The question, every student starts to google whenever they sit to type down their ideas. This is because there are many creative minds who are familiar with their topics but are unable to make the appropriate research for their papers. A good research paper is prepared when the manuscript has supported the key message. While writing make sure the material is concise. Successful submissions combine quality new data or new thinking with lucid presentation. Conclusions have to be based on the present study findings. The time of lengthy and unfounded speculations is over. A simple message in a clearly written manuscript will get noticed and may advance our understanding of stroke.
- Scrutinizing & Drafting
The workload pushes in when there has to be extensive research of the chosen topic as it has to be from a credible source related to the subject of the paper. (A personal tip; try to read anything and everything, extra knowledge is never wasted.) Evaluate the sources, take notes, and document the sources accordingly. It is also essential to stay up to date on the research’s best practices and guidelines. Take notes of all sources and use paraphrase, accurate quotations, and summarize creatively to avoid plagiarisms. A good research paper has to start with the gist of what the paper is about to read and a brief in order to throw light on the topic. The collaboration of ideas and the topic should be written down in the first highlights of a research paper. State a brief background and introduce the subject in few paragraphs or pages, it should not be directly lifted from the original source. Make arguments and adopt an analytical tone to place the problem under investigation in a perspective.
- Outline of the analogy
The methodology shall contain the main objective of the paper. An independent research and methodology of writing that is explicit in nature is always appreciated. Make crisp statements entailing not more than two variables describing the presumed relationship or influence on each other. Additionally, or alternatively, research questions may also be framed to investigate the issues slated for the research. Hypotheses are advisable where the researcher has fairly good idea of issues, concepts and their relevance to the proposed research. Clearly state as to what theoretical, pragmatic and policy contribution would be made by the study. Writing research papers is not a weary task if the management and strategies fall correctly in its place. One shall make sure the paper is engaging to the audience it initially wanted to target upon.
- Quoting
Acknowledging the authors and scholars. When you are copying or paraphrasing a particular sentence or paragraph from another source, you are required mandatorily (and this is serious stuff) to cite the proper authorities from which you have gathered the information. The Citation is added by using the keyboard short cut: Alt+Ctrl+F.
For example: if you have copied a line from Mulla Hindu law, all you need to do is, at the end of the line/sentence, enter a footnote and in it enter the book’s name with the author, year of publishing, book edition and the page number.
The hierarchy or order of the arrangement is guided by many citation formats, which are generally stated in the research paper invitation itself.
For example, if it is mentioned that follow ‘Bluebook edition number 19’, then you need to refer to this particular citation format and follow how this format tells you to cite books, cases and other authorities. (Refer the module on Bluebook Citation)
When the paper is done without any kind of manipulation, there are no chances of the paper being rejected for plagiarism. Plagiarism is the practice of presenting someone else’s work or ideas as one’s own. Thus, if one plagiarizes, it might end up in some serious trouble as it is ethically wrong and is considered so by every institution/body.
The above is the basic outlook of the paper. The final draft may look in the following manner:
- Acknowledgment: take the opportunity to express your profound gratitude and deep regards to your mentor or university for the guidance, monitoring and constant encouragement throughout the completion of this project topic.
- Table of Contents: index of Authorities (Would include cases that you have referred to). One should also include a list of Abbreviations if you have used any.
- Abstract: this is in a way act as a filter for the peer reviewer. The full and final paper is often preceded by an abstract submission that acts as a summary of what you are going to write/research on the topic which is about 200/300 words.
- Introduction: Includes brief & background information of the topic. One may also include important case law to describe a situation in the absence of substantive material.
- Body of the paper: paraphrase the entire research material with hooking to the topic and explaining the concern risen.
- Conclusion: mainly include what opinion or judgement you, as a researcher, have formed about the topic after the research. One can also be a critic but make sure to draw conclusion rather than leaving the paper open ended.
Make sure to proof read the paper before sending in the paper. Check the grammar, style, font, spellings, punctuations etc. Try to revise as it involves rethinking of ideas, refining of the arguments, reorganizing paragraphs, and rewording sentences. You may need to develop your ideas in more detail, give more evidence to support your claims, or delete material that is unnecessary. Read your paper out loud. This sometimes makes it easier to identify writing that is awkward or unclear. Have somebody else read the paper and tell you if there’s anything that’s unclear or confusing. Once you have a full first draft in hand see if it flows logically. Is anything missing? When you are confident that it is all in there, tighten your writing. Often, a first draft is twice as long as it needs to be, so make your point and move on. Sloppy papers are hard to read and indicate to me that the student did not try.
The ends are very important be it a movie, a book or a research paper, therefore never forget to end well. A suitable conclusion for is critical. Paraphrase, summarize, and emphasize the significance of your findings. Provide with recommendations and/or suggestions based on your results.
And at the end, do not forget that no ideal or perfect research paper exists as the connotations are always different and vary from one person to another. But what exists is a well presented and informative paper and that should be the leading purpose. Good Luck!
