Research Paper Writing

Overview

The session on Research Paper Writing was conducted by Ms. Ishadi Nilaweera, Assistant Lecturer at SLIIT City Uni. She tailored the lesson to match our level of research knowledge and guided us through both theory and practical exercises. The interactive approach made the session engaging, while also strengthening our academic and professional writing skills.

What is Research?

Research is a systematic and organized investigation into a problem or topic. It involves collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to answer questions or solve issues. The goal of research is to generate new knowledge or apply existing knowledge in innovative ways, leading to new concepts, methods, and insights.

Components of a Research Paper

According to Ms. Ishadi, a strong research paper follows a clear structure, including:

1. Title – Concise and aligned with the main focus.
2. Author(s) – Names, affiliations, and contact details.
3. Table of Contents – For easy navigation.
4. Declaration – Confirming originality.
5. Acknowledgments – Recognizing contributions.
6. Abstract – A summary of the paper.
7. Introduction – Background, problem, objectives, and significance.
8. Literature Review – Prior studies, critiques, and research gaps.
9. Methodology – Design, participants, data collection, analysis, and ethics.
10. Results and Discussion – Findings with charts, tables, and interpretations.
11. Conclusion – Key outcomes, implications, and recommendations.
12. References – Properly cited sources.

In-Class Activity

We participated in an activity where we identified sections of a research paper from a paragraph. This helped us:

1. Recognize the purpose of each section.
2. Understand how different parts form a complete paper.
3. Strengthen our critical reading and analytical skills.

What I Learned

From this session, I developed several important academic and professional skills. I improved my reading skills by learning how to understand complex academic content and analyze literature effectively. I also gained knowledge in research design, which taught me how to select suitable methods for different studies. Another key learning was how to write literature reviews by summarizing and critiquing previous studies in a clear and structured way. In addition, I became more aware of the importance of ethics in research, such as ensuring originality and respecting the rights of participants.

This experience gave me valuable insights into how a research paper must follow a logical and structured flow to be effective. I understood that the literature review is a crucial part of identifying research gaps and justifying new work. I also realized that ethical responsibility is essential to maintain credibility, and that high quality research depends on reliable data and careful analysis. Moreover, I learned that strong writing, organization, and critical thinking are what make research impactful.

Overall, this session helped me see research as more than just an academic requirement. It is a disciplined process of creating new knowledge with honesty and responsibility. I now feel more confident in planning and structuring research papers, applying ethical practices, and connecting findings to real world applications. The interactive activities made the learning process engaging and gave me motivation to approach future research projects in a systematic and professional way.