In assessing the quality of the paper, the following guidelines will be used.

Theoretical/Empirical Background

An effective paper will review current research, current theoretical debates, and recent controversies. In most cases, it is also necessary to research traditional theories and debates in order to properly frame the paper. An excellent research paper will identify the past and present theoretical and empirical contributions that have been used to describe, analyze, or explain the paper’s principle topic.

Keep in mind that not all theoretical perspectives or empirical research projects are created equal. Sociologists regularly prefer certain perspectives because of their theoretical sophistication or empirical grounding. Always choose the theory that best explains the phenomenon you are interested in. Always pay attention to the empirical research even when you are writing a high-level theory paper.

Organization

In order to write an excellent research paper, you must pay careful attention to the organization and presentation of information. As noted above, depending on the type of paper (theory or research) papers may have an abstract, introduction, main body, discussion, and conclusion section.

In the abstract, provide an approximately 150-word summary of the paper. In a research-based paper, the abstract will include statements about research design, results, and implications of the author’s research work. In a theory paper, the abstract may include statements concerning the theoretical lineage of the paper, statements outlining the contribution of the paper, and brief references to the conclusions of the paper.

In the introduction, present your intentions to the reader. The introduction is used to tell the reader what the paper will be about. Typically, authors present a short summary of the paper’s subject (a few sentences) along with some commentary on theoretical or empirical contribution of the paper.

The main body of the paper is where the real work is done. In the main body, you will present, in detail, the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of the paper, outline the unique ideas (in the case of a theoretical paper) or unique empirical research (in the case of an empirical paper), and present data (if appropriate) and preliminary conclusions that derive from the theoretical or empirical work.

In the discussion, you will outline in more detail the implications of the research findings or theoretical work presented in the paper. The discussion section is also where suggestions for future research are identified. The discussion can also include statements concerning the limitations of your work in the paper. In an empirical paper, the author may comment on the limitations and failings of methodology and sampling, the limits on generalizability of the findings, and any additional difficulties that were encountered while researching, writing, and presenting the information of the study. In theory papers, authors may comment on the theoretical lacuna, limitations of knowledge, or any other specific problems that were encountered while researching and thinking about the content of the paper.

In the conclusion, introduce no new material. The conclusion simply summarizes your findings and highlights the contribution of the paper. In the conclusion, make your strongest statements about the contribution of the research paper to the body of knowledge of sociology.

Use heading and subheadings to organize your topics. Research papers are not like English essays. Readers and authors benefit from topic organization. Using headings often helps you clarify ideas and refine organization, making your paper easier to read and follow.

Documentation

As you write, make sure to carefully document all sources of information. You may use whatever citation format you are familiar with (e.g., APA, etc.) as long as you apply it consistently. If you are a sociology student, you should use the style guide of the American Sociological Association (ASA).

Failure to properly document and acknowledge intellectual indebtedness will be considered plagiarism and will lead to disciplinary action. When in doubt, consult with your instructor.

Originality

While researching and writing your paper, you are encouraged to develop your own point of view. That is, you are not expected to restate material from the literature reviews but instead to contribute your own ideas and thoughts on the topic.

This is not as difficult as it may first appear. That is, originality is not only about Nobel Prize winning contributions that benefit humanity (and in any case, it is a pernicious illusion to think that any one person is responsible for major scientific or social advances). There are many ways to develop an original perspective. You may demonstrate originality by criticizing prevailing ideas or by identifying gaps or omission in current research. You may also demonstrate originality by presenting old research in a new light or by framing or interpreting past data in a novel or innovative way.

Keep in mind that demonstrating originality does not mean you must undermine previous work. You may also contribute original thought by acknowledging the contributions of others and by applying previous theoretical or empirical hypothesis in new or novel ways or to new or novel situations.

Ultimately, presenting original ideas will depend on familiarity with the field. If you are not familiar with a field of study, that is, if you do now know what others have said before you, you risk simply repeating previous insights and contributions. Thus, in an academic setting, originality requires broad familiarity with the appropriate literature. Without this you cannot hope to make a sensible contribution to the field.

Composition and Aesthetics

It is necessary for your research paper to be written in a clear and intelligible manner. There are many technical and creative factors that contribute to an elegant presentation. You will be graded on grammar, punctuation, spelling, and other technical requirements (title page, page numbers, etc.). If you are unsure about sentence structure and grammar, read your paper out loud (paying attention to commas and periods). Many compositional errors can be corrected in this fashion. If your sentences sound good to your ear, chances are they will appear good to the reader.

Students will also be graded on the aesthetic presentation (margins, appropriate type size and head levels, paragraph formatting, etc.). It might sound like a trivial thing, but appropriate font, appropriate line spacing, appropriate paragraph spacing, and so on, make your paper easier and more enjoyable to read.

External resource

“Writing in College: A Short Guide to College Writing” offers a good basic guide to writing research papers.