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Questions in a Research Paper
The academic community is concerned with any kind of a research paper since it is the material for work. As a rule, the students’ academic branch is usually linked to such research papers as a master’s thesis, a term paper or a doctoral dissertation. Generally speaking, a research paper may be defined as an area of the academic origin which is concerned with its author’s quaint input to the analysis and interpretation of any subject matter in a particular field.
As far as a research paper, in general, is concerned, you will find information which is suitable for any kind of a research paper. Of course, the most worrying issue is the usage of different types of questions in a formal academic paper. This problem is developed from a variety of perspectives.
Furthermore, you will be able to find a bunch of useful information on writing a research paper. A responsible writer of a research paper has to pay attention to small but sufficient details while doing research. Therefore, there is a need to analyze the possibility of questions usage while relying on a research paper of any type. We will help you understand if you can use questions in research papers.
Can you use Questions in a research paper?
A research paper is the type of writing which demands deep analysis as well as thoroughly investigated phenomena of the subject matter. Overall this type of paper is highly codified writing in a rhetorical form. Rules are of the utmost importance; therefore, it is easier to plan the draft of the research paper in a questionnaire form rather than in a statement manner.
There is a necessity to address a specific research question. It is not a typical question that is easy to answer since the whole research paper is aimed at responding to it throughout the paper. Any information which is related to the research question is important for the paper; the other one is not.
Understandably, the research question is central whereas there may exist secondary but related questions. It would be easier to compose the draft of the work with them. It is worth noting that interrogative sentences are not advised to use in the research paper, they are better for the researcher’s understanding of how to organize the whole paper.
Alternatively, the research question possesses some key features which define that it is not a typical question of posterior importance. If you want to be logical and consequent in your research paper, pay attention to the research question specificity, novelty, originality, relevance. The paper has to be suitable for a broad scientific community.
Can you Start a Research paper with a question?
As far as we know the essence of a research paper, it is easier to predict how the structure of a research paper looks like. One may be constantly curious about the necessity of questions in the introduction part. If you want to know whether you can start a research paper with a question, there is the necessity to understand what type of a question is suitable for the beginning part.
Therefore, this issue is a bit controversial. Some of the students may be confused with the title of a research paper as well since it is an important driving force of the whole academic work. If you want to ask whether research paper titles can be questions, the answer is approving. However, it is much better to have a respond as a title of the research paper. The interrogative form is not typical for titles through the meaning of interrogation is preserved. We want you to get excellence in the academic field, so refer to the following ideas while starting your research paper.
- Do not ask the research question directly; give the reader a chance to take it in from a brief outline of the topic and your intention as a writer to develop this issue.
- Specify the topic and, simultaneously, identify the branch you are going to advance in the research paper.
- Do not try to shock the reader with the results of the investigation since they are the building material for the body as well as conclusion paragraphs.
- The reference to rhetorical questions is a bad idea as well while mentioning the introduction.
- The first sentences of the introduction are to address the question with a statement in a direct manner outlining the writer’s attitude towards the subject matter.
- Do not try to quote the question; you would better explain it within a few following sentences in an argumentative manner.
- The last part of the introduction is concerned with your outlining the method of the stated argument or the structure as it is.
Therefore, if you think you can start off a research paper with a question, be sure you understand what type of a question is meant and what the best position of it is.
Can you End a research paper with a question?
When it comes to the end of the research paper, each writer is willing to sound academic and broad-minded. Sometimes a very interesting thing happens when a writer is full of ideas, and he or she tries to put every new thought in the conclusion part of the research paper and use interesting things to write a research paper on.
It is the closing paragraph which is aimed at summarizing the main points in a research paper. The typical question about the conclusion usually sounds like the following: can I end a research paper with a question? The answer is: you would better avoid it. There are some reasons why not do this, so let’s refer to the following on how to avoid spoiling your close-to-perfection research paper.
1. Questions (as the most worrying issue)
As it has been previously mentioned, there is a necessity to differentiate among various kinds of questions. If we mention an ordinary, for instance, yes/ no or wh-question, they are not appropriate due to the fact that they develop new ideas which are banned in this very part of the research paper.
Therefore, do not tend to end a research paper with a question. Questions are of the utmost importance on the step of pre-work over the issue to analyze. When you, as a writer, try to compose the first draft of the paper, do it in a questionnaire form. This will help you to see what information is not relevant to your subject matter. Moreover, you will be able to see the further work from the introduction part until the end of a research paper.
2. Contradictions
All the doubts or following ideas are not typical to refer to in the conclusion body of a research paper. They are the fundamentals of the body part. Honestly, this is the largest part of a research paper and, definitely, it is easier to place this information in the body, rather than in conclusion. If you feel there is something contradictory while you approach the end of the research paper, you would better avoid showing hesitation at the end of the academic work.
It is not appropriate to offer opposing viewpoints or hesitations about the finding in conclusion. It will, undoubtedly, spoil the whole work and show you in bad light within an academic community. It is necessary to pay attention to contradictions on the step of pre-work with a research paper.
The choice of topic is meant here. It is difficult to predict whether the topic will soon offer a range of contradictions to work with. The only thing a careful writer has to do is to analyze the topic from different perspectives. If you, as a writer, work in a field of linguistics, do not try to limit yourself only within this sphere, try to find information on the aspects of developing the same topic within the branch of sociology. Doing this will assist you in overcoming a range of contradictions on the level of pre-work.
3. Brand new ideas
Presumably, the most frequent mistake of an average student is placing new ideas or findings at the end of the research paper. One may think that it creates the room for the reader to think about the issue. Honestly, it rather raises doubts concerning the practical use of your research as well as its novelty and completeness. Remember, no one starts a new idea in the end.
4. Extra evidence.
It is necessary for the academic writer to be logic and sound precise and convinced in what he or she writes and develops. Quotes, supporting statements or evidence are not appropriate for the conclusion since they are perceived as new ideas, to some extent. While referring to the structure of a research paper, it is necessary to know there is a reference part of this type of writing.
Therefore, all the used material has to be supported in the body part of the writing through referencing the sources in a proper manner (it depends what citation style is obligatory for personally your type of a research paper).
5. Cliché.
Graduates are those students who have already worked with a number of research papers. So, it is not a secret for them that each type of writing possesses a number of clichés. These are phrases which assist in defining the level of formality. For instance, some papers demand personal pronouns, some not – these are cliché, to some extent.
If you start working with a research paper, the first and foremost thing to do is to refer to the formal clichés concerning your type of a research paper. They will serve as linking words and phrases to bind all the ideas raised in the paper. Some clichés are used with a range of contractions or abbreviations.
Even though they are clichés, they are not to use in a formal type of writing such as a research paper. Therefore, as a writer, you have to pay attention to ‘don’t,’ ‘won’t,’ ‘hasn’t,’ try to use the full form. Some traditional phrases consist of colloquial vocabulary. Words and phrases which are constantly used in everyday spoken language are meant.
Be careful with them while using cliché phrases. Those who are appropriate for opinion essays are out-of-use for the master’s thesis. Moreover, if you want to develop your own style of writing, do not refer to the usage of idioms, while working with a research paper. Idiomatic phrases show the level of the language development, but the academic sphere is not the niche to show it.
Can you Use Rhetorical Questions in a Research Paper?
A rhetorical question is the specific type of interrogation which does not demand the urgent and precise answer; it rather leaves something to think over. Not all types of research papers are appropriate to be with a rhetorical question. A perfect example of the research paper which approves the usage of a rhetorical question is the one about social matters. You may ask a rhetorical question at the end if it meets the purpose of the paper.
The rhetorical question is usually bound with a research question; it may even be the same version of it. Remember, a research question is placed in the introduction part of a research. When you place the rhetorical question in the conclusion part, make sure your research paper reveals the evidence in the body for answering it.
The deductive manner is developed here which shows that your research paper is logically developed and used for the academic community. If it is allowed by the rules concerning your type of a research paper, you may briefly summarize the answer after the stated question. However, you have to be careful with rhetorical questions at the end of the research paper since they may be inappropriate. Readers are not that audience which is thoroughly chosen, and they do not usually demonstrate conversance in a particular topic of your research.
You do not have to take risks with rhetorical questions since you can be misunderstood and your academic work will leave a bad opinion. If you have strong will to place the question, do not perform it in the interrogative form, try to turn it in a way that it sounds formal and it is affirmative. It would serve as a hint for the reader.
The topicality will be evident since the reader feels the necessity to think over the issue. The practical relevance to the contemporary usage will become urgent. All the preceding information is of the utmost importance since it helps you, as a writer, to save precious time on the work itself omitting pitfalls and mistakes.
This article is useful for the academic writers due to the fact that it raises the most worrying aspect of a research paper – a question. As you may now understand, questions are possible to use in a research paper; everything depends on the type of a question, its mode, and place in the research paper. The only thing a research paper writer has to do is to be careful with addressing the reader with a question. Since the audience can be different, therefore, the academic paper has to be multi-perspective and topical.
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