It is likely that, as a student, you will be required to write research papers. A research paper is the written presentation of a critical investigation, studious inquiry, or examination of a particular topic. It is based on resources that you have read, and it responds to questions that you, the writer, have generated. In other words, you're not merely reporting on the topic. You're drawing conclusions and making inferences.

This type of assignment has many purposes:

• Mastering the topic
• Improving writing skills
• Developing research skills
• Developing critical thinking skills
• Analyzing, evaluating, and drawing upon the work of others

To begin this tutorial select a topic from the navigation bar on the left.