There are different types of
research papers. More often than not, when students hear about research paper,
they get freaked out because most of them shared a wrong perception. They
believe that one must conduct a research first to write a research paper. This
opinion is not accurate. Below, listed are 7 types of research papers:
1.Argumentative
papers,
2.Analytical
papers,
3.Definition
papers,
4.Compare and contrast
papers,
5.Cause and effect
papers,
6.Reports, and
7.Interpretive papers.
1. Argumentative
papers
ARGUMENTATIVE PAPERS present
two sides of a controversial issue in the one paper. A good argumentative paper
will include in-text citations from researchers that present logical facts from
both sides of an issue, and will conclude with the author analyzing the pros and
cons of each argument. The confusing element of an argumentative paper is that
the author is expected to favor one side more than the other on an issue, but
the research and analysis must be un-emotive and factual and include both sides
of the argument. For example a student may be asked to complete a paper on "The
importance of nature and nurture on a child's predicted teenage behavior." The
author may believe that either nature or nurture may be more important from
their own research on the issue but a good paper on this topic will include
information from researchers on both sides of the problem, and even in this case
information from researchers that believe both sides are equally
important.
2. Analytical
papers
ANALYTICAL PAPERS also include
information from a range of sources but the focus on this type of research paper
is in analyzing the different viewpoints represented from a factual rather than
opinionated standpoint. The author of an analytical paper may focus on the
findings, methodology or conclusions of other researchers and will conclude such
a paper with a summation of the findings and a suggested framework for further
study on the issue.
3.Definition
papers
DEFINITION PAPERS are
relatively self-explanatory. They describe a topic from a factual standpoint
that is usually devoid of emotion or the opinion of the author. Although the
definition research paper will include facts from a variety of sources, this
information is left unanalyzed and contains only actual facts found in another's
research paper findings. While a definition paper might be considered difficult
to write especially by those students who enjoy discussing issues from their own
perspective a good definition paper can provide a valuable information framework
for other argumentative or analytical reports on the same topic.
4.Compare and contrast
papers
COMPARE AND CONTRAST PAPERS
are often used in literature courses to compare two different authors, or
stories from a particular genre. However they can also be required in social
sciences to compare two different theoretical viewpoints; in philosophy to
compare the thoughts of two philosophical frameworks and even in business
studies where different leadership styles could be compared for example. The
important part of a compare and contrast paper is that while both elements in
the paper need to be described succinctly, the main part of the paper will be
the comparison and contrasting examples provided by the author to support a
thesis.
5.Cause and effect
papers
CAUSE AND EFFECT PAPERS trace
the probable or expected results from a particular action or policy in a logical
progression that is easily followed by the reader. Used in business and
education fields in particular a good cause and effect paper will not only
outline the predicted results from the action/situation specified, but also
where applicable show the range of results that could arise from this one
situation through to its logical conclusion.
6.Reports
REPORTS often follow a
memorandum or similar business format and they are often written to outline a
case study situation. For example a report could be commissioned by your tutor
to describe the key issues in a workplace scenario - perhaps from a human
resources standpoint. The report would include a summary of the situation to
date; an identification of the main issue or concern; a breakdown of the
elements of this main issue and then recommendations on how to address the issue
based on research on the topic. While a comparison essay for example will use
"If…but" or similar statements, the report will contain short factual sentences
devoid of emotion. Reports usually include an executive summary that takes the
place of an abstract in this type of research paper, as well as supporting
evidence in the form of appendix, graphs and tables.
7. Interpretive
papers
INTERPRETIVE PAPERS are often
required by tutors in literature, humanities and social sciences and they
require the student to use the theoretical knowledge gained in a course of study
to a particular case study example such as a piece of art or a poem in literary
fields; a business situation in a management course; or a psychological case
profile in either sociology or psychology fields. The key element of an
interpretive paper is evidence that the student has written the paper based on
an established theoretical framework and has used supporting data to back up the
thesis statement and findings of the paper.
