What is a Research Paper?
The main criteria for a piece of writing to qualify
as a research paper is its reliance on credible
information in the publications of other
people. It is essential that the information
sources be credible and that those sources be
cited appropriately and properly.
Major Types of Research
Papers
There are two major types of
research papers: analytical
and argumentative.
Analytical Research Papers
An analytical research paper is an attempt to create an
unbiased overview of what is known about a particular topic.
The goal of an analytical research paper is to piece together
a logical and connected explanation of what is known
about a topic, often in a way that has never been done
before. Obviously, it would be inappropriate to select only
those details that lead to one’s preferred conclusion; the
analytical research paper should consider all the evidence,
both in support of, and contradictory to, a particular point of
view.
Argumentative Research Papers
The argumentative research paper and is also known as a
persuasive research paper. The goal of this type of paper is
to convince the reader of the validity of a particular
position or conclusion. One difference between this type of
paper and an analytical paper is that the student can be more
selective in presenting evidence that supports the contention
made in the argumentative research paper. Most adult high
school students are required to write an argumentative
research paper.
There is also a major difference. In an
argumentative paper it would be appropriate, to
put the conclusion or position to be supported at
the beginning of the paper. That
conclusion/position is appropriately called a
“thesis” or “thesis statement.” The format of the
analytical paper would be different because the
conclusion would be placed at the end, thus
following the analysis of all the evidence.