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Can a Research Paper be Opinionated: Persuasive or Personal

How to Write an Opinionated Paper

A research paper is perhaps the most vital part of a student’s course. It is an essay that offers students an opportunity to explain in-depth what they have learned in a course.

Typically, information from interviews, articles, books, and internet sites is supposed to be included. Even more importantly, you can polish your research paper by including your own opinions and ideas.

A typical research paper based on the APA format entails the introduction, title page, and abstract. It also contains methods used, in-depth results, discussions, and reference sections. There are also requirements for figures, tables, and appendices.

If you are writing a research paper, begin with a general sentence that gives the reader what the background of the topic is all about. Proceed to discuss issues related to your topic then take on the thesis of the research paper.

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Can a Research Paper be Opinionated?

Research papers can have personal opinions more subjectively . A lot of caution is needed because the opinion you put ought to be supported by reliable sources and documents.

The presentation of texts should be in a simple manner and the language used should have a clear formulation.

The majority of research papers have a section towards the end that needs a discussion. This is a part that differentiates opinion statements.

When putting your expressions in a research paper , draw up short sentences and ensure that your opinion is expressed in an understandable form that can be interpreted easily.

The same uniformity should be observed in abbreviations, measurements of weight and length, terms, and conventional notations. 

To perfect your opinion, it is important to have multiple sources of information such as articles and journals as this helps you to come up with unique information.

Luckily, times have changed and the internet now provides a lot of information on different topics. However, it is good to check the information you get on the internet for accuracy purposes.

Most importantly, all opinions you include in your research should be validated. Supported research makes your paper more presentable.

When to Include Your Opinion in a Research Paper

As an author, including an opinion paper is important. You should include it when the research has already been completed and you feel that the data given in the research is not convincing.

You can also include an opinion when the topic discussed is broad and focuses on a wider audience. Also, if the author feels there is an innovation or point that has been excluded in research, the idea can be presented in an opinion paper.

If you feel the research is extensive and all ideas have been covered, you can avoid writing an opinion.

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How to Include Your Opinion in a Research Paper

It is easier to include your opinion in an essay paper.

First, come up with a topic that you are comfortable with and care about . This should be a topic that you can easily research and one that you have a natural opinion about. Support your opinion so that it is more convincing to the reader.

The Main Difference between a Research Paper and an Opinion Paper

As a student, it is important to know the difference between an opinion and a research paper. An opinion paper completely relies on the views of the person writing it but on the other hand, a research paper does not include the student’s views.

When writing a research paper , there has to be a backup of the statistics and facts that you mention.

These are accurate information such as figures, statistics, and facts that back up the information a student has written.

On the other hand, including studies and resources is not required in an opinion paper unless when instructed to do so.

This is the reason why learners find it easier to write an opinion paper compared to a research paper.

When writing a research paper, a strict format or specific outline has to be followed. When it comes to opinion papers, the writer enjoys flexibility when doing the assignment. In this case, a student can use his or her creativity and write a paper with a unique outline.

There are cases when the opinion and research paper all form part of an assignment. It helps the lecturer to establish the ability of the leaner to gather information about the given topic.

Also, the learner’s ability to follow instructions is known. When a student completes a research paper of a project, an opinion paper will follow. Through this paper, you will give your view on the subject discussed in the research paper. This is the only way the lecturer will know if the learner understood the subject.

A student’s ability to interpret information on a given topic is demonstrated in the opinion paper. In terms of time taken, opinion papers can be completed easily but a research paper takes a lot of time. The writer has to be vigilant and provide evidence for all the facts stated.

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How to Write an Opinionated Research Paper

In opinion writing, it is all about a student’s point of view of the subject or project discussed in research.

To write a good opinion paper, address your audience directly by using examples and clear explanations. For starters, use an introduction that has references and includes rhetorical questions to capture the reader’s attention.

Follow the below tips to come up with a catchy opinion paper:

• Focus on the topic given and do not write a lot of fluff. Always focus on the topic given lest you lower the grade of the paper.
• Just like research and academic papers, a catchy first paragraph is also needed for an opinion paper. A brief intent of the body paragraphs should be discussed so that the lecturer will know what to expect.
• Use formal language and ensure that the words used are not complicated.
• Include a short description of the paper that will explain what the rest of the paper is all about. A good thesis opens the way to body paragraphs that are easy to understand.
• Keep off internet slang and use the first person. Some of the slang words to avoid include LMAO, LOL, and OMG. These are words that can lower the quality of your opinion paper.
• Even though first-person writing is encouraged, avoid the use of informal punctuation. Apart from emojis, avoid using exclamations, marks, and dashes.

As you write, ensure there are no grammar or sentence structure mistakes. A five-paragraph structure is good when writing opinion paragraphs. Always know what you are supposed to include in each of the paragraphs.

Start with an introduction by stating the subject matter. The name of the author and publication date should be included.

You can reference a speech, play, or book for more clarification so that it becomes easier for the reader to comprehend. The next part is the thesis of the paper which includes a small description of what the paper is all about.

There should be a summary of the entire paper and a catchy sentence that connects to the first body paragraph.

Moving on, the body paragraph should have a supporting argument, deep explanations of points stated, and examples. At the end of it, write a linking sentence that leads the reader to the next paragraph.

Lastly, write a conclusion that includes a summary of the paper you have written. Complete it by creating a conclusive sentence.

When not handling complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

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Research Paper vs. Thinking [Opinion] Piece

The purpose of a research paper is to synthesize existing scholarly research and, in many cases, analyze new data to shed new light on a particular topic and to, ideally, advance the state of knowledge. The focus of such a paper is the research question: what do we know about a particular topic, and what are we aiming to find out through the process of research? The audience for such papers is that of scholars interested in the topic, and thus the paper can use technical language and be fairly narrow in scope.

The purpose of an opinion piece is to convincingly argue for an author’s opinion on a controversial issue, i.e. an issue about which a range of opinions, usually conflicting, can be presented.  Opinion pieces may be connected to current topics (e.g., politics, the environment, global issues), cultural and literary issues, historical issues, and more. The audience for opinion pieces is broader than that of research papers: the Laird Essay is aimed at people with interest in REES who may or may not be scholars of a particular topic. Where a research paper aims to advance the state of knowledge about a particular topic, an opinion piece seeks to inform and persuade its audience.

Both research papers and opinion pieces in REES are expected to use primary and secondary sources. Though the bibliographical requirements are somewhat more relaxed for an opinion piece, writers are encouraged to avoid inaccuracies and overgeneralizations. An opinion piece calls for more personal interpretation and perspective on the material and issues. Students are expected to develop their own thoughts and reflections in connection to the issue. A thinking piece that is meant to be thought-provoking can also contain elements of speculation.

An opinion [think] piece is also less structured than a term paper. Though, think piece need not follow a formal essay organization, clarity is still important. In the opinion piece, students can be more personal and conversational, but are still expected to provide insight, understanding, and educate the reader without being preachy.

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Scholarly Journals and Popular Magazines: Differences in Research, Review, and Opinion Articles

• Where Do I Start?
• How Do I Find Peer-Reviewed Articles?
• How Do I Compare Periodical Types?
• Where Can I find More Information?

Research Articles, Reviews, and Opinion Pieces

Scholarly or research articles are written for experts in their fields. They are often peer-reviewed or reviewed by other experts in the field prior to publication. They often have terminology or jargon that is field specific. They are generally lengthy articles. Social science and science scholarly articles have similar structures as do arts and humanities scholarly articles. Not all items in a scholarly journal are peer reviewed. For example, an editorial opinion items can be published in a scholarly journal but the article itself is not scholarly. Scholarly journals may include book reviews or other content that have not been peer reviewed.

Empirical Study: (Original or Primary) based on observation, experimentation, or study. Clinical trials, clinical case studies, and most meta-analyses are empirical studies.

Review Article: (Secondary Sources) Article that summarizes the research in a particular subject, area, or topic. They often include a summary, an literature reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.

Clinical case study (Primary or Original sources): These articles provide real cases from medical or clinical practice. They often include symptoms and diagnosis.

Clinical trials ( Health Research): Th ese articles are often based on large groups of people. They often include methods and control studies. They tend to be lengthy articles.

Opinion Piece:  An opinion piece often includes personal thoughts, beliefs, or feelings or a judgement or conclusion based on facts. The goal may be to persuade or influence the reader that their position on this topic is the best.

Book review: Recent review of books in the field. They may be several pages but tend to be fairly short. 

Social Science and Science Research Articles

The majority of social science and physical science articles include

• Journal Title and Author
• Abstract 
• Introduction with a hypothesis or thesis
• Literature Review
• Methods/Methodology
• Results/Findings

Arts and Humanities Research Articles

In the Arts and Humanities, scholarly articles tend to be less formatted than in the social sciences and sciences. In the humanities, scholars are not conducting the same kinds of research experiments, but they are still using evidence to draw logical conclusions.  Common sections of these articles include:

• an Introduction
• Discussion/Conclusion
• works cited/References/Bibliography

Research versus Review Articles

• 6 Article types that journals publish: A guide for early career researchers
• INFOGRAPHIC: 5 Differences between a research paper and a review paper
• Michigan State University. Empirical vs Review Articles
• UC Merced Library. Empirical & Review Articles
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An author’s purpose can influence the kind of information they choose to include.

Thinking about the reason an author produced a source can be helpful to you because that reason was what dictated the kind of information they chose to include. Depending on that purpose, the author may have chosen to include factual, analytical, and objective information. Or, instead, it may have suited their purpose to include information that was subjective and therefore less factual and analytical. The author’s reason for producing the source also determined whether they included more than one perspective or just their own.

Authors typically want to do at least one of the following:

• Inform and educate
• Sell services or products or

Combination of Purposes

Sometimes authors have a combination of purposes, as when a marketer decides they can sell more smartphones with an informative sales video that also entertains us. The same is true when a singer writes and performs a song that entertains us but that they intend to make available for sale. Other examples of authors having multiple purposes occur in most scholarly writing.

In those cases, authors certainly want to inform and educate their audiences. But they also want to persuade their audiences that what they are reporting and/or postulating is a true description of a situation, event, or phenomenon or a valid argument that their audience must take a particular action. In this blend of scholarly author’s purposes, the intent to educate and inform is considered to trump the intent to persuade.

Why Intent Matters

Authors’ intent usually matters in how useful their information can be to your research project, depending on which information need you are trying to meet. For instance, when you’re looking for resources that will help you actually decide how to answer your research question or evidence for your answer that you will share with your audience, you will want the author’s main purpose to have been to inform or educate their audience. That’s because, with that intent, they are likely to have used:

• Facts where possible.
• Multiple perspectives instead of just their own.
• Little subjective information.
• Seemingly unbiased, objective language that cites where they got the information.

The reason you want that kind of resource when trying to answer your research question or explaining that answer is that all of those characteristics will lend credibility to the argument you are making with your project. Both you and your audience will simply find it easier to believe—will have more confidence in the argument being you are making—based on your selected resources.

Resources whose authors intend only to persuade others won’t meet your information need for an answer to your research question or evidence with which to convince your audience. That’s because they don’t always confine themselves to facts. Instead, they tell us their opinions without backing them up with evidence. If you used those sources, your readers will notice and not believe your argument.

Fact vs. Opinion vs. Objective vs. Subjective

Need to brush up on the differences between fact, objective information, subjective information, and opinion?

Fact – Facts are useful to inform or make an argument.

• The United States was established in 1776.
• The pH levels in acids are lower than pH levels in alkalines.
• Beethoven had a reputation as a virtuoso pianist.

Opinion – Opinions are useful to persuade, but careful readers and listeners will notice and demand evidence to back them up.

• That was a good movie.
• Strawberries taste better than blueberries.
• George Clooney is the sexiest actor alive.
• The death penalty is wrong.
• Beethoven’s reputation as a virtuoso pianist is overrated.

Objective – Objective information reflects a research finding or multiple perspectives that are not biased.

• “Several studies show that an active lifestyle reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes.”
• “Studies from the Brown University Medical School show that twenty-somethings eat 25 percent more fast-food meals at this age than they did as teenagers.”

Subjective – Subjective information presents one person or organization’s perspective or interpretation. Subjective information can be meant to distort, or it can reflect educated and informed thinking. All opinions are subjective, but some are backed up with facts more than others.

• “The simple truth is this: As human beings, we were meant to move.”
• “In their thirties, women should stock up on calcium to ensure strong, dense bones and to ward off osteoporosis later in life.”*

*In this quote, it’s mostly the “should” that makes it subjective. The objective version of the last quote would read: “Studies have shown that women who begin taking calcium in their 30s show stronger bone density and fewer repercussions of osteoporosis than women who did not take calcium at all.” But perhaps there are other data showing complications from taking calcium. That’s why drawing the conclusion that requires a “should” makes the statement subjective.

Critical Thinking in Academic Research Copyright © 2022 by Cindy Gruwell and Robin Ewing is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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2-Types of Sources

3. Fact or Opinion

Thinking about the reason an author created a source can be helpful to you because that reason was what dictated the kind of information he/she chose to include. Depending on that purpose, the author may have chosen to include factual, analytical, and objective information. Or, instead, it may have suited his/her purpose to include information that was subjective and therefore less factual and analytical. The author’s reason for producing the source also determined whether he or she included more than one perspective or just his/her own.

Authors typically want to do at least one of the following:

• Inform and educate
• Sell services or products

Combined Purposes

Sometimes authors have a combination of purposes, as when a marketer decides he can sell more smartphones with an informative sales video that also entertains us. The same is true when a singer writes and performs a song that entertains us but that she intends to make available for sale. Other examples of authors having multiple purposes occur in most scholarly writing.

In those cases, authors certainly want to inform and educate their audiences. But they also want to persuade their audiences that what they are reporting and/or postulating is a true description of a situation, event, or phenomenon or a valid argument that their audience must take a particular action. In this blend of scholarly authors’ purposes, the intent to educate and inform is considered to trump the intent to persuade

Why Intent Matters

Authors’ intent usually matters in how useful their information can be to your research project, depending on which information need you are trying to meet. For instance, when you’re looking for sources that will help you actually decide your answer to your research question or evidence for your answer that you will share with your audience, you will want the author’s main purpose to have been to inform or educate his/her audience. That’s because, with that intent, he/she is likely to have used:

• Facts where possible.
• Multiple perspectives instead of just his/her own.
• Little subjective information.
• Seemingly unbiased, objective language that cites where he/she got the information.

The reason you want that kind of source when trying to answer your research question or explaining that answer is that all of those characteristics will lend credibility to the argument you are making with your project. Both you and your audience will simply find it easier to believe—will have more confidence in the argument being made—when you include those types of sources.

Sources whose authors intend only to persuade others won’t meet your information need for an answer to your research question or evidence with which to convince your audience. That’s because they don’t always confine themselves to facts. Instead, they tell us their opinions without backing them up with evidence. If you used those sources, your readers would notice and would be less likely to believe your argument.

Fact vs. Opinion vs. Objective vs. Subjective

Need to brush up on the differences between fact, objective information, subjective information, and opinion?

Fact – Facts are useful to inform or make an argument.

• The United States was established in 1776.
• The pH levels in acids are lower than the pH levels in alkalines.
• Beethoven had a reputation as a virtuoso pianist.

Opinion – Opinions are useful to persuade, but careful readers and listeners will notice and demand evidence to back them up.

• That was a good movie.
• Strawberries taste better than blueberries.
• Timothee Chalamet is the sexiest actor alive.
• The death penalty is wrong.
• Beethoven’s reputation as a virtuoso pianist is overrated.

Objective – Objective information reflects a research finding or multiple perspectives that are not biased.

• “Several studies show that an active lifestyle reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes.”
• “Studies from the Brown University Medical School show that twenty-somethings eat 25 percent more fast-food meals at this age than they did as teenagers.”

Subjective – Subjective information presents one person or organization’s perspective or interpretation. Subjective information can be meant to distort, or it can reflect educated and informed thinking. All opinions are subjective, but some are backed up with facts more than others.

• “The simple truth is this: As human beings, we were meant to move.”
• “In their thirties, women should stock up on calcium to ensure strong, dense bones and to ward off osteoporosis later in life.” *

*In this quote, it’s mostly the “should” that makes it subjective. The objective version of that quote would read something like: “Studies have shown that women who begin taking calcium in their 30s show stronger bone density and fewer repercussions of osteoporosis than women who did not take calcium at all.” But perhaps there are other data showing complications from taking calcium. That’s why drawing the conclusion that requires a “should” makes the statement subjective.

Choosing & Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research Copyright © 2015 by Teaching & Learning, Ohio State University Libraries is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Can a Research Paper have Personal Opinions, Experiences or Story?

One should write research papers objectively and in an unbiased way. However, whether it is right to include personal opinions, experiences, or stories in a research paper arises.

In this brief discussion, we will explore this topic and determine the circumstances in which such content might be suitable.

Can a Research Paper have Opinions? 

Ultimately, the necessity of including opinions in a research paper will depend on the particular requirements of the assignment or publication.

A research paper can have opinions and personal views if they are necessary for the analysis or reflection of the data gathered during the research. If allowed, a writer can use opinions in a research paper but this depends on the type of paper and the context in which the opinions arise. However, research papers should be objective and based on one analysis of evidence rather than personal opinions.

However, there are particular research papers, like review articles or opinion pieces, where the author’s opinions and perspectives are an asset part of the paper.

Additionally, researchers may include their own opinions or interpretations of their data in the discussion section of a research paper. It is critical for researchers to be open about their biases and to offer evidence to support their opinions.

Can a Research Paper Have Personal Experience?

Using personal experience to improve your research is a common aspect of your essay writing. Depending on the topic your are writing, this can happen.

A research paper can have personal experience if observational results need to be presented by the author or researcher. Including personal experiences in a research paper can be appropriate, but it depends on the context and type of paper. For instance, ethnographic papers will have personal experiences from the observation made.

Personal experiences add a human element to a research paper. It helps illustrate the practical applications or implications of the presented research.

For example, a researcher studying a specific medical condition may use personal anecdotes from individuals with the condition to assist readers in understanding its impact on their lives.

However, it is vital to maintain a balance between personal experiences and objective analysis. Use personal experiences sparingly and do not detract from the research or the presented argument.

Additionally, present personal experiences in a respectful way that does not compromise the privacy of the individuals involved.

As with opinions, support personal experiences with evidence to avoid confusion between personal beliefs and objective findings.

Use personal experiences in a research paper thoughtfully and with the overall purpose and audience in mind. This however should be done in the best practices of how to write a good term paper or research paper.

How to Include Personal Opinion in a Research Paper

Using personal opinions in a research paper needs careful consideration of the context and purpose of the paper. Here are some steps to follow when including personal opinions in a research paper:

• Identify the appropriate section: Include personal opinions in a research paper’s discussion section. Such a section enables the author to interpret and explain the study’s results in their own words.
• Be transparent about biases: It is important to be open about personal biases that may affect your opinions. One can do this by acknowledging them in the paper and explaining how you have attempted to minimize their impact on the research.
• Use evidence to support opinions: Support personal opinions with evidence and analysis. It can include citing previous research, giving examples or anecdotes, or presenting data that supports your argument.
• Avoid emotive language: Let personal opinions appear neutrally and professionally. Avoid using emotive language or expressing personal feelings in a way that may get interpreted as unprofessional or biased.
• Consider the audience: Present personal opinions in a way that is appropriate for the intended audience. For example, a research paper intended for a scientific journal may need a more formal and objective tone than one intended for a general audience.
• Maintaining balance: Avoid letting personal opinions dominate the paper or detract from the presented research. It is vital to keep a balance between personal opinions and objective analysis.
• Seek feedback: Before using personal opinions in a research paper, seek feedback from colleagues or advisors. This can help to ensure that the opinions are appropriate and presented professionally and effectively.

Using personal opinions in a research paper is a great way to offer context and interpretation for the results of a study. However, it should happen thoughtfully and with careful consideration of the context and purpose of the paper.

Some papers and topics encourage personal opinion. Check out our English 102 example topics and see some of those that could require you to use some personal touch to it.

Can a Research Paper Have Stories? 

A research paper can have stories if they are required in the instructions or if they are part of the points being presented. Stories can be added to a research paper if they need to be reported as they were, especially in regard to ethnographic papers that require a researcher to observe and report the observations. Also, stories can add a human element and help readers connect with the studied topic.

However, like personal opinions and experiences, stories should appear sparingly. They should be distinct from the objective analysis and evidence presented in the paper.

If used, they should present stories respectfully and professionally. Explain their relevance to the research.

Instances when to use personal stories in a research paper

I can use personal stories in research papers to illustrate and support the findings in specific instances. Here are some examples:

• Qualitative research: In qualitative research, personal stories or experiences can serve as data to offer an in-depth understanding of a phenomenon. These stories can show up in the results section of the research paper to illustrate themes or patterns that emerge from the data.
• Case studies: One can use personal stories in case studies to offer a detailed analysis of a particular individual or group. These stories can demonstrate the impact of a particular intervention or treatment or provide context for the study’s findings.
• Ethnographic research: In ethnographic research, one can use personal stories to describe a particular group’s cultural practices and beliefs. These stories can appear in the discussion section of the research paper to offer insights into the participants’ lived experiences.
• Health research: one can use personal stories in health research to illustrate the impact of a particular condition or treatment on individuals and their families. You can include these stories in the introduction or discussion section of the research paper. They should offer context for the study and highlight the research’s importance.
• Social sciences: Use personal stories in social sciences to offer insights into the experiences of marginalized groups or to illustrate the impact of social policies on individuals and communities. You can include these stories in the research paper’s results or discussion section. The aim is to provide a more nuanced understanding of the research findings.

Notably, one can include personal stories judiciously, respectfully, and ethically. Researchers must obtain informed consent from participants before using their stories in research. They must take steps to protect their privacy and confidentiality. 

Additionally, you can use personal stories in a way that is relevant to the research question and supports the study’s findings. This can be done in specifically sectioned subtitles so as to avoid mixing subjective and objective points.

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Can a Research Paper Have Opinions?

The opinion is a type of evidence, an interpretive lens, a subjective, possibly subconscious process that is a way of seeing a prejudice that interferes with interpretation and reasoning.

The assignment of writing an opinion paper is a common one in many classrooms. Due to their perceived ease, these papers tend to be popular. The purpose of an opinion paper is for the student to express their ideas on a particular issue. Something happening right now, somewhere else in the world, or even in the distant past might qualify as this.

Opinion papers may necessitate additional research in certain circumstances. Students who want to write the best opinion research papers should be aware of the situation they are writing about. If students have learned more about what happened, they are more likely to express their thoughts and feelings. Let us discuss can a research paper has opinions or not.

Can research papers have opinions?

When writing a research paper, it’s easy to fall back on what we already know rather than looking for new information. Personal experiences can be useful in research papers, but only if they are used as evidence by experts in the field. It’s always preferable to gather additional evidence to back up what we already believe or have experienced firsthand.

Your opinionated research paper should be written to convince the reader that you are an expert on the subject if there is no external evidence to support your claims. For the reader to have faith in your undocumented evidence, you must lay out your credentials. It should be avoided when conducting research for a paper. However, this does not imply a citation in the References section.

An APA reference page or an in-text citation in your paper usually does not require you to cite your own experiences and knowledge. Personal opinion and knowledge are important components of your writing style and set you apart from the crowd.

How to write an opinion paper for college?

Students who are just starting their college careers may find it difficult to compose an academic paper that expresses their personal opinions. An opinion paper requires you to take a stand on a particular issue and defend your ideas. In order to create an opinion piece, you cannot simply rant and rave about something without offering any evidence to back it up.

Because of this, these papers demand a lot of time and effort to be successful. Professors typically give out these philosophy, religion, and English composition assignments.

● A Guide to Writing a Research Paper:

You will be required to write a research paper at some point in your academic career, regardless of your area of interest. Art history students may be asked to write a paper on an artist’s work. A psychology student may be tasked with writing a research paper on the latest findings in child development, etc.

At first, writing a research paper may seem overwhelming. As a result, writing a lengthy academic paper requires time, effort, and planning. On the other hand, writing a research paper can give you the chance to delve deeper into a subject that interests you personally.

It is possible to gain expertise in a subject of your choice through the research process, and the writing process aids in the retention and comprehension of what you’ve learned.

1. Research Your Subject

To begin, do some background research on your subject. In your paper, you must present your opinion and provide evidence to back it up. Your argument should be based on solid evidence and logic. It’s always best to draw your conclusions after doing extensive research. Educate yourself on various facts and stand up for what seems right to you.

2. Pick the Best Topic:

Crafting an effective essay begins with identifying an appropriate subject. Good topics are ones you’re interested in and enthusiastic about and ones you can discover enough proof to back up to keep the reader interested as they read the essay.

Choose a topic that excites you instead of the one that bores you. It’s easy for readers to see when a writer isn’t invested in a topic, and they’ll probably not enjoy your essay.

3. Make an Outline of Your Project

Create an outline for your position paper before you begin writing it. The three main sections of your document must be included, i.e., the introduction, the body, and the paper’s conclusion. After presenting your topic, state your opinion in the beginning. Everything else will be built on top of this one piece of work.

You can also explain why you have this opinion. However, it is unnecessary to go into great detail in the introduction. You must keep your readers interested to read the rest of your article. In order to wrap things up, your conclusion should summarize your argument and the most important evidence.

4. Write the Paper

When you write the actual paper, refer to your outline for guidance, and present your argument in an introductory paragraph that follows the outline’s formatting conventions. The reasons for your opinion should also be considered when writing the body of your essay. Include at the very least three reasons for your choice.

We recommend that you begin with the weakest reason and work your way up to the strongest. Make your paper more intriguing by following these guidelines.

5. Don’t Be Too Argumentative

While composing your essay, it is possible to appear aggressive and caustic at times. To avoid detracting from your essay’s professional feel, be careful with your word choice.

The reader already has a sense of whether or not you agree with or disagree with the position you’ll take in your conclusion. Using sarcasm and hostility merely draws attention to the writer’s style.

6. Organize Your Essay:

Start planning your essay once you’ve gathered all your evidence. Get rid of anything that doesn’t provide value and group related ideas together. Examine and arrange your ideas to be firmly connected to your work. It’s important to think about where you want to place your thoughts in your essay before you begin writing.

7. Support Your Position with Evidence

Make sure you have good evidence to support your assertions. Avoid using language that could be misunderstood as an accusation, such as passionate language. Make sure solid facts support your arguments.

When preparing your arguments, begin by looking at your opponents’ arguments. It enables you to identify any holes in your argument that you may need to fill in with more proof.

8. Conclusion:

The main goal of the conclusion is to summarize the entire paper’s content. Then again, you can use it as a chance to reaffirm your position. Focus on a few facts to back up your argument. The key ideas should be summarized in this section so that your readers can draw their conclusions, too.

How to Write an Effective Opinion Paper:

Follow these tips:

1. Before you begin writing your opinion essay, sketch out an outline. Removing any reasoning that isn’t working now will leave only the most compelling arguments in your favor.

2. Make sure you do extensive research on the subject matter you’re writing about. It’s possible to change your mind by reading more widely.

3. Be sure only to use reliable, well-known sources. The best sources are academic ones written by experts in a given subject area. – The vast majority of colleges and universities allow students to access academic resources for free. That’s an opportunity you don’t want to let slip through your fingers.

4. Check your work for errors and omissions by going over it several times. Take a day or two off to clear your head before you go back and revise your work. While writing, it’s easy to overlook some obvious mistakes, but that’s okay because you’ll have time to fix them later. In addition to being annoying, typos make your work look sloppy.

5. Keep to the rules. Using a format that the reader isn’t familiar with can cause distractions.

6. You should cite your work correctly. It still needs to be cited properly if it’s an opinion piece.

Can you include your opinion in a research paper?

Anyone can publish an article in a magazine or blog about their own life experiences. Just their opinion, which the reader can take as either good or bad, is what they’re saying.

An APA reference page or an in-text citation in your paper usually does not require you to cite your own experiences and knowledge. Personal experience and knowledge are important components of your writing style and set you apart from the crowd.

Writing about yourself and your personal experiences and knowledge may be required occasionally, such as when you are asked to somehow respond to a piece of literature.

Summing Up:

Various writing assignments are given to students. Opinion papers are usually simple to complete, but research papers can be difficult for some students. Remember that good proof must support all facts as you write a research paper. Extensive research necessitates a lot of time and often follows a specific format.

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Genre and the Research Paper

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Research: What it is.

A research paper is the culmination and final product of an involved process of research, critical thinking, source evaluation, organization, and composition. It is, perhaps, helpful to think of the research paper as a living thing, which grows and changes as the student explores, interprets, and evaluates sources related to a specific topic. Primary and secondary sources are the heart of a research paper, and provide its nourishment; without the support of and interaction with these sources, the research paper would morph into a different genre of writing (e.g., an encyclopedic article). The research paper serves not only to further the field in which it is written, but also to provide the student with an exceptional opportunity to increase her knowledge in that field. It is also possible to identify a research paper by what it is not.

Research: What it is not.

A research paper is not simply an informed summary of a topic by means of primary and secondary sources. It is neither a book report nor an opinion piece nor an expository essay consisting solely of one's interpretation of a text nor an overview of a particular topic. Instead, it is a genre that requires one to spend time investigating and evaluating sources with the intent to offer interpretations of the texts, and not unconscious regurgitations of those sources. The goal of a research paper is not to inform the reader what others have to say about a topic, but to draw on what others have to say about a topic and engage the sources in order to thoughtfully offer a unique perspective on the issue at hand. This is accomplished through two major types of research papers.

Two major types of research papers.

Argumentative research paper:

The argumentative research paper consists of an introduction in which the writer clearly introduces the topic and informs his audience exactly which stance he intends to take; this stance is often identified as the thesis statement . An important goal of the argumentative research paper is persuasion, which means the topic chosen should be debatable or controversial. For example, it would be difficult for a student to successfully argue in favor of the following stance.

Perhaps 25 years ago this topic would have been debatable; however, today, it is assumed that smoking cigarettes is, indeed, harmful to one's health. A better thesis would be the following.

In this sentence, the writer is not challenging the current accepted stance that both firsthand and secondhand cigarette smoke is dangerous; rather, she is positing that the social acceptance of the latter over the former is indicative of a cultural double-standard of sorts. The student would support this thesis throughout her paper by means of both primary and secondary sources, with the intent to persuade her audience that her particular interpretation of the situation is viable.

Analytical research paper:

The analytical research paper often begins with the student asking a question (a.k.a. a research question) on which he has taken no stance. Such a paper is often an exercise in exploration and evaluation. For example, perhaps one is interested in the Old English poem Beowulf . He has read the poem intently and desires to offer a fresh reading of the poem to the academic community. His question may be as follows.

His research may lead him to the following conclusion.

Though his topic may be debatable and controversial, it is not the student's intent to persuade the audience that his ideas are right while those of others are wrong. Instead, his goal is to offer a critical interpretation of primary and secondary sources throughout the paper--sources that should, ultimately, buttress his particular analysis of the topic. The following is an example of what his thesis statement may look like once he has completed his research.

This statement does not negate the traditional readings of Beowulf ; instead, it offers a fresh and detailed reading of the poem that will be supported by the student's research.

It is typically not until the student has begun the writing process that his thesis statement begins to take solid form. In fact, the thesis statement in an analytical paper is often more fluid than the thesis in an argumentative paper. Such is one of the benefits of approaching the topic without a predetermined stance.