1/18/22, 6:13 PM What is a Research Paper?

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What is a Research Paper?

"Research paper." What image comes into mind as you hear those words: working with stacks of
articles and books, hunting the "treasure" of others' thoughts? Whatever image you create, it's a
sure bet that you're envisioning sources of information--articles, books, people, artworks. Yet a
research paper is more than the sum of your sources, more than a collection of different pieces of
information about a topic, and more than a review of the literature in a field. (/online-writing-
center/resources/research/research-paper/review-literature-in-field/) A research
paper analyzes a perspective (/online-writing-center/resources/research/research-
paper/analysis-research-papers/) or argues a point (/online-writing-
center/resources/research/research-paper/argument-research-papers/). Regardless of the
type of research paper you are writing, your finished research paper should present your own
thinking backed up by others' ideas and information. 

To draw a parallel, a lawyer researches and reads about many cases and uses them to support his
or her own case. A scientist reads many case studies to support an idea about a scientific
principle. In the same way, a history student writing about the Vietnam War might read newspaper
articles and books and interview veterans to develop and/or confirm a viewpoint and support it
with evidence. 

A research paper is an expanded essay (/online-writing-center/resources/research/research-

paper/essay/) that presents your own interpretation or evaluation or argument. When you write
an essay, you use everything that you personally know and have thought about a subject. When
you write a research paper you build upon what you know about the subject and make a
deliberate attempt to find out what experts know. A research paper involves surveying a field of
knowledge in order to find the best possible information in that field. And that survey can be
orderly and focused, if you know how to approach it. Don't worry--you won't get lost in a sea of
sources. 

In fact, this guide is designed to help you navigate the research voyage, through developing a
research question and thesis, doing the research, writing the paper, and correctly documenting
your sources.

Need Assistance?

Don't forget: if you would like assistance with this or any other type of writing assignment, learning
coaches are available to assist you. Please contact Academic Support by emailing
Academic.Support@esc.edu (mailto:Academic.Support@esc.edu); calling 1-800-847-3000, ext.
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1/18/22, 6:13 PM What is a Research Paper? | Collegewide Writing Center | SUNY Empire State College

3008; or calling the main number of the location in your region (see Academic Support Regional
Contact Information (https://www.esc.edu/learning-support/directors-academic-support/)
for more information).
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