Assignment 2 Research Paper Draft: Okay, You Have Your Thoug

Assignment 2 Research Paper Draftokay You Have Your Thoughts Down On

Review of assignment instructions: Write a second draft of a research paper that is 6–8 pages of text (excluding title, references, and abstract). The paper must focus on a single, clear argumentative claim, supported by university-level evidence, personal experience (presented objectively), and proper citations in APA style. All ideas not original or common knowledge require citation, with correct APA format both in-text and in the references section. The draft should include a correctly formatted APA title/cover page, an abstract without indents providing an overview, and page headers. The body should follow standard formatting: 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, one-inch margins. The paper should acknowledge and address objections to the claim, show critical engagement with current research, and demonstrate academic writing conventions.

Paper For Above instruction

The process of developing a compelling research paper involves multiple stages of drafting and revision, culminating in a polished second draft that adheres to scholarly standards. This stage emphasizes the importance of integrating supporting sources effectively, constructing a clear and focused argument, and demonstrating critical engagement with existing literature. It also underscores adherence to APA formatting guidelines throughout the document, from the title page to references. Crafting a well-supported, cohesive argument requires not only presenting original claims but also anticipating and responding to potential objections, thereby enhancing the paper's credibility and scholarly strength.

In the initial stages, a writer needs to establish a concise and well-defined thesis statement that guides the entire paper. The thesis must be specific enough to allow for detailed analysis yet broad enough to provide meaningful discussion over 6 to 8 pages. Supporting this claim involves synthesizing current research, incorporating scholarly sources, and integrating personal insights while maintaining an objective tone. Proper citation practices are essential to avoid plagiarism; this includes quoting directly when necessary and paraphrasing appropriately while always providing proper attribution via in-text citations in APA style.

APA formatting entails several key components: a title page featuring a centered title, author's name, and institutional affiliation; an abstract summarizing the paper in approximately 150–250 words; header and page numbers on each page; and a References page formatted with hanging indents, proper capitalization, and italics for titles of longer works. Throughout the body, the language should be academically appropriate, using formal tone, precise vocabulary, and clear sentence structures suitable for a college-level audience.

Critical engagement involves not only presenting supporting evidence but also addressing counterarguments. A balanced discussion considers reasonable objections, acknowledges valid points, but demonstrates why the primary claim remains compelling. Such discussion shows depth of understanding and enhances persuasiveness. As part of this process, the paper should reflect on areas of uncertainty or limitations in current research, thereby demonstrating scholarly integrity.

Finally, the second draft must be carefully proofread to ensure clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy. The entire document should adhere to APA standards, illustrating meticulous attention to detail and scholarly professionalism. When completed, this draft serves as a solid foundation for further revisions and, ultimately, the final version intended for publication or academic submission.

References

• American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
• Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., & Williams, J. M. (2008). The craft of research (3rd ed.). University of Chicago Press.
• Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C. (2017). They say / I say: The moves that matter in academic writing (4th ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
• Harris, R. (2017). Using sources effectively in academic writing. Routledge.
• Johnson, R. B., & Christensen, L. (2019). Educational research: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches (7th ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Lunsford, A. A., & Ruszkiewicz, J. J. (2016). Everything’s an argument (7th ed.). Bedford/St. Martin’s.
• Neuman, W. L. (2014). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (7th ed.). Pearson.
• Pears, R., & Shields, G. (2019). Citation and referencing for students. Open University Press.
• Walden University. (2022). APA style essentials. https://academics.waldenu.edu