Research writing requires the researcher to understand his subject very thoroughly. It is also a forum that enables the writer to share his findings and present his perspective on the subject so others may benefit from his extensive efforts.
Research papers are organized in a way that gives the reader the flexibility to choose a specific element. Usually this includes four parts: Introduction, methodology, results and discussion. The introduction outlines the origins of the work and directs the reader to other research performed on the subject. The methodology explains how the data was collected and enables the reader to make a judgment as to its crediblity. The results present any new data collected by the researcher and what his work contributes to the global body of scholarship. The discussion provides analysis and may be of particular help to those who struggle to fully comprehend the results.
Abstracts summarize the work and help people decide if the research is relevant to their interests. These are often give away free in the hope that readers will be enticed into purchasing the entire work. Researchers usually present abstracts in clear, easy-to-understand language that encourages people to read it.
Research writers often rely on the work of their colleagues to understand a topic from multiple perspectives while identifying potential areas to explore. It also allows others to understand the origins of the study results so they can review the work and possibly recreate the experiment.
Students and professionals can develop writing skills through research papers that call on them to clearly paraphrase their findings. They must also learn to seamlessly weave the information with quotes and their own opinions. In addition, students to learn adhere to standards outlined by Modern Language Association which has a documentation style that is commonly used in the humanities. This includes creating a comprehensive reference page as well as in-text citations.
Teachers use research writing to assess whether students understand information taught in class. While students can use memorization to prepare for an exam, they must understand information on a more complex level when communicating it through research writing.
The aim of research writing is to advance the general body of knowledge on a particular subject. The researchers can read the studies of others and contribute their own findings. As the body of knowledge develops it can assist inventors and lead to new discoveries. It can also stimulate general interest in the natural world, which science promotes.