10 answers
Momin
Student
Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
6
Questions
Updated
1040 views
How do I learn how to write research papers as an undergrad freshman with no research experience?
I am pursuing a bachelor of science degree in data science. I want to be able to write and publish research papers, however any research papers I look into is very complex for me to understand. How do I overcome this barrier quickly?
Any suggestions of introductory research papers I can start with (data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, blockchain, web3, etc) would also be very helpful.
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9 answers
John Daerr
Consulting
8
Answers
Washington, Washington
Updated
John’s Answer
Starting to write research papers as a freshman, especially in a technical field like data science, can feel daunting. Most published research is written for experts, so it’s normal to find them complex at first. The key is to build your skills step by step. Begin by familiarizing yourself with the standard structure of research papers, which typically includes an abstract, introduction, methods, results, and a discussion or conclusion. When you’re just starting out, focus on reading the abstracts, introductions, and conclusions of papers to grasp the main ideas without getting lost in technical details.
As you progress in your undergraduate studies, prioritize building a strong foundation in your core courses—data science, statistics, and programming. Simultaneously, practice reading research papers, starting with survey or review articles. These are designed to summarize and explain the state of the field, making them more accessible for beginners. After reading, try writing short summaries in your own words. This exercise will help you process and retain the information more effectively.
Getting involved in research early is valuable. Look for opportunities to join a professor’s lab or assist graduate students with their projects. Even if you start with small tasks, you’ll gain exposure to the research process. Additionally, treat your class projects as mini-research projects by writing them up formally, following the structure of published papers. Online communities like arXiv, Papers with Code, and Reddit’s r/MachineLearning can also help you find approachable research and connect with others at your level.
To make things easier, here are some beginner-friendly papers and resources: “A Few Useful Things to Know about Machine Learning” by Pedro Domingos, “The Discipline of Machine Learning” by Tom Mitchell, and “Machine Learning: The High Interest Credit Card of Technical Debt.” For artificial intelligence, the early chapters of “Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach” are quite readable, and “A Brief Survey of Deep Learning” is a good overview.
Practice is essential. Try rewriting the abstracts of complex papers in simpler language, or start a blog where you summarize papers or concepts you’re learning. Sharing your writing with classmates or online communities can provide valuable feedback. Don’t hesitate to seek mentorship—professors can recommend beginner-friendly papers and may have small research tasks you can help with, and student research groups can offer support and collaboration.
Finally, be patient with yourself. Developing the ability to understand and write research papers takes time and persistence. Celebrate your progress with each paper you read and summarize. Over time, you’ll find that what once seemed incomprehensible becomes much more approachable.
Best of luck!
As you progress in your undergraduate studies, prioritize building a strong foundation in your core courses—data science, statistics, and programming. Simultaneously, practice reading research papers, starting with survey or review articles. These are designed to summarize and explain the state of the field, making them more accessible for beginners. After reading, try writing short summaries in your own words. This exercise will help you process and retain the information more effectively.
Getting involved in research early is valuable. Look for opportunities to join a professor’s lab or assist graduate students with their projects. Even if you start with small tasks, you’ll gain exposure to the research process. Additionally, treat your class projects as mini-research projects by writing them up formally, following the structure of published papers. Online communities like arXiv, Papers with Code, and Reddit’s r/MachineLearning can also help you find approachable research and connect with others at your level.
To make things easier, here are some beginner-friendly papers and resources: “A Few Useful Things to Know about Machine Learning” by Pedro Domingos, “The Discipline of Machine Learning” by Tom Mitchell, and “Machine Learning: The High Interest Credit Card of Technical Debt.” For artificial intelligence, the early chapters of “Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach” are quite readable, and “A Brief Survey of Deep Learning” is a good overview.
Practice is essential. Try rewriting the abstracts of complex papers in simpler language, or start a blog where you summarize papers or concepts you’re learning. Sharing your writing with classmates or online communities can provide valuable feedback. Don’t hesitate to seek mentorship—professors can recommend beginner-friendly papers and may have small research tasks you can help with, and student research groups can offer support and collaboration.
Finally, be patient with yourself. Developing the ability to understand and write research papers takes time and persistence. Celebrate your progress with each paper you read and summarize. Over time, you’ll find that what once seemed incomprehensible becomes much more approachable.
Best of luck!
Joseph Peterson
Software Engineer
2
Answers
Queen Creek, Arizona
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
I highly recommend youtube videos on writing research papers. I found this one to be very insightful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JcgRyJUfZM
Knowledge is power. as you learn about ai, and other things and their sources, you can write a paper. Listen to some podcast on ai. there are thousands out there that could really boost your knowledge and you can always reference them as resources. Good luck!
Knowledge is power. as you learn about ai, and other things and their sources, you can write a paper. Listen to some podcast on ai. there are thousands out there that could really boost your knowledge and you can always reference them as resources. Good luck!
Destiny Hankerson
Athlete, Artist, and Writer
29
Answers
East Orange, New Jersey
Updated
Destiny’s Answer
Hi Momin,
This is a good question, and I'm glad you're thinking ahead of time about how you'd like to start your research career! I think that writing research papers is something you learn with practice. In college, you often begin writing research papers as part of your assignments. With practice, you become more comfortable and experienced in writing them.
One great resource is Purdue's Online Writing Lab. This was the resource I used when I first started learning about APA writing format (it's the American Psychological Association's writing format). It helped me learn how to create papers with the proper format. You can learn more about it here: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
You can find similar resources to build your writing skills for research papers!
To answer your question about which kind of research paper to start with, a lot of this depends on your goals. If you want to write a study about data science, perhaps you could conduct a small experiment, write your findings, and share that in a research paper. Another kind of research paper, which is more theoretical, is called an exploratory paper. This kind of paper lets you exlore how you would research a subject even if you haven't created the experiment yet. You can learn more about the different kinds of research papers at this website: https://www.aresearchguide.com/types-of-research-papers.html
One thing I found really helpful for writing research papers is reading other people's papers. When I read the professionals' work, it helps me understand how to approach my own research. It may seem daunting, but try shorter papers to read first. Try to pay attention to how the researchers organize their work, create a hypothesis, and then prove or disprove the hypothesis through research. You can explore research papers both within and outside your field, because even in other fields beyond data science, a lot of the research steps are similar.
I agree with the other people here that finding a mentor will help you a lot! Mentors and professors will be happy to guide you in creating your research papers. Their experience will make the process feel less overwhelming.
I hope you continue the good work and enjoy your journey!
Read professional researchers' papers to learn how to create research and share it in a study.
Ask for mentorship and guidance from your professors or other researchers.
Practice writing your own research papers, and use sources such as Purdue's Online Writing Lab to build your skills.
This is a good question, and I'm glad you're thinking ahead of time about how you'd like to start your research career! I think that writing research papers is something you learn with practice. In college, you often begin writing research papers as part of your assignments. With practice, you become more comfortable and experienced in writing them.
One great resource is Purdue's Online Writing Lab. This was the resource I used when I first started learning about APA writing format (it's the American Psychological Association's writing format). It helped me learn how to create papers with the proper format. You can learn more about it here: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
You can find similar resources to build your writing skills for research papers!
To answer your question about which kind of research paper to start with, a lot of this depends on your goals. If you want to write a study about data science, perhaps you could conduct a small experiment, write your findings, and share that in a research paper. Another kind of research paper, which is more theoretical, is called an exploratory paper. This kind of paper lets you exlore how you would research a subject even if you haven't created the experiment yet. You can learn more about the different kinds of research papers at this website: https://www.aresearchguide.com/types-of-research-papers.html
One thing I found really helpful for writing research papers is reading other people's papers. When I read the professionals' work, it helps me understand how to approach my own research. It may seem daunting, but try shorter papers to read first. Try to pay attention to how the researchers organize their work, create a hypothesis, and then prove or disprove the hypothesis through research. You can explore research papers both within and outside your field, because even in other fields beyond data science, a lot of the research steps are similar.
I agree with the other people here that finding a mentor will help you a lot! Mentors and professors will be happy to guide you in creating your research papers. Their experience will make the process feel less overwhelming.
I hope you continue the good work and enjoy your journey!
Destiny recommends the following next steps:
Jennifer Bloomquist- CIPP/US/E, CIPM
Risk Specialist for Privacy and Confidentiality Impact Accessments
11
Answers
Clarksville, Tennessee
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Hello Momin,
It's exciting to read your question because you already know your goal and are taking steps to achieve it by asking your question. Published scientific papers are a specific type of writing that likely won't be covered by taking an undergraduate general composition class. The answers you have received that I have been able to read are very good suggestions. I have 2 more suggestions that you might find helpful.
You might find resources by reading guides such as the one below. There are also citations toward the end that you might also find helpful reading.
https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bes2.1258
Consider asking your college/university advisor or professors if they know anyone who can be a mentor. They might suggest another undergraduate or graduate student. It's also possible they will know some people deep in their career who can share examples of what their first scientific research paper was composed compared to their most recently published paper.
As in most things in life, learning by doing and learning by making mistakes will likely be part of your journey toward meeting your goal. It can feel difficult in the moment, but if you have a mentor or several mentors, they can help you when you're doing it.
I wish you the best!
Jennifer
It's exciting to read your question because you already know your goal and are taking steps to achieve it by asking your question. Published scientific papers are a specific type of writing that likely won't be covered by taking an undergraduate general composition class. The answers you have received that I have been able to read are very good suggestions. I have 2 more suggestions that you might find helpful.
You might find resources by reading guides such as the one below. There are also citations toward the end that you might also find helpful reading.
https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bes2.1258
Consider asking your college/university advisor or professors if they know anyone who can be a mentor. They might suggest another undergraduate or graduate student. It's also possible they will know some people deep in their career who can share examples of what their first scientific research paper was composed compared to their most recently published paper.
As in most things in life, learning by doing and learning by making mistakes will likely be part of your journey toward meeting your goal. It can feel difficult in the moment, but if you have a mentor or several mentors, they can help you when you're doing it.
I wish you the best!
Jennifer
Tyler White
Account Executive - Tech Sales, Real Estate Investor, Coach
29
Answers
Springville, Utah
Updated
Tyler’s Answer
Great question.
A few thoughts come to mind:
-One of the best things that I could have done in college to improve my writing skills was to take an advanced writing course early on in college. Many universities have this as a requirement for year's 3 & 4, but would be great for you to get familiar with research articles and writing research articles now.
-One of the ways to become increasingly familiar with research articles is to become proficient at understanding the introduction & concluding thoughts. The concepts are summarized, the flow makes more sense (compared to the body & the rest of the research presented), and you get a clear sense for what the main points are. I got in a habit of reading this for the first few articles I read, and then it became easier to write.
-I second the thoughts John said here as it can appear daunting in the beginning, but do what you can to make it easier in the long run
Hope this helps!
A few thoughts come to mind:
-One of the best things that I could have done in college to improve my writing skills was to take an advanced writing course early on in college. Many universities have this as a requirement for year's 3 & 4, but would be great for you to get familiar with research articles and writing research articles now.
-One of the ways to become increasingly familiar with research articles is to become proficient at understanding the introduction & concluding thoughts. The concepts are summarized, the flow makes more sense (compared to the body & the rest of the research presented), and you get a clear sense for what the main points are. I got in a habit of reading this for the first few articles I read, and then it became easier to write.
-I second the thoughts John said here as it can appear daunting in the beginning, but do what you can to make it easier in the long run
Hope this helps!
Suman Niroula
1
Answer
Updated
Suman’s Answer
If you're a freshman with no research experience, the best way to start is by reading a bunch of research papers in your field - yes, even if they feel overwhelming at first. This helped me a ton! Over time, you'll start to recognize how papers are structured and how researchers build arguments. Use tools like ExplainPaper, Semantic Scholar, or Google Scholar to find and understand papers. I also used ChatGPT and Gemini to break down confusing sections or explain technical terms in plain language, which made things way less intimidating and helped me learn faster. I explored datasets from Kaggle and tried small data science projects just to get used to experimenting, analyzing, and documenting my process. Even turning one of those into a blog post or a mini paper can build confidence.
What really pushed me forward was finding other students online who were also interested in research. We connected over similar topics and ended up writing a survey paper together—basically a summary of what’s already been done in a specific area. That’s a great way to start writing without needing original experiments right away. To find people like that, I recommend checking out Reddit, Discord servers (many have study or research groups), GitHub for collaborative projects, or even Twitter/X where students often share their research journeys using hashtags like AcademicTwitter. Along the way, I picked up tools like Overleaf (for writing in LaTeX), Zotero (for managing sources), and Coursera’s Writing in the Sciences course. Don’t wait to feel “ready” - you learn by doing, collaborating, asking questions, and staying curious. Professors, online communities, and open data projects are all great places to start. You've got this!
What really pushed me forward was finding other students online who were also interested in research. We connected over similar topics and ended up writing a survey paper together—basically a summary of what’s already been done in a specific area. That’s a great way to start writing without needing original experiments right away. To find people like that, I recommend checking out Reddit, Discord servers (many have study or research groups), GitHub for collaborative projects, or even Twitter/X where students often share their research journeys using hashtags like AcademicTwitter. Along the way, I picked up tools like Overleaf (for writing in LaTeX), Zotero (for managing sources), and Coursera’s Writing in the Sciences course. Don’t wait to feel “ready” - you learn by doing, collaborating, asking questions, and staying curious. Professors, online communities, and open data projects are all great places to start. You've got this!
Ken Knitter
System Administrator
3
Answers
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Updated
Ken’s Answer
Hi Momin,
Take an advanced writing class as one of your intro subjects. You will quickly see the results. Also, these days, ai is really giving people a leg up to learn much quicker! College seems like a daunting challenge...at first. Once you get your feet wet you will become quite professional at writing papers!
Take an advanced writing class as one of your intro subjects. You will quickly see the results. Also, these days, ai is really giving people a leg up to learn much quicker! College seems like a daunting challenge...at first. Once you get your feet wet you will become quite professional at writing papers!
Lilit Terteryan
R&D Engineer
4
Answers
Yerevan, Armenia
Updated
Lilit’s Answer
1. Understand the Structure of a Research Paper
Most papers follow this format:
Abstract – Summary of the paper
Introduction – Problem statement and motivation
Related Work – What others have done
Methodology – Your approach
Results – What you found
Conclusion – What it means and future work
Start by reading papers just to identify these sections.
You can try to write a small paper.
Pick a topic you’re curious about and write a short paper (2–3 pages):
Define a problem
Review 3–5 papers
Propose a simple idea or experiment
Summarize your findings
In a research paper—especially in fields like data science, machine learning, AI, blockchain, or Web3—the Conclusion section is your opportunity to wrap up your work clearly and meaningfully. Here's what you should include:
✅ What to Include in the Conclusion
Restate the Research Problem or Objective
Briefly remind the reader what you set out to explore or solve.
Summarize Key Findings
Highlight the most important results or insights from your work.
Discuss the Implications
What do your findings mean for the field or real-world applications?
Acknowledge Limitations
Mention any constraints or weaknesses in your study (e.g., small dataset, limited scope).
Suggest Future Work
Propose how the research could be extended or improved.
Most papers follow this format:
Abstract – Summary of the paper
Introduction – Problem statement and motivation
Related Work – What others have done
Methodology – Your approach
Results – What you found
Conclusion – What it means and future work
Start by reading papers just to identify these sections.
You can try to write a small paper.
Pick a topic you’re curious about and write a short paper (2–3 pages):
Define a problem
Review 3–5 papers
Propose a simple idea or experiment
Summarize your findings
In a research paper—especially in fields like data science, machine learning, AI, blockchain, or Web3—the Conclusion section is your opportunity to wrap up your work clearly and meaningfully. Here's what you should include:
✅ What to Include in the Conclusion
Restate the Research Problem or Objective
Briefly remind the reader what you set out to explore or solve.
Summarize Key Findings
Highlight the most important results or insights from your work.
Discuss the Implications
What do your findings mean for the field or real-world applications?
Acknowledge Limitations
Mention any constraints or weaknesses in your study (e.g., small dataset, limited scope).
Suggest Future Work
Propose how the research could be extended or improved.
Lilit Terteryan
R&D Engineer
4
Answers
Yerevan, Armenia
Updated
Lilit’s Answer
First, get to know the structure of a research paper. Most papers are organized like this:
- Abstract: A quick summary of the paper.
- Introduction: The problem and why it matters.
- Related Work: What others have done on this topic.
- Methodology: Your approach or method.
- Results: What you discovered.
- Conclusion: What your findings mean and what could be done next.
Begin by reading papers to spot these sections. You can also try writing a short paper yourself. Choose a topic that interests you and write a brief paper (2–3 pages):
1. Define a problem.
2. Review 3–5 related papers.
3. Suggest a simple idea or experiment.
4. Sum up your findings.
In research papers, especially in areas like data science, machine learning, AI, blockchain, or Web3, the Conclusion is your chance to tie everything together. Here’s what to include:
- Restate the Research Problem or Objective: Remind the reader of what you aimed to explore or solve.
- Summarize Key Findings: Point out the most important results or insights.
- Discuss the Implications: Explain what your findings mean for the field or real-world use.
- Acknowledge Limitations: Mention any limitations in your study, like a small dataset or limited scope.
- Suggest Future Work: Offer ideas on how the research could be expanded or improved.
- Abstract: A quick summary of the paper.
- Introduction: The problem and why it matters.
- Related Work: What others have done on this topic.
- Methodology: Your approach or method.
- Results: What you discovered.
- Conclusion: What your findings mean and what could be done next.
Begin by reading papers to spot these sections. You can also try writing a short paper yourself. Choose a topic that interests you and write a brief paper (2–3 pages):
1. Define a problem.
2. Review 3–5 related papers.
3. Suggest a simple idea or experiment.
4. Sum up your findings.
In research papers, especially in areas like data science, machine learning, AI, blockchain, or Web3, the Conclusion is your chance to tie everything together. Here’s what to include:
- Restate the Research Problem or Objective: Remind the reader of what you aimed to explore or solve.
- Summarize Key Findings: Point out the most important results or insights.
- Discuss the Implications: Explain what your findings mean for the field or real-world use.
- Acknowledge Limitations: Mention any limitations in your study, like a small dataset or limited scope.
- Suggest Future Work: Offer ideas on how the research could be expanded or improved.