Guide to finding the right types of sources for research papers

There are a variety of sources for research papers. These sources range from journals, and news articles, to books. The kind of places you get information would depend largely on the kind of research paper you are writing. Irrespective of research type, finding a credible source for your research paper depends on the following factors:

1. The reputation of the source

The reputation of the source you’re citing tells a lot about the quality of your research paper. Citing the work of an authority source will earn your paper more regard than referring to just any kind of source. You must look into the reputation of the source before you settle for any. A reputable research paper source example is a journal accessed from the national library.

2. Content quality

The quality of the content you want to cite often revolves around the language used, style, and update. Sometimes, we find that the content is outdated, the language is vulgar, and the style is not right for your research.

How legitimate is the information from the source you’re citing? Many researchers depend on internet sources for citation since it is easier to make research on this platform. This exposes their paper to a lot of false and vague findings. Whether you’re sourcing online or offline, be certain that the facts are proven and can be trusted.

3. Relevance to your research

This is one of the most important factors to look out for when finding sources. The values of the sources must align with what your project is. For instance, you do not expect to access a source about dogs when your research topic covers the first world war.

4. Reviews

Reviews tell a lot about the sources, their authors, and publishers even before you access them. Whether you’re looking into archival facts, newspapers, journals, or internet sourcing, be certain to know what others think about the source before you begin.

How many sources should a research paper have?

There is no fixed number of citations for all kinds of research papers. The right number of sources a paper needs would depend on factors like the kind of paper, its structure, and its total number of pages. Usually, a 20 pages research paper may require 20 sources. Shorter papers may however require only about 4 or 5 citations. How many sources for a research paper shows how much work you put into the work. Too many sources mean there is very little of your idea in the work. Similarly, having too few sources means you have carried out very little research for your paper.

How to integrate sources into a research paper

You can use sources in different manners for your research paper. Some requirements while citing a source include the name of the author, year of book publication, editor’s name, book title, journal number, link to accessed sites, and publishing house. Here’s how to include your sources in your paper

• In a narrative pattern within or at the end of a sentence. For example: According to (cute source), (give fact)
• On a different page as a referencing list
• At the end of each page or chapter of your research paper in the form of endnotes/footnotes

Why is it important to cite sources correctly in a paper?

1. It validates your paper

Whether you’re writing a research paper for school or work, citing your sources properly validates your paper. It makes it easier for people to find out where and how you have gotten the information you’re writing about.

2. It’s part of the criteria for a good research paper

Properly citing your sources is a criterion for a good research paper. Doing it wrongly can frustrate your research when it comes to defending what you have written.

3. Proof that you have good scientific and writing knowledge

If you have properly cited your sources, people trust that you know what you’re doing, and you have the right skills needed for the task. A poorly cited source shows that you do not properly understand scientific research methods.

Conclusion

It is extremely important to take sources for a research paper seriously because they have the power to downplay or validate your research effort. The tips in this article will help you find the right sources for your research paper.

The most important aspects to remember when writing a research paper

Most of the work involved in creating a great research paper begins before the paper is even started. When you look around and ask your friends to “grade my paper!” they will normally tell you that you need to start before the paper is created, because there are many integral components that many students miss in the planning stages.

1. Have a great outline

The first and most important aspect of creating a great paper is to have a great high school research paper outline. No matter what your subject matter is, it can be improved beyond your wildest dreams by planning it out meticulously to begin with. By doing this, it allows you to see all the potential issues and errors your paper may have and it will give you the foresight necessary to start to write a paper that is professional and educational at the same time. Teachers love seeing this kind of paper and will mark you much higher for it.

Let’s dive deeper into this:

The Introduction

The introduction consists of two parts: the thesis and an introduction to the supporting arguments. Here you tell the reader what kind of wild ride they are in for by basically describing it. It is all about getting your reader to think about your argument before you actually start. Your thesis and supporting points should be presented clearly and concisely. You should not exceed a paragraph. It should be simple and easy-to-read.

Paragraphs for the body

Now that you have made your point, it is time to prove it. Here are your body paragraphs. This will depend on the criteria used by your professor. Keep that in mind. You should always have at least three supporting points in order to support your thesis.

Conclusion

You don’t have to do a lot of planning. Simply take your introduction outline and transfer it to another document. The conclusion should not exceed one paragraph in length. It should sum up your main points and reiterate your thesis.

Research and annotations

Some people prefer to write first and then annotate later; the rest of the paper flows more easily. It is a good rule of thumb to have at most three sources for each supporting point. You should back up any claim you make in your paper with evidence. Some professors are more strict than others. You must be clear about your assignment requirements. It is not a good idea to miss the right number of sources. You should be able to identify the format that your professor requires (APA, MLA etc.). This will save you lots of trouble later.

2. Be sure to have all your research and studying finished

Great papers tend to start in the library and research papers are absolutely no exception. In order to write a great research paper, you need to research! Not only that, but your information needs to be impeccable. Additionally, finding information regarding to the counter of your thesis is a viable way to prove additional points – addressing the competition is always a great way to progress a paper.

3. Make the first draft

Too many students simply write one draft and leave it at that. Most of the errors of papers handed in come because the writer has only made one draft – make the first draft and then revise and rewrite! It will only make the paper stronger and you will be much better off in the future for having revised what you’ve already written.

4. Show your paper to as many people as you can

Once you have a completed work, do your best to show it to as many people as you possibly can, because the more people that look at your paper, the more mistakes they will find and the better you will be able to fix them. Tightening up the paper is one of the most important aspects of getting a great mark, so never underestimate it!

Final take

Research papers are not as hard as you think once you learn the process. There is a lot of work involved, but don’t let that stop you. Take it one step at a time, piece by piece. Give yourself plenty of time and be organized. Don’t forget to cite any sources. This is possible!