Writing a research paper can feel like navigating a labyrinth of citations and theories. Before you even begin to formulate your thesis statement, there’s one crucial element you need to establish: the background of your research. This section sets the stage for your entire paper, providing context and justifying the importance of your work. But how do you effectively craft a background that draws readers in and lays a solid foundation for your research?
Understanding the Purpose of a Research Paper Background
The background section of your research paper isn’t just a summary of existing information; it’s a carefully curated narrative that guides your reader towards understanding the significance of your research. It achieves this by:
- Providing Context: Imagine you’re researching paranormal activity in abandoned hospitals. Your background wouldn’t just state that hospitals exist and some people believe they’re haunted. It would delve into the history of hospitals, architectural styles common to these buildings, and the cultural beliefs surrounding death and spirits that might make these locations prone to paranormal activity.
- Establishing the Problem: What gap in knowledge does your research aim to fill? Perhaps there’s limited research on the specific types of paranormal activity reported in hospitals built during a certain era. This unmet need becomes a key element in your background.
- Justifying Your Research: Why should anyone care about your work? This is where you connect the existing knowledge gap with the potential impact of your research. For example, understanding the types of paranormal activity in specific hospital settings might offer insights into the historical context of these phenomena.
Key Elements of a Compelling Background
A well-structured research paper background is like a good story: it has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
- Start with the Big Picture: Begin with broad, established information about your topic. For our paranormal investigation example, you might introduce the concept of hauntings, common types of paranormal activity, and existing research on the topic.
- Narrow Your Focus: Gradually zoom in on the specific area your research addresses. Discuss the history of paranormal investigations in hospitals, highlighting any significant research or theories related to this specific setting.
- Identify the Gap: Clearly articulate the missing piece of the puzzle that your research aims to uncover. This could be a lack of research on a specific type of haunting, a geographical area that hasn’t been investigated, or a new methodology for collecting evidence.
- End with Your Research Question: The background section should naturally lead into the central question or hypothesis that your research aims to answer. This creates a smooth transition to the rest of your paper.
Tips for Writing an Engaging Background
Here are some additional tips to make your background section both informative and engaging:
- Tell a Story: Instead of simply listing facts, weave them into a compelling narrative. Use descriptive language and vivid examples to keep your reader engaged.
- Use Strong Sources: Support your claims with credible sources. This demonstrates your expertise and builds trust with your reader.
- Write Clearly and Concisely: Avoid jargon and overly complex sentences. Your goal is to make your research accessible to a wider audience.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Being Too Broad: Your background should be focused and relevant to your specific research question. Avoid going off on tangents or including unnecessary information.
- Being Too Narrow: While you want to focus your background, starting too narrowly can make it difficult for readers unfamiliar with your specific niche to grasp the context.
- Not Citing Your Sources: Any information that isn’t common knowledge needs to be properly cited. Failure to do so is plagiarism.
- Using Overly Technical Language: While it’s important to demonstrate your knowledge, avoid alienating your reader with jargon they might not understand.
Conclusion
Crafting a compelling background for your research paper is essential for providing context and justifying the importance of your work. By understanding the purpose, key elements, and common mistakes to avoid, you can write a background section that engages your reader and lays a solid foundation for a successful research paper. Remember, your background isn’t just a formality; it’s your opportunity to draw readers into the fascinating world of your research and leave them eager to explore further.
For more guidance on structuring your research paper, you might find our articles on how to write background for research paper, compare and contrast research paper outline, and turabian a manual for writers of research papers helpful.