Tips for finding good sources

• List your keywords

To have good search results on the internet, you need to use keywords or phrases related to your topic. You can start with only one keyword like the topic title, then add other words, according to your search objectives. After having some good sources, check if they have tags. These tags typically have links, which can direct you to other similar sources. Also, you can add the tag phases to your keywords to do better searches.

• What are your required sources?

What is your university or department’s required type of source for the given research work? While going by the requirements, also ensure that they are suitable for the topic. Several search engines are available to explore previous literature on the chosen topic. Also, these engines give many options and sources to peruse.

• What question are you asking?

The question you are seeking answers for can also be a determining factor when seeking credible sources. For example, you may not want to use a Wikipedia source for a critical science question; however, if you ask a simple question like who is the 45^th President of the USA, a Wikipedia source may be good enough for that. It means you may need to use scholarly sources for research works.

• Review the sources of your sources

To establish the credibility of a source you want to use, you need to review the references cited in those works. You can get this by going through the bibliography section of those works. This process is very important because you can also rely on the sources in those works for further research. When you are using a search engine like Google Scholar, you will have the chance to see links to cited sources.

Seek help

If you are encountering challenges in what sources to trust, then seek help from a professional. Writing service consultants are available to help you find a list of research terms, types of sources that best answer your research question, among others.

The task lies in choosing the best topic that will allow you to achieve higher grades. Though the topics are well arranged under appropriate headings; you have to undertake the task of choosing a particular topic among the numerous topics that are online.

You cannot choose a topic based on its popularity or because the topic is trending. There are core attributes to be considered before you choose a topic among the different options that are before you online. What you are about reading will show you all that is required to get the best topic when you go online. It will give you the enabling environment to land the topic that you will fall in love with.

Your Interests

The strongest topic for your friend in the same department might be the weakest topic when it comes to your turn. You must come to the party with your interest at heart when you are searching for the topic that will make your day among the options that are available online.

Be open-minded in your approach. As you g through the list; you are going to come across interesting topics. Write each of them on a sheet of paper. Never mind the number of topics that you have before you. Takedown all the topics that fall within your line of interest.

Enough Information

After getting a list of the topics that catch your fancy; take a look at each of them and the information that you can get on each of them. You will be able to narrow down the topics through this process. Narrow topics should be removed from the list because they will not take you far. It should be possible to bring down the number of topics that you have written on paper.

Your teacher’s guidelines

Take the topic to your teacher for his express approval. If you are not able to get the approval of your teacher; your work done will come down to zero. After the approval of the topic; take a look at every word included in the topic and the impact they have on it. If you are not too sure of any word; then do not hesitate to ask for clarifications.

You must follow the guidelines given by your teacher in the handling of the research paper. A brilliant paper that did not meet up with the departmental requirements will not get the desired marks. You must understand the requirements and make sure you follow them to the letter.

Final thoughts

The best topic for your research paper is the topic that you have an interest in. The topic should be one that is not over flogged. You are not expected to choose a narrow topic either.

1. Choosing a Topic

Go for a topic that you are passionate about, and you will not regret it. You will enjoy it most when you are working on something that interests you. You will have the morale to dig deeper and learn more about the topic. You will try as much as you cannot give up on writing. Avoid going for a broad topic. You can also shorten it by focusing on some parts.

2. Gathering Information

You have to get background information, try using academic engines. You can go to the library and get other alternatives online. You can follow a guide on how to get databases for research papers. Here you will have an easy time to come up with the necessary information that you want. If you are not able to acquire adequate details at this stage, know that the topic you are working on is not good enough. You will need to change the title and look for another one.

3. Creating a Statement

If you skip this part, know that the paper you are writing is useless. It is the part that gives the reader a clue about what your work entails. You can read more thesis statements to know the exact way you should write to them. You have to consider this part because if you give your best here, there is a chance you will excel.

4. Creating a Paper Outline

No paper can succeed without an outline, it is the foundation of your work and should not miss in any way. Your thesis should start where your points are shown. You will change it as you continue writing your paper. Avoid giving up when you begin writing your outline because it changes as you proceed.

5. Organizing Your Notes

When you arrange your work, you will not have to confuse yourself. You can organize the notes according to how you want them in your outline. Make sure you write the correct and efficient information you gather. When you do that, you will be able to come up with sensible findings.

6. Introduction

The introduction comes first and should be intriguing. It will give your paper meaning, and it will flow naturally. Avoid writing it after you complete your paper because there is a chance that you are going to mess. It does not need to be too long. Use the correct words, and make it short and sweet.

7. Writing Your First Draft

The body that you write will say more about your work. You cannot have a compelling introduction and let yourself down on the body. Both have to go together so that you are sure of attaining excellent grades. Use your outline to create short notes that will help you with your paper. The points you take will make work easier for you during the writing period.

Things you SHOULD NOT DO when writing a paper

• DO NOT use non-scholarly sources and websites. Wikipedia and other web pages like it are great places to get a starting point for your topic, but you shouldn’t rely on their information alone. Use a wide variety of journals, books, and scholarly articles to find support for the arguments you make in your paper.
• DO NOT forget to give credit where it’s due. There is nothing worse than reading a paper that blatantly says, “I found this information on Wikipedia, so I don’t have to cite it.”
• DO NOT write a summary of the purpose of your paper before actually writing it. Writing the introduction can be challenging enough without having to worry about saying what you’re going to say. That’s why most people start with a summary, which breaks up the research, thinking, and writing process. But it’s counterproductive because it confuses what you are trying to say.
• AVOID the formatting madness. There are numerous tricks to use, such as double-spacing and changing your paper’s fonts, but they confuse. Stick with a basic font, font size, and line spacing. Reread your paper before submitting it to make sure it doesn’t look too cluttered or hard to read.
• AVOID filler words. Don’t waste your time trying to make sentences sound more interesting or different because the reader will just skim over them and not care. Keep your sentences simple and clear.
• DO NOT use an overly complicated, confusing, or misleading title. You should be as clear with the title of your paper as you are with its content, if not more so. Keep it short and informative.
• DO NOT make claims you can’t support in the body of your paper. There will be a ton of debate and discussion about some topics you write about, so make sure you can back up your claims.
• DO NOT plagiarize, even if it’s only a little bit. You can easily find websites that will help you turn your work into something new, but don’t take the easy road and just copy/paste together. Learn to paraphrase and summarize, so you don’t have to deal with needing to cite everything.
• DO NOT let your writing get sloppy at the end of your paper. The last paragraph is crucial for wrapping up everything you’ve just said. Make sure it’s cohesive with your previous ideas, and don’t forget to give credit where it’s due!
• DO NOT be so self-important. A paper is not about you; it’s about the topic you are writing about. You should direct the focus to that and not to yourself. The phrases “I” and “me” are commonly used in papers, which will cause confusion. No matter what you feel about the subject matter, make sure your paper is clear and concise.
• DO NOT neglect the rubrics and outlines. You spent all that time writing a paper for a reason, so make sure you use all the tools given to you. If you are writing on a topic you know well, make use of an outline. If not, make sure you use the rubrics to ensure all your points are covered.
• DON’T get sidetracked by your thoughts and ideas. Let your paper guide you, not the other way around! Remember what you are trying to say, as detailed in your outline/rubrics/introduction, and don’t let yourself get carried away by thoughts of how things should be done.
• DO NOT rely on spell-checking tools to fix everything. Spell-checking tools are helpful, but you should spend time proofreading your work carefully to make sure there are no grammatical errors.

Conclusion

These writing tips aren’t very complicated, but it’s surprising how many college students neglect to use them. Just think about your goal when you write a paper and remember that it’s important to get a good grade and learn and understand the information you’ve learned. With this in mind, you shouldn’t have any problem writing a paper that will earn you better grades.

What does proofreading mean?

Proofreading is the act of rereading a document to ensure it does not contain any grammatical, typographical, or spelling mistakes. A writer should never skip this step before they submit their work for marking or publishing. It is a step placed last after all the other formatting has been done. That includes citations, organization, and style.

It is tedious and demanding as it requires the writer to be focused, to identify even the slightest mistakes. It is just a simple step that plays a vital role in ensuring the reader does not shift focus, due to small mistakes made in the paper.

Tips to improve your proofreading skills

1. Take your time before you proofread

Do not jump into proofreading immediately after you finish writing your document. Leave the paper for a while, one day or two will be enough. Separating yourself from your document makes you see the paper as fresh writing. An essay that seemed to have no mistakes a day before might surprise you

2. Find a good time to proofread

Look for that time of the day or even night, when your focus is good and use it to proofread your work. It is a simple trick to help you focus better on your paper.

3. Use a print out to proofread

Having the document as a copy that you can go through while highlighting errors helps catch errors more effectively.

4. Spelling and grammar checkers do not catch all errors

Sites like Grammarly are useful but sometimes do not identify the error. Hence going through your work manual makes sure you identify all the errors.

5. Slowly read the document aloud

Reading aloud makes sure you catch the errors that might have been impossible to identify when reading in a silent manner. If you find a mock audience to read to, use them to help you catch errors.

6. Let another person read your paper

Using this technique shifts your focus to listening without the distraction of the written word.

7. Read it backward

Reading backward shifts your focus to one word at a time and one sentence at a time.

8. Use an opaque paper or ruler

Blocking the surrounding text allows you to focus on the text that you are reading.

9. Identical errors

In case you find an error go through your work looking for familiar mistakes.

10. One error a time

You can reread your document while looking for one error in an isolated manner. Focus on the error that you are making the most.

11. Proofreading assistance

When you are satisfied with your document ask a friend to reread it checking for error, and then give you his or her feedback.

12. Do not just focus on the errors!

When proofreading you are not just looking for errors. Try and make your sentences better and make them have a natural flow. Cut lengthy sentences and huge paragraphs. Make sure your work has rhythm and is clear and precise.

Conclusion

A document is perfect if it does not have errors and has flow and rhythm. Proofreading ensure your work is accurate and error-free. Use all the tips given in this article to increase your proofreading skill and start submitting error-free documents.

When it comes to how a research proposal gets written, it usually differs between various fields. Nonetheless, they have some common features all around. The elements that are contained at least in the research proposal include the cover page, the introduction, literature review, the research design, and the reference list. 

Different variation occurs when it comes to naming these different sectors, but they remain the same when it comes to the goals achieved. This article will be looking at a basic template for research proposals and explaining everything needed in each part. 

1. The purpose of the research proposal

For most academics, the purpose of writing their research proposals is to get funds for their projects. As a student, you are to write a research proposal to approve your dissertation or thesis plan. 

The main characteristic of a research proposal is to persuade someone. These may be funders, supervisors, educational institutions. You want to convince them that the project you’re having is worthwhile. 

When writing your research, you should aim for relevance, context, approach, and feasibility. 

When it comes to the length of your proposal, it usually varies. When you look at a bachelor’s thesis proposal or a master’s thesis proposal, they are usually just a few pages. On the other hand, Ph.D. dissertation proposals and research funding proposals are usually very detailed and long. The proposal’s structure looks like a shortened thesis, but it lacks the discussion and results in sections. 

2. Title Page

As compared to a thesis or dissertation, a research proposal has a title page. The title page includes:

• The title of your project proposed
• Your name
• The name of the supervisor
• The department and the institution

As you are writing your proposal, make sure to check in with your funding body or department if there are any specific requirements in terms of formatting required by the funding body or department. 

If your writing proposal is lengthy, make sure you include a table of contents and an abstract. The abstract helps the reader to navigate easily through the document. 

3. Introduction

When beginning your proposal, the initial part is pitching for your project. Make sure that you explain briefly what you are trying to do and why you are trying to it. The introduction section should introduce the topic, the background, and context of the research, outline your problem statement and outline the research questions. Depending on the size of your research, if it’s long. You should have separate sections with a more detailed background and context information, the problem statement, the aims, objectives, and the research’s importance. 

4. Literature review 

As you write your research proposal, it is important to show the reader that you are conversant with the topic. Having a good and strong literature review shows the reader that your research’s foundation gets based on knowledge. It also sets you apart as someone doing something different and not repeating what others have done. 

5. Research methods and design 

After completing your literature review, it is essential to state your main objectives again. The literature review brings the project back to focus. The methodology or research design should be responsible for describing the approach that will be followed overall and also the practical steps to be followed.

Conclusion 

To finish your research strongly, you can state the implications of your research for practice or theory. Do not also forget to include the reference list or the bibliography in your research proposal. There are many resources online that you can refer to. And if you do not know where to begin or go, you can consult your lecturer.

Developing a Compelling Conclusion

For you to come up with a compelling conclusion, you can consider the following:

1. Recommend a course of action. Even though it is not entirely your responsibility to save the world, it would be great if you recommend a course of action in your conclusion. That way, your reader will know that you own your research.
2. Avoid adding new information. At this point, do not bring in new information or facts. In the case of a contemporary issue, you could just state what would happen if the problem is not solved.
3. Avoid the words, ‘In conclusion’ or any other that may sound stiff and obvious. A strong conclusion should stand out by itself without being announced.
4. Go for expert opinions to make your conclusion more authoritative. 
5. Maintain your paper tone even in your conclusion. If you use a different tone as you conclude, your readers will cast doubts on your work. Consistency is key.
6. Choose a fact or a key statistic that represents the main point in your work and repeat it in your conclusion. Failure to comment on key issues will weaken your study.
7. Include personal reflections. This will cause people to relate better with your study. You can even use personal experiences to drive your point home.
8. Make your conclusion concise. Being too wordy and inconclusive is both unnecessary and irritating. 
9. Demonstrate urgency. Based on the objectives and findings of your study, you will need to portray some urgency in your conclusion. This makes your study legit and your readers will know that you have faith in your entire research.
10. Give your readers some food for thought. A good study should leave the audience thinking about something. It is in the conclusion where you bring back the main points of your work and make your readers do some critical thinking. 
11. Be truthful. If your research does not answer all the questions, do not be shy to mention that. This will give your work authenticity and someone might pick it from where you left.

In Conclusion

By the time you get to the conclusion of your study, you are probably too tired to tie everything together perfectly. Take your time to go through your paper and take note of the key points, or give it to a professional proofreading service to revise my paper. Giving your conclusion the same amount of attention you gave to the introduction will lead you to a great ending. The points discussed here will help you to come up with a compelling conclusion.

Starting from your school library to the internet and many other places, you cannot exhaust the available topical options. Your only struggle could be settling on the most suitable topic after considering so many options. However, that too has a solution. Go for a topic that you find interesting and one that will ignite in you the passion to research. The following is a list of some of the best business research topics that you can consider:

1. The dynamics of transforming small businesses into international ventures
2. The impact of stakeholders in the success of a business
3. What are the effects of employee motivation on employee performance?
4. Effective ways of cushioning local businesses from international competition
5. Discuss the different ways of reducing and managing conflicts in family businesses
6. How has e-commerce affected the way businesses are performing in both the local and international arena?
7. The secret of moving your business a generation ahead even in hard economic times
8. Discuss the effects of misleading advertisements on consumer trust
9. How does gender discrimination affect employee performance in an organization?
10. Legal identification methods of bankruptcy fraud
11. The dynamics and benefits of strategic planning for small and medium-sized businesses
12. The impact of data privacy laws on business operations
13. Discuss the connection between product quality and profit maximization
14. Human resource strategies for managing large and diversified organizations
15. Effective strategies for managing global unemployment issues
16. Public relations and how it can be improved through effective online communication. 
17. Necessary support to avoid the suffocation of local businesses by huge international chains
18. The impact of business law and the part it plays in governing business dealings
19. Exploring the differences between traditional and modern ways of business negotiations
20. Effects of cultural, political and religious differences in the workplace
21. Discuss the impact of import and export laws on international trade
22. Challenges that sole proprietors face in raising capital and how to deal with them
23. The importance of leadership development for junior-level employees and how it affects business growth
24. Discuss the differences between leaders and managers and how each can use their strengths for good
25. Tactics that small businesses can use to effectively survive competition form large firms

Bottom Line

A great research paper can only be achieved if you start on the right footing. Well, choosing a great topic will set you up for success. The list above contains some of the best topical ideas that you could explore for your research paper.