What is a research paper?

[HiPeople]

<p>

OP, you seem to be under the belief that there is a collection of data phase
followed by an ‘innovative thinking’ phase. This is topsy turvy.</p>

<p>A key idea which is simple forms the basis for posing the central question. The
research is done to prove (or disprove) the hypothesis. The paper documents
your thinking formally with a little bit of data etc.</p>

<p>My paper was on research done since my sophomore year through Junior year.
The key idea was simple and the work could have been carried out in a garage if
necessary.</p>

<p>Innovative findings have very little to do with the quality of the paper. The
systematic way the key hypothesis is set up and proved tends to be the
major contribution. </p>

<p>Doing research for the sake of competing is a very bad idea. Yes, I know
enough Juniors and Seniors at my public HS who are engaged in exactly
this. It is interesting that the admissions officers at top 5 colleges seem to
know which one of these are not genuinely interested as evidenced by
their admittance outcomes.

</p>

<p>And thanks for this information. Also, I know that doing it for just competition/presitige is a bad idea. I am doing research because I’ve done so many math competitions but I haven’t done anything practical that would actually be used in a real life situation. I’ve made the USAMO and those are neat problems, but I don’t think proving how a checkerboard can be colored has any practical application, but the project that I am doing can affect businesses and save money and energy. Besides, I think it’s actually worse if you do research just to win an award and end up going to a top 5 college because I think then you will do miserable at that college when it comes down to it, and it will be a waste of time and money (I actually know someone like this-he had two amazing partners that carried him). I am just a total novice at this so I was hoping people here could give me a general idea on how to write these papers.</p>