Ivy Research Paper

An ivy research paper is an academic document that a student must write as a course requirement in an Ivy League school.  Because there are high expectations for Ivy League students, ivy research papers will likely be held to a higher standard than research papers written for less-renowned institutions.  The primary difference between an ivy research paper and a regular research paper is likely not in the length of the report, but rather in its depth; an ivy report should reflect an advanced-caliber student who has dedicated advanced-caliber work to the assignment.

Because research papers are by nature syntheses of existing scholarly research, one of the most important aspects of any report is the quality of research the student includes.  For ivy research papers, the student is expected to have research skills that enable her to be discriminating in the sources she uses.  This means that the student must only use credible scholarly sources that have been peer reviewed.  Typically, such sources are not found on the internet, but through a university library database.  Furthermore, students must be conscious of when their sources were published.  In some disciplines, it is always preferable to use sources that are no more than ten years old.  In other disciplines, older sources are fine; however, a student should always think twice before including a source that was published several decades ago unless he is using that source to historicize or contextualize his topic.  

In addition to using quality sources, a student must be able to present such sources in a way that creates an interesting discussion rather than a dull report.  The best way to do this is to ensure that in any given paragraph, section, or page of text, there is more of the student's commentary and analysis than commentary and analysis from the sources.  In other words, every time a source is quoted or paraphrased, the student should comment on that source to explain, analyze, argue with, or engage the information presented.  This will result in a document that both informs the reader about what others have said about the particular report topic and also presents the student's own opinions and analyses regarding the topic.  Every ivy report should strive for such a balance.

Finally, ivy reports should be gracefully composed and correctly documented.  The standard of writing in Ivy League education is often held very high; therefore, learners should write multiple drafts of their documents, enlist the assistance of peers or writing centers as outside readers who can give feedback, and proof carefully to check for grammar and style errors.

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