How to Write a winning Research Paper? Legal Desire about:reader?url=http://www.legaldesire.com/guide-how-to-write-a-wi...

legaldesire.com

by Legal Desire
19-25 minutes

There is nothing more important in the practice of law than your

ability to put together quality written work. Research Paper is
one of the ways to express what you actually posses in terms of
your skills, creativity and originality in thinking. Reading does
not only suffice the purpose of you being in a law school you have
to back your knowledge with writing some solid research papers.

What actually research paper is?

Research papers or Scholarly papers are scholarly/academic

articles that contain the results of original research which is also
known as Primary or an evaluation of research conducted by
others know as Secondary. The primary requirement of a
research paper is to trace information about a topic, take a stand
on that topic, and provide support (or evidence) for that position
in an organized report. The essence of a research paper lies in the
objective of the paper. Therefore, a good research paper conveys
the findings of the research in crisp and concise form without
being muddled by the wordplay adopted by the author. The
selection of the paper (if you are sending it for publication in
reputed journals) is done on the basis of peer review which
ensures the quality of the paper remains intact to merit
publication.

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Guideline to write a Research Paper:

Selection of topic

Research on the topic.

Analyse and Plan

Drafting/Editing

Preparing the final Text

Choosing your topic is the first and most important step in your
research paper project. First of all ask yourself a question: Is
there enough research available on this topic? Is the topic new,
unique and timely? Is it pertinent to my career choice?

Pick something you are interested in: Whenever possible, choose

a topic that you feel passionate and comfortable about. Writing
about something you enjoy certainly shows in the final product,
making it more likely that you will be successful writing a paper
about something you enjoy. For example, if you are really
interested in Constitutional Law, write something which involves
the constitutional principle or constitutional issue. Stick to it and
dont digress.

Consult: if even you are a master in a subject you might not come
out with a research paper. Therefore, consult. Consult with your
colleagues, teachers etc. They can inspire you with new ideas.

Never hesitate to change topic: if you choose a topic, begin with

research, and realize that it isnt the right topic for you for some
reason, dont worry! Change the topic and restart the research.

Begin your research: With a topic selected, the next step is to

begin research. Research can be done form various resources

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including web pages (Commission Sites, government web

portals), journal articles (Hein Online, Manupatra, Economic &
Political Weekly, SCC Online, Kluwer Arbitration), books,
encyclopedia, interviews, newsletters, blog posts (Such as
Corporate Law Blog, SpicyIP) etc. Give time, Sit down with an
issue or research topic. Try to use a minimum of five sources to
vary your information; never rely on only 1-2 sources.

Research not just Google: Remember, just dont go about

Googling the research topic, you may end up finding nothing.
Books should be the primary areas of research. Read as much as
you can. It will not only give you a better insight but also help you
connect things better and understand if there are loopholes in
your research.

Visit Library and use database: As Stated in the paragraph above,

there is some specific Online Search Engine for specific subjects
for example:

SCC Online, VakilSearch: if you are searching for Case law

Kluwer Arbitration: If you are researching on Arbitration

Manupatra: it provides judgments across all subjects of law of

Supreme Court, all Indian High Courts, Orders of the Tribunals,
bills, central and state Acts, notification and circulars,
ordinances, committee reports and more.

Corporate Law Advisor: It contains access to search, browse,

view & print judgments contained in all journals published by All
India Reporter Private Limited for the years 2007 2013.

Advocate Khoj: It is a free legal information web portal which

provides for individuals to find lawyers for their legal needs and
for lawyers to get leads matching their legal specialty. It includes
over 6000 legal forms including legal tips, areas of law, legal

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forms, agreements, Supreme Court judgments, bare acts, rules

and a glossary.

Economic & political weekly: Economic & Political Weekly

(EPW) publishes analysis of contemporary affairs side by side
with academic papers in the social sciences.

Jstor: JSTOR is a digital library currently including more than

2,000 academic journals of both multidisciplinary and discipline-
specific collections, dating back to the first volume ever
published, along with thousands of monographs and other
materials relevant for education. Because of JSTORs archival
mission, there is a gap, typically from 1 to 5 years, between the
most recently published journal issue and the back issues
available in JSTOR.

Lexis Nexis: Apart from this, if you are wondering whether you
can get books online? Yes, you can use lexi nexis online database
which contains full text judgments and Acts of Supreme Court of
India, All High Courts, All Tribunals & Central Acts and
commentaries in corporate, commercial, banking & finance,
intellectual property, ADR, civil and criminal law. It also contains
US legal & all commonwealth cases.

Certain types of writing call for a different approach. If you are

writing exposition, you often need to describe a process. If that
process is fairly complicated, simply prepare a flowchart for your
own convenience so that you do not miss anything important.
Also, a simple flowchart represents the stages in a process in
sequence.

Annotate your research: Once youve gathered all your research,

print it out (if it is an online source) and gather post-its or
anything you need to mark notes in the books/magazines you are
using. This step is very important: read through your research,

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take notes on what you think is important, and highlight key facts
and phrases. Write directly on copies youve made, or use slips of
paper tucked into pages to mark places of importance. Use
highlighters to mark important point and use sticky notes to
mark important pages, yes they do make difference!!

Identify the goal of the paper: there are two types of research
paper: an argumentative research paper or an analytic research
paper.

An argumentative research paper takes a position on a

contentious issue and argues for one point of view. The issue
should be debatable with a logical counter argument.

For example: whether the new criminal law amendment bill is

sufficient to protect the crime against women?

An analytic research paper offers a fresh look at an important

issue. The subject may not be controversial, but you must attempt
to persuade your audience that your ideas have merit.

For example: analytical study on the New companies Act, 2013.

Determine your audience: the most important which the author

tends to skip is to determine to whom they are writing for? Who
would be reading this paper, should it be published? Although
you want to write for your professor or other superior, it is
important that the tone and focus of your paper reflect the
audience who will be reading it. If youre writing for academic
peers, then the information you include should reflect the
information you already know; you dont need to explain basic
ideas or theories. On the other hand, if you are writing for an
audience who doesnt know much about your subject, it will be
important to include explanations and examples of more
fundamental ideas and theories related to your research.

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Finalize your outline: With the aforementioned tips taken into

consideration, organize your entire outline. Justify main points to
the left, and indent subsections and notes from your research
below each. The outline should be an overview of your entire
paper in bullet points. Make sure to include in-text citations at
the end of each point, so that you dont have to constantly refer
back to your research when writing your final paper.

Consider formatting guidelines: Depending on your paper rubric,

class guidelines, or formatting guidelines, you may have to
organize your paper in a specific way. For example, when writing
in APA format you must organize your paper by headings
including the introduction, methods, results, and discussion.
These guidelines will alter the way you craft your outline and
final paper. For this, go through the submission guideline given
in the rules in the brochure of any journal for which you are
trying to write. It is important to look the font size, line spacing,
Citation method.

Citations: Acknowledging the authors and scholars. (What are

citations and how to prevent plagiarism?)

When you are copying or paraphrasing a particular sentence or

paragraph from another source, you are required mandatorily
(and this is serious stuff) to cite the proper authorities from
which you have gathered the information. The Citation is added
by using the keyboard short cut: Alt+Ctrl+F.

For example: if you have copied a line from D.D. Basu (Book on
Constitutional law), all you need to do is, at the end of the
line/sentence, enter a footnote and in it enter the books name
with the author, year of publishing, book edition and the page
[1]
number. Citation mark for Example, is either marked at the
end of the line or in some case on the word where the word forms

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the essence of the research paper, for example if writing on

fundamental rights so the word basic structure may be cited as:
[2]
fundamental rights forms the basic structure of our
constitution. Here, the word basic structure is cited. Also, if you
have taken this whole line form a book you can cite like this,
[3]
fundamental rights forms the basic structure. Therefore, the
citation is marked at the end of the line.

The hierarchy or order of the arrangement is guided by many

citation formats, which are generally stated in the research paper
invitation itself. For example, if it is mentioned that follow
Bluebook edition number 19, then you need to refer to this
particular citation format and follow how this format tells you to
cite books, cases and other authorities. (Refer the module on
Bluebook Citation)

When you do this without any kind of manipulation, there are no

chances of your paper being rejected for plagiarism. Plagiarism is
the practice of presenting someone elses work or ideas as ones
own. Thus, if you plagiarize, you may end up in some serious
trouble as it is ethically wrong and is considered so by every
institution/body. Mind it!!

1. Try to set aside your draft for a day or two before revising. This
makes it easier to view your work objectively and see any gaps or
problems.

2. Revising involves rethinking your ideas, refining your arguments,

reorganizing paragraphs, and rewording sentences. You may
need to develop your ideas in more detail, give more evidence to
support your claims, or delete material that is unnecessary.

3. Read your paper out loud. This sometimes makes it easier to

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identify writing that is awkward or unclear.

4. Have somebody else read the paper and tell you if theres
anything thats unclear or confusing.

Some important thing which is to be avoided:

Materials and methods are not a set of instructions.

Omit all explanatory information and background save it for

the discussion.

Omit information that is irrelevant to a third party, such as

what color ice bucket you used, or which individual logged in the
data

The content of a full research paper:

The format (not exhaustive) for the above is as given below:

1. Acknowledgment

2. Declaration

3. Table of Contents

4. Index of Authorities (Would include cases that you have referred

to).You may also include a list of Abbreviations if you have used
any after this, though it is not mandatory to do so.

5. Scope

6. Limitations

7. Literature Survey/Resources Used

8. Research Questions/Hypothesis

9. Chapterization

10. Abstract

11. Introduction

12. Chapters respectively

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13. Conclusion: Will mainly include what opinion or judgement you,

as a researcher, have formed about the topic after the research.

14. Bibliography

Kindly Note: Introduction, Conclusion and Bibliography are

NOT parts of Chapterization!

Sample: We/I take this opportunity to express our profound

gratitude and deep regards to our (Professor) for her/his
exemplary guidance, monitoring and constant encouragement
throughout the completion of this project topic. The blessing,
help and guidance given by him/her time to time shall carry me a
long way in the journey of life on which we are about to embark.
Also, the guideline provided by him/her to stick to the deadline
was also encouraging.

We/I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not

have been possible without the kind support and help of many
individuals and organizations. We/I would like to extend my
sincere thanks to all of them.

Our/My thanks and appreciations also go to my colleague in

developing the project and people who have willingly helped me
out with their abilities.

We/I are/am obliged to students of (College) for the valuable

information provided by them in their respective fields. Lastly,
we/I thank almighty, our/my parents, brother, sisters and friends
for their constant encouragement without which this assignment
would not be possible.

This too, is an integral part of a journal or paper being published

wherein you, as an author, declare that your work is original and

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would not attract plagiarism or copyright issues.

Sample: We hereby declare that we (Name of the author(s)) are

the authors of this research paper. The text reported in the
project is the outcome of our own efforts and no part of this
project assignment has been copied in any unauthorized manner
and no part of it has been incorporated without due
acknowledgement to their rightful sources and source persons.
We authorize (University Name) to lend this research paper to
other institutions or individuals for the purpose of scholarly
research.

Table of Contents

The Table of contents can be created by:

1. First Marking all the Heading in the word file.

2. Then click on to Reference Button in the Menu Bar.

3. Go to Table of Contents

4. Click on Insert Table of Contents

5. Set the Font and Style According to your need using Modify
Button.

6. Click OK

Index of Authorities

Scope

Statement of Problem/Aim/Scope of the Research Paper: This

includes presenting a skeleton of your subject matter. In simpler
terms, under this sub-heading, you have to state what your
research problem is. Say, you are working on an environmental
issue:

Sample: This research paper will highlight the issue of

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sustainable development in India in comparison to issues of

ecology in the United States of America and how current global
development needs to be checked to sustain along with ecology.
Also, this research paper also aims to cover case laws decided by
the Indian Supreme Court vis--vis decisions of committees on
sustainable development.

Limitations

This seeks to restrict the scope of your research topic the things
that you do not want to include in your paper, like any other
related issue or areas which may widen the scope of your topic.
So here is where you restrict the scope of your topic to what you
as a researcher would want. A sample of a limitation clause would
look like this:

Sample: During the course of validating and analyzing resources

that the researcher has relied upon, it has been strongly felt that
the ambit of this area of law is underdeveloped, especially in
India. And therefore, the researcher has found in the course of
looking for information that the information is unorganized and
scattered. The researcher will be working on the available
information through the resources previously categorized to
emphasize on the relevant issues pertaining to the topic.

Literature Survey/Resources Used

Adhering to the Research Methodology format shall include:

Literature Survey/Resources Used: The former (Literary Survey)

is mostly used at the post-graduate level wherein you are
required to give detailed information about the resources you
have relied upon to support your research and compare between
them. The latter gives a simplistic detail of the primary resources
you have relied on for instance, The Environment Protection
Act or the Brundtland Report etc.

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There are essentially three kinds of resources

Primary (Statutes, Case Laws, Original Works or
Books),Secondary (Articles Both online and offline, Journals,
Commentaries, Dictionaries, Compendiums and Encyclopedias)
and Tertiary (Not used as much, but those online resources
which make reference to the primary and secondary sources)
resources.

There lies a basic difference between research questions and

formulating a hypothesis to a research paper. Research
questions are the questions which you would put forth, as a
researcher, to explore your topic. For example:

Is Indian Environment Protection Act, 1986 adequate enough to

cover all aspects of ecological issues?Or

Are United State laws on environment more comprehensive in

penalizing offenders than Indian laws?

A Hypothesis on the other hand, is a premise or presupposition,

on the basis of which one furthers ones research. It expresses the
expectation of a researcher and is the basis on which one starts
ones research paper and also represents how one expects to end
it. Remember, do not get lost in the technical heaviness of the
word. Look at it from the perspective of a researcher and you will
understand that this is an idea which you have in mind when you
start it might get validated or negated in the course of your
research. It looks something like this:

The Indian environmental laws are inadequate in protecting

the ecology in the globalizing world

Please notice that there is already a concrete idea as to what the

researcher wants to look at here that Indian environmental

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laws are inadequate

Chapters should be reflection of what your research questions are

asking and must divide your research into logical flow. The
number of chapters should not be less than three and should be
arranged in an answering manner. Your first chapter could
explore what your topic is followed by the second which
addresses your concerns about the area and third would be a
comparative analysis of your topic.

The full and final paper is often preceded by an abstract

submission that acts as a summary of what you are going to
write/research on the topic. This is in a way act as a filter for the
peer reviewer. Therefore, in the abstract (normally in 200-300
words) you have to give the pin point summary of the research
topic and the objective. After selection of commendable papers, a
peer review panel might opt for an online publication or release a
periodic journal. More can be found in the Research Papers
section.

Give a brief Introduction of the Topic. This may also include

some background information of the topic. You may also include
important case law to describe a situation if you are not getting
substantive material. For Example: if you are writing on sexual
Harassment, you can write about Vishakha v. State of Rajasthan
Case.

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Proceed with your ideas and avoid repeating the phrases.

Paragraphing: use paragraphs as a planning tool. As you write,

form your thought into paragraphs. Begin each paragraph with
one or two sentences that introduces the topic. The beginning of
the paragraph must always have some kind of a hook with the
last paragraph.

Lastly, conclude the research paper taking your stand. If have

already supported your arguments with the authorities, this is a
kind of a prayer, so conclude in affirmative or negative tone as
the case may be.

Kindly Note: Please proof read the paper atleast 4 time before
sending the Research Paper.

Check: Grammar, style, font, spellings, punctuations etc.

Here are some Websites where you can get updates/opportunity

of call for Papers:

www.legaldesire.com

www.knowledgesteez.com

www.projectcloud.com

www.lawlex.org

www.legallyindia.com

www.indiacorplawblog.com

[1] (For example purpose)

[2] Keshavnanda Bharti v. State of kerala, AIR 1973 SC 1461.

[3] DD Basu, The Constitution of India, Vol 1, pg. 1111, Lexis

Nexis. (According to citation format as applicable or

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desired)

Readers can take Legal Desire Online Legal Drafting and

Research Certification Workshop to learn advanced legal drafting
& research methodology, take a look and Register Day. Click here
to Know More.

The Pensters offer impeccable custom research paper

writing service.

Guide to Draft Research Paper by:-

Anuj Kumar,
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Legal Desire (anuj@legaldesire.com)

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