Good question.

You, your neighbor, or just about anyone can publish online. In the world of the internet, you could become Allie S. Everson, PhD and write an article titled “The Evolution of String Theory: Are Scientists Stringing Us Along?”

Sounds credible, right? All you need to do is write a really good summary of what you can dig up on Wikipedia and bam—you have an article!

The problems with this are pretty obvious. First, you’re likely plagiarizing another source to write your article. And second, you’re claiming you hold a PhD.

Another problem is that some unsuspecting student might be citing your bogus article in a research paper.

You could easily fall victim to bogus “experts” too, if you don’t carefully choose your sources.

So how exactly do you decide if a source is crap? Simple: Apply the CRAAP Test!

(Yes, really. CRAAP Test. That’s really what it’s called.)

The test helps you determine whether your sources are crap, so keep reading to learn how to use it.

What Is the CRAAP Test?

The CRAAP Test is a series of questions to help you decide whether a source is credible.

It’s like evaluating all the elements that make up a source through a microscope. You need to look at all of its parts to determine whether it’s appropriate for your research essay.

CRAAP stands for “currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose.” You’ll need to examine each one of these components to decide whether a source is crap or whether it’s worthy of inclusion in your research paper.

Applying the CRAAP Test to Your Essay Sources

When you’re completing research, you don’t want to use every source you find. You also can’t just assume that all sources are created equal.

Sure, you’ll save a lot of time by choosing the first five or ten sources that appear in your search results. But it’s not likely that they’ll be the best (or most appropriate) sources for your paper.

Why?

Because when you research, you’ll encounter many sources that are, in fact, crap (especially if you’re doing all of your research online using only websites).

To determine what’s useful and what’s not, test your sources by asking the questions listed under each of the following categories.

CRAAP Test: Currency

In this case, currency has nothing to do with money. Here, currency refers to the timeliness of the source. In other words, when was it written?

Unless you’re critiquing a specific source or you’re using it for a historical overview, you’ll want to find the most recent information possible.

If you’re citing a website, it might not be that easy to find the date the source was originally written. But you should be able to find the date the information was last updated. Check the bottom of the webpage for a date when the information was created or last updated.

Think the date of a source can’t really mean that much? Think again.

Let’s say you find a source online (written five years ago) about a breakthrough cancer treatment. A five-year-old source may not be that old for some topics. But in the world of science and technology, five years might as well be a lifetime.

That breakthrough cancer treatment of five years ago might have already been deemed unsafe, and several new breakthrough treatments might now be in place.

CRAAP Test: Relevance

This may sound a bit too obvious, but you’ll need to ask yourself whether the source is relevant to your research.

Just because you’re writing a paper about minimum-wage laws and the title of the article includes the words “minimum-wage laws,” you can’t automatically assume the content of the article meets your needs.

The article might explain the reasons that minimum-wage laws were created. But if you’ve already located a source about the history of the law to use as background information, the article may not provide any new or useful information for your paper.

You’ll also need to think about the intended audience and whether the source is written at an appropriate level.

If, for example, the source is written for middle school students and you’re writing a college research essay, you can pretty much assume your professor won’t be too happy seeing the source on your Works Cited or References page.

Don’t assume that scholarly resources will always be written for the appropriate audience, either.

If you’re writing a paper about mental illness and you’ve located a research paper written by doctors for doctors, you might become a bit lost. If the paper is written for other doctors, the authors have likely used terms and explanations that you simply won’t understand.

You should skip these types of articles too. If you can’t make sense of the information, you certainly can’t use it as a source in your paper.

CRAAP Test: Authority

I have it on good authority that evaluating the authority of a website means more than simply locating the author of the article or site.

Knowing the name of the author doesn’t do you much good if that’s all you know.

Start your review of the site’s authority by looking at the author’s credentials.

Does the author have a degree in the field? Does he or she work in the field? Has the author written other articles or books about the subject?

NOTE: Someone having written about a subject or published a book about a subject doesn’t automatically mean that he or she is credible.

A self-proclaimed “healer,” for instance, isn’t as credible as an MD (doctor of medicine) if you’re researching new medical treatments.

Next, consider the type of source you’re reviewing and whether it’s appropriate for your needs.

If you’re researching opinions about the newest iPhone, reading blogs and forums written by just about anyone might be useful.

On the other hand, if you’re researching the topic of global warming for your essay, reading sources written by just about anyone is definitely not recommended.

When you’re evaluating the authority of a web source, remember to look at the URL. A .com site is more likely to simply want to sell you something. A .gov or .edu site will likely present more in-depth and balanced information. A .org site may contain detailed information, but it may have an agenda and may be biased.

You’re looking for clear, accurate, unbiased, and well-documented sources. Usually, this means avoiding .com sites. (News websites, such as CNN.com, NYTimes.com, or NPR.com are generally exceptions to this rule.)

Looking for help finding credible sources online? Read 5 Best Sources to Help With Writing a Research Paper.

CRAAP Test: Accuracy

Does this source hit the mark? Is the information correct?

Before you decide whether you want to use the source in your essay, check to see whether you can verify the information.

If one source states 75% of college students don’t bother to purchase the required textbooks for their courses and another source states roughly 10% of students don’t purchase textbooks, look to see how the statistics were gathered and try to verify which source is correct. (Keep in mind, you may find a third source that presents yet another statistic, so you may need to continue to research to verify accuracy.)

Next, read carefully to make sure the author uses ample evidence to support claims.

If a source claims 50% of all teens with valid driver’s licenses receive at least one speeding ticket before they reach the age of 20, does the author support this claim with verifiable, statistical evidence? Or does the author just make up random statistics to support that argument?

The final step in checking accuracy is to examine the author’s arguments. Is the information balanced, or is it biased? A biased source contains only one side of the argument, likely with little evidence to support claims.

A Note About Appearances: If you’re reading an anonymous source with multiple spelling and typographical errors, it’s pretty easy to figure out that the source might not be credible and that the information might not be accurate. But sometimes non-credible websites appear to be professional. Don’t be fooled by a slick-looking website.

To learn more, take a look at Evaluating Websites: What You Need to Know to Find Great Sources.

CRAAP Test: Purpose

No, don’t spend your time now asking what’s the purpose of writing a research paper. (That’s a conversation for another time.)

Now is the time to ask why your potential essay source was published.

Was it written to inform readers? Does it use fair, unbiased language? Or is the purpose to persuade? Does the author use persuasive or manipulative language to convince readers?

Again, this is especially important when evaluating websites. Does the website exist solely to sell you something? Is it trying to promote a political or religious agenda?

If the source is biased and attempts to promote a specific agenda, it’s probably not your best bet for a research essay (unless, of course, your paper intends to evaluate the article and examine the bias and propaganda in the source).

Now that you know what the CRAAP Test is, let’s apply it to an example assignment.

A Sample CRAAP Test

For the purposes of this CRAAP Test, pretend you’re writing an argumentative essay about animal abuse and testing.

Should you cite the website People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA) in a formal, research-based argumentative essay?

Let’s put PETA to the test. (Don’t worry—no animals will be harmed in this experiment.)

Currency

When you check the bottom of the homepage, you’ll notice that the page lists the current year as a copyright date.

Feature stories as well as news stories are current, with publication times as recent as 23 hours ago.

Clearly, PETA keeps its site up to date and provides current information.

Relevance

PETA’s entire focus is animal welfare, as pointed out by the following mission statement: “Animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, or abuse in any other way.”

If you’re arguing that animal abuse and testing needs to stop, PETA provides plenty of information to review. It’s safe to say that PETA is a relevant source.

Authority

PETA includes a “PETA People” section that lists various staff members and executive board members.

Listing employees’ credentials helps to increase the credibility of the site as this illustrates that writers are capable and qualified to write about the topic of animal welfare.

Accuracy

Though PETA contains a number of news articles, most of these articles are written only in support of PETA’s activities, making much of the information biased.

While the articles may appear to contain credible information about world events (like the UK banning wild animals in circuses), there are few (if any) links to additional outside sources to help verify information.

Because PETA rarely links to outside sources, the information is presented only from PETA’s point of view. This makes it difficult for the average reader to know how much of the information is accurate.

If you’re not sure that a source is presenting accurate information, your next step in evaluating the source is to see if the information is published elsewhere.

In the case of the UK banning wild animals in circuses, you can easily find a government website to verify that such legislation has been introduced.

But what about the accuracy of the other information presented on PETA’s website?

A quick online search about PETA uncovers a slew of negative articles and websites that attempt to highlight the supposed inaccuracies and lies promoted by PETA.

Search results contain a number of opinion pieces (like this one from Vassar College) and websites (like this one) that are in favor of abolishing PETA and attempt to expose “the truth.” (Remember, not all sources are credible, and some of these sources will likely fail the CRAAP Test.)

Within the search results, however, you’ll also find credible blogs, op-eds, and articles from respected sources, such as HuffPost and The Atlantic. And it’s those credible sources that will make almost any reader question the authority of PETA and its usefulness as a research source.

Purpose

The purpose of PETA is abundantly clear: to persuade.

PETA’s goal is to convince readers to support its cause and get every reader to contribute to the organization. For instance, PETA heavily promotes its agenda through continued pop-ups asking readers to donate.

PETA also favors emotional appeals as it attempts to persuade readers through graphic pictures of testing, sad animals in cages, and happy, adopted animals. PETA also uses persuasive and manipulative language in an effort to convince readers.

The final evaluation of PETA

While PETA is a widely known organization whose website contains a great deal of information against animal testing and abuse, the site fails the CRAAP Test and is not a strong source for a research source.

Due to its biased content, questionable reputation, emotional appeals, and overall purpose (to persuade, rather than to inform), skip PETA as a source. Instead, look to more scholarly sources to support your arguments.

If your research consists of only online sources, here are a few resource ideas to get you started on your research about animal testing.

Want to further practice applying the CRAAP Test but don’t have any of your own sources yet? Grab an example research essay from our essay library and assess its sources.

Enough of This CRAAP

If you use crappy sources, you’ll end up with a crappy paper (and most likely a crappy grade). Apply the CRAAP Test to ensure you’re using credible sources for all of your assignments.

Have you evaluated all of your sources and have a ton of useful resources but aren’t sure what to do now?

Check out these posts to help you with the next steps of the writing process:

• How to Annotate a Text (and Why It’s Helpful)
• How to Use Graphic Organizers for Writing Better Essays
• Rough Draft Mishaps: 5 Painful Mistakes to Avoid

Tired of all this serious evaluation of sources? Looking for a catchy way to remember what CRAAP stands for? Watch this light-hearted video:

If you’re ready to put the finishing touches on your paper, don’t forget to have one of our Kibin editors review it . We’re here 24/7 and can provide constructive feedback to help you write an awesome paper—and if your sources are crap, we’ll let you know.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published on July 13, 2015, but has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and relevancy. 

I stress the word “good” here because it’s pretty easy to think of a topic like gun control when you’re watching a cop show, but what do you do if your ideas stop there? What do you do if your prof insists that you write about something more original than the tired old topics he’s read about for the past two decades?

Don’t despair quite yet. If you’ve been handed an assignment sheet with a long list of prohibited topics, here are 13 that won’t bore you (or your prof) to death.

13 Sociology Research Topics That Won’t Bore You to Death

Anyone who has ever written an essay knows that, sometimes, finding the right topic for your paper can be one of the hardest parts of writing an essay. That’s why I’ve provided you with 13 sociology research topics to help you find the perfect fit.

I’ve included broad topics in the list below, along with a brief discussion of subtopics to help you narrow your focus (depending on your purpose and/or goals of the paper).

I’ve also included a few essay tips and links to example essays on sociology research topics, so you can see how other writers have approached the subjects.

Body modification

Are you covered in tattoos? Do you have multiple piercings? If so, you most likely see these body modifications as a positive form of self-expression. Others, however, still frown upon such modifications and see them as deviant behavior.

If you’re writing about the positive aspects of body modification, you might be interested in reading Body Modification as a Means of Self-Expression for inspiration.

If you want to research body modification and potential negative aspects, take a look at Why Employers Wouldn’t Hire Applicants With Tattoos and Piercings.

Or if you’re writing about this social issue in a history class or from a purely historical perspective? You might also consider researching the history of body modifications across the world or in one specific country or culture.

Aging and the elderly

If you’re a young person driving on the roads, you might think that “old people” have no business driving. But do older drivers really cause more accidents, or are teens more likely to be involved in accidents?

You could also approach the topic of aging and the elderly from another angle and research nursing home care, shortages of nurses, or concerns of adult children as caregivers.

If you’re specifically interested in researching aging from the perspective of the elderly, take a look at The Concept of Successful Aging and What It Entails.

Gender roles and norms

In the 1950s, men were expected to work, and women were expected to stay home and take care of the home and children. How much have these roles changed today? What aspects of these gender roles are still present today?

Interested in an example essay? Read A Comparison of the Past and Present Roles of Women in Society.

Family dynamics

The definition of family has changed drastically over the years—no longer is a traditional nuclear family the norm. Thus, a research paper about family dynamics might include a historical overview of how families have changed or a discussion of how family dynamics differ between cultures.

Looking for a few examples? Take a look at these:

• A Report on Family of Origin Through Family System Boundaries
• A Review of the Impact of Social Change in the Family

Community studies

Community studies is just that—the study of various aspects of a community.

Not sure how to approach this topic? Here are two example essays for inspiration:

• The Different Characteristics of a Sustainable Community
• How Community-Oriented Policing Builds Stronger Communities

Thinking about writing about sustainable communities, community policing, or another related topic but aren’t sure where to start? Check out 5 Best Resources to Help With Writing a Research Paper.

Prison systems and issues

Prison overcrowding (especially due to longer drug sentences) has been in the news lately. But if you want another angle on this topic, try safety in prisons (for both employees and prisoners), varied security measures, prisoner education, recidivism, or the use of isolation and its impact on the prisoner.

Social norms and deviance

Ever grab a few things at a convenience store and automatically stand patiently in line behind the person in front of you? Ever eat at a fast food restaurant and throw away your trash before you leave?

If so, you’ve followed the unwritten social norms of American society.

Your paper about this topic might discuss a variety of social norms or perhaps how social norms become part of our lives.

Work-life balance

If you work so much that you’re struggling to find time for your friends, family, and yourself, you’re struggling with work-life balance.

But don’t think that work-life balance only affects one age group and only people in the United States. It can affect all ages across the world.

Looking for a few ideas to help get the creative juices flowing? Read these sample essays:

• Understanding the Challenging Phenomenon of Work-Family Balance in Canada
• The Complex Working Relationship of the Millennials in the Workplace

Have you found a few sources for your paper, but aren’t sure they’re credible? Learn how to apply the CRAAP test to your essay sources.

Materialism in society

I bet on at least one occasion you’ve bought something that you really didn’t need. Maybe you bought a pair of shoes, a phone, or a video game system just because you wanted the latest and greatest model.

Of course, you’re not the only person who has done this, so think about how materialism affects not only your personal budget but also the economy in general.

Looking for an example essay about the topic? Read The Impact of Poverty, Materialism and Greed on the Global Environment and Society.

Keep in mind that many sociology research topics, including materialism, are also prominent in literature. If you want to incorporate a bit of literary analysis or comparison and contrast into your research paper, consider how the topics are portrayed in novels, short stories, or poems.

Take a look at An Analysis of American Materialism in The Great Gatsby to read more about materialism in The Great Gatsby.

Volunteering

A research paper about volunteering could focus on the requirements of student volunteers, how volunteering might help citizens and the community, or why people volunteer.

Take a look at this sample essay to see one perspective on volunteering: Give a Hand and Save a Life Through Volunteer Work.

Role models

Is your mom or dad a role model to you? Have you ever thought of a celebrity or an athlete as a role model? Should kids model their lives after celebrities? Are athletes appropriate role models?

Whether you write about cartoon characters or real-life heroes as role models, take a look at these two essays to see what others have to say about the subject:

• Are Disney Princesses Positive Role Models for Children?
• Stories of Holocaust Survivors

Subculture and counterculture

The list of subcultures is long, so you have plenty of groups to choose from if you’re writing about this topic.

Once you’ve settled on a subculture, you’ll need to decide what you want to say about it. Do you want to research the history of the culture, its influence on society, or its place within the mainstream culture? Do you want to examine how and why people become part of subcultures or deviant cultures?

If you’re not sure of an angle, check out The Identity Crisis of Teenagers and the Hipster Subculture for ideas.

Sexual orientation

Remember, your prof wants you to write about a unique sociology research topic. Researching same-sex marriage or adoption rights might be on the list of not-so-original topics.

Instead, try researching the severe penalties for homosexuality in Africa or the Middle East. If you’d like to focus on concerns in the United States, you might examine discrimination in the workforce or transgender individuals in public spaces, such as locker rooms and restrooms.

If you want to write about sexual orientation from a religious point of view, you might consider a history of homosexuality. Or you could look at how gender is viewed within the church.

To see an example essay about this topic, take a look at The Ostracism of Homosexuality by the Church Throughout History.

Need Even More Topic Ideas?

I get it. Sometimes, not even one of 13 super-awesome sociology research topics I’ve included here will grab your attention.

If you’re still in need of a topic that speaks to you—one that you care about and can really sink your teeth into—check out these posts for help:

• 7 Awesome Secrets for Choosing More Interesting Essay Topics
• 4 Ways to Mine Social Media for Better Topics to Write About
• 13 Surprising Sources of Inspiration for Writing

Still feeling bored with your topic choice and not quite sure it will hold your audience’s attention? Let us review your essay and help you spice up your ideas.

Happy writing!

You read a few blog posts and watch a few videos. But instead of immediately putting your phone in a bag of rice, you click on the next article about car cleaning hacks. That leads to an article about cooking pizza with a torch. That leads to an article about new outdoor gear, and before you know it, you’re buying a pair of hiking boots.

It’s a dangerous rabbit hole.

A research paper without a strong thesis statement is a lot like the internet rabbit hole. It offers no clear direction, causing readers to wonder where they’re headed.

Wandering around and feeling a little lost is okay if you want to waste time reading random articles online. But you certainly don’t want your audience of readers to feel like they’re wasting time or wandering aimlessly while they read your paper.

Thus, you need a clear, concise thesis statement to help provide readers with that all-important direction. Not sure how to get there? Let’s talk thesis statements.

A Quick Reminder About the Research Paper Thesis Statement

Before we get to the actual list of thesis statement examples for research papers, let’s talk specifically about thesis statements for this type of paper.

As you may know, a thesis statement is a clear, concise statement that explains the purpose of your paper. It’s a roadmap to help readers understand what to expect as they read.

The thesis statement for a research paper is mostly like any other thesis statement, but it’s a good idea to develop a working thesis statement for your research paper before you actually begin the heavy research.

Keep in mind that you might still need to do some preliminary research in order to develop your ideas and a solid focus for your paper. But it’s important to know what you’re looking for before you start looking.

Knowing what you’re searching for will also help you find better sources and save you a ton of time.

Not convinced?

Consider this. If you have a general sense of your thesis, you won’t start researching technology addiction and end up reading about smartphone addiction, technology in schools, internet addiction, and a million other non-related topics before you find any useful resources about your real topic: the increasing number of teen males in the US who are addicted to video games.

In other words, developing a working thesis before you begin your research will keep you from going down that rabbit hole of information and wasting an entire afternoon.

Looking for a few more reminders about how to write a thesis statement before you start working? Check out these posts:

• How to Write a Thesis Statement in 5 Simple Steps
• How to Make a Thesis Statement the Easy Way (Infographic)
• How to Turn a Good Thesis Statement Into a Great One

Now that you’re feeling refreshed and remember exactly what you need to do to craft the perfect thesis statement, let’s take a look at 15 thesis statement examples for research papers to give you even more inspiration.

15 Thesis Statement Examples for Research Papers

The examples I’ve included here are thesis statements for research papers. Because such papers are essentially informative and objective, the thesis statements are too. They don’t necessarily take a stance or attempt to argue a position, but they can.

I’ve also added a few links to example papers to help you see how you might approach the relevant topics.

Now, let’s dive into those 15 thesis statement examples for research papers…

Topic #1: Prison overcrowding

Prison overcrowding creates significant safety risks for both inmates and employees.

Topic #2: Online dating

The advent of the internet has changed the dating scene forever.

Topic #3: Work-life balance

Working parents with young children can suffer from extreme guilt if they cannot maintain a proper work-life balance.

Topic #4: Therapy animals in nursing homes

Therapy animals have been shown to reduce loneliness, lower anxiety, and improve mental functioning in nursing home patients.

Topic #5: Adult children as parental caregivers

Adult children who become caregivers of their aging parents often suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress.

Topic #6: CTE and professional football

Professional football players suffer more than broken bones and strained muscles; they are putting their lives and brains at risk of CTE.

Topic #7: Political scandals

While round-the-clock media coverage suggests that the phenomenon is new, political scandals have been an ever-present reality of American politics.

Topic #8: Cosplay

Cosplay is more than simply dressing up as a character; it is a lifestyle that embodies a character.

Topic #9: Holistic medicine

With increasing concerns about the side effects of prescription medications, many people are turning to holistic medicine for treatment.

Topic #10: Propaganda

Governments have long used propaganda to shape opinions by convincing people to fear and hate enemies and to strengthen nationalism.

Topic #11: Hoarding

Though it can be difficult to convince individuals to seek treatment, hoarding disorder can be effectively treated through behavioral therapy.

Topic #12: Body modification

Many people mistakenly believe that tattoos are a relatively recent phenomenon; however, body modification has been popular for thousands of years.

Topic #13: Fad diets

Fad diets have been prominent in American culture for generations, but many such diets pose potential health risks.

Topic #14: Stereotypes

Generational stereotypes have a profound effect on the media’s portrayal of each group.

Topic #15: Gender discrimination

Many people associate gender discrimination with the adult workforce; however, gender discrimination begins at a much younger age and is present even in elementary schools.

Just in Case You’re Not Yet Inspired

If these topics and thesis statement examples for research papers don’t do it for you, don’t worry. There’s still hope.

The following posts contain a combined total of 167 thesis statements. While most of the thesis statements are for papers other than research papers, you can use the topics and thesis statements for ideas.

• 110 Good Thesis Statements for a Better Essay
• 15 Thesis Statements to Inspire Your Next Argumentative Essay
• 12 Argumentative Thesis Statement Examples to Help Your Next Essay
• 30 Thesis Statement Examples That Are…Persuasive

Once you have a topic, use our thesis statement builder to help craft the perfect thesis statement for your research essay.

Need a little more help with your thesis statement or any other aspect of your essay? Let us help!

The presentation finally loads … but it’s the draft you started days ago. The version you spent 12 hours on yesterday is gone. You’re left with four miserable slides and a smeared, bent note card to help you through a 10-minute presentation.

You scream silently to yourself, but thankfully, the screams are enough to wake you from your nightmare.

Presentation anxiety has gotten the best of you. You’re more than a little freaked out because you have a killer paper but have absolutely no idea how to stand in front of your class and talk about it.

Don’t sweat it. I’m here to help you learn how to take that awesome research paper and turn it into an (even more) awesome presentation.

How to Present a Research Paper the Easy Way

Presenting a paper isn’t as difficult as you might imagine, but it does take planning and practice.

Follow these three steps to learn how to present a research paper the easy way.

Step #1: Decide what to present

Once you have a finished research paper, start by looking at the main ideas.

You might do this by reviewing any outlines you created before writing the actual paper.

(If you’re one of those people who ends up writing a paper that looks completely different from your initial outlines, try creating a reverse outline by listing your thesis, main arguments, and supporting evidence.)

Need some inspiration? Check out these speech outlines to see how other students have handled presentations:

• A Persuasive Speech about Purchasing Products That Are Not Tested on Animals
• Outline of a Speech on How Helmets Reduce Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

After you’ve written a solid outline of your paper, consider the time limit of your presentation.

If you have a seven-page paper but your presentation can be no more than four minutes, you’ll likely have to hit only the most basic of points.

On the other hand, if you have to give a 10-minute presentation on a seven-page paper, you’ll need to elaborate on the details of your research.

As you decide what to include in your presentation, you’ll quickly realize that, in some cases, each key argument might be quite lengthy.

That means you can’t fit every example or piece of evidence into your presentation. If that’s the case, summarize the information and limit the examples you use.

Not sure what to include or what to cut?

The essential elements

As you work, keep the following in mind: your finished presentation should include enough information to clearly address each of the main points of your paper. (It’s better to briefly touch on each key argument than it is to skip entire sections of your research.)

Don’t forget: When figuring out how to present a research paper effectively, the introduction and conclusion are just as important in the presentation as they are in your actual paper. So remember to include a catchy opening to make your audience take notice and a smooth conclusion to neatly wrap up your ideas.

See how one student handled all of the above in the text of this speech: A Persuasive Speech on Limiting the Production and Use of Plastic.

Step #2: Create visual aids

For most presentations, you’ll want to create (or bring in) visual aids. What type of visual aids you use will, of course, depend on your assignment requirements.

In some cases, you’ll be required to bring in visual aids that correspond with your presentation. For instance, if your research focuses on how long you can leave fast food fries laying around before they become moldy, you might bring in a few orders of fries that vary in freshness.

In other cases, your presentation will rely on visuals you create—most likely a slideshow.

When creating this type of visual, you’ll want to make sure your slides are appropriate for your presentation and topic.

Here are a few quick tips:

• The slideshow is an aid, not the focus. I know you might want to use the visuals to draw attention to the slides and away from you, but the visuals should support your presentation, not be the focus of the presentation.

• Keep text to a minimum. Don’t try to cram in everything that you say onto your slides. Slides should contain only the main talking points of your presentation. (Refer back to your essay outlines to identify the most important points.)

• Use bullet points as necessary. Bullet points can be a great way to include supporting points or examples to support your main points.

• Choose appropriate fonts and backgrounds. Don’t use extremely small fonts. Keep them large enough for your audience to read. Choose easy-to-read styles, and avoid script fonts. Be sure that your color schemes and backgrounds are appropriate to your topic. For instance, if your paper is about poverty, then bright, colorful circus-themed backgrounds aren’t exactly appropriate.

• Choose appropriate images. A few high-quality, well-placed images go a long way, so don’t feel as though you need to include images on every slide.

Looking for a few more design tips? Check out this article or these PowerPoint tips.

Step #3: Stay organized while presenting

Once again, the number and style of notes allowed during your presentation might be predetermined by your assignment. But no matter what type of notes you use, you need to stay organized.

If you’re allowed to use a few note cards, then by all means, use them. (Don’t try to wing it and rely solely on your slideshow presentation.)

Follow the same rules as you did when creating slides by limiting the number of words on each note card. I know it can be tempting to try to cram your entire speech on three tiny cards, but don’t do it.

Including too much information on a card means it’s easy to lose your place while you talk. It also means that it’s more tempting to stand in front of the class and read note cards. Remember, you’re presenting, not reading.

Instead of trying to cram everything on one tiny card, include the following basics on note cards:

• A few reminders of topics you’ll discuss in your opening
• The main talking points of the presentation (and maybe a few words to remind you of the supporting ideas)
• A few reminders of what you’ll say to conclude your presentation

NOTE CARD TIP: If you’re allowed to use several note cards, number them. There’s nothing worse than dropping your cards and shuffling through them for 30 seconds (that feel more like three hours) just because you can’t find your place in your presentation.

And that’s how to present a research paper the easy way. Well, almost…

After Planning—But Before Presenting

After you’ve planned your presentation, don’t think that your work is done and that you’re prepared to give the best presentation. Sure, the content may be in place, but now it’s time to work on the delivery.

Grab some friends, family members, or even your cat, and practice your presentation. By actually presenting your paper to an audience, you’ll get used to talking about your topic, and you’ll see how well your presentation actually fits together.

These practice runs are also a good way to work on your timing. If your presentation is supposed to be five minutes but you end up only speaking for three, you can return to the planning stages.

Of course, if your five-minute presentation turns into a 10-minute speech, you’ll still need return to the planning stages—this time to trim some content.

Now that you know how to present a research paper, take a few deep breaths, stand up straight, and wow your audience with your amazing presentation.

Paper not quite presentation-ready yet? No problem. Let the editors at Kibin polish it to perfection.

Did we miss anything? Share your favorite presentation tips in the comments!

• The differences between high school and college
• Marijuana legalization
• Gun control
• School uniforms

While it is possible to write a uniquely fascinating research paper about one of the above topics, more often than not, papers about these types of topics are a real snoozefest for profs.

Want to impress your professor with something a little more interesting? Try one of these 20 unique research paper ideas to make your paper stand out.

20 Unique Research Paper Ideas

There are tons of interesting and unique research paper topics out there, so I can’t cover them all here. I have, however, divided my list of 20 research paper ideas into five separate categories.

I’ve also included a few links with more information about topics, writing suggestions to help you get started, and several example essays for added inspiration.

5 unusual laws

If you’re researching unusual laws, like those I’ve listed here, you can approach your research in a number of ways.

For instance, you might pick one of the laws included in this list and research it in-depth. You could examine the origins of the law and whether it’s even enforced today. You might also research laws in other states and compare and contrast various versions of similar laws.

If you’d rather discuss more than one unusual law in your research paper, try researching unusual laws in your state or city. You could also focus on a type of law, such as laws about profanity, music, or marriage.

Regardless of your approach, here are five unusual laws to get you started.

#1: No dueling in Kentucky

In Kentucky, when taking an oath, one must state he or she has not “fought duel with deadly weapons.” I’m pretty sure there aren’t too many duels anymore, and this section of the oath could probably be eliminated.

#2: No public profanity in Arlington County, Virginia

In Arlington County, Virginia, anyone swearing in public may be fined $250. (The same fee can be assessed for public intoxication.) This law is probably rarely, if ever, enforced as attitudes about language have changed since the law was written.

#3: No dancing to the “Star Spangled Banner” in Massachusetts

Forget taking a knee when the National Anthem plays. In Massachusetts, you can be fined $100 for dancing to the “Star Spangled Banner.” (I don’t know about you, but I’ve never really thought of it as a danceable song.)

#4: No government regulation on food or drink portion sizes in Mississippi

In 2012, New York’s then-mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed limits on the size of sodas that could be sold. In response to Bloomberg’s proposed bill, Mississippi passed a law stating that the Mississippi government would not regulate portion sizes of foods or drinks.

Interested in learning more about portion sizes of meals in America? Read The Factors Leading to the Huge Food Portions in America.

#5: No impersonating an auctioneer in Rhode Island

Though I’m not sure why anyone would do such a thing, in Rhode Island, you can be fined $20—$100 for impersonating an auctioneer.

5 hobbies, sports, and pastimes

Should you decide to write about a hobby, sport, or pastime, you could compare and contrast two somewhat similar sports, such as skiing and snowboarding or softball and baseball.

You might also choose two that seem to be completely different but actually require similar skills. For instance, try comparing the strategy and skill required to play football to the strategy and skill required to play chess.

These research paper ideas also lend themselves to persuasive or argumentative essays.

Ever argue with someone over whether cheerleading is an actual sport? That dart throwing or maybe esports should be allowed as Olympic sports? Whether contests, such as competitive eating, should even be contests?

Not sure which topic to focus on? Here are five research paper ideas.

#6: The history of a sport

You might try researching your favorite sport from its beginnings or research the sport since it became part of a professional league. You could also steer clear of professional sports and only focus on a sport as a favorite pastime and how it has evolved through the years.

If you want to see an example of how you might write about the history of a sport (or how you might narrow your topic a bit) take a look at The History of Baseball in America.

#7: Adrenaline junkie sports

Love jumping out of a plane? Does diving off a cliff sound like a heckuva lot of fun? If so, this might be the perfect topic for you as you can explain what makes adrenaline junkies tick.

If your idea of adrenaline-pumping behavior is sneaking 11 items in the 12-items-or-less line, you might also find it fun to research why people feel the need to engage in these activities.

#8: Palm reading

Having your palm read can be fun, but do you actually believe what you’re told? While some people swear by palm readers, others believe it’s no more than entertainment.

#9: Food-eating competitions

The U.S. is full of such displays of gluttony, from hot-dog-eating contests to restaurants that give away free food if you can eat a giant steak or a platter full of burgers in an hour. Should this type of competition be permitted? Does it contribute to obesity concerns? Is it just a fun, friendly competition?

#10: Eggshell carving

I’m guessing not a whole lot of people are familiar with the ins and outs of eggshell carving. So researching this topic would mean that you’d need to provide your readers with a fair amount of background information to let them know how it’s done.

If you have an engraver, a few dozen eggs, and a whole lot of patience, you might even want to make eggshell carving one of your new hobbies.

5 customs around the world

If writing about world customs, you might compare customs in various countries, explore the origins of customs, or argue whether a certain custom should continue.

Check out these five that may inspire your next paper.

#11: Endocannibalism

If you practice endocannibalism, you’re eating the flesh of a dead person in your community, village, or tribe. When I think of people tearing at people and eating their flesh, I think of zombie films. This might be the perfect time to wow your prof with your expert analysis of zombie movies and endocannibalism!

#12: Entomophagy

Chocolate-covered crickets anyone? Entomophagy is the practice of eating insects. Though many insects are said to be quite nutritious, getting used to the thought of dining on bugs is a hard concept to swallow.

Chocolate-covered crickets anyone? Research entomophagy for a unique, if hard-to-swallow topic.
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Want to learn more about eating bugs? Read these example essays:

• The Advantages and Cultural Value of Entomophagy, the Consumption of Insects
• Insects, a Significant Part in Many Societies as Traditional Food

#13: Flagellation

Flagellation is the practice of beating someone with whips (often as religious purification custom). People can also perform self-flagellation, a ritual some engage in for religious purification. However, it has also been imposed as punishment and penance.

#14: Mehndi

Mehndi is a little like a temporary tattoo. It’s made from henna and is often applied as body art on the hands and arms of women during wedding ceremonies.

Looking for ways to write about this topic? Try drawing comparisons between mehndi, tattooing, and other forms of body art. You could also research the history of body art.

#15: Tooth Fairy traditions

If you ever placed one of your baby teeth under your pillow and waited for some cold, hard cash to appear from the Tooth Fairy, you’re certainly familiar with this tradition.

In other countries, though, children throw their teeth into the air or toss them on the roof in hopes of treats or developing strong adult teeth.

5 lesser-known historical figures

Most of us know all about the major players in history, but what about the lesser-known people? Their stories are just as fascinating, if not more fascinating, than their more famous counterparts.

Need a little help with tackling historical topics? Read these blog posts:

• How to Start a History Essay Without Boring Your Readers to Death
• How to Write a History Paper That Will Go Down in History

#16: Peggy Shippen

Peggy Shippen was Benedict Arnold’s wife and was also a traitor during the American Revolution.

An essay about Peggy Shippen might focus on her life or her role as Arnold’s wife. You could even develop a comparison of Shippen and Arnold to other infamous crime couples, such as Bonnie and Clyde.

Want a little more background information on Benedict Arnold and Peggy Shippen? Check out The Life and Achievements of Benedict Arnold in American History.

#17: Philo T. Farnsworth

If you’ve ever watched any amount of television (and I’m sure you have), you can thank Philo T. Farnsworth as he was a pioneer in television technology.

You might consider his role in shaping society, pop culture, or the start of technology addiction.

#18: Agent 355

Most likely, the number 007 conjure images of Bond, James Bond, but the numbers 355 don’t have us automatically thinking spies and secret agents.

Agent 355 was a spy in the American Revolution, and what makes this story even more unique is that Agent 355 was a female spy.

This topic might be a great opportunity to compare and contrast reality vs. fiction or real-life spies and their techniques.

#19: Charles Deslondes

Charles Deslondes led the largest slave revolt in US history. If writing about Deslondes, you could focus on biographical information and his role in the revolt or compare this revolt to others. Or you might include it in a larger context of revolts and uprisings.

#20: Edith Wilson

Though some felt that the United States would have its first female president in Hillary Clinton, the US already kinda, sorta had a female president in Edith Wilson.

Wife of President Woodrow Wilson, First Lady Edith Wilson acted in what she called “stewardship” and assumed some of her husband’s presidential power when her husband was recovering from an illness.

Writing a Research Paper That Will Stand Out

Now that you have a super-fabulous and unique research topic, you need to take that topic and turn it into a super-fabulous research paper.

Here are a few additional resources to help you do just that:

• How to Apply the CRAAP Test to Your Essay Sources
• 5 Best Resources to Help With Writing a Research Paper
• How to Craft a Research Paper Outline

Want to make sure your essay truly stands out above the rest? Let a Kibin editor help.

Happy researching!

But as inspired as the body of your research paper may be, your headings feel a little bland. Or worse—you can’t think of any headings at all.

Fortunately, headings can actually be some of the easiest parts of the paper once you get the hang of it. And I’m here to help you write headings in a snap with five simple tips that teach you the art of the research paper heading.

The Research Paper Heading: 5 Tips for Success

By simply following these five simple tips, you’ll be able to write one research paper heading after another to make the main ideas of your research paper easier for your readers to navigate.

Tip #1: Follow proper formatting rules

Most teachers typically choose one style guide and stick to it. The information will usually be in the syllabus or your assignment guidelines, or you can just ask. Most likely, it’ll either be APA or MLA, so those are the two we’ll talk about here.

These style guides are incredibly helpful because they make sure everything is formatted the same way. With consistent formatting, your paper becomes much easier to read.

With consistent formatting, your paper becomes much easier to read.
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This is going to be a quick summary of heading formatting, but if you need help with citations, references, or general formatting, check out the post below that’s relevant for your paper:

• The Stress-Free Guide to APA Essay Format
• The Stress-Free Guide to MLA Essay Format (8th Edition)

APA research paper headings

APA (American Psychological Association) formatting is used for a lot of the social sciences.

Research papers that follow this style guide are usually written as reports on experimental research, so the headings should reflect that.

But right now, we’re going to talk about how the headings and subheadings should look, not what that should say.

There are five different research paper heading levels in APA. Levels basically tell you whether something is a completely new section or a sub-section.

Here’s each APA heading level and how you should format it:

I know this table, and this information, can get a little dry, so let’s try an example.

Let’s say I was writing a research paper on the ways that hula hooping can improve a person’s health and fitness.

Some of my headlines might look like this:

Methods (Level 1)

Participant Population (Level 2)

Active adults. (Level 3)

Adults with active jobs. (Level 4)

Adults who go to the gym. (Level 4)

Moderate gym activity. (Level 5)

High gym activity. (Level 5)

Inactive adults. (Level 3)

The headings here are not very exciting, but they’re not supposed to be (more on that later). The important thing is that they are present and that they let the reader know what to expect from the content under each heading.

You don’t need to use every level. Some people get along just fine with three levels instead of five. It just depends on your content.

Bonus tip: It’s important to note that the Introduction section of an APA-style research paper never gets a heading.

Check out this example paper with APA headings to see how headings should look once applied within the text of an entire paper.

MLA research paper headings

MLA (Modern Language Association) formatting is typically used for essays and papers that deal with liberal arts and humanities topics. And like the liberal arts, it’s a bit more flexible with the rules.

MLA research paper headings can be numbered or unnumbered, as long as you keep it all consistent. If you number your headings, you don’t really have to worry about bolding or italicizing anything. But you should use headline-style capitalization.

Numbering could look something like this:

1. Methods

1.1 Participant Population

1.1.1 Active Adults

1.1.2 Inactive Adults

2. Results

If, on the other hand, you don’t want to number your headings, they’ll be formatted according to five different levels.

So here’s the same example I used in the APA formatting section, done in MLA:

Methods (Level 1)

Participant Population (Level 2)

Active Adults (Level 3)

Adults with Active Jobs (Level 4)

Adults Who Go to the Gym (Level 4)

Moderate Gym Activity (Level 5)

High Gym Activity (Level 5)

Inactive Adults (Level 3)

Check out this example paper with unnumbered MLA headings to see how headings should look once applied within the text of an entire paper.

Tip #2: Don’t get too creative

I know, the whole formatting thing can make you yawn a bit. And the actual words you use for your headings aren’t really going to be the works of creativity you may hope them to be.

Make each research paper heading clear. Trying to get too creative can do more harm than good. The point of headings for this type of assignment is to tell the readers exactly what they’ll find in the section below.

Make your research paper heading clear. Trying to get too creative can do more harm than good.
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You also might want to keep your headings relatively short. This helps with scannability and clarity as well.

Now, there are a few things you can do if you start getting a little too bored. First, use alliteration. Alliterative headings can be short and to the point while still showing that you have a great command of language.

For example, the heading Active Adults in the example above is alliterative. Another example from the same research topic could include Hula Hoopers’ Health.

Something else you can do is write all of your headings last. It’s easier to come up with a heading if you already know everything that’s going to be covered in that particular section.

Tip #3: Break up your text

Research paper headings serve multiple purposes. They make it easy for your readers to scan your paper for the parts they think are most important. Headings also help you break up the text so that it’s easier to read.

We’ve all been there. We’ve all encountered a web page or essay that was just a huge wall of text. Headings give readers a short break, so they don’t get overwhelmed by so much content.

Plus, it makes it easier for readers to find their spot again if they want to take a break and come back to reading later.

Tip #4: Use parallel structure

This tip is for headings and your writing in general. Parallel structure is when you write words with the same flow. Now, I realize that some of your headings are picked out for you, but in the ones you have control over, always use parallel structure.

Look at the headings for the tips in this post as an example. They all start with a command, and none of the verbs end in -ing. You can use -ing verbs, but in that case, you should make all of them -ing verbs.

Tip #5: Know where to turn for help

Although headings can be tough for some people, they’re not impossible to master—even if you’re really unsure right now. If having a second pair of eyes on your research paper makes you more comfortable, Kibin editors are always happy to help.

Are you ready to tackle your headings head-on? Then get to writing!

Or maybe technology is great because you can take an online class, but it isn’t so great when none of your devices will connect to the internet, you can’t turn in your final exam, and your prof doesn’t accept computer or internet problems as an excuse for missed exams

In other words, technology is fabulous when everything runs smoothly but sucks when it doesn’t work the way you want it to.

Personal stories of tech fails might be perfect examples to help support a personal blog or an opinion essay about the advantages and disadvantages of technology. But if you’re writing a research paper, you’ll need more than personal anecdotes as support for your essay.

So if you’re ready to tackle the topic, here are 10 articles to get you started.

In a research paper, you’ll need more than personal anecdotes as support for your essay.
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10 Sources on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology to Support Your Essay

If you’re writing about advantages and disadvantages of tech, don’t start writing about the first thing that pops into your mind. While this might be an excellent prewriting strategy, it’s not the smartest strategy to begin your actual paper.

Why? Because the topic is too broad.

Think about how long your list might be if you start writing about all the advantages and disadvantages you can think of. (That was a hint: start prewriting by making a list!)

Once you have a list, try grouping ideas together to focus and narrow your topic. Do you have several points about school, music, medicine, transportation, or commerce? If so, one of these might be the perfect topic for your paper.

In my list below, I’ve divided the articles into three categories: education, the workplace, and health care. Even if you’ve chosen to write about a different focus, don’t automatically dismiss these resources.

Remember, topics can overlap, so health care and the workplace might overlap with each other and with commerce.

Within this list, I’ve also included lots of other useful resources, such as summaries, essay suggestions, links to example papers, and entries for APA reference lists and MLA 8 Works Cited pages.

4 Articles on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology in Education

Article #1: The Disadvantages of Computers in Education

Published by an online-only Seattle newspaper, this article highlights disadvantages of computers in education and learning, including technology problems, handwriting and spelling skills, cheating, and financial concerns.

This article is brief and includes a list of items without a lot of detail. Because there isn’t a lot of detail provided, you might use this source for some basic information to help you focus more specifically on how technology affects education.

Both “education” and “technology” are pretty broad terms, but this article mentions low-income students and computer problems.

Thus, you might focus your paper solely on the problems low-income students might face or on how students might be forced to grapple with computer problems inside and outside of the classroom.

Think you won’t have enough to say about the topic if you narrow it? Check out Pearson, Amy. “The Disadvantages of Computers in Education.” Seattle Pi, Hearst Seattle Media, education.seattlepi.com/disadvantages-computers-education-1390.html.

Article #2: Does Technology Belong in Classroom Instruction?

Published in the widely respected and credible Wall Street Journal, this article explores the role of technology in the classroom through two opposing views. The opposing viewpoints laid out could help you form a strong thesis for an argumentative essay.

In favor of tech in the classroom, published author Lisa Nielson works for the NYC Department of Education as its director of digital engagement and professional learning.

Nielson argues that technology improves education and lets student learn more creatively and in ways that aren’t possible without technology.

On the opposing side is José Antonio Bowen, the president of Goucher College and author of a book about taking technology out of the classroom. He argues against having too much tech in the classroom.

He thinks too much tech in the classroom makes it harder for students to focus, turns them into lazy thinkers, and effectively makes them less smart. He says, “Computers can teach us much about human knowledge, but they can’t teach us how to be human. Our phones are not really smart, and they can’t teach us how to be smart.”

This article includes a lot of information and opinion on both sides of the issue, so you could also use it to help narrow your focus. Since it highlights both positives and negatives, you might even decide that a pros and cons essay works best for your assignment.

MLA 8 Citation

“Does Technology Belong in Classroom Instruction?” Wall Street Journal, 10 May 2015, www.wsj.com/articles/does-technology-belong-in-classroom-instruction-1431100454.

APA Citation

Does technology belong in classroom instruction? (2015, May 10). Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/does-technology-belong-in-classroom-instruction-1431100454

Article #3: Technology in Education: An Overview

Published by the journal Education Week, this article includes a discussion of how technology is being used in the classroom and how it’s evolving. This article also links to a set of videos about the subject (also created by Education Week).

Because technology permeates seemingly every part of education today, this article can provide some solid background for your paper to help your audience understand the prominence (and importance) of technology in our school systems.

Want even more ideas about how technology is used in the classroom? Read the example essay The Impact of Technology on the Evolution of Education.

MLA 8 Citation

Herold, Benjamin. Editorial Projects in Education Research Center. Issues A-Z: Technology in Education: An Overview. Education Week, Editorial Projects in Education, 5 Feb. 2016, www.edweek.org/ew/issues/technology-in-education/.

APA Citation

Herold, B. (2016, February 5).Technology in education: An overview. Education Week. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/technology-in-education/

Article #4: The Effects of Integrating Mobile Devices With Teaching and Learning on Students’ Learning Performance: A Meta-analysis and Research Synthesis

You can tell by the title of this article that it means business. This is a scholarly article originally published in the journal Computers & Education. 

The article examines the advantages and disadvantages of using mobile devices in learning. The authors conclude that individuals learned more effectively using laptops rather than the smaller, hand-held mobile devices.

If you’re looking for more scholarly articles like this one, check out 5 Best Resources to Help with Writing a Research Paper.

MLA 8 Citation

Sung,Yao-Ting, et al. “The Effects of Integrating Mobile Devices with Teaching and Learning on Students’ Learning Performance: A Meta-Analysis and Research Synthesis.” Computers & Education, vol. 94, 2016, pp. 252–75, doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2015.11.008.

APA Citation

Sung, Y., Chang, K., & Liu, T. (2016). The effects of integrating mobile devices with teaching and learning on students’ learning performance: A meta-analysis and research synthesis. Computers & Education, 94, 252–275. doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2015.11.008

3 Articles on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology in the Workplace

Article #5: 4 Ways to Use Technology in the Workplace to Motivate Employees

Directed at business managers, this article provides four ways to motivate workers. Tech in the workplace can increase collaboration, help managers review performance, provide feedback, and facilitate mobile learning.

If you’re focusing on motivating employees, you might argue why a specific type of tech motivation is the most effective. You might also examine various types of tech motivation techniques to compare and contrast the most effective strategies.

MLA 8 Citation

Straz, Matt. “4 Ways to Use Technology in the Workplace to Motivate Employees.” Entrepreneur, 23 Feb. 2015, www.entrepreneur.com/article/242961.

APA Citation

Straz, M. (2015, February 23). 4 ways to use technology in the workplace to motivate employees. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242961

Article #6: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology in the Workplace

Included in this article are five advantages and five disadvantages of tech on the job. One of the more unique disadvantages mentioned in this article is the idea that technology can make employees lazy.

Remember what I mentioned earlier about overlapping topics? (Hint: see Article #2.) You might use this source to support the idea that technology can make people lazy in various aspects of their lives: at work, at school, or in relationships.

MLA 8 Citation

Ramey, Karehka. “The Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology in the Workplace.” Use of Technology, 25 Feb. 2013, www.useoftechnology.com/technology-workplace-2/.

APA Citation

Ramey, K. (2013). The advantages and disadvantages of technology in the workplace. Use of Technology. Retrieved from http://www.useoftechnology.com/technology-workplace-2/

Stuck on Your Essay?

Check out thousands of example essays.

Yes! Show me examples.

Article #7: Technology’s Impact on Workers

Published by the respected Pew Research Center, this article reports the result of a study indicating that, although employers often fear technology will create distractions in the workplace, employees generally feel that they’re more productive with technology.

Workers also report that cellphones and the internet are the top technology tools needed to effectively do their jobs and that they often feel like they’re working more because of these tools.

Looking for another viewpoint on technology in the workplace? Check out this example essay.

MLA 8 Citation

Purcell, Kristen, and Lee Rainie. “Technology’s Impact on Workers.” Pew Research Center, 30 Dec. 2014, www.pewinternet.org/2014/12/30/technologys-impact-on-workers/.

APA Citation

Purcell, K., & Rainie, L. (2014). Technology’s impact on workers. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/12/30/technologys-impact-on-workers/

3 Articles on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology in Health Care

Article #8: Technology and the Future of Mental Health Treatment

This article focuses on mobile technology and the benefits and drawbacks on mental health treatment. A few of the listed benefits include convenience, anonymity, and 24-hour care. A few of the listed drawbacks include questions of effectiveness, privacy, and regulations.

A discussion of various health-related apps and links to additional resources are also included.

This article is published by The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This government website easily passes the CRAAP Test.

MLA 8 Citation

“Technology and the Future of Mental Health Treatment.” National Institute of Mental Health, Feb. 2017, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/technology-and-the-future-of-mental-health-treatment/index.shtml.

APA Citation

Technology and the future of mental health treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/technology-and-the-future-of-mental-health-treatment/index.shtml

Article #9: Online Counseling: Pros and Cons

This article provides a list of benefits and drawbacks to online counseling and is geared toward young people, who are more likely to turn to technology to get help with mental health concerns.

Benefits include accessibility, affordability, and anonymity. Drawbacks include effectiveness, ethical concerns, and lack of verbal and nonverbal cues.

This article also lists national services—such as Lifeline, Kids Helpline, Suicide Call Back Service, and Headspace—that have included online counseling in their services.

If you’re focusing on online counseling, here are just a few potential options:

• A compare and contrast essay to compare the effectiveness of various online services.
• A pros and cons essay to discusses various key points about online counseling.
• An opinion essay about online counseling if you’ve ever used the services.

(Need help with making an outline? Read 7 Essay Outline Templates to Get Your Essay Going.)

MLA 8 Citation

“Online Counseling: Pros and Cons.” ReachOut.com schools.au.reachout.com/articles/online-counselling-pros-and-cons.

APA Citation

Online counseling: Pros and cons. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/online-counselling-pros-and-cons

Article #10: Health IT Poses Advantages and Disadvantages to Underserved Populations

This article states that, while health IT can assist underserved populations by creating cheaper, more efficient services, it can also be a barrier for some populations, such as immigrants who fear giving out their personal information.

The article also includes links to additional articles about health and technology.

Read more about health IT applications in this example essay.

MLA 8 Citation

“Health IT Poses Advantages and Disadvantages to Underserved Populations.” TeraMedica, FUJIFILM Medical Systems, 26 Feb. 2013, www.teramedica.com/news/industry-news/emrs/health-it-poses-advantages-and-disadvantages-to-underserved-populations.

APA Citation

Health IT poses advantages and disadvantages to underserved populations. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.teramedica.com/news/industry-news/emrs/health-it-poses-advantages-and-disadvantages-to-underserved-populations

Use Technology to Your Advantage

If these 10 articles don’t provide all the evidence you need to support your essay, check out these additional resources:

• 20 Technology Addiction Articles to Support Your Persuasive Essay
• Effects of Video Games: 15 Articles for a Compelling Essay

For help with the basics of essay writing, check out these articles:

• How to Write an Essay Introduction in 3 Easy Steps
• How to Write a Thesis Statement in 5 Simple Steps
• How to Write a Killer Essay Conclusion

Finally, be sure to take advantage of one important advantage of technology and education: online editing. Submit your paper to let Kibin editors help you revise.

• Hippies
• Kim Kardashian
• Whip/Nae Nae
• Friends (the television show)
• Call of Duty (the video game)

At first glance, these probably don’t seem to relate to each other in any way, but they actually have at least one very important thing in common: they’re all pop culture legends.

While it can be a relatively simple task to create a list of things related to pop culture, it can be a little harder to find a solid research topic about pop culture. (After all, there’s only so much research you can do on Kim Kardashian, right?)

So if you’re still looking for the perfect pop culture topic that pops, here are 11 pop culture research topics to get you started.

Find the perfect pop culture topic that pops for your research essay.
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11 Pop Culture Research Topics That Pop

Before we get to the list of pop culture research topics, keep in mind that even though the title of this post focuses on research topics, there’s more than one way to write a research paper.

There’s more than one way to write a research paper
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In most cases, you’ll need to include research in a compare and contrast essay or an argument essay. You might even be required to include research in an expository essay.

Thus, when you read the list of pop culture research topics here, don’t forget that a broad topic can work for several different types of assignments. I’ve given you a few suggestions and asked a variety of questions to help you out along the way, but you’ll need to tweak the ideas to make them work for your paper.

I’ve also included a few links to sample papers, so you can see what other students have written about pop culture.

Pop culture research topic #1: Sexism and feminism in pop culture

Think about the female characters in Grand Theft Auto and how they’re often degraded. Do these types of images have an effect on society’s perception of males and females? How is sexism portrayed differently in different types of media, such as music, films, video games, and television? Has the type or amount of sexism changed in recent decades?

Pop culture research topic #2: Marketing and pop culture

Ever watch a show and get bombarded with an ad (say one from AT&T) so many times that you know what Lily is going to say to the customer before he walks through the door?

If you’ve had this experience or if you know who Lily is, then you’re likely already aware of marketing and its connection to pop culture. How and why do these ads and spokespeople (like Flo from Progressive or Colonel Sanders from KFC) become part of the culture?

Also, think about how marketing affects our perceptions of products. Do people buy more if they like an ad campaign and/or a spokesperson? What happens if they don’t like the spokesperson? Do they avoid purchasing products?

Pop culture research topic #3: Reality television and pop culture

How has reality television shaped our viewing habits? Think about people like Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian. They’re essentially famous for being famous.

How has reality television changed our perceptions of these and other celebrities? How has reality TV impacted people’s (specifically teens’) perceptions of reality?

Though many people see reality TV as only a negative influence, read Anna David’s Argument on the Positive Aspects of Reality TV to see one person’s take on the positive impacts.

Pop culture research topic #4: A specific pop celebrity, show, or character

This topic lends itself to compare and contrast and argument essays. You might argue whether Daniel Craig or Sean Connery was the better Seinfeld to the humor in Curb Your Enthusiasm as these are both shows produced by Larry David.

Pop culture research topic #5: Compare pop culture trends

Don’t forget that pop culture isn’t just something old people say “kids these days” care about. Pop culture has been around a long time, so you might compare the past to the present—for example dance crazes of the 1950s to dance crazes of today.

Bonus tip: Food can be part of pop culture too! Ever hear of Pop Rocks and Pop Tarts? (Not only are they part of pop culture, they even have “pop” in their name!) In this case, you might write about how foods become part of pop culture and why they’re so POPular.

Pop culture research topic #6: Pop culture’s reflection of society

Some people say that art imitates life. Others argue the opposite. If you’re writing a paper about how pop culture reflects society, try focusing on a specific form of art, such as music or film. For instance, do sci-fi movies, such as Star Wars or Jurassic World, reflect any aspect(s) of today’s culture?

If you really want to narrow your topic, you might write about a specific person, such as a musical artist who focuses on society or culture.

Check out Lady Gaga’s video for “Till it Happens to You” to see how she’s using her music to draw awareness to the problem of sexual assault on college campuses.

Pop culture research topic #7: Celebrity worship

It seems as though people have worshiped celebrities as long as there have been celebrities, but has our love of all things celebrity changed over the years?

Celebrity worship has affected our viewing habits, listening habits, clothing choices, and seemingly everything between. How has this impacted children and teens? How has it impacted people’s self-image and/or body image?

Pop culture research topic #8: Generational trends in pop culture

Even though each generation experiences culture and pop culture differently, some elements of pop culture remain the same.

For instance, you might compare the music of the 1960s and the music of today by discussing how artists of both decades use their music to comment on social policies and injustices.

This type of paper could also examine the fact that each generation doesn’t seem to understand the next.

For instance, kids in the 1950s adored Elvis Presley, yet many parents certainly didn’t share this adoration. The same can be said for artists such as The Beatles, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, or Drake. Think about what these artists have in common, how they differ, and why one generation might not appreciate the music as much as the next.

Pop culture research topic #9: Pop culture’s promotion of social change

While it’s certainly true that pop culture can be filled with crazy trends in clothing, hairstyles, and catch phrases, pop culture can also be an instrument of social change.

Consider how the Occupy Movement and Black Lives Matter increased awareness. Or consider how musical artists such as John Lennon and Bob Dylan have promoted awareness and social change.

Check out The Significant Changes in the American Pop Culture Brought by the Civil Rights Movement to see a sample paper about this topic.

Pop culture research topic #10: Pop culture across the world

If you’re writing a paper about pop culture in various countries, you could compare two countries or two time periods, or examine another country’s pop culture in detail.

This type of paper might also discuss how one country’s pop culture influences another’s. For instance, during the British Invasion of the 1960s, musical artists from Britain became mega stars in the United States and changed pop culture forever.

Pop culture research topic #11: Popularity of movies

Ever see a movie that you absolutely loved only to read that every critic imaginable has given it one star or less? Why does it seem that the movies we love are the movies critics hate? What makes these movies pop culture hits?

You might examine this phenomenon as a whole or focus on the merits of one specific film. Check out 50 movies that critics really hate but normal people love for a few film ideas.

Final Words of Advice

Any time you’re writing a research paper, you should try to choose a topic that you’re interested in.

If the pop culture research topics I’ve listed here aren’t working for you, here are 50 Research Paper Topics to Help You Jumpstart Your Writing. While these topics aren’t necessarily related to pop culture, they may spark your interest and help you find the perfect topic that is.

Looking for help with the actual writing of a research paper? Take a look at these helpful posts:

• How to Narrow a Topic and Write a Focused Paper
• 5 Best Sources to Help With Writing a Research Paper
• How to Craft a Research Paper Outline

Of course, I can’t let you wander away into the world of pop culture without giving you one final piece of advice. Upload your essay for top-notch proofreading (and feedback!) from one of our rockstar editors.

Without a lot of practice and experience writing abstracts, it can be pretty daunting. Heck, it’s enough to leave your fingers paralyzed and leave you staring at a blank screen.

Worse yet, it might make you want to abandon your work altogether and find something more interesting to do—like watch cat videos for the next hour.

Don’t give up hope yet! If you’re struggling to get started with writing your abstract, here are 10 good abstract examples that will kickstart your brain.

10 Good Abstract Examples That Will Kickstart Your Brain

The 10 examples I’ve included here are all published, professionally written abstracts. While some of them are a little more technical than others, they all follow the basic rules of what it takes to write a good abstract.

If you want a quick refresher on writing abstracts, read How to Write an Abstract for a Research Paper.

(And if you’re just getting started on your research paper, I recommend starting here instead: How to Write a Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide.)

Abstract example #1

Video Game Addiction and College Performance Among Males: Results from a 1 Year Longitudinal Study

The abstract:

“This study explored the pattern of video game usage and video game addiction among male college students and examined how video game addiction was related to expectations of college engagement, college grade point average (GPA), and on-campus drug and alcohol violations. Participants were 477 male, first year students at a liberal arts college. In the week before the start of classes, participants were given two surveys: one of expected college engagement, and the second of video game usage, including a measure of video game addiction. Results suggested that video game addiction is (a) negatively correlated with expected college engagement, (b) negatively correlated with college GPA, even when controlling for high school GPA, and (c) negatively correlated with drug and alcohol violations that occurred during the first year in college. Results are discussed in terms of implications for male students’ engagement and success in college, and in terms of the construct validity of video game addiction.”

What’s notable about this abstract:

This abstract doesn’t specifically state why the problem is worth researching, though it is implied as the study focuses on addiction.

Also, this abstract doesn’t overtly state the implications. It states only that the paper discusses the implications. While in most cases it’s better to briefly summarize the results of the study, sometimes it’s impossible to summarize the information in only a few sentences.

If that’s the case, it’s best to include a statement, as this abstract does, simply to indicate that the results and/or implications are discussed within the research paper.

Abstract example #2

Study Skills and their Correlation with Academic Satisfaction and Achievement among Medical and Pharmacy Students in Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (2013)

The abstract:

“Introduction: Study skills and students’ satisfaction with their performance positively affect their academic achievement. The current research was carried out to investigate the correlation of study skills with academic achievement among the medical and pharmacy students in 2013.

Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 148 students of basic medical sciences and pharmacy through convenience sampling. Data were collected by a valid and reliable questionnaire, consisting of two sections: Demographic information and questions about daily study hours, study skills in six domains, and students’ satisfaction with study skills. Collected data sets were analyzed by SPSS-16 software.

Results: In total, 10.9% of students were reported to have favorable study skills. The minimum score was found for preparation for examination domain. Also, a significantly positive correlation was observed between students’ study skills and their Grade Point Average (GPA) of previous term (P=0.001, r=0.269) and satisfaction with study skills (P=0.001, r=0.493).

Conclusion: The findings indicated that students’ study skills need to be improved. Given the significant relationship between study skills and GPA, as an index of academic achievement, and satisfaction, it is necessary to promote the students’ study skills. These skills are suggested to be reinforced, with more emphasis on weaker domains.”

What’s notable about this abstract:

This abstract uses headings instead of writing all the information in one paragraph. In some ways, it can be easier to use headings because you don’t need transitions to link sections.

However, you should always check with your professor to make sure that this is an acceptable format for your assignment.

Abstract example #3

The Sandra Bland story: How social media has exposed the harsh reality of police brutality

The abstract:

“This quantitative research study was conducted to illustrate the relationship(s) between social media use and its effect on police brutality awareness. In 2015, social media was used to assist in revealing an act of impulsive police brutality on an adult black woman in Waller County, Texas. This act was one of a few examples of a substantial number of law enforcement officers around the United States and other countries that are abusing their power by using excessive force against citizens without penalty. The study found there is a relationship between social media use and its impact on police brutality. The study also found that social media gave a voice to people who may have feared isolation and/or negative consequences against police brutality. Over 100 undergraduates at Bowie State University in Maryland completed a survey questionnaire instrument. The instrument consisted of 10; of which 2 were directly related to the hypothesis. The author’s result of data analyses presented that there is a significant relationship between independent and dependent variables.”

What’s notable about this abstract:

In this abstract, the results are discussed before the methods—usually it makes sense to write it the other way around. If you’re thinking of doing the same, you’ll need to check with your professor to see if you must write the elements of your abstract in a specific order.

Abstract example #4

An Examination of Concussion Injury Rates in Various Models of Football Helmets in NCAA Football Athletes

The abstract:

“While newer, advanced helmet models have been designed with the intentions of decreasing concussions, very little research exists on injury rates in various football helmets at the collegiate level. The aim of this study was to examine concussion injury rates in various models of football helmets in collegiate football athletes. In addition, to compare injury rates of newer, advanced football helmets to older, traditional helmets among collegiate football athletes, a total of 209 concussions and 563,701 AEs (athlete-exposures) Among 2,107 collegiate football athletes in seven helmet models were included in the analyses. Concussion injury rates revealed that the Riddell Revolution® had the highest rate of 0.41 concussions per 1,000 AEs. The Schutt ION 4D TM helmet had the lowest rate of 0.25 concussions per 1,000 AEs. These newer helmet models did not significantly differ from one another (P=0.74), however all models significantly differed from the older, traditional helmet model (P<0.001). The findings of this study suggest that concussion rates do not differ between newer and more advanced helmet models. More importantly, there are currently no helmets available to prevent concussions from occurring in football athletes.”

What’s notable about this abstract:

Do you know what the research paper is about by only reading the abstract? Of course you do! This abstract clearly summarizes all components of a traditional abstract and makes it easy for readers to understand the focus of the research.

Abstract example #5

Diet and obesity in Los Angeles County 2007–2012: Is there a measurable effect of the 2008 “Fast-Food Ban”?

The abstract:

“We evaluate the impact of the “Los Angeles Fast-Food Ban”, a zoning regulation that has restricted opening/remodeling of standalone fast-food restaurants in South Los Angeles since 2008. Food retail permits issued after the ban are more often for small food/convenience stores and less often for larger restaurants not part of a chain in South Los Angeles compared to other areas; there are no significant differences in the share of new fast-food chain outlets, other chain restaurants, or large food markets. About 10% of food outlets are new since the regulation, but there is little evidence that the composition has changed differentially across areas. Data from the California Health Interview Survey show that fast-food consumption and overweight/obesity rates have increased from 2007 to 2011/2012 in all areas. The increase in the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity since the ban has been significantly larger in South Los Angeles than elsewhere. A positive development has been a drop in soft drink consumption since 2007, but that drop is of similar magnitude in all areas.”

What’s notable about this abstract:

This abstract begins with the word “we.” In many cases, use of first person isn’t acceptable. (Your prof may ask you to avoid first person in your own abstract.) If you were the person (or part of a group) who did the actual research, first person is typically okay if you conducted primary research.

This abstract was submitted to a specific journal, so it’s clear that submission guidelines permitted use of first person.

Abstract example #6

The Relationship Between Cell Phone Use and Academic Performance in a Sample of U.S. College Students

The abstract:

“The cell phone is ever-present on college campuses and is frequently used in settings where learning occurs. This study assessed the relationship between cell phone use and actual college grade point average (GPA) after controlling for known predictors. As such, 536 undergraduate students from 82 self-reported majors at a large, public university were sampled. A hierarchical regression (R2 = .449) demonstrated that cell phone use was significantly (p < .001) and negatively (β = −.164) related to actual college GPA after controlling for demographic variables, self-efficacy for self-regulated learning, self-efficacy for academic achievement, and actual high school GPA, which were all significant predictors (p < .05). Thus, after controlling for other established predictors, increased cell phone use was associated with decreased academic performance. Although more research is needed to identify the underlying mechanisms, findings suggest a need to sensitize students and educators about the potential academic risks associated with high-frequency cell phone use.”

What’s notable about this abstract:

“A hierarchical regression (R2 = .449) demonstrated…” Yeah, I’m not sure what that means, either. If you’re a math expert, you can certainly write the results of your research in this way, but in most cases, you won’t be required to write in such technical terms.

Abstract example #7

Social comparisons on social media: The impact of Facebook on young women’s body image concerns and mood

The abstract:

“The present study experimentally investigated the effect of Facebook usage on women’s mood and body image, whether these effects differ from an online fashion magazine, and whether appearance comparison tendency moderates any of these effects. Female participants (N = 112) were randomly assigned to spend 10 min browsing their Facebook account, a magazine website, or an appearance-neutral control website before completing state measures of mood, body dissatisfaction, and appearance discrepancies (weight-related, and face, hair, and skin-related). Participants also completed a trait measure of appearance comparison tendency. Participants who spent time on Facebook reported being in a more negative mood than those who spent time on the control website. Furthermore, women high in appearance comparison tendency reported more facial, hair, and skin-related discrepancies after Facebook exposure than exposure to the control website. Given its popularity, more research is needed to better understand the impact that Facebook has on appearance concerns.”

What’s notable about this abstract:

This abstract clearly summarizes the research process and results of the study. In this case, the study is inconclusive, and the writer feels that more research is required. Remember, your study might not always produce the results you anticipated.

Abstract example #8

The Process of Adapting a Universal Dating Abuse Prevention Program to Adolescents Exposed to Domestic Violence

The abstract:

“Adolescents exposed to domestic violence are at increased risk of dating abuse, yet no evaluated dating abuse prevention programs have been designed specifically for this high-risk population. This article describes the process of adapting Families for Safe Dates (FSD), an evidenced-based universal dating abuse prevention program, to this high-risk population, including conducting 12 focus groups and 107 interviews with the target audience. FSD includes six booklets of dating abuse prevention information, and activities for parents and adolescents to do together at home. We adapted FSD for mothers who were victims of domestic violence, but who no longer lived with the abuser, to do with their adolescents who had been exposed to the violence. Through the adaptation process, we learned that families liked the program structure and valued being offered the program and that some of our initial assumptions about this population were incorrect. We identified practices and beliefs of mother victims and attributes of these adolescents that might increase their risk of dating abuse that we had not previously considered. In addition, we learned that some of the content of the original program generated negative family interactions for some. The findings demonstrate the utility of using a careful process to adapt evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to cultural sub-groups, particularly the importance of obtaining feedback on the program from the target audience. Others can follow this process to adapt EBIs to groups other than the ones for which the original EBI was designed.”

What’s notable about this abstract:

This abstract provides a clear synopsis of why this research is needed (the fact that no programs have been specifically designed for adolescents exposed to domestic violence).

This abstract also uses first person. As I mentioned earlier, if you’re using first person, make sure it’s allowed by your instructor and appropriate to the type of research you’ve conducted.

Abstract example #9

Children’s consumption behavior in response to food product placements in movies

The abstract:

“Almost all research on the effects of product placements on children has focused on brand attitudes or behavioral intentions. Drawing on the important difference between attitudes or behavioral intentions on the one hand and actual behavior on the other, this paper tests the effects of brand placements on children’s food consumption. Children from 6 to 14 years old were exposed to an excerpt of the popular movie Alvin and the Chipmunks, including placements for the product Cheese Balls. Three versions were created: one without placements, one with moderate placement frequency, and one with high placement frequency. Results showed that exposure to high-frequency product placements exerted a significant effect on snack consumption, but no effect on brand or product attitudes. These effects were independent of children’s ages. The findings are of great importance to consumer behavior scholars, nutrition experts, and policy regulators.”

What’s notable about this abstract:

Notice how specific the methods section is in this abstract? Including the specific details of how the study was conducted provides a clear and effective summary for readers.

Abstract example #10

Looks and Lies: The Role of Physical Attractiveness in Online Dating Self-Presentation and Deception

The abstract:

“This study examines the role of online daters’ physical attractiveness in their profile self-presentation and, in particular, their use of deception. Sixty-nine online daters identified the deceptions in their online dating profiles and had their photograph taken in the lab. Independent judges rated the online daters’ physical attractiveness. Results show that the lower online daters’ attractiveness, the more likely they were to enhance their profile photographs and lie about their physical descriptors (height, weight, age). The association between attractiveness and deception did not extend to profile elements unrelated to their physical appearance (e.g., income, occupation), suggesting that their deceptions were limited and strategic. Results are discussed in terms of (a) evolutionary theories about the importance of physical attractiveness in the dating realm and (b) the technological affordances that allow online daters to engage in selective self-presentation.”

What’s notable about this abstract:

This abstract packs a lot into 136 words! All of the components are clearly described, and the abstract is an excellent example of how to make every word count.

Sufficiently Energized?

I trust these abstract examples have inspired you. But before you add your abstract to the final paper, check out these resources for some additional tips to help perfect your writing:

• 15 Ways to Improve Your Academic Writing
• How Good Transition Words Can Improve Your Writing
• How to Become a Better Writer: Don’t Use Words that Sound Smart

Here’s one final tip to help make your abstract (and your paper) the best it can be: let a Kibin editor provide some expert feedback.

Happy writing!

If you’re more of an artist, you might envision Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night.

And for those of you who are into teaching, medicine, or maybe psychology, you might think of abstract thinking upon the mention of the term.

But what does the word abstract mean when it comes to writing?

In the simplest of terms, an abstract is a summary of your paper. It’s not your basic run-of-the-mill summary, though. It requires several specific components.

If you’re still thinking abstractly about numbers or a starry night and can’t quite imagine an abstract for your paper, here’s how to write an abstract the right way.

What Is an Abstract?

An abstract is a concise summary of the key parts of a research paper. It should be one fully developed paragraph, usually between 150-500 words. (Check with your professor to see how long your abstract should be.)

Ideally, the abstract should engage your audience, make them want to read your paper, and make them want to learn more about your research.

Thus, the abstract should stand alone and still make sense.

In other words, your audience should be able to read only your abstract and still understand the key components of your research paper.

How to Write an Abstract for a Research Paper

Now that you have a better understanding of what an abstract is, it’s time to start learning how to write an abstract for a research paper.

Step 1: Write the research paper

As I’m sure you know, when you write and revise, your plans change. You might move or delete words, paragraphs, and even entire arguments. This means it’s almost impossible to write a summary of your work before you’ve written it.

Makes sense, right? Right. So write your research paper first.

(Read: How to Write a Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide.)

Step 2: Identify the key sections of the paper

In basic research essays, you might simply review resources and create an argument based solely on what you’ve read. If this is the case, you’ll need to look for the main arguments of your paper and summarize them to write your abstract.

If, however, you’re writing a more detailed research essay based on the results of your own survey, study, or experiment, you’ll need to identify the following sections.

• Problem and why you’re researching the problem: This section will include a brief overview of the problem and explain why the problem is worth researching. It may also perhaps explain why readers should care about this topic.

• Methods or procedures used: This section will focus on how you completed your research. For example, did you interview people, complete an experiment, survey people, or complete some other type of research? Though it should be brief and concise, it also needs to be specific. If you surveyed 12 college students or interviewed 19 senior citizens, include that in this section.

• Results or findings: This section will include a short description of the results of your study. In other words, what did you learn through your research?

• Conclusions or implications: This section will discuss the conclusions of your research. Think about the larger implications of your work. What does it mean in the broad scope of things?

Step 3: Draft a description of the key sections

In can be challenging to write the abstract all at once. Start by sketching out your ideas in a rough draft format.

Here’s an example of a draft you might write for a research paper about college students and their ability (or lack of ability) to stick to a budget.

Problem and why you’re researching the problem

Most college students have income from a full- or part-time job, money from parents, student loans, or other financial aid. By the end of the week (or by the end of the month), many students are broke. Do students not have enough money to meet their basic needs, or are these students just not able to stay on budget? Do they simply spend more money than they should on things that aren’t really necessary?

Methods or procedures used

Twenty-two students at a local university agreed to volunteer for the survey. These students completed a questionnaire regarding their sources of income, their monthly expenses, and how much money they spent (both necessary and unnecessary expenses). Students were also asked to track all money spent for one month.

Results or findings

Based on the results, all 22 students had enough money to meet their monthly required expenses (including money budgeted for entertainment). After looking at the survey results, most students ran out of money because they over-spent on the following four areas: eating out, clothing, alcohol, and music/video games.

Conclusions or implications

Most students surveyed spent more money than they should have on entertainment. When the students surveyed ran out of money, they asked their parents for more money or charged more on their credit cards. (Some did both.) This implies that students need more education about how to budget their money.

Step 4: Put it all together

Drafting each section separately helps ease the stress a little and gives you a chance to outline your ideas, especially when you’re first learning how to write an abstract.

Writing the actual abstract can be a bit trickier though. You need to not only fit all that stuff in one concise paragraph, but you also need to fit it all in within a set number of words.

That means word choice matters, so make every word count!

Here are a few quick tips to help you turn your draft into a respectable abstract:

• Copy and paste each section together into one paragraph. This will help you see how it sounds as one piece of writing rather than individual sections.
• Look for awkward wording and places where you might replace vague words with more concrete words.
• Look for places to add transitions to link ideas together.
• Ask yourself what’s not needed. Can you eliminate any unnecessary content?
• Ask yourself what’s missing. Do readers need to know anything else in order to understand your research paper?

Writing an abstract? Make sure to use concrete words and link ideas with good transitions.
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TAKE NOTE: In some cases, abstracts are not written in one paragraph, and you’re allowed to use headings (like the headings I’ve included in the draft above). Check with your professor to see which type of abstract is required for your assignment.

Here’s what the final abstract for the research paper about college students and their spending habits might look like.

(I’ve written this abstract in one paragraph, but you could easily add the appropriate headings into the abstract.)

Even though many college students have income from one or more sources—such as a full- or part-time job, parental support, student loans, or other financial aid—many students often go over-budget. In an attempt to understand how and why students over-spend, this research included 22 student volunteers from a local university who completed a questionnaire regarding their sources of income and their monthly expenses and expenditures. Students also tracked all money spent for one month. Based on the results of the study, all 22 students had sufficient income to meet their monthly required expenses (including money budgeted for entertainment). However, 20 out of 22 students went over-budget because they over-spent on the following four areas: eating out, clothing, alcohol, and music/video games. Once over-budget, 17 of the 20 over-budget students asked their parents for money or charged additional expenses on credit cards. This research highlighted the need for additional money-management counseling and education for teens and young adults.

Final Words of Advice

Once you’ve completed a draft of your abstract, set it aside before you revise. When you return to it (hopefully at least 24 hours later), review your draft to make sure you’ve avoided any pitfalls.

What not to do:

• Don’t include any information in your abstract that’s not in your paper.
• Don’t use jargon or acronyms that readers may not understand.
• Don’t use first person or second person (unless referring to yourself as the researcher, if permitted or required per your instructor or an official style guide). Write in third person.
• Don’t start sentences with phrases like “It appears that…” or “It is believed…” Cutting these phrases creates a stronger statement (and deletes unnecessary wording).

Looking for examples of professionally written abstracts? Check out 10 Good Abstract Examples That Will Kickstart Your Brain.

For even more examples, read these example abstracts from advanced undergrad students.

Whether you’re just learning how to write an abstract or even if you’re a seasoned pro, it’s always a good idea to have someone else review your work. Send your abstract—or better yet—send your entire research paper our way. Kibin editors are ready to help!