What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is a piece of academic writing based on its author’s original research on a
particular topic and the analysis and interpretation of the research findings. Research papers
can be analytical, argumentative, Survey-based.
A research paper is more than compiling information from different sources, more than a
collection of different pieces of information about a topic, and more than a review of the topic
at hand. A research paper analyzes a perspective or argues a point. Regardless of the type of
research paper one writes, a finished research paper should present one’s thinking backed up
by ideas and information presented by others. In which you try to further your point after
exploring the topic in depth. In a research paper, one tries to include certified information from
diverse sources such as books, articles, interviews, and Internet sites plus, your ideas,
knowledge, and opinions.
A research paper is kind of a social activity, the world is complex, alone our knowledge will
always be incomplete and fragmented, we all have our weaknesses and things we refuse to look
over somethings because it conflicts with our world view, oftentimes we fill this void with our
preferred assumptions even if they don’t fit. We need someone to tell us that we are on the
wrong track for us to get back on the correct path and publishing a research paper allows us to
see through our weaknesses, misconceived notions for whatever they are. They allow and
enable us collectively to succeed, in today’s day and age knowledge and communication are
synonymous with each other.
Even articles and blogs try to put new knowledge in a public forum and announce it to others
so that others can use it. Unlike articles, where it is mostly factual information, in research
papers, you can give your own opinions and unlike blogs, where its mostly an individual’s
opinion, a research paper is backed up by certified sources. One could say a research paper
combines both articles and blogs.

Ingredients
A research paper has an Abstract, which has the essence of the paper, It includes the
research question posed, its significance, the methodology, and the main results or findings, it
is meant to entice the reader to read further
Introduction, A good introduction states the main research problem and thesis argument.
What precisely are you studying and why is it important?
Methodology, Research methodology (quantitative or qualitative)
Literature Review, what other writers have written on the topic, providing a general and
specific context of the existing knowledge
Main Body, where the author supports the thesis and builds the argument. It contains most
of the citations and analysis. This section focuses on the development of the thesis with clear
reasoning and solid argumentation at all points. A clear focus, avoiding meaningless
digressions, provides the essential unity that characterizes a strong education paper
The conclusion brings everything together and underlines what it all means, an informative
conclusion leaves the reader informed and well-satisfied
Appendices, an appendix contains material that is appropriate for enlarging the reader's
understanding, but that does not fit very well into the main body of the paper.