Common Mistakes in Student Research Papers

Common Mistakes in Student Research Papers

Read and take note of the most common mistakes in student research papers. Avoid them. Get better grades!

• Mixed verb tense. This makes your readers ears (or eyes) bleed! Pick present tense or past tense and stick with it through the whole research paper. This type of writing is not everyday conversation or even the nightly news, both of which are notorious for switching verb tenses.
• Quote usage. Make sure that your academic discipline expects or frowns upon the use of direct quotes. In the humanities, quotes are an integral part of research paper. This is not true for scientific research papers. Read a couple of research papers on the topic at hand before constructing your own.
• Too much information. Consider who will be reading your research paper and keep them in mind as you write. Also, resist the temptation to write everything you know on a subject. Do not tell include a biography on John Steinbeck in a research paper about how his works reflect social commentary.
• Superlatives and subjectivity. These have no place in a research paper. Your topic may be wonderful and exciting, but do not use these types of words in the document. This type of writing is not about opinions, beliefs, or feelings. Save these for op ed pieces.
• Bad grammar, spelling or word choice. Again, don’t do it! Proofread and edit your research paper until you have it memorized. Then hire a professional writer to proof it again. Nothing spells amateur like easily correctible error.
• Lack of originality. The aim of any research paper for any college or university discipline is to add original thought and work to a body of existing knowledge. You cannot simply restate what others have said. This will not get you published. You must use your brain to creative and regurgitate.
• Anthropomorphism. Resist the urge to give human qualities to inanimate objects. This is great for poetry and creative writing; not so great for research papers!

Plan ahead; find out what is expected of your research paper; seek the assistance of other writers more qualified than yourself; and enjoy the process. A published research paper is a resume boost and career builder.