A Step-By-Step Guide towards Writing A Successful Academic Paper

Writing a successful academic paper is not as difficult as many people might tend to think. With some guidance, it is possible to achieve the desired results. There are steps that must be followed to attain this outcome. They are as detailed below. Choose and Narrow Down On a Topic In most cases instructors will give their students some lists of possible themes and questions. They offer the students the freedom to choose the topics they would prefer to narrow down towards. At times an assignment might have a specific purpose such as analysis or argumentative essay. Some other times the student will be supposed to determine the overall purpose of the paper. This is where term papers and research papers come to the fore. Students should learn to choose a topic and then narrow down to ensure the final research paper is well targeted. Brainstorm Once a topic has been found, the other step entails brainstorming or thinking. Brainstorming is all about assessing the different options that are related to the topic under considerations. In essence, the idea is to figure out what issues will be addressed and give them an order of priority to make sure that only the most important aspects are being addressed. Brainstorming should be targeted towards only the most important aspects of the topic that has been chosen. Conduct Effective Research The research is what determines the development of the academic paper. It has t be effective and methodological. During this step, it is advisable to create a timeline for the research stage. The other thing entails finding proper resources for the research. It is also necessary to ensure that the resources being used are credible and scholarly. In many cases students are advised to concentrate more on scholarly journal articles. Books are also recommended since they offer good points of reference. Develop a Thesis Statement A thesis statement is an arguable or debatable claim that is made mostly in the last sentence of the introduction/first paragraph to give direction to the paper. Basically the thesis is like the main idea in the paper. It presents the purpose of the paper with clarity so the reader can have a good idea of what is being written about in the upcoming paragraphs. It is always good to have a thesis idea from the beginning since it offers a high degree of focus in the writing process. The thesis can be referenced after the writing process to determine if it has been substantiated within the content sections. Create the Basic Outline Once the thesis statement has been finalized, the planning process follows. This entails coming up with an outline of how the research results will be presented. The best part about an outline is that it ensures a paper is not only focused on sources but also the writer's thoughts. The outline is the first step towards organizing ideas of the paper. A reader can get a good idea of the paper by simply reading through the outline. Basically, the outline is like a summary of what is presented in the paper. Take Notes A vital part of the research and planning process entails taking proper notes of ideas and information that is sourced. As someone goes through the preliminary research process, it is advisable to write some notes down for purposes of future reference. This might seem like a waste of time but studies have shown that writing the final paper will be much faster if the ideas have already been written or marked down. Write Writing is the most demanding, tedious, and vital segment. Experts assert the importance of coming up with an outline to ensure that the writing is streamlined. If possible it is also necessary to offer a review of the research process and use research methodologies that are relevant to the topic under consideration. Edit and Proofread Your Work Many students often skip this step. It is actually one of the most important. However, most students find it boring. Going through one's work can be quite tedious at times. Proofreading a paper helps in finding mistakes. It becomes easier to correct them before making the final submission. Studies have shown that students who proofread and edit their papers often tend to be the most successful. Submit Once the writing is complete and everything has been checked for consistency, the final step entails submission of the academic paper. This should be done within the deadline that has been stipulated by the instructor.