A quick-start guide to writing research papers, shared with permission from Dr. Andy Stapleton
(YouTube: Andy Stapleton)
You may be tempted to write chronologically - but resist this urge! Start with the easiest sections first, which will help stay motivated through the more difficult sections. Generally, the order that many researchers write in goes as follows:
Methods: Start here, since it’s mostly a straightforward description of your survey process.
Results (and Appendices): Next, translate your data into sentences without interpretation. Include required items for your appendices (survey questions, group task list) as you go, so nothing is forgotten.
Discussion: This section takes more focus, but your results will give you the building blocks to connect patterns and highlights.
Conclusion: Now explain why your findings matter, how they do (or don’t) answer your research questions, and how they connect to the literature gaps you identified.
Introduction: Once you have your findings, revisit your background research, note the gaps, restate your research questions, and clearly present your hypothesis.
Abstract: Save this for last. It’s a 250-word summary of the entire paper, so it’s easiest to write once everything else is finished.
Courtesy of Professor Pete Carr of the University of Minnesota.
The Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) has a helpful, brief overview of understanding, avoiding, and fixing plagiarism. Check out the overview here.
It's easy to procrastinate on writing or spend too much time nitpicking than getting the hard work done. Try some of these suggested writing productivity tools, or read up on writing apprehension to boost your motivation.
A quick overview on what a research paper sets out to do, and how to write one - and how to make sure yours is amazing!
I'm happy to sit down with you virtually or in-person to discuss your research needs not only for this course, but for all aviation, computer science, and engineering topics! I'm usually in the office from 8am to 5pm on weekdays (M-F), so please feel free to schedule an appointment. You can do so by clicking this link (tinyurl.com/3emu8fbs) or sending me an email.
For quick questions, feel free to send me an email at malyn.berger@wmich.edu or call my office phone at 269.387.5884.
If you are a faculty member and wishing to set up an instruction session for your class, please visit this link or paste the following into your browser: https://tinyurl.com/ynffzh6z.
My office is located on the ground floor of Waldo Library in Room 1067. If you are familiar with Room 1070, proceed there and make a left around the corner to the office door on your left. If you are visiting for the first time, walk through the main entrance and proceed straight to the back of the library. Make a left at the mural and my office will be on the immediate left.
