important to universities because it ensures that there is representation for historically underrepresented and/or marginalized groups. Yes, you are expected to create a unique research question and produce high quality work. However, your mentor is typically a post-doc or a professor that helps you develop your thinking and process.

The most important part is to develop a close mentor-student relationship and to listen to the feedback that is given. Knowing that you are not alone in your research is very useful to know, and it is very rare for an undergraduate to be completing research completely by themself without the aid of a mentor.

Answer 4

To write an effective undergraduate-level research paper, students should follow these steps:

1. Choose a Clear and Focused Topic

• Start by selecting a topic that interests you and is relevant to your course. Ensure it’s specific enough to be manageable but broad enough to find sufficient sources.

2. Conduct Thorough Research

• Use credible and recent scholarly sources, such as peer-reviewed journals, books, and reputable websites. Libraries and academic databases like JSTOR, Google Scholar, and PubMed are excellent resources.

• Take detailed notes and keep track of your sources for easy citation.

3. Develop a Strong Thesis Statement

• Your thesis should present a clear, concise argument or position on your topic. It will guide the direction of your paper and help you stay focused.

4. Create an Outline

• Organize your research into main points that support your thesis. An outline helps structure your paper logically, ensuring each section transitions smoothly to the next.

5. Write the Paper

• Introduction: Start with a hook, provide background information, and present your thesis.

• Body: Develop each main point in separate paragraphs, using evidence from your research to support your arguments. Be sure to analyze and synthesize the information, rather than just summarizing it.

• Conclusion: Summarize your key points, restate the thesis in light of the evidence presented, and suggest any implications or future research directions.

6. Use Proper Formatting and Citation

• Follow the required citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) for your paper. Consistency in formatting, citation, and references is crucial.

• Include a bibliography or works cited page.

7. Revise and Edit

• Review your draft for clarity, coherence, and logical flow. Ensure each paragraph transitions smoothly and that your argument is well-supported.

• Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

8. Seek Feedback

• If possible, have a peer or instructor review your paper before submission. Their feedback can help identify areas that need improvement.

By following these steps, undergraduates can effectively conduct research, structure their papers, and present credible, persuasive arguments.

Answer 5

Beginning any kind of writing assignment can be daunting. In my own research, I have found that it is not necessarily a linear process. Yes, you have a planning stage, a stage for gathering information or conducting your research, a stage for analyzing the information you have gathered, and a stage for the actual writing, citing sources, revising and editing. But, finishing one stage and then going on to the next does not always work. Writing is a fluid process where you look at one piece and that one piece might give you an idea for what you might write in another. 

I typically begin with the topic. I do research on the topic to get acquainted with the information that is available.  The best place to start is the school’s online resources, articles available at your school. I start with a general search of the topic and as I get more acquainted with the topic, I narrow down my search. I always look at the sources/citations each article includes because articles often use sources that could be useful to my specific topic. At that point I look those up. I use recent information, sources that are less than 10 years old, unless I am citing historically significant research.  As I am getting acquainted with the topic, I am always careful to take notes as I read each article and to keep a citation list of the articles I have read. At this point, I am not sure exactly what form my paper is going to take so I keep a comprehensive list already in the style my professor wants – APA, MLA, Chicago, etc. I usually skim each article before I start reading to make sure it is relevant to my assignment. Titles can be misleading. 

Once I have a clearer idea of the topic, I write a thesis statement or guiding question. Now the actual writing begins. Using what I have learned from my research and keeping the articles that I have decided to use on hand, I introduce my research question and explain why this topic/research is important. Each part of my paper is going to cover a different aspect of my research. I am going to use what I have found during my research as evidence to support what I am writing. If I quote a particular article, I write the pertinent information and citation as I go. I do not leave this step for later as it becomes difficult to remember where the information came from.  I will make sure that I am writing clearly, being mindful to not assume my reader has expert knowledge of the topic. The writing does not use jargon or complex terms unless these are explained by me. In the conclusion of my paper I revisit the thesis, I summarize key points, I explain why this research matters, and I suggest how these findings are applicable in the future. I end my writing with a statement that will leave my reader thinking.

I am, however, not finished. I need to proofread and make any changes that will make sure my paper is logically organized and free of mechanical errors, such as incorrect spelling.  Before I start this process, I step away from my writing for a least a few hours so that I can look at my paper with fresh eyes. I will put my paper thorough spell check, grammar check, and use citation tools. I will read my paper aloud to see how it sounds and if, at all possible, I will have someone else read and critique it. I find it best to ask a classmate who has the same assignment because they know exactly what the professor is asking. You can offer to do the same for them. Once this is all done, I read it one last time to make sure it sounds professional and that I have done everything my professor asked for. When I am completely satisfied, I turn it in.