A research article involves the task of conducting research in a very specific area of interest

which is further assessed and a conclusion is derived. It will then be published in a peer-
reviewed scholarly journal. Research is a vast field. Therefore, to make our work easier we
can follow few steps.

1. HOW TO START A RESEARCH PAPER?

Choose a topic you’re interested in and what your goal is. Focus on a limited aspect, for
example – narrow it down from “Religion” to “Buddhism” to “How the Buddhist practices
are affecting the life of it’s followers compared to the ones that aren’t following Buddhism”.
Most importantly, select a topic you can manage.
2. FIND INFORMATION

 As technologically we’ve advanced very well, the easiest way to get information is by
surfing the net. For general or background information, check out useful URLs,
almanacs or encyclopaedias such as Britannica. Use search engines and other search
tools as a starting point. However, it is always a good habit to check the authenticity
of the sources and make sure that we won’t be using any false information in the
research paper (can lead to defamation).
 There’s no other better trustworthy source than a library. Trying to gather
knowledge from various print materials is also another option.
 Can also refer to journals, magazines or special CD sources.
As you gather sources, jot down full bibliographical information. Remember that an article
without bibliographical information is useless since you cannot cite its source.
3. MAKE YOUR THESIS STATEMENT

A thesis statement is a main idea, a central point of your research paper. The
arguments you provide in the paper should be based on this central idea making it
the most important part of the research paper. In other words, a thesis statement is
like declaration of your belief. The rest of the paper will consist of arguments and
proof that support your thesis statement.
Also, never fixate on your thesis statement before completing the
research since your ideas can change generally as you learn more. Before writing a
thesis statement, one should collect, organise and analyse materials and their ideas.
It would be better if no one is cited in this section. It is good to come up with your
own ideas instead of just copying what another writer has told.

A thesis statement should do the following:

 Explain readers how you interpret the subject of the research.
 Tell the readers what to expect from your paper.
 Answer the question you were asked
 Present your claim which the other people may want to dispute.

4. MAKE A RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE

The following structure is followed everywhere:

 Title page – including the title of the author’s name, the name of a University
or college and the publication date.
 Abstract – brief summary of the paper (about 250 words at least)
 Introduction – background information on the topic or a brief comment
leading into the subject matter
 Manuscript (Body) – which can be broken down in further sections,
depending on the nature of the research:
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion and Conclusion
 Reference
 Tables
A formal outline includes tables in which numbers and letters are used to
arrange subtopics and topics in a logical order to understand the data
obtained from research in an easier way.

All points of a research paper outline must relate to the same major topic that you
first mentioned (Your thesis statement).
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5. WRITE YOUR FIRST DRAFT

Focus on what your central idea is and begin with the draft. As you have already
gathered all the information possible, start arranging the required pieces of
information in an order that is suitable to you.

Summarize, paraphrase or quote directly for each idea you plan to use in your essay.
For example, write summaries, paraphrase or quotations on note cards or separate
sheets of lined paper. Mark each card or sheet of paper clearly with a code (AB1,
AB2 etc) so that you know which order can be followed later on. If it is helpful to
you, use a symbol such as “#” to mark the spot where you would like to check back
later to edit a paragraph, this will make your work a whole lot easier but make sure
you delete the symbol once editing is done.

6. REVISE YOUR OUTLINE AND DRAFT

The foremost thing to be done is to check the paper for errors. You can use free
grammar check online just in case. Further, cross verify the facts and figures. Arrange
and Rearrange ideas to follow your outline. Make sure that you’re not plagiarising
any content.

There are several formatting styles typically used such as the APA (American
Psychological Association) style and the MLA (Modern Language Association) style.
However, there are such style guides as the Chicago Manual of Style, American
Medical Association (AMA) style and more.

7. TYPE FINAL PAPER

All formal essays or reports should be type written and printed. Proof read the paper
again. Aim to have your final paper ready a day or two before the deadline. This
gives you a piece of mind and more time to recheck the paper. There is no point in
writing a research article if you cannot get it published. Therefore, once you’re done
with the final copy, try to get it published.