A research paper is a type of academic writing that involves surveying a field of knowledge in order to find the best possible information in that field. It is an expanded essay that presents your own interpretation, evaluation, or argument about a topic. Research papers are similar to analytical essays, but they emphasize the use of statistical data and preexisting research, along with a strict code for citations.
A research paper requires you to form an opinion on a topic, research and gain expert knowledge on that topic, and then back up your own opinions and assertions with facts found through your thorough research. It is not simply an informed summary of a topic by means of primary and secondary sources, nor is it a book report, opinion piece, expository essay, or overview of a particular topic. Instead, it is a genre that requires one to spend time investigating and evaluating sources with the intent to offer interpretations of the texts, and not unconscious regurgitations of those sources.
The goal of a research paper is not to inform the reader what others have to say, but to draw on what others have to say about a topic and engage the sources in order to thoughtfully offer a unique perspective on the issue at hand. Research papers are a common form of academic writing that require students and academics to locate information about a topic, analyze it, and present their findings in a clear and concise manner.
