English Composition 101: Essay Types - Research Paper Primary vs. Secondary Sources Literature Review Methodology Findings Discussion Conclusion Citation

What It Is

A research paper is a type of academic writing that involves gathering and analyzing information from various sources to answer a specific question or solve a problem. For example, a student writing about the effects of social media on mental health might use data from a study published in a reputable journal to support their argument. This type of writing matters because it helps students develop critical thinking, research, and analytical skills, which are essential for academic and professional success.

Core Principles

• Primary sources are original materials, such as interviews, surveys, or experiments, while secondary sources are analyses or interpretations of primary sources, like books or articles.
• A literature review is a summary of existing research on a topic, often used to establish the context and significance of the research question.
• Methodology refers to the research design, methods, and procedures used to collect and analyze data.
• Findings are the results of the research, often presented in tables, figures, or text.
• Discussion is the analysis and interpretation of the findings, often including implications and limitations.
• Conclusion summarizes the main points and reiterates the significance of the research.
• A thesis statement is a clear and concise argument or claim, often including a roadmap for the rest of the paper.
• Citation refers to the proper credit given to sources used in the research paper, following a specific style guide (e.g., MLA or APA).
• In-text citations are used to credit sources within the text, while references or works cited list all sources used in the paper.
• MLA (Modern Language Association) style is commonly used in humanities, while APA (American Psychological Association) style is used in social sciences.
• Annotated bibliography is a list of sources with a brief summary and evaluation of each source.
• Abstract is a brief summary of the research paper, often included in academic journals.
• Introduction sets the context and provides background information on the research question.
• Body paragraphs typically include a topic sentence, evidence, analysis, and a link to the next paragraph.
• Transitions are words or phrases that connect ideas between sentences or paragraphs.

Common Writing Errors

• Error: "The study found that social media has a negative impact on mental health."
• Why it fails: This sentence lacks context and fails to establish the significance of the finding.
• Correction: "According to a recent study published in the Journal of Social Media, excessive social media use is linked to increased symptoms of depression and anxiety."
• Error: "The results showed that 75% of participants reported feeling anxious after using social media."
• Why it fails: This sentence lacks analysis and interpretation of the finding.
• Correction: "The high percentage of participants reporting anxiety after social media use suggests a strong correlation between social media use and mental health concerns."
• Error: "The study was conducted in 2018 and found that social media has a negative impact on mental health."
• Why it fails: This sentence lacks context and fails to establish the relevance of the study.
• Correction: "A 2018 study published in the Journal of Social Media found that excessive social media use is linked to increased symptoms of depression and anxiety, highlighting the need for further research in this area."

Quick Application

1. You are arguing that college tuition should be free. Write a thesis statement.
2. Model answer: "While some argue that free college tuition would lead to increased government spending, I argue that the benefits of free tuition, including increased economic mobility and reduced student debt, outweigh the costs and should be implemented nationwide."
3. Explanation: This thesis statement includes a clear claim and a roadmap for the rest of the paper, which will likely discuss the benefits and costs of free tuition.
4. You are writing a research paper on the effects of climate change on sea levels. Write a literature review paragraph.
5. Model answer: "According to a recent study published in the Journal of Climate Change, sea levels have risen by an average of 3.2 mm per year over the past century (IPCC, 2020). This trend is consistent with other studies, which have found that climate change is a major contributor to sea level rise (Church & White, 2011; Church et al., 2013)."
6. Explanation: This paragraph summarizes existing research on the topic, establishing the context and significance of the research question.
7. You are writing a research paper on the impact of social media on mental health. Write a discussion paragraph.
8. Model answer: "The findings of this study suggest that excessive social media use is linked to increased symptoms of depression and anxiety. This is consistent with previous research, which has found that social media use is associated with decreased self-esteem and increased feelings of loneliness (Király et al., 2019; Toma & Hancock, 2012). However, the results also highlight the need for further research in this area, particularly in terms of the mechanisms by which social media use affects mental health."
9. Explanation: This paragraph analyzes and interprets the findings, including implications and limitations of the research.

Last-Minute Revision

• Use in-text citations to credit sources within the text.
• Use transition words such as "however," "in addition," and "nevertheless" to connect ideas between sentences or paragraphs.
• Use punctuation correctly, including commas, semicolons, and periods.
• Use MLA or APA style to format the paper, including headings, margins, and font.
• Use quotations to credit sources directly, and paraphrasing to summarize sources in your own words.
• Use signal phrases to introduce sources, such as "According to" or "As noted by."
• Use summary sentences to summarize the main points of the paper.
• Use conclusion sentences to reiterate the significance of the research.
• Use references or works cited to list all sources used in the paper.
• Use abstract to summarize the research paper.
• Use introduction to set the context and provide background information on the research question.
• Use body paragraphs to present the main arguments and evidence.
• Use transitions to connect ideas between sentences or paragraphs.
• Use active voice to write in a clear and concise manner.
• Use passive voice sparingly, if at all.
• Use technical vocabulary to describe complex concepts and ideas.
• Use jargon to describe specialized terms and concepts.
• Use acronyms to describe abbreviations and acronyms.
• Use footnotes to provide additional information or explanations.
• Use appendices to include supplementary materials, such as tables or figures.