Research papers: A Resource for Educators.

     Research Papers in education can result a good resource for educators to express, share and discuss critical points with colleagues. In fact, by means of research papers academics may have the possibility of  showing  their own understanding of an specific topic, their  critical thinking as well as their writing abilities in order to share and discuss their points of view with other researchers.

     Copley, Greenberg, Handly and Oaks (1996) state that “a research paper is more than the sum of your sources, more than a collection of different pieces of information about a topic” (para. 1). Thus the researchers’ analytical and argumentative skills are needed in such a way that their own critical thinking is presented while being supported by the ideas of other members of the academic community they belong to. When taking into consideration the educational field,  the academic papers these researchers  present can be useful resources that may help to produce new knowledge as well as solve problems. Indeed, they can contribute with both efficient and concrete solutions to

controversial topics.

    Due to the fact that  research paper writing  may involve the need for both analyzing a topic and supporting one’s own stance, both analytical and argumentative research papers could be considered the main types of research articles. In an analytical paper, academic writers are able to interpret a topic as well as discover its main characteristics. On the other hand, in an argumentative one, they may also employ their analytical skills but they may  make use of information in order to support their points of view. The distinction between both kinds of papers is stated by Copley et al. (1996): “An argumentative research paper is analytical , but it uses information as evidence to support its point” (para. 8).

    All in all, research papers can be considered to be solid and efficient means for academics to share their own understandigng of a topic. Moreover,  they can also contribute to the discussion of problematic issues that educators usually encounter. Thus, in the educational field in particular, these pieces of writing  may encourage increasing reflection on a wide range of important issues.

References

Copley, C., Greenberg, L., Handley, E., & Oaks, S. (1996). Developing a research question. Retrieved June, 2011, from Empire State College: State University of New York Web site: http://www.esc.edu/esconline/across_esc/writerscomplex.nsf/0/f87fd7182f0ff21c852569c2005a47b7