In answer to what a research paper is, the online writing lab states that a “research paper is a piece of academic writing that requires a more abstract, critical, and thoughtful level of inquiry than you might be used to” .
Writing a research paper necessarily involves the use of books, journals, magazines, newspapers, the internet and other periodicals to get materials to support one’s position. Because it necessarily involves carrying out research on an issue, many students think that a mere restatement of the research results in their papers is what a research report is. That is not what a research report is, that is a mere review of literature.
In actual fact, a research report combines the writer’s personal insight with the research. The research is meant to illuminate and provide support for the writer’s personal perspective. Once a student understands this, and is ready to engage his critical faculties in that process, he will begin to understand what a research report is.
To understand what a research report is, the student will also need to understand what makes up a research report, and how each of these parts relate to and follow each other. He will need to understand the introductory part of the research report, which includes how to lay out the background to the problem, and how to formulate the thesis statement.
To understand what a research report is, the student will also need to know how to formulate and support his arguments in the body, and how to draw meaningful conclusions that demand urgent action from the reader.
With these in mind, and with a little bit of practice, it will only be a matter of time before the student comprehensively understands what a research report is.
