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How to Write a Research Paper | A Beginner's Guide

A research paper is a piece of academic writing that provides analysis, interpretation, and argument based on in-depth independent research.

Research papers are similar to academic essays , but they are usually longer and more detailed assignments, designed to assess not only your writing skills but also your skills in scholarly research. Writing a research paper requires you to demonstrate a strong knowledge of your topic, engage with a variety of sources, and make an original contribution to the debate.

This step-by-step guide takes you through the entire writing process, from understanding your assignment to proofreading your final draft.

Table of contents

Understand the assignment, choose a research paper topic, conduct preliminary research, develop a thesis statement, create a research paper outline, write a first draft of the research paper, write the introduction, write a compelling body of text, write the conclusion, the second draft, the revision process, research paper checklist, free lecture slides.

Completing a research paper successfully means accomplishing the specific tasks set out for you. Before you start, make sure you thoroughly understanding the assignment task sheet:

• Read it carefully, looking for anything confusing you might need to clarify with your professor.
• Identify the assignment goal, deadline, length specifications, formatting, and submission method.
• Make a bulleted list of the key points, then go back and cross completed items off as you’re writing.

Carefully consider your timeframe and word limit: be realistic, and plan enough time to research, write, and edit.

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There are many ways to generate an idea for a research paper, from brainstorming with pen and paper to talking it through with a fellow student or professor.

You can try free writing, which involves taking a broad topic and writing continuously for two or three minutes to identify absolutely anything relevant that could be interesting.

You can also gain inspiration from other research. The discussion or recommendations sections of research papers often include ideas for other specific topics that require further examination.

Once you have a broad subject area, narrow it down to choose a topic that interests you, m eets the criteria of your assignment, and i s possible to research. Aim for ideas that are both original and specific:

• A paper following the chronology of World War II would not be original or specific enough.
• A paper on the experience of Danish citizens living close to the German border during World War II would be specific and could be original enough.

Note any discussions that seem important to the topic, and try to find an issue that you can focus your paper around. Use a variety of sources , including journals, books, and reliable websites, to ensure you do not miss anything glaring.

Do not only verify the ideas you have in mind, but look for sources that contradict your point of view.

• Is there anything people seem to overlook in the sources you research?
• Are there any heated debates you can address?
• Do you have a unique take on your topic?
• Have there been some recent developments that build on the extant research?

In this stage, you might find it helpful to formulate some research questions to help guide you. To write research questions, try to finish the following sentence: “I want to know how/what/why…”

A thesis statement is a statement of your central argument — it establishes the purpose and position of your paper. If you started with a research question, the thesis statement should answer it. It should also show what evidence and reasoning you’ll use to support that answer.

The thesis statement should be concise, contentious, and coherent. That means it should briefly summarize your argument in a sentence or two, make a claim that requires further evidence or analysis, and make a coherent point that relates to every part of the paper.

You will probably revise and refine the thesis statement as you do more research, but it can serve as a guide throughout the writing process. Every paragraph should aim to support and develop this central claim.

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A research paper outline is essentially a list of the key topics, arguments, and evidence you want to include, divided into sections with headings so that you know roughly what the paper will look like before you start writing.

A structure outline can help make the writing process much more efficient, so it’s worth dedicating some time to create one.

Your first draft won’t be perfect — you can polish later on. Your priorities at this stage are as follows:

• Maintaining forward momentum — write now, perfect later.
• Paying attention to clear organization and logical ordering of paragraphs and sentences, which will help when you come to the second draft.
• Expressing your ideas as clearly as possible, so you know what you were trying to say when you come back to the text.

You do not need to start by writing the introduction. Begin where it feels most natural for you — some prefer to finish the most difficult sections first, while others choose to start with the easiest part. If you created an outline, use it as a map while you work.

Do not delete large sections of text. If you begin to dislike something you have written or find it doesn’t quite fit, move it to a different document, but don’t lose it completely — you never know if it might come in useful later.

Paragraph structure

Paragraphs are the basic building blocks of research papers. Each one should focus on a single claim or idea that helps to establish the overall argument or purpose of the paper.

Example paragraph

George Orwell’s 1946 essay “Politics and the English Language” has had an enduring impact on thought about the relationship between politics and language. This impact is particularly obvious in light of the various critical review articles that have recently referenced the essay. For example, consider Mark Falcoff’s 2009 article in The National Review Online, “The Perversion of Language; or, Orwell Revisited,” in which he analyzes several common words (“activist,” “civil-rights leader,” “diversity,” and more). Falcoff’s close analysis of the ambiguity built into political language intentionally mirrors Orwell’s own point-by-point analysis of the political language of his day. Even 63 years after its publication, Orwell’s essay is emulated by contemporary thinkers.

Citing sources

It’s also important to keep track of citations at this stage to avoid accidental plagiarism . Each time you use a source, make sure to take note of where the information came from.

You can use our free citation generators to automatically create citations and save your reference list as you go.

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The research paper introduction should address three questions: What, why, and how? After finishing the introduction, the reader should know what the paper is about, why it is worth reading, and how you’ll build your arguments.

What? Be specific about the topic of the paper, introduce the background, and define key terms or concepts.

Why? This is the most important, but also the most difficult, part of the introduction. Try to provide brief answers to the following questions: What new material or insight are you offering? What important issues does your essay help define or answer?

How? To let the reader know what to expect from the rest of the paper, the introduction should include a “map” of what will be discussed, briefly presenting the key elements of the paper in chronological order.

The major struggle faced by most writers is how to organize the information presented in the paper, which is one reason an outline is so useful. However, remember that the outline is only a guide and, when writing, you can be flexible with the order in which the information and arguments are presented.

One way to stay on track is to use your thesis statement and topic sentences . Check:

• topic sentences against the thesis statement;
• topic sentences against each other, for similarities and logical ordering;
• and each sentence against the topic sentence of that paragraph.

Be aware of paragraphs that seem to cover the same things. If two paragraphs discuss something similar, they must approach that topic in different ways. Aim to create smooth transitions between sentences, paragraphs, and sections.

The research paper conclusion is designed to help your reader out of the paper’s argument, giving them a sense of finality.

Trace the course of the paper, emphasizing how it all comes together to prove your thesis statement. Give the paper a sense of finality by making sure the reader understands how you’ve settled the issues raised in the introduction.

You might also discuss the more general consequences of the argument, outline what the paper offers to future students of the topic, and suggest any questions the paper’s argument raises but cannot or does not try to answer.

You should not :

• Offer new arguments or essential information
• Take up any more space than necessary
• Begin with stock phrases that signal you are ending the paper (e.g. “In conclusion”)

There are four main considerations when it comes to the second draft.

• Check how your vision of the paper lines up with the first draft and, more importantly, that your paper still answers the assignment.
• Identify any assumptions that might require (more substantial) justification, keeping your reader’s perspective foremost in mind. Remove these points if you cannot substantiate them further.
• Be open to rearranging your ideas. Check whether any sections feel out of place and whether your ideas could be better organized.
• If you find that old ideas do not fit as well as you anticipated, you should cut them out or condense them. You might also find that new and well-suited ideas occurred to you during the writing of the first draft — now is the time to make them part of the paper.

The goal during the revision and proofreading process is to ensure you have completed all the necessary tasks and that the paper is as well-articulated as possible.

Global concerns

• Confirm that your paper completes every task specified in your assignment sheet.
• Check for logical organization and flow of paragraphs.
• Check paragraphs against the introduction and thesis statement.

Fine-grained details

Check the content of each paragraph, making sure that:

• each sentence helps support the topic sentence.
• no unnecessary or irrelevant information is present.
• all technical terms your audience might not know are identified.

Next, think about sentence structure , grammatical errors, and formatting . Check that you have correctly used transition words and phrases to show the connections between your ideas. Look for typos, cut unnecessary words, and check for consistency in aspects such as heading formatting and spellings .

Finally, you need to make sure your paper is correctly formatted according to the rules of the citation style you are using. For example, you might need to include an MLA heading  or create an APA title page .

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Checklist: Research paper

I have followed all instructions in the assignment sheet.

My introduction presents my topic in an engaging way and provides necessary background information.

My introduction presents a clear, focused research problem and/or thesis statement .

My paper is logically organized using paragraphs and (if relevant) section headings .

Each paragraph is clearly focused on one central idea, expressed in a clear topic sentence .

Each paragraph is relevant to my research problem or thesis statement.

I have used appropriate transitions  to clarify the connections between sections, paragraphs, and sentences.

My conclusion provides a concise answer to the research question or emphasizes how the thesis has been supported.

My conclusion shows how my research has contributed to knowledge or understanding of my topic.

My conclusion does not present any new points or information essential to my argument.

I have provided an in-text citation every time I refer to ideas or information from a source.

I have included a reference list at the end of my paper, consistently formatted according to a specific citation style .

I have thoroughly revised my paper and addressed any feedback from my professor or supervisor.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (page numbers, headers, spacing, etc.).

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Research Analysis Paper: How to Analyze a Research Article

Have you been asked to write a research analysis paper but don’t know where to start? If you’re like most students, you may have never written a research paper before and feel a bit intimidated by the prospect. But don’t worry – writing a research analysis paper is not as difficult as it sounds.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of writing a research analysis paper, step by step. We’ll start by discussing what a research analysis paper is and what it is not. Then we’ll give you some tips on how to choose a good topic for your paper. After that, we’ll provide an outline of what your paper should include, and finally, we’ll offer some advice on how to write your paper so that it is clear, concise, and interesting.

research paper title page

Data analysis section of a research paper.

• Research paper introduction paragraph
• Hook for research paper

How to write hypothesis in a research paper

Discussion section of a research paper, what is a research analysis paper.

A research analysis paper is a type of academic writing that requires you to analyze an argument or a problem. Your goal in this type of paper is to use your critical thinking skills to evaluate the claims made in the text and to determine whether or not they are valid. To do this effectively, you will need to do your research on the topic.

A research analysis paper is not a paper that simply summarizes the text. Instead, it is a critical evaluation of the argument made in the text. To write a good research analysis paper, you will need to have strong analytical skills and be able to back up your claims with evidence.

Outline: Research Analysis Paper

Your research analysis paper should include the following sections:

Introduction

• Background Information
• Analysis of the Argument or Problem

How to Write Your Research Analysis Paper

Now that you know what a research analysis paper is and what it should include, let’s take a look at how to write it.

The introduction of your research analysis paper should be brief and to the point. It should introduce the topic of the paper and state the position that you will be taking.

The background information section should provide a brief overview of the topic of the paper.

The analysis of the argument or problem section should discuss the claims made in the text and analyze them critically.

The conclusion should summarize your findings and state whether or not you agree with the argument made in the text.

If you are having difficulty writing your research analysis paper, our professional writing service can help. Contact us today for a free consultation!

How to Analyze a Research Article

When you are assigned a research article to analyze in a research analysis paper, there are specific steps you can take to make sure you understand it thoroughly. Here are the steps involved in analyzing the research article:

Read and understand the topic:

The first step is to read and understand the paper. This means reading it carefully, making sure you understand all of the concepts and terms used. Follow these steps to read and understand the research topic:

• Read the paper once for a general understanding
• Read it again, taking notes on key concepts and terms
• Identify the research question or hypothesis being tested
• Summarize the methods used to collect data
• Outline the results of the study
• Discuss the implications of the findings

By following these steps, you will be able to understand the research article better and be able to write a more comprehensive analysis of it.

Understand the methodology:

Next, you need to understand the research methodology used in the study. This includes understanding how the study was conducted and what data was collected. It is important to understand how the study was conducted so that you can assess the quality of the data and the results.

Once you understand the research methodology, you need to assess the quality of the data. This includes looking at how the data was collected and analyzed. You should also look at any limitations of the study.

Evaluate the results:

After you understand the methodology and results, it is important to critically evaluate the results. This means asking questions such as whether the results are statistically significant and whether they support the hypotheses being tested.

It is also important to consider whether the study has any limitations. For example, did the researchers use a convenience sample? This means that they only sampled people who were readily available and may not be representative of the population as a whole.

Another limitation to consider is whether the study was longitudinal or cross-sectional. Longitudinal studies follow participants over time, while cross-sectional studies only collect data at one point in time. Longitudinal studies are generally considered more reliable than cross-sectional studies because they can provide information on causality.

When critiquing a research paper, it is important to consider both the strengths and limitations of the study. By doing this, you will be able to put the results into context and determine whether they apply to your research.

Make conclusions:

Once you have critically evaluated the results, you can start to conclude the findings of the study. This means determining what the results mean for theory and practice. For example, if a study found that a new intervention is effective, you might conclude that the intervention should be implemented in clinical settings.

When concluding, it is important to consider the implications of the findings. For example, if a study found that a particular intervention is effective, you should consider whether there are any ethical implications of implementing the intervention. You should also think about how the findings might be applied in other contexts or with different populations.

After you have concluded the findings of the study, you can start to write the paper. The first step is to write an introduction, which should include a brief overview of the research being critiqued. The introduction should also state the purpose of the paper and provide an overview of the main points that will be discussed.

Research Analysis Paper: Key Questions

When writing a research analysis paper, one has to consider a couple of questions based on each part of a research paper.

Paper Title

The questions that need to be considered when analyzing the title are:

• What is the research question?
• What are the objectives of the study?
• What is the hypothesis being tested?
• What are the independent and dependent variables?
• What is the population being studied?
• What is the sample size?
• What is the sampling method?
• What type of study is it (e.g., observational, experimental)?
• Is the study valid and reliable?
• Are there any biases in the study?

After critically evaluating the title, one moves on to analyze the abstract by asking these questions:

• Does the abstract clearly state the research question?
• Does the abstract clearly state the objectives of the study?
• Does the abstract clearly state the hypotheses being tested?
• Does the abstract clearly state the independent and dependent variables?
• Does the abstract clearly state the population being studied?
• Does the abstract clearly state the sample size?
• Does the abstract clearly state the sampling method?
• Does the abstract clearly state the type of study?

After analyzing both, the title and abstract, it is time to move on and analyze each section of a research paper starting with an introduction by asking these questions:

• What is the background of the study?
• Why is this research important?
• What are the hypotheses being tested?

Methods section

The next section that needs to be analyzed is a method section and these are the questions that need to be considered:

• How was the study conducted?
• What data was collected?
• What is the research methodology?
• How were the results analyzed?
• Is the research methodology valid and reliable?
• Are the results statistically significant?
• Do the results support the hypotheses being tested?
• What are the limitations of the study?

Results section

The next section to be analyzed is a results section and these are the questions that need to be considered:

• What are the findings of the study?
• What are the implications of the results?

Discussion/Conclusion section

The final section to be analyzed is a discussion section and these are the questions that need to be considered:

• What are your thoughts on the study?
• What are its strengths and weaknesses?
• How does this study impact the field of research?
• What are the next steps for this research?
• What are the implications of the findings?
• Is there anything that you would like to add?

References:

• Where did the information in the paper come from?

Now that you have a better understanding of how to analyze a research article, it is time to put this knowledge into practice. Use these tips to write a research analysis paper that is both informative and well-written. Good luck!

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PRACTICAL GUIDES TO RESEARCH WRITING

Analysis Research Paper Writing Guide & Sample Topics

An analysis research paper is a popular assignment meant to test a candidate’s ability to critically examine an event, literature, or scientific research. This paper requires you to express your opinions regarding a topic and to supplement your arguments with the necessary evidence.

If you are struggling with your analytical paper, this guide will highlight the process of writing an analysis paper and tips to make the process easy. We will also highlight various topics in analysis to inspire your topic selection. 

How to write an analytical paper

When writing an analysis paper, you are tasked with analysing the themes, arguments, research methods, and claims made in a paper. After this analysis, present your opinions on the quality of a paper and highlight your perceived weaknesses of a paper. 

To write an effective analytical research paper, the following steps ought to come in handy. 

• Select a topic

Topic selection is a crucial determinant in your academic writing experience. Ideally, select a topic that evokes your interests to have ample impetus for in-depth research.

If a topic has not been provided by your tutor, you should find an interesting idea within the scope of your research question. Ideally, your topic should analyse specific aspects of the topic to ensure that you exhaust your analysis within the provided word count.

For instance, you could argue that the approach used in a paper was not legitimate and highlight various biases that discredit the results. Also, you could show how the results do not necessarily reflect on the conclusion and cite sources that have yielded contrary findings. 

• Perform primary research

Before writing your essay, peruse multiple materials relating to the topic. These materials will give you a good grounding of the topic, helping you to better break down the object under study. 

The primary research should also include a study of the publication/ event you are studying. After familiarizing yourself with the field and getting a scope of the topic, you can objectively scrutinize a topic to make substantial queries on various aspects of the subject.

• Choose a thesis

After familiarizing yourself with the knowledge in a field, select a statement that summarizes your argument. For instance, you may analyse the reasons behind alcohol addiction by college students. 

Your thesis should indicate the analytical paper topic, giving your reader a gist of your key argument. 

• Conduct secondary research

After selecting your thesis, conduct extensive research on the field to establish the sources that support your standpoint. Also, take note of sources that oppose your argument as they can be of great help in your analysis.

Arguing against counterarguments allows you to highlight their weaknesses, improving the overall quality of your argument. When addressing your research, we suggest that you start by brainstorming ideas that could make up your argument.

Next, research these ideas and prune the arguments that are indirectly related to your thesis. 

• Prepare an outline

After collecting all the information related to your topic, sort your arguments into paragraphs. The outline should highlight the ideas contained in each section, helping you gauge the flow of arguments in your paper.

The outline will allow you to gauge the completeness of your research paper analysis section, helping you revisit your sources before you start writing. 

• Write your paper

After preparing your outline, write your first draft. Your draft should investigate your ideas in depth and include the necessary intext citations for evidence in your paper. 

After completing your first draft, run it through multiple rounds of editing to highlight any errors. You should consider engaging an expert editor for quality feedback and guidance to resolve various issues within your paper. 

Analysis paper topics

Concept analysis paper topics

• What causes juvenile alcoholism?
• What are the psychological and social causes of bullying?
• How can we reduce inequity among people?
• How and why do gender roles differ among cultures?
• the primary factors of fast climate change
• Why and exactly how to tackle the subject of sexual education
• What are the available treatments for insomnia?
• Is higher education associated with increased job security?

Data analysis topics

• Big data confidentiality and security concerns
• Machine learning techniques for massive data
• Describe the significance of probabilistic categorization in data mining
• Explain why density-based clustering is required.
• What is the significance of data exploration in data analysis?
• What exactly is data retention, and why is it so important?

Process analysis paper topics

• How do you deal with test anxiety and stress?
• How do you quit smoking?
• What influence does gambling have on people’s mental health?
• The advantages of meditation in the process of breaking unhealthy habits like smoking
• How does a viral disease manifest itself in the body?
• What is the greatest technique to boost your immune system?

Topics for Rhetorical Analysis

• What’s the difference between Symbolism and Imagery?
• Many high school students despise home-schooling
• The effects of video games on pre-schoolers
• The Influence of Horror Films on Middle and Pre-schoolers
• The significance of symbolism in literature and art
• How lack of access and poverty affect young Americans’ home-schooling

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Tips on How to Write Analysis Paper

Table of Contents

Select Your Topic

This is the first and obvious task for you. Your topic can very straight or has some obscure features. It depends on your original object, actually. If you are analyzing some project, you should choose straightforward format. And if you are writing about simple text, you can be more obscure.

If you have an opportunity to choose your topic by yourself, consider having some close to your interests theme. It will give you’re an opportunity to learn more about topic you are interested in and will support you while working.

You should do some researching work in the library and internet to find some interesting material to support your analysis. Don’t forget to check out newspapers and magazines for some inspiration and specific facts.

Begin Your Analysis

You should learn to observe to learn how to write analysis paper. You should read your main text without any distractions around to do a real analysis. After that, you should read it for a second time. This time you should make notes about things that can be helpful for your writing. These can be things that can be interesting for others, some facts that you didn’t know either.

Don’t forget to note your ideas and thoughts about the text or project. Identify its goal. Don’t be lazy and note details. And remember, your analysis paper isn’t something simple and general. It should be detailed, a unique and specific piece of work.

Write Your Thesis Statement

It is time for your thesis statement to improve. What should it be? First of all, it is one sentence. It should be clear and define your whole analysis paper. You should locate it at the very beginning of your text, in the first paragraph, actually. It will serve several different functions. The main task of your thesis is to give you the destination for the whole paper.

It defines your working parameters. Also, it would be some kind of a review for your analysis paper. It will show you and the reader what you are talking about. Thesis is giving the argument for your work. It should be provocative to grab your readers’ attention, actually. It should not be too general or too narrow. And one more time, it should be clear and reflect your analysis destination.

Support Your Argument

Your argument is by the thesis statement. But, what will support thesis statement? The body part is the answer. This part of your text supports thesis statement and argument at the same time. While writing about some exact text (book, poem), there is a good option for you to cite the source to support your argument. You should focus on your argument. Don’t forget to explain how your citations support your thesis. It is very important. Everything in your text should serve as the support for your main point.

Also, don’t forget about outside sources. These things and facts can be very important and do the whole supporting job for your text. To be more serious and convincing, try to use solid sources like some professional journals or official statistics, for example. Everything should support your main point, but don’t use quotes too often. Why? Because it is your work with your own words, thoughts, and ideas. It is not a simple recitation of the source.

Use Credible Research Sources

Don’t forget to use some serious professional literature like articles, books and studies. Don’t forget to check up your internet supporting information; it is often doubtful and unclear.

In this part, you should write your thesis again. Here you should do the summation of your whole text. But, you should be brief. Conclusion is not the biggest part of the analysis paper.

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Research Analysis Paper: How to Analyze a Research Article [2023]

Do you need to write a research analysis paper but have no idea how to do that? Then you’re in the right place.

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While completing this type of assignment, your key aim is to critically analyze a research article. An article from a serious scientific journal would be a good choice. You can analyze and interpret either quantitative or qualitative research.

Below, you’ll find a how-to guide on research analysis paper writing prepared by our experts. It contains outlining and formatting tips, topics, and examples of research articles analysis.

• Scan the Paper
• Examine the Content
• Check the Format
• Critique & Evaluate
• ✅ Key Questions

🔗 References

🔎 how to analyze a research article.

This analysis will be beneficial for you since it develops your critical thinking and research skills. So, let us present the main steps that should be undertaken to read and evaluate the paper correctly.

Now, let’s figure out what an analysis paper should include. There are several essential elements the reader should identify:

• logical reasons for conducting the study;
• the description of the methodology applied in the research;
• concise and clear report of the findings;
• a logical conclusion based on the results.

You can use free paper samples for college students before you work with your own writing to get a feel of how the analyzing process goes.

Step 1: Scan the Paper

First, briefly look through the found paper and evaluate whether it’s appropriate for your research. Scanning helps you to start the content analysis and get the general idea of the study.

To scan the paper effectively, follow these simple steps:

• Get familiar with the title, abstract , and introduction . Carefully read these parts and make sure you got the author’s point.
• Read the headings of each section and sub-section. But don’t spend time to get familiar with the content.
• Look through the conclusions. Check the overall one and the last sentence of each section.
• Scan the references. Have you read any of these sources before? Highlight them and decide whether they are appropriate for your research or not.

Have you completed these steps of your research paper’s critical analysis? Now, you should be able to answer these questions:

• What kind of a paper is it (qualitative research, quantitative research, a case study, etc.)?
• What is the research paper topic? How is it connected to your subject of study?
• Do you feel like the findings and the conclusions are valid?
• How can the source contribute to your study?
• Is the paper clear and well-written?

After completing this step, you should have a clear image of the text’s general idea. Also, here you can decide whether the given paper is worth further examination.

Step 2: Examine the Content

The next step leads to a deeper understanding of the topic. Here, again, you can try the following course of action to take the maximum benefit from the evaluation of the source.

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• Find the author’s thesis. A thesis statement is usually the last sentence of the introduction (or several sentences). It is an essential part of the paper since it reflects the author’s main point. Make sure you determined the thesis statement and understood it.
• Consider the author’s arguments. How does the author support his position? What are the key arguments they present in their research paper? Are they logical? Evaluate whether the points are clear and concise enough for any reader to get. Do they support the author’s thesis?
• Check the evidence. Try to find all the proof provided by the writer. A successful research paper should have valid evidence for every argument. These can be statistics, diagrams, facts taken from documentaries or books, experiments hold by researchers, etc.
• Determine the limits of the study. An author is supposed to set limits to avoid making their research too broad. Find out what are the variables the writer relied on while determining the exact field of study. Keep them in mind when you decide whether the paper accomplished its goals within limits.
• Establish the author’s perspective. What position does the author take? What methods are applied to prove the correctness of the writer’s point? Does it match with your opinion? Why/ why not?

Sometimes, even after the second step of evaluation, the writer’s perspective is not evident. What to do in this case? There are three scenarios:

• Stop investigating the paper and hope that you will not need it for your research.
• Read some background information on the given topic. Then, reread the paper. This might help you to comprehend the general idea.
• Don’t give up and move on to the next step of the evaluation.

Step 3: Check the Format and Presentation

At this stage, analyze the research paper format and the general presentation of the arguments and facts. Start with the evaluation of the sentence levels. In the research paper, there should be a hierarchy of sentences. To trace the research paper structure, take a look at the tips:

• First-level sentences. They include only general statements and present the ideas that will be explored further in the paper.
• Middle-level sentences. These sentences summarize, give a narrower idea, and present specific arguments.
• Deep-level sentences. They contain specific facts and evidence that correspond to the arguments stated in middle-level sentences.

Your research paper analysis should also include format evaluation. This task might be challenging unless you have the formatting style manual open in front of your eyes.

Figure out what citation style the author applied and check whether all the requirements are met. Here is a mini checklist you have to follow:

• in-text citations
• reference list
• font style and size, spacing
• abstract (if needed)
• appendix (if needed)

Step 4: Critique & Evaluate

This step requires attention to every detail in the paper. Identify each of the author’s assumptions and question them. Do you agree with the author’s evidence? How would you support the arguments? What are your opinions regarding the author’s ideas?

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For starters:

Try to re-implement the entire paper from your perspective and see how your version differs from the initial work. This trick will help you to determine the strong and weak sides of the work.

Then, move on to criticism. An effective way to evaluate a research paper consists of asking the right questions and assessing the crucial aspects, like:

• The author’s objective and whether it was reached. Did you get the author’s main idea? Did the writer reach their aim and explain the arguments in great detail? Remember that even if the reader is not majoring in the study field, they should understand the objective. Is there something that remained unclear for you? In your opinion, what is the cause of your inability to comprehend the material?
• The role in the broader context. Make sure the author’s arguments and evidence sound adequately in the larger context. Do the writer’s ideas contradict social norms. If so, why? Also, check the sources the author uses for their research. Make sure they are reliable and not outdated.
• Grammar and organization. A professional research paper should not contain any mistakes. Make sure the text is flawless regarding grammar and structure. The ideas have to follow the logical flow; the tone should be academic; the paper should include transitions, summaries should be on point (which is easier to achieve with the help of a paper summarizer ) and so on.
• What the reader learns. The primary aim of an author is to deliver useful information to the reader. Did you, as a reader, find some new insights? Were they relevant and valuable? Consider whether you’ve read something similar before and how the data fit within limits set by the author.

✅ Research Analysis Paper: Key Questions

As you can see, the task requires a lot of time and effort. That is why we’ve prepared a list of questions you should ask while analyzing a research paper. Use them as a ground for critical reading and evaluation.

Research Article Analysis Topics

• Research article analysis: Using Evidence-Based Practice to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia .  
• Critical analysis of Seligman’s research article on post-traumatic stress disorder. 
• Analyze the article on the role of interprofessional communication in healthcare.  
• Examine the articles on the controversy of stem cell research. 
• Write a critical analysis of a research article on abortion . 
• Discuss a research article on nursing and proactive care program. 
• Analyze a quantitative research article on the efficiency of methods used in nursing education . 
• Critical analysis of the research article on the role of environmental biology. 
• Analysis of the articles about primary quantitative and qualitative research . 
• Evaluate Goeders and Guerin’s research on the connection between stress and drug use. 
• Study Angela F. Clark’s research article on the efficacy of a nursing education program. 
• Analyze the research article by Park, Nisch, and Baptiste examining the connection between immigrants’ mental health and the length of stay in the United States. 
• Discuss the scholarly articles researching the connection between obesity and depression.  
• Analysis of nursing research article on level of education . 
• Write a critical analysis of the scholarly article The Effect of Nurse Staffing on Patient Safety Outcomes . 
• Examine a recent research article on spinal cord injuries. 
• Analyze Ronald F. Wright’s research article examining the specifics of jury selection. 
• Study the article by McConnell et al. on the impact of domestic animals on human well-being. 
• Critical evaluation and analysis of the article on ethics and informed consent in research. 
• Analysis of a research article on preventing hospital falls . 
• Write an analysis of the research article studying the challenges of implementing research findings into practice in nursing. 
• Examine the article on the thrombosis process by Bruce Furie and Barbara C. Furie. 
• Analyze Mendenhall and Doherty’s research on a new diabetes management approach. 
• Qualitative research article critique. 
• Critical analysis of a research article on the effectiveness of drug round tabards . 
• Discuss quantitative research about the barriers to electronic commerce implementation.  
• Study the article Health Information Source Use by Jessica Gall Myrick and Michael Hendryx. 
• Analyze a research article by Lengyel et al. That studies the amount of sugar in school breakfast . 
• Write a critical analysis of the research studying the quality of pain management . 
• Examine the research article The Mental Health of Indigenous Peoples in Canada by Sarah E Nelson and Kathi Wilson. 
• Analysis of the article Development of a Proactive Care Program . 
• Study the article on nursing REST: Break Through to Resilience by Rajamohan et al.  
• Critically analyze the research article Quality Management in Healthcare: The Pivotal Desideratum . 
• Examine and interpret the academic article In Defense of the Randomized Controlled Trial by Rosen et al. 
• Write an analysis of a research article Cardiovascular Changes Resulting from Sexual Activity by Bispo, De Lima Lopes, and De Barros.  
• Study the topicality and consistency of Dillner’s article Obstetrician Suspended After Research Inquiry .  
• Critical analysis of research article on nosocomial pneumonia . 
• Discuss the methods used by Johanna Brenner in her research on intersections and class relations. 
• Analyze the research article by Ansari et al. examining the connection between type 2 diabetes and environmental factors. 
• Analysis of research article Nurses’ Perceptions of Research Utilization in a Corporate Health Care System .  
• Examine the importance of the research Effectiveness of Hand Hygiene Interventions in Reducing Illness Absence . 
• Analyze and interpret the article on the toolkit for postgraduate research supervisors by E. Blass & S. Bertone.  
• Discuss the utility and credibility of K. Than’s article A Brief History of Twin Studies .  
• Write a critical analysis of the article researching the current US gun policy and its effect on the rates of gun violence cases. 
• Analysis of articles on evidence-based prevention of surgical site infections. 
• Examine the research article Nurses’ Knowledge about Palliative Care by Etafa et al.  
• Analyze the research conducted by Sandelowski et al. on the stigmatization of HIV-positive women . 
• Discuss the theoretical framework and methodology of a research article on psychological studies . 
• Analysis of a research article about sports and creatine . 
• Study the presentation of research findings in the scholarly article Leadership Characteristics and Digital Transformation . 

Congrats! Now you know how to write a research paper analysis. You are welcome to check out our writing tips available on the website and save a ton of time on your academic papers. Share the link with your peers who may need our advice as well.

• An Introduction to Critical Analysis of Publications in Experimental Biomedical Science, the Research Paper in Basic Medical Sciences: K. Rangachari, modified by D.J. Crankshaw, McMaster University Honours Biology & Pharmacology Program
• Critical Analysis Template: Keiran Rankin and Sara Wolfe, the Writing Centre, Thompson Rivers University
• How to Read a Paper: S. Keshav, David R. Cheriton, School of Computer Science, the University of Waterloo
• How to Read a Research Paper: School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University
• Reading Research Effectively, Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Research Guides at the University of Southern California
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Dear Mustafa, There might be one available on our free essays page – you are welcome to check it out and find out more about the available sample papers that we have! Have a great day!

P.S. Link to the free essays database

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