Research Writing

Many are apprehensive about writing a research paper, namely because they don’t feel like “experts” or are afraid of plagiarism. But writing a research paper can be simpler than you think. Whether you’re writing your first research paper, applying for academic conferences, or just want some helpful strategies, we are here to help! To get started, check out these links:

  1. Steps for Writing a Research Paper Links to an external site.
  2. Writing a Research Paper Links to an external site.

And remember: there are various stages of the writing process, from brainstorming, to outlining, to researching, to drafting, to revising! No matter what stage you're in, we're here to help. 

No matter what stage of the writing process you are in, we are here to help! Schedule button small.png
Abstracts

An abstract is a brief summary of your research meant to hook your reader into reading your full paper. It's a succinct piece of writing that tells the reader what they can expect from your writing. You might submit an abstract when applying to an academic conference or when you're trying to publish your work. 

To get started, consider checking out these resources:

These sample abstracts model different approaches you can use when crafting your abstracts. The highlighted sections correspond with the color-coding included in this Abstract Annotation Key.  Download Abstract Annotation Key. 

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Literature Reviews

A literature review summarizes, synthesizes, and explores published literature written by authors other than yourself on a specific topic. Unlike an academic paper, a literature review does not present an argument or contribute new information. Literature reviews are often included in a separate section of an academic paper in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences to display that the author has a comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter. 

When included in an academic paper, literature reviews can discuss relevant gaps in existing research that pertain to your argument and provide context for your work.

 Here are two video guides for writing and revising Literature Reviews:

 

Additional Resources: 

Sample Literature Reviews:

Research Posters and Presentations

Research posters are part of the writing process; they are an opportunity to represent your research and ideas in a new way. A research poster is not purely text: it's a comprehensive and visual representation of your work. Unlike conference presentations, where you are more often talking TO an audience, a poster presentation engages you WITH your audience directly. To get you started, consider the following questions:

  • What are some of the main ideas and takeaways that you want your audience to learn or understand? Highlight key terms you might use for headings!
  • What is unique or interesting about your research and/or the conclusions you reached?
  • How does your research situate itself with previous research on your topic?
  • Is there any foundational information needed to contextualize and help your audience make sense of your research?
  • In what order would your audience need to encounter information to make sense of your project?
  • What graphs, tables, charts, or other images can help to visualize your research?

The following resources may be helpful as you work on developing your research poster:

Here are is a video tutorials on how to create effective Research Posters:  (choose one of theses)


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Did you know that you can print your poster through DU? 

Some additional resources on presenting your research:

Research Proposals

A research proposal is not the same thing as an abstract. While an abstract hooks your reader into reading more about your argument or ideas, a research proposal articulates your research question(s) and your thesis, focusing on the concepts you are exploring in your work.

Annotated Bibliographies

A bibliography is a list of citations from various sources included at the end of a paper or presentation. An annotated bibliography is a brief descriptive summary that follows a citation, usually around 150 words. Depending on your field or project, the annotation might be a brief summary of the citation or a more evaluative assessment.

Conference Presentations

Conferences are a great opportunity to network with others in your field, hear about new research, and receive feedback and questions about your own work. In order to prepare for a conference, here are some some key things to remember:

  • Research your conference: Every field has their own conferences, some more specific than others. Do some research on conferences and see what their panels have looked like in the past. Is your research a good fit? If there is a theme for the conference you are applying to, how does your research relate? Conferencing can be expensive, so it's valuable to prioritize conferences that are a good fit for you.
  • Practice makes perfect: Almost everyone is a little nervous when presenting at a conference. To alleviate some of that anxiety, it's helpful to practice reading your paper out loud. When you read out loud, you’ll more easily catch awkward language, run-on sentences, or word repetitions. You can also time yourself to be sure that you are staying within the appropriate time limit, which is usually no more than 15 minutes. You will feel more and more comfortable talking in front of an audience the more you practice!
  • Include a visual: Many presenters like to have a visual behind them, even if it’s just one slide with some information or context.
  • Consider making handouts: Handouts are a great way to provide accessible versions of your paper or research. You can make print copies of your writing, or simply make an abbreviated handout.
  • Troubleshoot questions: Many presenters like to anticipate the kinds of questions they might be asked about their research. We can't always predict what someone will ask, but it can help to have some answers prepared to help alleviate some of the nerves that come with answering questions.
  • Be prepared to network: Conferences are a great opportunity to get face-to-face with all kinds of people in your field! Some people like to bring business cards with them, but this isn’t necessary. Just be prepared to talk, ask questions, and get to know some of the people you cross paths with. You never know who you’ll meet!

Check out some of our resources below: