How To Write a Research Paper

This is generalized view of how to write a research paper, or some document to build upon previous findings with some new information to create some novel form of research through writing.

Objectives
The general idea of research is to stand on the shoulders of giants -- ie, build upon the past to make the future.


 * 1) Provide a clear statement of intent that is reducible to one short sentence.
 * 2) Be Specific (get narrow)
 * 3) define new terms on first use
 * 4) Say exactly what you mean and make it obvious
 * 5) Don't get "artsy" with your writing
 * 6) Think in terms of hierarchy
 * 7) Name each section and subsection as their own headers in the writing

Outline (Version 1) - Standard
This is the particularly strong way to write a research writing. I am outlining the general structure of what to write where each main point is not necessarily one paragraph per point. Rather, the outline provides a template for how to write, but not the actual concrete writing.

Introduction

 * Thesis / Mission / Objective (1-2 sentences)
 * Outline the 3 sections and how they will add to the objective
 * Mention how you will prove your objective in the conclusion


 * You should have the general novel research stated in the intro and then use the rest of the document to flesh it out and to give examples.

Sections 1 and/or more

 * Objective in first 1-2 sentences
 * 2-3 examples of past research proves a point

Conclusion

 * Combine how the previous middle sections proved the thesis
 * Be explicit in how you have added to the discourse on the subject

Outline (Version 2) - Past, Present, Future
This type of outline works well for proposals to get grants and other gigs.

Past (Introduction)

 * Show the past and how it is great, etc.

Present (Topics)

 * Show how things are at present with specific examples.

Future (Conclusion)

 * Show how you want things to be, or how "they should be."

Related Works

 * How to write a good research paper by Simon Peyton Jones. A talk (slides and video) about how to write a good research paper, at the Technical University of Vienna in October 2004. At the same page there's also a paper "How to give a good research talk", its slides and video.