13.9: Revising the Research Paper
- Page ID
- 223149
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)When you have finished a complete draft of your research paper, you may be tempted to “submit it and forget it”--resist this temptation! If you’ve finished even a little early, you can use that valuable bit of extra time to proofread and polish so that you submit your strongest work possible.
For a research paper, the most important element you should check for during the revision stage is citation: in many classes, if you have not included in-text citations and end citations, you will receive a failing score on the paper, as this constitutes plagiarism. As you read through your paper, make sure that you preface each quotation, paraphrase, or summary from a source with a clear signal phrase that introduces the author and offers a brief overview of the author’s overall argument. Then, make sure you have included parenthetical citations at the end of sentences containing ideas from sources. Always follow up source ideas with your own analysis, and avoid beginning or ending paragraphs with quoted or paraphrased ideas. Finally, check that you have included a complete and correct Works Cited or References page that aligns with the citation style your instructor has required (typically either MLA or APA).
Many instructors require that essays be submitted to a plagiarism-checking software like Turnitin or Vericite, so you may also find it helpful to submit an early draft, check the “Originality Score” this software has generated based on your submission, and use this as a way to refine your source use so that most of your paper centers on your insights and analysis as opposed to source ideas.
Once you have double-checked your citation and source integration, you can move on to consider unification. When a paper is unified, all of its parts work together to create a specific effect–in the case of a research paper, either informing or persuading the intended audience. This means that no part of the paper should feel disconnected from or irrelevant to your central point (i.e. your thesis statement). Your introduction should gradually build to your thesis; your thesis should be reinforced by your body paragraphs; your conclusion should echo your introduction and reiterate your message; and your transitions should tie everything together clearly.
Consider word choice and tone as you proofread as well. Keep your intended audience in mind here: aim to inform or persuade your audience without condescending to them or trying overly hard to impress them. Avoid emotionally-charged language and slang. Select each word as carefully and thoughtfully as possible, always keeping in mind how your choices as a writer impact the way readers receive your message.
Lastly, take time to polish your paper via attention to grammar and formatting. If your instructor requires certain headers to be structured in a certain way, pay attention to this. A paper with immediately obvious formatting errors often suggests a lack of thoughtfulness on the part of the writer, and your goal is likely to make as positive an impression on your reader (usually your instructor) as possible. Ensuring that your paper has a professional appearance will give you a headstart on this goal.