Research: Learn It 1

  • Explain the key parts of research writing
  • Explain the steps in the research process
  • Describe strategies for narrowing a research topic
  • Explain what makes a research question effective

Research Writing

A young man sitting underneath a question mark sign, positioned as if he is posing a question himself.
Figure 2. In true research-based writing, you begin with a research question and go hunt for the answer.

In some high school and college courses, “research writing” is used broadly to describe any assignment that incorporates outside sources. However, true research involves starting with a question you don’t yet know the answer to and building that answer through gathering and analyzing information.

The difference between research writing and other source-based writing is:

  • In research writing, you begin with a question, gather information, derive an answer, and then state that answer as your thesis.
  • In source-based writing, you start with a thesis and then find sources to support it. While this requires information gathering, it is not research in the strictest sense.

Understanding this distinction helps you approach assignments effectively. Research projects require different processes than source-based writing, and recognizing the type of assignment ensures you can efficiently plan and execute your work.

Think about a recent writing project that required sources. Based on this definition, was it a research project or a source-based writing project?

research writing

Research involves both gathering information and analyzing it to answer a question. Research writing, then, is the process of sharing the answer to your research question along with the evidence on which your answer is based, the sources you use, and your own reasoning and explanation. Regardless of the question or audience, the core components of research writing remain the same.

Regardless of the question or audience, the building blocks of research writing remain the same.

The Essential Building Blocks of Research Writing

These guidelines will help you as you approach research writing.

Step 1: Begin with a question to which you don’t know the answer and that can’t be answered just by going to the appropriate reference source. That is, begin from a research question, not a homework question.

  • Decide what kind of information or data will be needed in order to build the answer to the question.
  • Gather information and/or collect data.
  • Work with the information/data to construct your answer.

Step 2: Engage in the research process.

  • Create a one-sentence answer to your research question. This will become the thesis statement/main point/controlling idea of your research paper.

Step 3: Share your answer to research questions in a way that makes it believable, understandable, and usable for your readers.

  • Include plentiful and well-chosen examples from the data/information you gathered
  • Indicate the validity of your data by accurately reporting your research method (field or lab research)
  • Indicate the quality of your information by accurately citing your sources (source-based research)