How to Produce a Well-Written Medical Research Paper

Writing a medical research paper is similar to writing other research papers in that you want to use reliable sources, write in a clear and organized style, and offer a strong argument for all conclusions you present. In some cases the research you discuss will be data you have actually collected to answer your research questions. Understanding proper formatting, citations, and style will help you write and informative and respected paper.

1. Decide on a topic. You probably have a general idea of what you want to write about. Narrow that down to a specific focus by reading up on the current research. Find background information about your topic and identify potential sources that you can use. Ask your professor for feedback and suggestions or search for online essay medicine topics in order to choose the best one.

• Pick something that really interests you to make the research more fun.
• Choose a topic that has unanswered questions and propose solutions.

2. Determine what kind of research paper you are going to write. The format of your paper depends heavily on what type of paper you want to write. It also affects the type of research you use.

• Quantitative studies consist of original research performed by the writer. These research papers will need to include sections like hypothesis, previous findings, method, limitations, results, discussion, and application.
• Synthesis papers review the research already published and analyze it. They find weaknesses and strengths in the research, apply it to a specific situation, and then indicate a direction for future research.

3. Research your topic thoroughly. Interview individuals who have special knowledge or experience with your issue. Find reliable sources to support your ideas. Your research paper is only as credible as the sources you use. Academic journals, databases, and books are a great source of information.

• Keep track of your sources. Write down all publication information necessary for citation: author, title of article, title of book or journal, publisher, edition, date published, volume number, issue number, page number, and anything else pertaining to your source. A program like Endnote can help you keep track of your sources.
• Take detailed notes as you read. Paraphrase information in your own words or if you copy directly from the article or book, indicate that these are direct quotes by using quotation marks to prevent plagiarism.
• Be sure to keep all of your notes with the correct source.
• Your professor and librarians can also help you find good resources.

4. Outline your paper. Organize it in a way that makes sense and is easy to follow. Determine what information fits best under each heading or section and integrate your sources as you go. Starting with an outline is also an easy way to get started with the writing.

• Start with bullet points and then add in notes you’ve taken from references that support your ideas.
• A common way to format research papers is to follow the IMRAD format. This dictates the structure of your paper in the following order: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.
• The outline is just the basic structure of your paper. Don’t worry if you have to rearrange a few times to get it right.
• Ask others to look over your outline and get feedback on the organization.
• Know the audience you are writing for and adjust your style accordingly.

 5. Compile your results. Divide the paper into logical sections determined by the type of paper you are writing. If it is a quantitative study, it needs to include the sections mentioned above (i.e., hypothesis, previous findings, etc.). If it is a qualitative study, organize your paper into main points that make sense and progress naturally.

• Break up information into sections and subsections and address one main point per section.
• Include any figures or data tables that support your main ideas.
• For a quantitative study, state the methods used to obtain results.