LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Write and present academic papers using appropriate tone, style, conventions and
reference styles;
2. Adopt awareness of audience and context in presenting ideas;
3. Convey ideas through oral, audio-visual, and/or web-based presentations for different
target audiences in local and global settings using appropriate registers;
LESSON 1: Research Paper
There are many different features available for looking at the purposeful uses of
communication. One of the most common tasks students such as yourself will encounter
throughout your academic career is writing the research paper. You will spend a semester
writing a research paper either in your field of study or in area in which you are interested . You
will learn how to use research materials available in libraries and online, and you will
investigate a topic of your choice, gather materials, organize them into a research paper.
Without a doubt, writing a research paper will require patience and rigorous discipline but
hopefully the process will also enable you to pick up a few helpful skills along the way.
The immediate purpose of a research paper is to learn about something and to present
it in written form. Knowing how to write the research paper is a pre-requisite skill across the
disciplines – history, science, natural science, economics, business, management, language-in
both secondary and tertiary levels, and yet, most teachers will no longer bother to teach you
the rudiments of research because they assume you would have probably learned these before
hand.
It is important to your academic survival that you master the skills involved in research
paper writing. If you wish to pursue career in academe, law, journalism, or any field that
requires the presentation and analysis of information or argumentation, you will realize that
research paper writing is an invaluable skill to possess.
What is a Research Paper?
Research papers go by a surprising number of names, from the ordinary critical essay to
the ubiquitous term paper to the more daunting thesis or dissertation. However, there is a set
of core principles that define and differentiate the research paper from other forms of
composition writing.
For starters, a research paper is primarily characterized by its use of data gathered from
a wide range of sources to clarify, analyze, expound on, discover, discuss, and debate an idea.It
entails undertaking a scholarly endeavor and acquainting yourself with the variety of materials
at your disposal (e.g., the library, various institutions, field interviews, questionnaires, the
internet, email and the like) to support your claims.
A research paper goes beyond mere report writing, as it is an exercise in both critical
reading and writing.
LESSON 2: Types of Research Paper
What are the types of research papers?
Research papers can be written across disciplines. Regardless of the subject area,
however, the nature of the research paper can only be one of the two things: analytical or
argumentative.
Analytical Papers
An analytical research paper is one that uses evidence to study the facets involved in an
issue or topic.By definition,analysis entails breaking up a concept into component parts, and
restructuring them from your own perspective into a composite whole.A student who wishes to
do an analytical paper on the forces that led to the second Edsa Revolution will have to survey
information about the event, and then subject the data to close critical reading and thinking in
order to draw personal conclusions.
Analytical paper requires a writer to go beyond parts and subjecting the components to
close scrutiny and interpretation.If you choose to do an analytical paper,it is with the
understanding that you are not making judgments on the topic per se,but that you are going to
explore a topic for the purpose of being able to draw reasonable conclusions at the end.These
conclusions are personal opinion shaped by a critical understanding of the issues at
stake.Example of these can be Literay analysis and Potical Science Paper.
Argumentative Papers
In contrast to analytical papers, argumentative papers require you to take a stand on an
issue and defend it.In an analytical paer, it would be reasonable to assume that you do noy yet
have a fixed or firm conclusion in your head when you begin the paper.But in argumentative
paper, it is clear from the start that you are advocating for something, and more importantly,
you want your reader to share your opinion,and will present evidence to make your stand
convincing.
In the end, it is not so much what you say that really matters but how you can prove it.It is
possible that your stand may be something your teacher disagrees with personally, but even
she cannot discredit you if you present an airtight argument.
LESSON 3: The Structure of Research Paper
Almost all materials on research paper writing summarize research writing as a matter
of completing a series of steps.Research is systematic .This implies that research follows
procedures/steps that cannot be undertaken haphazardly but in a certain logical and orderly
sequence.There are basically five steps that the institution follows.The research outputs must
adhere to a standard format that provides guidelines or characteristics to achieve an optimum
degree of order.These guidelines and formats were adapted by the ResearchDevelopment and
Innovation Center from the American Psychological Association 6th Edition
Abstract
The abstract is the little bit of everything.It has concise statements ttat contains the
summary of the contents of the paper.It should be written in complete sentences and
paragraphs.It should not exceed to 250 words and should not include formula, diagrams or
other illustrative materials.This part should include a brief introductory sentence, main
objective, a summarized method, the results with numerical values enclosed in
parentheses,main conclusion and main contribution.
The researchers must include keywords.Keywords are terminologies that are used to
retrieve the paper.Keywords must be carefully decided for it is essential to easily acquire the
research manuscript among the pool of research work.
1.0 Introduction
This part enables the reader to understand the context or territory of the study. This is
where we can read the trends and issues, objectives and main contributions of the
study.This are written in paragraphs and proper citations must be observed.
2.0 Literature Review.
This serves as the foundation of the research for it states how and why researchers
come up with the topic objectives. Like the Introduction, this is written in paragraphs with
technically correct sentences.
Properly literature-reviewed research papers could answer the trickiest questions of critics.
3.0 Research Methods
This will help you systematize your research by forcing you to identify what kind of data
you will need for your paper and what is the best way to go about getting it.The main
purpose of this portion is to provide enough detail for a competent reader to replicate the
study and reproduce the results.The researchers should consider the Research Design,
Research locale, Population and Sampling/Key Informant Selection, Research Ethics,
Research Instruments, Data Collection and Data Analysis.
4.0 Results
This presents findings which are clearly and simply stated.This should be brief and
direct.Moreso, when describing the results from a table or a figure,make sure to introduce
the table or figure number and title on the first statement for easier locationof table or
figure involved.
5.0 Discussion
This is where results should be communicated: What principles have been established or
reinforced? What generalizations can be drawn? How do thqe findings compare to the
findings of others or to expectations based on previous work? Are there any theoretical
implications of the results?When these questions are addressed,it is crucial that the
discussion rests firmly on the evidence presented in the results section.This should be
interpretative not just a restatement of the results.
Conclusion
This section enumerates the principal findings of the research.This answers the objectives of
the study.
Recommendation
In paragraph form, this section presents where the results of the study are directed.
Acknowledgement
This page mentions the assistance received from the advisers,professors and others to
whom the researchers wish to express appreciation.This provides the opportunity to thank and
recognizethose who have assisted or contributed to the study but are not named as coauthors.This section must be written in no more than 3 sentences.
References
The reference sectionshould begin on a new page with the title boldand left
indented.The references should strictly follow the American Psychological Appreciation (APA)
6th Edition, and written in 1.5 inch hanging indent.All reference types (journal,book,internet,
etc.) is integrated and arranged alphabetically.
LESSON 4: WRITING PROPOSALS
Key Features:
1. A well-defined problem.
Example:
“Motorcycle riders who do not wear helmets risk serious injury and raise healthcare costs for everyone.”
2. A recommended solution.
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Once the problem is defined, propose solutions to the problem.
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Explain it by providing details to said solution.
3. A convinvcing argument for your proposed solutuions.
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Convince readers that your solution is feasible and that it is the best way to solve the
problem.
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Explain in detail how your proposed solution would work.
4. Anticipate questions.
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Consider any questions readers may have about your proposal; and
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Show how its advantages out-weigh any disadvantages.
5. A call to action.
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The goal of a proposal is to persuade readers to accept your proposed solution.
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This solution may include asking readers to take action.
6. An appropriate tone.
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Since you are trying to persuade readers to act, your tone is important is important –
readers will always react better to a reasonable, respectful presentation than to
anger or self-righteous.
Guide to Writing Proposals
1. Decide on a TOPIC
Choose a problem that can be solved. Complex, large problems, such as poverty,
hunger and terrorism, usually require large solutions.
Focus on a smaller problem or a limited aspect of a large problem because it will
yield a more nmanageable proposal.
2. Consider the Rhetorical Situation.
A. Purpose
Do you have a vested interst in the solution your readers adopt, or do you simply
want to eliminate the problem, whatever solution might be adopted?
B. Audience
How can you reach your readers? Do you know how receptive or resistant to change
they are likely to be? Do they have the authority to enact your proposal?
C. Stance
How can you show your audience that your proposal is reasonable and should be
taken seriously? How can you demonstrate your own authority and credibility?
D. Media/Design
How will you deliver your proposal? In print? Online? As a speech? Would visuals
help support your proposal?
3. Generate Ideas and Texts
Explore potential solutions to the problem.
How?
RESEARCH to see how others have solved, or tried to solve similar problems. Don’t
settle on a single solution too quickly because you will need to COMPARE the
advantages and disadvantages of several solutions in order to argue convincingly for
one.
Source: Tagay, L., PowerPoint Presentation, PC GenEd 2nd Training, 2017