How to write an Essay: |
| Step 3: Research |
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| The first step to writing an essay after topic selection and narrowing it to a very specific one is to begin the research process. Research is the first and most crucial step to essay writing because without appropriate knowledge you will not be able to write well. In order to write well, it is essential for you to know your topic by reading as much as you can. |
Transition from reading basic introductory material to more In-depth sources |
| When you begin the research process, make sure the transition is from introductory material to more detailed matter relating to your topic. As an initial research step, begin to familiarise yourself by reading introductory and light material, moving gradually to more extensive and scholarly research papers found on Academic Databases. Once you have done enough reading, you may then begin with in-depth research by reading more comprehensive material found in library books. While it is important to begin your research on the internet, your research should not end there, because while the internet is an excellent source of information, a paper which is based entirely on resources and information based on the web is not strong enough due to the absence of scholarly, academic and authentic pool of other sources. |
Write down important points |
Maintain a diary or a book while you conduct your research and are engaged in the process of reading about your topic. It is very important to make note of all sources and quotations appropriately so that you do not have to hunt for them later when you write your final essay or research paper. It should also be remembered that quotations should be used minimally and when used should be suitably acknowledged. When researching the internet or the World Wide Web, it is essential to read carefully and save all the important sites or internet files into a single word file rather than saving them as different files or as favourites.
When reading through print resources, it would help you to place bookmarks on pages or passages which are of interest to you. Writing down you personal thoughts or any doubts for future study and research is a sensible approach. Annotating the text is another crucial strategy which helps you to remember and review later. Ever when using the World Wide Web or internet for resources you should try and download the document and highlight and make note of all the important quotations, sections or paragraphs. |
Read extensively and comprehensively and incorporate wisely |
| The key to writing an excellent essay or research paper is to read extensively and reflect your depth of knowledge in your research. The more resources you use the better your chances of an A Grade research paper, which should include the best of all the knowledge you have gained. The key here is not simply summarising what you have read, rather incorporating all the research intelligently using the best of what you have read and researched. Using quotations from different authentic sources will add that scholarly spark to your paper. Quotations should never be used from single or same sources but should be well distributed from all the research resources. Keep the use of quotations balanced since too many will make the paper appear as though you have only copied without comprehending the topic and too few will reflect on lack of knowledge and research. |
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