Research papers often follow the same structure outlined in the Argument Paper.
At times, however, you may be asked to research a topic without presenting an argument. In other words, you must research a topic in an unbiased manner. When you were younger, your teachers might have called this type of assignment a "report." Like a reporter, when writing this type of research paper, you must seek information about a topic, but be careful not to let your personal opinion influence the presentation of the material.
Be sure to clarify with your instructor if your research paper thesis should be argumentative or descriptive. An argumentative thesis will argue a disputable point: Abortion should be legal because a woman has the right to say what happens to her body. A descriptive thesis, on the other hand, will not take a side: In the abortion debate there are two main sides: pro-choice and pro-life.
The OWL is an extension of the Community College
of Denver Writing Center. Bret Hann, Writing Center Coordinator This project was made possible in part by a grant from the Technology Learning Grant and Revolving Loan Program, State of Colorado, Department of Higher Education. We are also grateful for the ongoing support of Colorado Community Colleges Online (CCCOnline).
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