Top tips to keep in mind while writing your next research paper
- April 19, 2024
- Posted by: IRP Academy
- Category: Knowledge Base
A research paper is a part of academic writing where there is a gathering of information from different sources. It is multistep process. Selection of title is the most important part of research writing [1].
Crafting a high-caliber research paper requires both innovative research and proficient writing. Whether you’re a student or an esteemed scientist, the endeavor of writing and submitting such a paper is undeniably challenging, consuming considerable time and energy. Fortunately, online editing services offer substantial assistance in this process. These services have advanced beyond basic English editing, now encompassing comprehensive publication support, including journal selection, submission assistance, and plagiarism checks. Entrusting your draft to a professional online editing service can significantly enhance your publication prospects, all while conserving invaluable time.
Research and writing are both recursive processes. Researchers begin by asking questions, then search for answers, sometimes find them, and in the finding (or not finding) discover new questions to be answered. Writers move in a similar cyclical pattern, from planning what they will write, to composing, to evaluating what they have written and then back again to making new plans for revising their work [2].
There are a lot of students who have the ability to write the research paper, but due to the lack of guidance and not familiar with the format and the process of writing a research paper, they are unable to write this type of academic work [3].
Here are five tips to aid in preparing your next research paper and prevent unnecessary delays in the publication process.
- Select the right journal
It’s not uncommon for high-quality research papers to be rejected if they don’t align with a journal’s scope and objectives. Choosing the right journal is crucial for reaching your target audience. Take time to research suitable journals considering factors like scope, impact factor, review time, and audience. Ensure the journal publishes your type of research paper to avoid rejection. If needed, consider online editing services offering journal selection assistance. Publication experts can assess your manuscript and requirements to recommend journals likely to appreciate your research. - Structure your paper correctly
Various types of manuscripts exist, including case reports, reviews, letters, and original research articles. Each type follows a distinct format, which may vary slightly between journals. For instance, an original research paper typically adheres to the IMRAD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion), while case reports may not require a methods section. Additionally, some journals impose reference limits. Familiarizing yourself with these specifics enables you to draft a manuscript aligned with the journal’s preferred format.
3. Make a personal checklist
Reflect on your previous manuscript preparation process. Did you omit any essential readings in the results section? Did you thoroughly address the discussion section, incorporating all pertinent studies? Were the limitations of your study adequately addressed? Did you present numerical data in text format, when tabular presentation may be clearer? Have you incorporated inputs from all co-authors? Create a checklist to ensure you avoid previous oversights in your manuscript preparation. - Edit, revise, and re-edit
Editing works like magic, refining your rough draft into a polished manuscript ready for submission. After compiling all relevant data, take a break to gain fresh perspective and identify logic or flow gaps. However, self-editing can be challenging for writers. Consider professional online editing services to enhance your paper. Experts in your field will ensure adherence to journal requirements and improve readability, clarity, and tone. - Proofread and proofread again
Issues such as grammatical mistakes, inconsistencies, and missed words can significantly diminish the quality of your research. Conducting a thorough proofread is imperative to rectify misspellings, grammatical and punctuation errors, inconsistencies, formatting issues, and more. Moreover, achieving an error-free paper necessitates repeated proofreading efforts. Maintaining a checklist of common mistakes and targeting them specifically can be beneficial. Alternatively, outsourcing proofreading to online services, many of which also provide editing options, is an option. Professional proofreaders possess the expertise to meticulously examine your manuscript.
References
- Shrestha, L., Joshi, B., & Kumar, A. (2021). WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER: A GUIDE. Journal of Universal College of Medical Sciences, 9(1).
- Horowitz, D. (1989). The undergraduate research paper: where research and writing meet. System, 17(3), 347-357.
- Javed, M. (2019). What are the problems for students in writing the First research Paper in a second language. International Journal Online of Humanities, 5(5).