Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Daffodil International University.
Sakiba Binte Yusuf, PhD Research Fellow, School of International Studies, Zhengzhou University, Henan, China.
⏱ Duration: 12 Hours (12 Classes × 60 Minutes) | Mode: Online
This beginner-friendly, hands-on micro-credential course is designed to help participants understand and practice the complete research paper writing process in a clear, practical, and academically responsible manner. Moving beyond pure theory, the course uses a running demo study, guided worksheets, classroom activities, peer review, and instructor feedback to walk learners through formulating research questions to preparing a publishable manuscript or comprehensive research-paper blueprint.
Research paper writing has become an essential academic and professional competency for university students, postgraduates, scholarship applicants, and early-career academics who must prepare theses, conference papers, and evidence-based reports. Beginners and non-native English-speaking learners often understand their subject matter but struggle with structuring topics, synthesizing literature, applying methodologies, adopting APA 7 conventions, avoiding plagiarism, and responsibly leveraging AI tools while preserving academic integrity. This course directly bridges these workbench-level writing and publication gaps.
This course aims to:
Help learners understand the importance and role of research in academia and industry.
Guide learners to identify focused, ethical topics and develop effective titles, problem statements, and research questions.
Teach systematic methods to search, evaluate, synthesize, and cite scholarly literature using APA 7.
Clarify core research designs, sampling strategies, data-collection procedures, analysis techniques, and research ethics.
Guide section-by-section drafting of academic papers from Abstract to Appendices.
Promote responsible, integrity-first use of AI tools and verification of genuine vs. fabricated evidence.
Enable participants to produce an actionable mini research paper or research blueprint.
Class 1: Why Research Matters – University study, higher education, real-life problem-solving, and intro to the running demo paper.
Class 2: Structure of a Research Paper – Title, Abstract, Keywords, IMRAD structure, References, and Appendices.
Class 3: Choosing a Research Topic and Title – Novelty, researchability, research gaps, working vs. publication-style titles.
Class 4: Writing the Introduction – Context, problem statement, research gap, objectives, research questions, and significance.
Class 5: Writing the Literature Review – Finding credible sources, synthesizing, identifying gaps, and conceptual frameworks.
Class 6: Writing the Methodology – Research design, population/sample, sampling, instruments, reliability/validity, and ethics.
Class 7: Writing the Results/Findings – Organizing quantitative and qualitative findings, tables, percentages, themes, and evidence.
Class 8: Writing the Discussion – Interpreting findings, linking to research questions/literature, and explaining implications.
Class 9: Writing the Conclusion, Recommendations, Limitations, and Future Research.
Class 10: APA 7 In-text Citations and References – Paraphrasing, reference lists, DOIs, URLs, and plagiarism avoidance.
Class 11: Writing the Abstract, Keywords, Appendices, and Final Paper Assembly – Academic consistency and presentation.
Class 12: From Draft to Research Ready – Editing, proofreading, responsible AI use, peer review, and final presentation.
Topic Formulation & Problem Statement Sprints: Transforming raw ideas into viable titles, research gaps, and research questions.
Literature Search & Citation Labs: Live database retrieval exercises in Google Scholar, reference synthesis, and APA 7 list building.
Methodology & Data Interpretation Workshops: Designing sample parameters, building basic results tables, and drafting discussion sections.
Peer Review & Capstone Blueprint Formulation: Evaluating draft sections against research integrity standards, validating AI outputs, and finalizing the mini research-paper submission.
After completing the course, participants will be able to:
Explain the standard structure and basic principles of an academic research paper.
Convert broad interests into focused, researchable topics with clear objectives and research questions.
Locate, evaluate, and synthesize scholarly literature into a coherent literature review.
Select appropriate research designs and articulate sampling, instruments, analysis, and ethical safeguards.
Present quantitative/qualitative findings using structured tables, themes, and evidence.
Interpret results logically against previous literature and research questions.
Write effective conclusions, recommendations, limitations, and future research avenues.
Apply APA 7 citation, referencing, and academic formatting standards accurately.
Identify plagiarism, fabricated citations, invented data, and ethical integrity violations.
Utilize generative AI tools responsibly without compromising academic authorship.
Prepare and present a structured mini research paper or publishable blueprint.
Undergraduate students across all disciplines.
Final-year students preparing projects, theses, or research assignments.
Fresh graduates preparing postgraduate applications or scholarship submissions.
Master's and beginning postgraduate students.
Early-career researchers, academics, and professionals writing evidence-based reports.
Non-native English speakers seeking a structured foundation in academic writing.
Minimum Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) or equivalent.
Basic English reading and writing proficiency.
Basic computer literacy and internet navigation skills.
Access to a laptop/computer for writing practicums.
Minimum Age: 18 Years.
Prior publication experience is not required.
After completing this micro-credential, learners may:
Produce undergraduate and postgraduate theses or capstone project papers.
Prepare abstracts, posters, and full papers for academic conferences.
Submit stronger writing samples for international scholarships and master's/PhD admissions.
Advance to specialized training in systematic reviews, advanced quantitative/qualitative methodologies, or journal manuscript preparation.
Enhance analytical reporting skills for careers in academia, think tanks, NGOs, policy institutes, and development organizations.
Software & Digital Platforms: Microsoft Word (or equivalent word processor), Google Scholar, and academic database platforms.
Delivery Infrastructure: Online meeting and presentation software with stable internet connectivity.
Learning Materials: Course handbook, lecture notes, running demo research paper, practical worksheets, and APA 7 quick-reference guides.
Final Mini Research Paper / Research Blueprint – 25%
Topic, Title, Problem, and Research-Question Task – 15%
Literature Review and APA 7 Citation Task – 15%
Methodology Planning Task – 15%
Results / Discussion Interpretation Exercise – 15%
Class Participation and Guided Activities – 10%
Final Presentation / Viva – 5% (Passing Requirement: Minimum 40% overall score with satisfactory attendance per MCA policy)
Tentative Course Fee: BDT 1,000 only
Class Size: Maximum 20–30 participants
Certification: Micro-Credential Certificate issued by DIU-MCA upon completing assessment requirements
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