Q&A for How to Write a Research Paper

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Does making a research paper require me to invent something new or it is just about gathering information?

Community Answer

It can be for the both, whether you invent something new to implement or you gather some sort of data based valuable information and synthesize it.

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Question

What about can I write for the introduction?

Community Answer

The introduction should set out what you intend to discuss and prove in the research paper, and outline the approaches per topic or heading section. It is also nice to open the topic and lead into it in an interesting way that helps the reader to want to read on.

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Question

How do we know what topic is better than the other ones?

Community Answer

To be honest there is no rule book or a set of formulas which will give you the best or better topic. Once you have a number of topics in hand you need to evaluate as to which topic interests you and your audience more.

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Question

How do I make a questionnaire?

Community Answer

See Make a Questionnaire for the method needed.

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Question

Do you need to number the second and third pages?

Community Answer

If you are numbering the pages, then yes, the second and third pages should be numbered.

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Question

Where can I go for publishing a research paper?

Community Answer

You can publish a research paper through established journals or you can use open source online publishing sites, such as SSRN or Researchgate. If your research paper is long enough, you could also publish it as a small book or an ebook, and disseminate it via book sales sites and stores.

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Question

What should be the length of the research paper?

Community Answer

Long enough to strongly answer your thesis. If you can cover it in 10 pages wonderful. If you need to utilize 50 pages that is great too. If you are forcing a specific number of pages than your work may come off as too repetitive or poorly written. You don't want to over exhaust the topics or include unless information just to get a page count.

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Question

Can you use contractions in a research paper?

Community Answer

Yes, but it is best to write a research paper without contractions. If you must use them, make sure they are spelled correctly and used in the right places.

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Question

Where should we attach our questionnaire in the research paper?

Community Answer

I believe that the questionnaires are attached in the appendix section of the paper with the survey forms, raw data, documentations and other tables.

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How can I write correct English words for other languages such as Thai?

Community Answer

There should be a standardized way of writing Thai words in English. If there is more than one convention, you can choose one and state which one you're going to use in the preface to your paper.

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Question

How long should my research paper be?

Community Answer

It depends. A typical paper for school would be 2-5 pages, maybe more if you're in college. You can ask your teacher what type of length he/she expects. But generally, it's more about the quality of your paper than the length.

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Question

How do you insert quotes?

Community Answer

If the quote is less than three sentences, put it directly into the paragraph, inside quotation marks, with citation. If it is more, indent and make it a block quote with citation.

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Question

Can I write a paper based on a hypothetical condition? The condition may never come true, but it is interesting.

Community Answer

Then it may be narrated as a fiction, not a research paper. Research is based on observable facts and figures which can be established in our day-to-day life or in case of need.

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Question

How do I get the main idea in research?

Community Answer

What do you get excited about? What are your passions? Ask yourself these questions, and if you find something that you thing you can write a long paper on without getting bored, do it!

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Question

Where do I place my research question in my writing?

Community Answer

Restate the question in the beginning of your introductory paragraph.

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Question

Where do I put my name and title on it?

Community Answer

In MLA format, it's on the far upper left corner of the paper. You also need to make sure that the pages all have your name on them.

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Question

What is the differance from a primary source and a secondary source?

Alex

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A primary source is a first-hand account if something, such as you being a witness of an event. A secondary source is something that you haven’t seen in person, such as a newspaper or informational article.

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