The minutiae of Research Papers

Over the course of our academic and professional life , we come across many junctures when we have to produce a Research paper. While the amassed content is very important, it helps in the long run – to keep a few other pointers in mind while doing the paper and before finally submitting it.

It could be about anything. Be it the prevalent public policies, administrative trends, Foreign exchange, operations, or as many of us have gone through the grind- the Market research. It is not advisable to pass this task off as a nuisance, actually some people put in a lot of work in preparing these, and rightly so. They form the foundation of every new step to be taken by a firm or any organization in general. It can either be the bane of a new project or its pivot to the next level of cognizance.

I used to edit papers as a part time job , and I was practically devastated by the lackdaissical attitude of the people submitting their reports. While I didn’t mind the money , it bugged me to end to see the extent of carelessness was beyond belief. Punctuation marks gone astray , idioms and phrases inserted out of nowhere – to no avail , flippant fonts , random indentations , and not to mention spelling mistakes – the kind that’d make you rush for the caffeine.

So, with regard to that – I have taken up some space to present some trivial suggestions to make your paper effective and at par with the expectations of your employer, client, or for that matter even your college professor.

STRUCTURE OF PAPER

Let us delve into the nuances of basic structuring of the paper. You may have already read a ton of books on this yet when it comes down to the wire , people still don’t strike a chord with the accepted norms.

· First of all comes an an introductory segment that go over the main points of the issue/ theme to be inspected and puts in the pictures what you plan to cover in the balance of the paper.

· Secondly it of high regard that you include in your discourse , a segment that maps outs the progress of the issue historically.

· Next up is a decisive analysis of the subject matter continued by means of arguments of both intuitive , objective , and counter-intuitive means and paying due heed to most of the leading developments in the particular pitch, dealing with the concerns of the shareholders (or people who are in immediate effectual range).

· Following that you are obliged to offer a narrative of the focal and divergent points of view in up to date debates on one facet of the issue or the other. You should do your homework to find out whose interest a particular argument pledges to serve and state it.

· Further down the road comes a tête-à-tête with the unconventional and resourceful approaches to resolving the issue at our disposal. In this particular section it is of utmost importance that we , not even for a second , hesitate to draw from other fields of knowledge and practice.

· At the fringes of the paper , it is required that you manage to scarpe through extensive sources and come up with a staging of your raison d'être for commending a particular approach, critisizing one or the due course of action for immediate future.

· Last but not the least , a conclusion is a vital part of any research paper that that conflagrates ideas in concert and amalgamates the information brought out in the paper. But be on vigil to prevent your prejudices from overflowing to this section, it should be strictly rational as some people like skipping directly to it.

STYLE AND FORMAT

1. We should keep in mind that any paper either in academia or professional scenario should be made in MS Word format. You may be a computer whiz hooked on to alternate Operating systems , but most of the people still are hooked on to the – tried and tested – Windows.

2. Keep it in mind that all the text is to be in Times New Roman, in font size 12, with double spacing, and justified throughout, haywire text is a big turn off. Also it should be structured with a margin of an inch on all sides. Foot notes require to be on size ten and that too only in Times New Roman.

3. Many of us are in a fix as to which Citation Mode to use. The Bluebook is a Uniform Method of Citation conformed to by many in the industry, 18th Edition ought to be rigorously adhered to.

4. You should take precautions to see to the end that the Papers are paginated without fail. If you ar in two minds to do it- make and keep a copy and see for yourself the difficulties of the people printing out , a single gale and disrupt the work for a while.

5. Your paper’s opening page must comprise of a paragraph enlightening the person who reads with what you plan to cover up in the balance of the paper. It is better to be explicit than not.

6.. A heading or subheading must come into sight no less than every second sheet. make every effort to set in motion a new clause at the gap of every five or six sentences.

7.. Footnotes must be chronological, for example 1 - 40, and may well come out at the underside of the page or at the closing stages of the paper. It is the echolalia of reviwers to make the people do full citations, in a footnote, for each and every one of the laws and treatises when they first show in your transcript.

8. When a document or law is revealed for the first time, bring into play the complete name and year in the text and give a absolute citation in the footnote.

9. A case citation in a footnote should be required to include the court, the year in which the case was determined, and the dimensions of reports in which the case can be found i.e. it must be quoted by a full citation.

10. By and large, endeavour to keep away from using quotations. Quotations break off the flow, and time after time you will come to the realization that it is always better to say it efficiently in your personal words. Recognize the foundation of all direct quotes in the text, For example.-- Our correspondent Mila Garia has viewed, "………….." In a footnote allude to the periodical or instance where your source made his or her statement. You should refrain from using a quote without naming the source of the quote in the text.

11. Please steer clear of overindulgent verbiage. By and large, use of short words, short sentences and short paragraphs will increase your credibility. It is better to do without making the reader go through pretentious, rhetoric, blustery generalizations, unswerving clichés, and naive thought. It is advisable to refrain from the use of long words and complex words such as "fraternize" when a simple phrase such as "talk to" will suffice. It is indeed very difficult to make out an advantage of the extravagant words, when the simple ones are capable of doing the job , just as well.

12. Last of all let us see a prevalent and somewhat funny mistake that ails a lot of papers. A lot of the students and professionals are habitually programmed to state "This paper will explore…" . The paper regrettably enough, is not a being with a will of its own. So instead put it in this way-- ' In this paper, I shall explore…'.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

This document provides a highly opinionated yet deeply practical guide on writing effective research papers, drawing from the author's experience as an editor. It emphasizes the importance of structure, style, and careful attention to detail, highlighting common pitfalls to avoid.

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Mastering the Research Paper: A Guide to Structure and Style​

Navigating the demands of academic and professional life invariably leads us to the crucial task of producing research papers. While the depth and quality of content are paramount, truly effective papers hinge on adherence to specific structural and stylistic norms. As a former editor, I've witnessed firsthand the frustrating prevalence of carelessness in submissions. This guide aims to address those "trivial" yet impactful errors, ensuring your paper meets the expectations of employers, clients, or professors.

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The Architecture of Your Argument: Paper Structure​

A well-structured paper isn't just about order; it's about leading your reader through a logical and compelling narrative. Though countless resources exist on this, many still struggle with the fundamental blueprint:

• Introduction: Begin with an introductory segment that broadly outlines the issue or theme, clearly stating what your paper intends to cover. This sets the stage and prepares the reader for the journey ahead.
• Historical Context: Following the introduction, include a section that maps out the historical progression and key developments of the issue. Understanding the past is crucial for comprehending the present.
• Decisive Analysis: This is the core of your discourse. Provide a thorough analysis of the subject matter, incorporating arguments from intuitive, objective, and even counter-intuitive perspectives. Pay close attention to leading developments in the field and address the concerns of relevant stakeholders.
• Debate Narrative: Present a narrative of the focal and divergent viewpoints within current debates on specific facets of the issue. Crucially, "do your homework" to identify whose interests each argument serves and explicitly state this.
• Unconventional Approaches: Dedicate a section to exploring unconventional and resourceful approaches to resolving the issue. This is where you should not hesitate to draw insights from other fields of knowledge and practice, fostering interdisciplinary thought.
• Recommendations/Critiques: Towards the paper's conclusion, you're obligated to synthesize your extensive research to present your rationale ("raison d'être") for commending a particular approach, critiquing another, or suggesting a specific course of action for the immediate future.
• Conclusion: This vital segment "conflagrates ideas in concert and amalgamates the information brought out in the paper." It's a synthesis of your findings. However, exercise vigilance: strictly avoid allowing personal prejudices to overflow into this section, as many readers, particularly busy ones, "like skipping directly to it" for a concise summary. Maintain strict rationality here.

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The Polish of Your Prose: Style and Format​

Beyond structure, the presentation of your paper significantly impacts its reception. Attention to stylistic and formatting details signals professionalism and respect for your reader:

1. Software Standard: Always create your paper in MS Word format. While you might favor alternate operating systems, Windows remains the "tried and tested" standard for most recipients.
2. Formatting Consistency: Adhere rigidly to Times New Roman, font size 12, double spacing, and justified alignment throughout the main text. Ensure a 1-inch margin on all sides. Footnotes, if used, should be in Times New Roman, size 10.
3. Citation Mode: For formal papers, particularly in business or social sciences, the Bluebook is a widely accepted "Uniform Method of Citation."1 Rigorously adhere to its latest edition (e.g., the 18th Edition at the time of the original writing).
   
   
4. Pagination is Non-Negotiable: Always paginate your papers. Unpaginated documents cause significant hassle for readers, especially when printed.
5. Explicit Opening: Your paper's opening page (likely the introduction) must explicitly state what you plan to cover. Be explicit; avoid ambiguity.
6. Headings and Paragraph Breaks: Ensure a heading or subheading appears at least every second page. Strive to begin a new paragraph every five or six sentences to improve readability and break down dense information.
7. Footnote Protocol: Footnotes must be chronological (e.g., 1-40) and can appear at the bottom of the page or at the paper's end. When a law or treatise first appears in your transcript, provide a full citation in the footnote.
8. First Reference Clarity: When citing a document or law for the first time, use its complete name and year in the text, followed by an absolute citation in the footnote.
9. Case Citations: For case citations in footnotes, include the court, the year the case was determined, and the report dimensions where it can be found; it must be fully cited.
10. Minimize Quotations: As a general rule, endeavor to keep away from using quotations. They often break the flow and can typically be paraphrased more efficiently in your own words. Always acknowledge the source of all direct quotes within the text (e.g., "Our correspondent Mila Garia has viewed, '...'). In the footnote, allude to the periodical or instance where the statement was made. Never use a quote without naming its source in the text.
11. Avoid Overindulgent Verbiage: Prioritize short words, short sentences, and short paragraphs to increase your credibility. Refrain from pretentious, rhetoric, blustery generalizations, unwavering clichés, and naive thought. Opt for simple phrases like "talk to" instead of "fraternize" when a simple word suffices.
12. Self-Referencing Correction: Finally, avoid the common mistake of stating "This paper will explore…" Papers are not sentient beings. Instead, phrase it as: "In this paper, I shall explore…"

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