Although precise definitions vary, a research paper is a generic term that refers to a formal written report in which students are expected to perform their own independent research and incorporate their own ideas. In sharp contrast to an essay, a research paper is typically highly structured (the exact structure will depend on your academic institution's requirements), but which generally include an introduction, the main body of the research and a conclusion that summarizes the research paper's findings. Even though the exact structure of the research paper will be dictated by your academic institution, the general format will be to "tell them what you're going to tell them (introduction), tell them (main body), and then tell them what you told them" (in the conclusion). While this approach may sound intuitive, some students tend to meander around the issues and will fail to include this vital information – teachers want and expect to see this approach being used in every research paper.
Research papers can use qualitative or quantitative methods, or a combination of both, to develop relevant findings. In some cases, research papers can include tables (for quantitative data) and figures (such as maps or graphs) to illustrate main points. It is also acceptable to use word tables that summarize the results of several studies in research papers.
A research paper is also unlike an essay because students are expected to start with an idea or an argument and support this idea or argument throughout the research paper. For example, if you are writing a research paper about the relevance of the 2nd Amendment in a modern society, you would probably adopt a pro or con position and search for arguments in support of your position. In most cases, you would also want to include counterarguments to balance the analysis, but the primary focus would be on supporting your own position with enough material to justify your claims throughout the research paper.
Research papers "build on the shoulders of giants" by examining what others have written about the topic. Therefore, one of the most important requirements of research papers is documenting your resources. Teachers also want and expect to see outside sources being used in a research paper, but it is vitally important that any ideas, words or concepts that are not your own are properly attributed through in–text citations or footnotes (depending on the citation style being used) in order to avoid plagiarism. There are very few exceptions to this rule, but common knowledge does not typically require citation. For example, if you say that the earth revolves around the sun, this would probably not require a citation (although many students include one anyway). A general rule of thumb is that if three or more sources cite this type of information, it does not have to be attributed to any single source provided that you express the concept in your own words in the research paper.
Scholarly and peer–reviewed resources are generally preferred for research papers and these are readily available through public and university libraries, as well as EBSCO Host (you may have free access to this online resource through your library). The manner in which these sources are cited will depend on what citation style is required, so be sure to follow the guidelines for different citation styles such as American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association of America (MLA) or Harvard (some of the most common) when citing resources in the main text of your research paper and when compiling your reference list. There are plenty of reliable resources online to help you format your research papers according to these different guidelines.
Although these requirements may sound daunting, particularly for novice writers, research papers are not particularly difficult to write if you follow the specific requirements set forth by your academic institution and the "tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them" format.
