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How to Write a Research Paper on Architecture: Step-by-Step Guide

Sep 30, 2021

By Maramani House Plans

An architecture student that envisions joining the field in their career life can learn important architectural skills through writing research papers.

Also, researching and writing original architectural content allows students to channel what they’ve been learning into practical skills. These are skills they can use later in their career world.

To effectively write a quality piece of content, a student should choose a topic they understand well and adhere to the set structure parameters. 

How to Write a Research Paper on Architecture

Create your research paper topic.

The field of architecture is wide, but you must create a unique topic to help your paper stand out and avoid common  research paper writing mistakes . But, first, you should brainstorm from a broader perspective before researching for ideas online or from offline sources. 

Because the architecture field deals with building structures , building designs, and building plans , you should go a little deeper when researching topics such as how a historical city like Athens was built or how hanging bridges are designed.

Get some understanding of any loopholes in the design, as they will serve as important points in your paper.

You should then narrow down all the research topics you have chosen and focus on one topic.

Consolidate your information sources

With your research paper topic ready, your next step is to gather relevant information for writing your discussion points.

For example, suppose your research topic is on green architecture, AI in architecture, or changing culture and modern architecture, you need to immerse yourself in research again to get the right sources for information.

For architecture topics, books might be your focus. Architecture is an old practice, and there are hundreds of books written about great structures and how they were created.

For better results in your research, you can use the advanced search feature to  formulate research questions .  

Journals and articles form another excellent source for research. Take note of each source you come across, including the type of source, page number, publication date, author, and so on.

These details will be useful when citing your references at the end of your research paper.

Introduce your paper and create your thesis

The introduction and thesis are two important components of your research paper on architecture. They play a significant role in determining if someone will be interested in reading your paper or if they will just award some grades and move on to another paper. 

In one short paragraph, the introduction gives details of why anyone should read your paper. First, it focuses on the background information, then sheds light on the purpose of the paper.

The thesis, on the other hand, is often confused for the introduction, but it’s different. It summarizes the main point in your paper by stating the topic, the main idea, and briefly noting some supporting information. These could be supporting or opposing information. 

The points in your introduction and thesis should be strong, attractive, and highly relevant to your topic. It should urge the reader to continue reading.

Ask professionals for help on your research paper

Writing college research papers may be challenging due to time constraints, so you may choose to pay a professional for assistance.

For example, there was a time I was doing technical research in architectural design but did not have enough time to complete it. So, I  paid for research paper  at Edubirdie to help me save time and pursue other educational endeavors simultaneously.

Professional researchers understand what students go through when trying to meet assignment deadlines. 

Create a detailed structure

Even when you have all your sources, you may not write a well-structured paper if you don’t have a detailed order of how the information will flow. This order is your paper structure, and it outlines the number of headings you will use.

Ideally, your paper structure should start with the main heading, followed by the thesis, body, subheadings, conclusion, and ends with citations. It also highlights the points you will use to prove your arguments and other supporting information relevant to your paper.

In simple words, creating a detailed structure involves you arranging your points in an orderly manner so that once you begin to write, your content flow will be smooth.

Piece together all your information

Once your structure is ready, begin piecing together your headings, subheadings, supporting points, and every relevant information into a smart, well-thought, and widely researched paper. 

When writing, do not ignore the  paragraph structure  because it affects grammar flow, progression from one point to the next, and quality. Also, keep your focus on the main topic lest you wander away into irrelevant information.

Proofread, edit, and cite your paper

Your research paper on architecture will be incomplete without proper editing and citations.

For thorough editing, first read through your paper without using any editing tool. Then, correct the errors that you can easily pinpoint. Afterward, you can run the paper on an editing tool. The tool will help you achieve grammatically correct content that is attractive to your audience.

Even after editing using editing tools, take your time to read your paper again and then use the right citation format to cite your paper. After citing your paper, check for errors and plagiarism, and write the concluding paragraph. 

A research paper on architecture enhances students' research and writing skills. It helps students gain better knowledge of the architectural field, which will prove useful in the career world.

To write the best quality paper, students must commit themselves to research and use their cognitive skills to identify any loopholes in their sources. They must also pay attention to structure and paragraph flow to make their paper unique and attractive. 

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How To Write Research Paper In Architecture

Writing research papers on architecture can be both rewarding and challenging. It is not an easy task and requires knowledge, dedication, and hard work in order to create a well-researched paper. A research paper on architecture should be well-structured and organized, covering a specific and interesting subject. It should provide an objective presentation of the theories and facts pertinent to the research topic. A good research paper should contain the facts, the arguments, and the conclusion drawn from the study. Moreover, it should be written in a fluent, coherent and factual manner, and should include relevant references and citations.

The second step is to research the topic thoroughly. This will enable the researcher to identify the topics, theories and facts relevant to the research topic. Additionally, it is important to ensure that the research is comprehensive and that all the facts gathered are accurate and up-to-date. Furthermore, it is important to use reliable and relevant sources and to create a comprehensive bibliography.

Writing a research paper in architecture is no easy task, but with a well-structured plan, comprehensive research and a clear understanding of the topic, the research paper can be completed with success. The process of writing the paper requires dedication and consistency, but with personal determination and organization, the paper can be written in a systematic and well-structured manner.

Showcasing Advanced Theories

When writing a research paper on architecture, it is important to showcase advanced theories, debates and other evidence to support the topic of the paper. This can involve drawing from literature, historic and modern sources, personal observations, and more. Understanding the context and different social, political, and economic implications may also be important for providing reliable evidence and demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the research topic.

Fact-Checking

One of the most important steps while writing the research paper is to fact-check the information. This ensures that the research paper contains accurate information and statistics. Furthermore, fact-checking also enables the researcher to identify any potential ethical issues associated with the topic and address these appropriately.

Style and Format

Proofreading.

The final step before submitting the research paper is proofreading. This step is essential for ensuring the accuracy of the paper, as well as its overall structure and presentation. Proofreading allows the researcher to identify any potential errors and correct them appropriately.

Peer-Reviewing

Peer-reviewing research papers before submission is a good practice. This involves having the research paper reviewed by experts in the relevant field to provide feedback on its quality and accuracy. This feedback can help the researcher further refine the paper and create the best possible version before submission.

Sharing Results

Locating resources.

In order to complete a research paper on architecture, it is important to locate the appropriate resources. These resources can be found in libraries, online databases, and other sources. Additionally, it is important to consider the impact of technology on architecture, as well as the use of modern materials and methods.

Creative Thinking

When writing a research paper on architecture, it is important to also consider creative thinking. This involves using innovative approaches and perspectives to create solutions that are both effective and creative. Additionally, creative thinking can also enhance the impact and relevance of the research paper.

Data Collection

Data analysis.

Once the data has been collected, the researcher should analyze it and draw meaningful conclusions. This involves interpreting the data and using it to support the research topic. Additionally, data analysis also enables the researcher to identify any potential problems and areas of improvement.

Maintaining Credibility

The credibility of the research paper is an important factor when it comes to research and writing. In order to ensure the credibility of the research paper, it is important to cite all the sources used. Additionally, it is also important to use effective and appropriate language so as to maintain the credibility of the paper and its content.

Anita Johnson

Leave a comment cancel reply.

The Practice of Architectural Research: How to start

Architectural research is the organized investigation done in the architectural field by studying materials and sources to generate insights, knowledge, and understanding. This research is based on tools, competencies, and methods found in the architectural field and possesses its strategies, scope, knowledge base and tactics. Research is vital to architectural practice, as it teaches prospective architects important architectural skills in research. Exposure to research-based education for architecture students creates better development and learning experiences. Research in schools helps to create a research mentality in architects.

There was a rise in the independence of architectural theory as a discipline in the 1960s, developing the theory of architectural practice. This creates a self-referential and independent area in architecture which is separate from the world of production and the sphere of action. The break between theory and practice was stated to be linked in the 1990s through the development and use of ontological research of exemplary buildings integrated with analytical research methods. This approach was developed by architects in the academic field, and it focuses on the principles of architecture, grand narratives production and the voice of the architect.

There are three types of research approaches in architecture, with each having a distinct approach (Seppo  et al.  2002). Practice-based research and architectural design -based research are created from the architect’s theory or related disciplines. These two types of research are research approaches which are theory-based and come from scientific practice. The action research approach is the last type of architectural research; it is practice-oriented and originates from architectural practice. This article will consider methods to go about the action research approach and the architectural design-based research.

Architectural design -based research 

Create your research paper topic

Identifying a research topic is the first line of action in starting research. Architecture is a broad field of study with different research areas such as architectural history, philosophy of architecture, design theory, interpretation of architecture , etc. Reviewing from a wide perspective to a narrower perspective enables one to grasp the topic better.

Resources Gathering 

Choosing a research topic is followed by obtaining relevant data to carry out the research. This relevant data may include building codes and existing research to write discussion points. These existing studies are found in articles and journals and must be cited accordingly if used in the research paper. Research resources are also collected by the use of research questions developed, which serves as the advanced search feature.

Structure of the research paper

The detailed structuring of a research paper involves arranging the points in an orderly way for the smooth flow of the article. Abstract and introduction are the first point of call in a research paper. They are important elements of the research paper, providing the overview for a reader to continue going over the research paper.

Review the research paper

A research paper must be properly cited and reviewed after writing to correct errors within the article . This review can be done using an editing tool which helps produce grammatically correct content which is easily understandable by the reader. A proper citation of the article should be carried out to acknowledge the use of individuals’ ideas and for further reading by prospective readers.

Getting Funding | Architectural Research

Funding is a major issue in carrying out architectural research. There are numerous ways to get funding for research projects. Architectural bodies offer to fund researchers, which the funding is based on how feasible the projects are and their relevance to the architectural field. Schools also provide funding for researchers and some help researchers in finding grant opportunities.

Action research approach | Architectural Research

Research Strategy

In action research, knowledge is developed and integrated into a particular area in the architectural field. This knowledge is researched by an architectural firm, which in turn focuses its research efforts on aligning with the firm’s business strategy . Architectural research is carried out by different organizations to give the firm strategic benefits and a comparative advantage in the field. This research may focus on the technical or the material research process to create new areas of expertise for the firm or improve the current areas.

Daring during research

Architectural firms sometimes focus their research on new and revolutionary innovations as opposed to research aimed at improving the current architectural field. Research is made to test new methods and ideas, i.e., research is mistake bound and about trial and error. Risky research gives the firm a comparative advantage and can cause a big edge in business.

Networking in research

Building a network of experts and advisers focused on research in an architectural firm. This group tests and discusses new concepts which are essential in research. Networking is used to gather knowledge about new research development and new ideas across the research areas. Networking creates an ecosystem of research collaborators which create new knowledge in the field and recognize what happens in the architectural profession.

Teamwork in Research

Collaboration within a firm to carry out research in the architectural field is another dilemma for architectural firms. Architecture is an area that focuses on creativity, and such creativity can be discovered through collaboration. Teamwork should be encouraged in research as it produces new design processes and conceptual ideas through an iterative process which gives a competitive advantage to the architectural firm involved in the research.

Involving the academics | Architectural Research

The architecture academia is focused on research and development, which is an interesting area for architectural firms. Encouraging the participation of academic researchers to participate in a firm’s research through workshops . This allows for a better understanding of happenings both in academics and in architectural practice, such as the time pressures of practice and roles in research projects.

References:

• Plans, M. H. (2021) How to Write a Research Paper on Architecture: Step-by-Step Guide , maramani.com . Available at: https://www.maramani.com/blogs/home-design-ideas/research-paper-architecture (Accessed: August 4, 2022).
• efront (2016) Research in Architectural Practice – 6 ways for architects to create upstream knowledge , ACA – Association of Consulting Architects Australia . Available at: https://aca.org.au/research-in-architectural-practice-6-ways-for-architects-to-create-upstream-knowledge/ (Accessed: August 4, 2022).
• How to Write a Research Paper on Architecture (no date) Fiu.edu . Available at: https://faculty.fiu.edu/~readg/TipsLinks/HowtoWriteaResearchPaper.htm (Accessed: August 4, 2022).
• Lock, H. (2015) “How to apply for research funding: 10 tips for academics,” 10 May. Available at: https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2015/may/10/how-to-apply-for-research-funding-10-tips-for-academics(Accessed: August 4, 2022).
• View of How to Start a Research Program as an Architect in Academia (AIA) (no date) Iit.edu . Available at: https://prometheus.library.iit.edu/index.php/journal/article/view/45/31 (Accessed: August 4, 2022).
• Faculty of Architecture (no date) Research centres and areas of interest – Architecture – Architecture – The University of Sydney , Faculty of Architecture . Available at: https://www.sydney.edu.au/handbooks/archive/2016/architecture/postgraduate/research/research_areas_architecture.shtml.html (Accessed: August 4, 2022).
• Candid Learning (no date) Candid Learning . Available at: https://learning.candid.org/resources/knowledge-base/researchers; (Accessed: August 4, 2022).
• Dr Prem Community Writer (2019) How architecture students can benefit from research papers on architecture , Designbuzz . Available at: https://designbuzz.com/how-architecture-students-can-benefit-from-research-papers-on-architecture/ (Accessed: August 4, 2022).
• Rawat, Karmakar and Sharma (2021) “Importance of Research in Architecture,” International journal of engineering research & technology (Ahmedabad) , 10(1). doi: 10.17577/IJERTV10IS010057.
• CfP: The Practice of Architectural Research. Ghent, 8-10 October 2020 (no date) Eahn.org . Available at: https://eahn.org/2020/05/cfp-the-practice-of-architectural-research-ghent-8-10-october-2020/ (Accessed: August 4, 2022).

Chukwuebuka is an architecture student and an amateur writer using his skills to express his ideas to the world. He has written a few articles for DAPC Uniben and he is adventuring to become a popular writer.

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Getting Started - Topic Selection

Check out our Thesis Finding Aid to see topics previous students have chosen. 

Brainstorm for ideas - what problem(s) might you address through design.

• choose a topic that will enable you to read and understand the literature
• ensure that the topic is manageable and that material is available
• make a list of keywords
• be flexible
• define your topic as a focused research question
• research and read more about your topic
• use your question to formulate a thesis statement

For more ideas check out our guide on How to Write an Academic Paper

Types of Architectural Research

There are many types of research in architecture but they all share the same goal to create new architectural knowledge. The books on this page provide more information on conducting research. Depending on your thesis topic you may choose to apply any research methods, but each thesis includes at a minimum the following:

• Literature Review - A summary and analysis of published sources on the thesis topic that brings the reader up to date with current thinking.
• Case Studies - Built projects relevant to the thesis topic which are analyzed for ideas and inspiration. Usually include images, data, drawings, and description and analysis of the project. 
• Physical model - A scale model physical representation of the design solution intended to demonstrate the space and communicate design ideas. 

Some other approaches include questionnaires, surveys, interviews, site analysis, demographics, digital models, materials research, performativity tests, consumer research, or financial viability. They are all valid. The type of research you do will be determined by your research question. 

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Writing About Architecture

For those new to architectural history (and for general inspiration for everyone) discipline-specific guides to architecture research and writing about architecture can be very useful. Here are a few, and places to find more:

A great way to learn to write about architecture, as illustrated in Alexandra Lange's book, is to model other architecture writers. To find books and collections of architectural criticism, browse the library catalog for subject headings such as  Architectural Criticism , or browse the library shelves in sections  720.1  (Dewey classification numbers) or  NA 2599  (Library of Congress classification numbers). Ask us to show you where to find them in the Architecture Reading Room.

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The Writing Place is Northwestern’s center for peer writing consultations.

Whether you are writing a paper for a class, composing application letters and essays, or working on some other writing project, a Writing Place consultant can help you at any stage of the writing process, from talking about ideas to developing a plan to revising and editing a draft.

Consultations are free and available to anyone in the Northwestern community: undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, or staff.

Citation Management

To help you keep track of the citations you find for articles, books, and images while you're researching, and to help you integrate the citations into your papers, footnotes, and bibliographies while you're writing, the library supports two citation management tools, EndNote and Zotero.

• Workshops Library workshops on using EndNote, Zotero, can be found on the main library workshops calendar.
• EndNote EndNote is a subscription software program designed to store and manipulate bibliographic information (your citations). This link takes you to Northwestern University Libraries' full guide to using EndNote.

• Zotero Zotero is a free bibliographic manager for your citations that is usable with through your computer's web browser. This link takes you to Northwestern University Libraries' full guide to using Zotero.

Style Manuals

• Chicago Manual of Style Online, 16th ed. The full text of the Chicago Manual of Style is also available to Northwestern library users online.

Citing and Plagiarism

• The Office of the Provost's Guide to Academic Integrity "Academic Integrity: A Basic Guide" governs academic integrity for all students and faculty at Northwestern. There are four main sections of the Guide: - Principles Regarding Academic Integrity - Eight Cardinal Rules of Academic Integrity - Counseling and Contacts - How to Avoid Plagiarism
• Weinberg College's page on Academic Integrity This page states that "Plagiarism includes more than just copying someone’s work. Northwestern's 'Principles Regarding Academic Integrity' defines plagiarism as 'submitting material that in part or whole is not entirely one's own work without attributing those same portions to their correct source.' The brochure 'Academic Integrity: A Basic Guide' [see above] contains a discussion of the proper citation of sources ['How to Avoid Plagiarism']. Northwestern's Writing Place provides more tips for avoiding plagiarism."
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Finding Journal Articles

Here is a list of important architecture journals you might be interested in browsing. These are just a few examples. Do not discount a journal because it's not on the list. Occasionally you might find an article that may be considered scholarly even though the journal is not considered scholarly. Ask your professor or GSI when in doubt.

The current issues of architectural journals are available to you for browsing on the second floor of the library. They are organized alphabetically in the low brown cases to your left as you face the Reserves Desk. The oversize journals are on the tall shelves behind the New Book Shelf. Bound journals (containing older issues) are organized by call number and are in the room through the glass doors beyond the current journals.

Click on the links in the list below to see if electronic access is available for the journal. Please note that not all journals will be available electronically.

• Architectural History: Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain Call Number: NA 1 .A1 A67
• Arq (Architectural Research Quarterly) Call Number: NA 2000 .A77
• ArQ (Architettura quaderni) Call Number: NA 4 .A7831
• Art Bulletin Call Number: N 1 .A65
• Aula Call Number: NA 702.5 .A95
• Building & Environment Call Number: TH1 .B9325 B
• Building Research & Practice Call Number: TH 1 .B9323
• Harvard Design Magazine Call Number: NA 2300 .H34 G73
• Journal of Architectural & Planning Research Call Number: NA1 .A67166
• Journal of Architectural Education Call Number: NA2000.A1 J86
• Journal of Architecture Call Number: NA 1 .J681
• Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians Call Number: NA 11 .A63
• Journal of Urban Design Call Number: NA 9000 .J87

Databases for Architecture Research

The most appropriate database for finding articles on architectural subjects is the Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals .  

The Avery Index and other relevant databases for your research are listed here:

• ArtBibliographies Modern Abstracts of articles, books, essays, exhibition catalogs & reviews, and dissertations covering artists & movements from the late 19th century to all aspects of modern & contemporary art, including photography from its invention in 1839 to the present.
• Art Source with Art Index Retrospective Indexes key international English-language arts publications, including periodicals, yearbooks, museum bulletins, competition & award notices, exhibition listings, interviews, film reviews, and more. Includes full text for selected articles since 1997.
• JSTOR / Images Click on the Images Tab to search JSTOR Images (formerly Artstor), a rich archive of images of art and architectural monuments, landscape architecture, public art, and cultural images.
• Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals Citation database focused on periodicals in architecture and related fields, emphasizing architectural design and history, construction, public arts, urban planning and design, etc.
• Bibliography of the History of Art Covering European and American art from late antiquity to the present, the Bibliography of the History of Art indexes and abstracts art-related books, conference proceedings and dissertations, exhibition and dealer's catalogs.
• Building Types Online 850 searchable case studies of buildings: expertly authored texts, architectural drawings and photographs selected from Birkhäuser manuals.
• CumInCAD CumInCAD is a cumulative index of publications about computer aided architectural design.
• Design & Applied Arts Index (DAAI) Contains over 100,000 annotated references to articles from over 450 design and craft journals published worldwide; plus data on over 46,000 designers, craftspeople, studios, workshops, firms, etc.
• DETAIL Inspiration A database of visual and textual content of the German architectural magazine, Detail, from 1987- present.
• JSTOR This link opens in a new window Full-text access to the archives of 2,600+ journals and 35,000+ books in the arts, humanities, social sciences and sciences.
• Material ConneXion Database A searchable/browseable database of innovative and new materials.
• Nexis Uni This link opens in a new window Full-text access to over 15,000 sources of news, business, legal, and reference information worldwide.
• ProQuest Research Library Searches over 5,000 multi-disciplinary academic and popular journals.
• RIBA Library The library catalog for the Royal Institute of British Architects.
• UrbanNext Lexicon Thematically organized Actar publications (articles, books, and interviews) on urban design issues.

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WHAT EXPERT RESEARCHERS KNOW

Few buildings have had single books written about them, so expert researchers know to conduct searches for the architect's or firm's name and across the professional and popular literature for information about a particular building. 

Buildings are often categorized as subjects in library catalogs, which helps locate materials quickly. Remember to select  Subject Browse  when entering your search terms in  Orbis . Try these tips:

• Search under the full name of the building in direct order: Ex: " Guggenheim museum ". If the building has a different official name (e.g. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum), you will be re-directed to that listing, and, if there is more than one building with a similar name (e.g. Museo Guggenheim Bilbao) you will be presented with possibilities from which to choose. 
• You can also look for the building by its location: Ex:  Bilbao (Spain)
• Or enter a related term for the building, such as what it contains: Ex:  Rare book libraries  (to find the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library on Yale's campus.
• If the building has had more than one name, try all the possibilities: Ex:  Pan Am building  is now known as the MetLife building.
• If the building is known by its address, try both the numerals and the spelled-out version of the address: Ex:  154 East 89th Street  vs.  One Fifty-Four East Eighty Ninth Street
• If the building is not likely to be the subject of an entire book, try using broader categories such as "churches" or "apartment buildings", in combination with the other tips, to locate books that might have a chapter or section on the building of your research.

To find citations for articles in journals, start by looking up the building in the  Avery Index to Architecture Periodicals

Starting Your Research

Types of Resources

Books : Look for books when researching an architect, movement, or broad subject. Sometimes called "monographs", books can include bibliographies, footnotes, and indexes and often includes numerous images.

Arts Databases (Journal Articles): Look for articles in databases when you are researching a more contemporary/timely topic and more narrowly defined topics. Articles tend to be more closely focused on an argument, theory, or specific topic. Articles can be found in popular magazines (e.g,. AIA's Architecture) and can be peer-reviewed by experts, meaning extra vetting of information. Indexing in databases like the Avery Index allows simultaneous searching by subject across hundreds or thousands of magazines and journals.

Newspaper Articles : Published quickly and frequently, often documenting a particular place, easy to read

Biographical Information : Quickly look up an architect's nationality, birth and death dates, titles of major works, writings, etc.

Primary Sources: Present first-hand accounts and direct evidence, as in correspondence, diaries, or photographs

Dissertations and Theses: Find out which topics current and past scholars have researched extensively, look at their bibliographies for additional sources

Image and Video : Documentary visual evidence

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Primary v. Secondary Sources

Secondary sources  interpret and analyze primary sources. Because they are often written long afterward by parties not directly involved (but who may have special expertise), they can provide historical context or critical perspectives. Secondary sources routinely include pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources.  

Depending on the subject, newspaper and journal articles can fall into both categories. For example, Paul Goldberger's architectural review of the new Citi Field and Yankee Stadium in New York is a primary source, because he is commenting directly on a current event, whereas an article surveying the history of New York City stadiums would be considered a secondary source.

Primary sources   present first-hand accounts or direct evidence. They are created by witnesses or recorders who experienced the events or conditions being documented, and can also include autobiographies, memoirs, and oral histories recorded later. In the case of architects and architecture firms, this includes drawings, office records, and personal papers. At Yale, architectural archival materials are held in  Manuscripts and Archives  at the Sterling Memorial Library. Also consult the guide  Primary  Sources on Architecture @ Yale .

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Architecture: Thesis Preparation

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• Introduction

In an article in the July 24 1974 issue of Architect's Journal, Jeremy Baker talks about the student thesis as a way of providing students with "greater awareness of the world." Library research can help to provide the framework as well as set the boundaries for the design project.  Good research techniques can make the process both expedient and enjoyable.

Writing Your Thesis

Guidelines for starting your thesis, courtesy of UC Berkeley

https://slc.berkeley.edu/writing-worksheets-and-other-writing-resources/building-thesis

Thesis Organization

• Objectives, Scope and Limitations
• Description of the research
• Conclusions/Summary of the work
• List of Case studies
• List of references/literature case studies for thesis research work
• Identification of the project site

Harvard Guide to Using Sources

Harvard Guide to Using Sources : The Harvard Guide to Using Sources is an easily accessible introductory guide to use of sources. It includes tips for students on finding, choosing, and integrating reliable sources into academic writing. The Guide provides examples of MLA, APA, and Chicago styles of citation and includes information on avoiding plagiarism.

Past Thesis and Thesis Prep Books

The Libraries maintains online documentation of past Super Jury award winners and other theses receiving a B+ or better grade.  They are available on  SURFACE , the Syracuse University database of scholarly works, by searching for "School of Architecture Theses."

Click Here  for an easy link to the list of available theses.

General Guidelines

Familiarize yourself with your topic.

Be sure you are able to answer the following questions before beginning your research:  Take a journalistic approach to gathering information. Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? ​

Gather background information  about your topic using reference sources.

Reference books provide important information on a topic, include specific details, and point to other useful sources of information. They point the way into the core literature of a topic contained in books, journals, reports, and many other types of publications. They can also summarize, digest, or review the literature on a topic in ways that save you time and energy. Knowing the reference sources in your discipline can increase the efficiency of your searches by enabling you to better focus your questions.

The Search Plan

Define the topic.

Determine the component parts.  If the topic is fairly broad, start with the narrowest concept.  If your topic is very narrow, begin your research using broad terms.

Gear your searching to the resource.  For example, when searching subject specific periodical databases, use terms the least common to the discipline.

Review your results and refine your search as necessary.  Broaden the terms if you need more information. Narrow the terms to limit the amount of information retrieved.

Synthesize the information.  Determine if and what additional information is needed.

Actively seek out alternative views  as a way of testing your theory.

Begin your research in the architectural literature.

Search Strategies

Familiarize yourself with your topic before beginning your research.  This will save time later. This includes determining the appropriate search terms to use. Include synonyms and related terms.

Modify your search as necessary , including searching related resources or additional databases not as closely linked to your subject. These sources may include relevant information.

Know the nature and parameters of the reference tool(s) you are searching.  Certain reference works only cover particular time periods or may not be comprehensive in scope. For instance, most online databases begin their coverage in the 1970s-80s.

Make the fullest use possible of reference tools , including bibliographies and footnotes which can lead you to other sources.

Read the source carefully . Note organizational differences between tools.

Library Services

Off-desk Consultations

Students are encouraged to make appointments with  Barbara Opar  and/or other subject librarians as appropriate.  You may contact Barbara by email at  [email protected]  or at 443-3518 (King + King Architecture Library) preferably, 443-2905 (452 Bird Library). For assistance in other subject areas see the following list of  subject specialists .

Special orders

The Library may be able to order new architecture books or other materials to assist you. If you have specific requests, contact Barbara.

Extended loan period

Thesis and thesis prep. students are given graduate status in terms of library circulation privileges. Stack books circulate for one year. See Barbara for details or special requests.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

ILL obtains materials (books, periodical articles) not available within the Syracuse Libraries system. ILL requests may be submitted online using the appropriate form found online at  Interlibrary Loan .  Periodical articles will be made available electronically. Books will be delivered to Bird Library or Carnegie Library. Thesis Prep, thesis and graduate students are eligible for delivery of most materials directly to the King + King Architecture Library. Services are free of charge. To submit a book request, it is suggested that you use WorldCat to locate the citation. To submit a periodical article request, it is suggested that you use the SU links tab on the specific database citation page.

Delivery Service

Thesis students are eligible to have circulating books from Bird, Carnegie and Interlibrary Loan delivered to King + King Architecture Library. Prior sign up is required. See Barbara for details.

Sample thesis prep books

Select (B+ and above) books are available through the Library's institutional repository,  SURFACE .

Citation guidance

RefWorks (Databases tab) is one of the many sources available for proper formatting of your bibliography and notes.

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How to research for an architecture essay in 6 steps

How to research for an architecture essay in 6 steps guide, Architectural assignment writing tips, Online student advice

How To Research For An Architecture Essay In Six Steps

Making research for an architecture essay is rarely an easy task for so many reasons. Firstly, architecture is so vast and technical that you will probably struggle during the research phase if you don’t love designs and dimensions.

How To Research For An Architecture Essay Guide

Step 1: streamline your topic.

Architecture is a broad domain that encompasses various types, characteristics, and real-world uses . The field has to do with residential and commercial spaces, urban design, landscape, industrial architecture, green design, etc. These scopes have psychological, historical, and anthropological aspects, giving them prominence and making them unique in relation to architecture.

Step 2: Assess the research potential of your topic before writing

So while architecture writing, get some relevant resources and outline essential bibliographic references before drafting your paper. For instance, if you plan to analyze a structure, find out if the photographs, drawings, and other materials are available. Don’t start writing the essays without adequate pre-writing research to avoid experiencing the dreaded mental block halfway in.

Step 3: Collate data as efficiently as possible

Also, keep a notepad handy. Note-taking is vital because it helps you keep track of your research. By keeping tabs on your progress, you will not waste too much time on one aspect of your study at the expense of other parts.

Step 4: Analyze the information you have

An analysis is necessary as the next step after getting information from multiple sources. There are different types of data analysis in architecture research: visual examination, textual analysis, and historical analysis. Knowing these forms of analysis will help you turn the data you have into insights that your audience will value.

The visual analysis looks at the photographs and plans of a structure and tries to visualize it in three dimensions. This visual form of analyzing data is similar to textual analysis, which involves reading texts or paper architecture. Meanwhile, historical analysis involves research into the antiquity of a building. For instance, if you are reviewing Mexican houses , historical analysis will provide enough information about the architectural style of the indigenous people for you to make informed predictions.

Step 5: Create a strong thesis statement

Always make your thesis statements powerful, but don’t use jargon or expressive writing to sway your audience. Instead, back your argument up with numbers and other credible research results. The quality of the evidence you bring to the table will convince your audience faster than buzzwords ever will.

Step 6: Organize your ideas and outline your paper

How to research for an architecture essay conclusion.

While architecture essay research may not be as fun as crafting narrative essays, it doesn’t have to send you into full-blown panic mode. Knowing the steps to take during the research will motivate you to put in the work to create excellent essays. That is why this article with its step-by-step approach to architecture essay research is ideal for anybody looking to create outstanding architecture papers.

Comments on this How To Research For An Architecture Essay In Six Steps help advice article are welcome.

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Architecture Research Methods: Special Topics + Literature Review

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Writing a literature review.

A literature review is a document or section of a document that collects key sources on a topic and discusses those sources in conversation with each other (also called synthesis). The lit review is an important genre in many disciplines, not just literature (i.e., the study of works of literature such as novels and plays). When we say “literature review” or refer to “the literature,” we are talking about the research (scholarship) in a given field. You will often see the terms “the research,” “the scholarship,” and “the literature” used mostly interchangeably.

WHERE, WHEN, AND WHY WOULD I WRITE A LIT REVIEW?

There are a number of different situations where you might write a literature review, each with slightly different expectations; different disciplines, too, have field-specific expectations for what a literature review is and does. For instance, in the humanities, authors might include more overt argumentation and interpretation of source material in their literature reviews, whereas in the sciences, authors are more likely to report study designs and results in their literature reviews; these differences reflect these disciplines’ purposes and conventions in scholarship. You should always look at examples from your own discipline and talk to professors or mentors in your field to be sure you understand your discipline’s conventions, for literature reviews as well as for any other genre.

A literature review can be a part of a research paper or scholarly article, usually falling after the introduction and before the research methods sections. In these cases, the lit review just needs to cover scholarship that is important to the issue you are writing about; sometimes it will also cover key sources that informed your research methodology.

Lit reviews can also be standalone pieces, either as assignments in a class or as publications. In a class, a lit review may be assigned to help students familiarize themselves with a topic and with scholarship in their field, get an idea of the other researchers working on the topic they’re interested in, find gaps in existing research in order to propose new projects, and/or develop a theoretical framework and methodology for later research. As a publication, a lit review usually is meant to help make other scholars’ lives easier by collecting and summarizing, synthesizing, and analyzing existing research on a topic. This can be especially helpful for students or scholars getting into a new research area, or for directing an entire community of scholars toward questions that have not yet been answered.

WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF A LIT REVIEW?

Most lit reviews use a basic introduction-body-conclusion structure; if your lit review is part of a larger paper, the introduction and conclusion pieces may be just a few sentences while you focus most of your attention on the body. If your lit review is a standalone piece, the introduction and conclusion take up more space and give you a place to discuss your goals, research methods, and conclusions separately from where you discuss the literature itself.

Introduction :

• An introductory paragraph that explains what your working topic and thesis is
• A forecast of key topics or texts that will appear in the review
• Potentially, a description of how you found sources and how you analyzed them for inclusion and discussion in the review (more often found in published, standalone literature reviews than in lit review sections in an article or research paper)
• Summarize and synthesize: Give an overview of the main points of each source and combine them into a coherent whole
• Analyze and interpret: Don’t just paraphrase other researchers – add your own interpretations where possible, discussing the significance of findings in relation to the literature as a whole
• Critically Evaluate: Mention the strengths and weaknesses of your sources
• Write in well-structured paragraphs: Use transition words and topic sentences to draw connections, comparisons, and contrasts.

Conclusion :

• Summarize the key findings you have taken from the literature and emphasize their significance
• Connect it back to your primary research question

HOW SHOULD I ORGANIZE MY LIT REVIEW?

Lit reviews can take many different organizational patterns depending on what you are trying to accomplish with the review. Here are some examples:

• Chronological: The simplest approach is to trace the development of the topic over time, which helps familiarize the audience with the topic (for instance if you are introducing something that is not commonly known in your field). If you choose this strategy, be careful to avoid simply listing and summarizing sources in order. Try to analyze the patterns, turning points, and key debates that have shaped the direction of the field. Give your interpretation of how and why certain developments occurred (as mentioned previously, this may not be appropriate in your discipline — check with a teacher or mentor if you’re unsure).
• Thematic: If you have found some recurring central themes that you will continue working with throughout your piece, you can organize your literature review into subsections that address different aspects of the topic. For example, if you are reviewing literature about women and religion, key themes can include the role of women in churches and the religious attitude towards women.
• Qualitative versus quantitative research
• Empirical versus theoretical scholarship
• Divide the research by sociological, historical, or cultural sources
• Theoretical : In many humanities articles, the literature review is the foundation for the theoretical framework. You can use it to discuss various theories, models, and definitions of key concepts. You can argue for the relevance of a specific theoretical approach or combine various theorical concepts to create a framework for your research.

WHAT ARE SOME STRATEGIES OR TIPS I CAN USE WHILE WRITING MY LIT REVIEW?

Any lit review is only as good as the research it discusses; make sure your sources are well-chosen and your research is thorough. Don’t be afraid to do more research if you discover a new thread as you’re writing. More info on the research process is available  in our "Conducting Research" resources .

As you’re doing your research, create an annotated bibliography ( see our page on the this type of document ). Much of the information used in an annotated bibliography can be used also in a literature review, so you’ll be not only partially drafting your lit review as you research, but also developing your sense of the larger conversation going on among scholars, professionals, and any other stakeholders in your topic.

Usually you will need to synthesize research rather than just summarizing it. This means drawing connections between sources to create a picture of the scholarly conversation on a topic over time. Many student writers struggle to synthesize because they feel they don’t have anything to add to the scholars they are citing; here are some strategies to help you:

• It often helps to remember that the point of these kinds of syntheses is to show your readers how you understand your research, to help them read the rest of your paper.
• Writing teachers often say synthesis is like hosting a dinner party: imagine all your sources are together in a room, discussing your topic. What are they saying to each other?
• Look at the in-text citations in each paragraph. Are you citing just one source for each paragraph? This usually indicates summary only. When you have multiple sources cited in a paragraph, you are more likely to be synthesizing them (not always, but often
• Read more about synthesis here.

The most interesting literature reviews are often written as arguments (again, as mentioned at the beginning of the page, this is discipline-specific and doesn’t work for all situations). Often, the literature review is where you can establish your research as filling a particular gap or as relevant in a particular way. You have some chance to do this in your introduction in an article, but the literature review section gives a more extended opportunity to establish the conversation in the way you would like your readers to see it. You can choose the intellectual lineage you would like to be part of and whose definitions matter most to your thinking (mostly humanities-specific, but this goes for sciences as well). In addressing these points, you argue for your place in the conversation, which tends to make the lit review more compelling than a simple reporting of other sources.

Getting Started on your Literature Review

Recommended steps for a literature review (from  Kimmons & West, 2018 )

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How to Write a Killer Architecture Essay | The Complete Guide

Essay writing can be quite a stressful task for any student!

But then, they are vital for giving a boost to your academic career. Especially if you’re pursuing architecture, these essays show your expertise in a particular subject along with your skills to neatly craft and present it on paper.

So, what goes into an impressive architectural essay ? What are the things you need to keep in mind while writing one?

Read along as we guide you through the essential aspects of a well-crafted architecture essay that can create an impact on the readers, and help with your academic career. 

The broad scope of architecture

To a lot of people, architecture is a field of study and career path related to designing buildings and other landscapes. But architecture is actually much broader than that. It refers to any structure that a human being designs and constructs to fill space.

This might include designing commercial and residential spaces, landscapes, green design, urban design, industrial architecture, and so on. Each of these has anthropological, psychological, and historical aspects that give them prominence and make them stand out from the rest.

So, when you write an academic essay on architecture, you must make sure that you choose a specific niche and touch along these aspects through academic approaches . This makes your piece much more credible and makes up for an exciting read.

Getting started on your essay

Perhaps, having a head-start to your piece is the most difficult part of all because you might be confused as to where to start.

At this point in time, you must be looking at certain sources on the internet or browsing books as to how to begin with your essay. This is a good thing because you’ve at least taken the initiative to work on your essay. The internet is full of websites that can help you with comprehensive learning sources, which in turn would aid you in crafting your academic paper.

Now, let us reiterate once more the fact that architecture is certainly a broad field. So, when you’re asked to write an essay, make sure you narrow down the scope of the subject. And that’s going to be your first step.

You might wonder how to go about it. Many professional academic writers advise students to zero in on a topic that can be elaborated on the basis of geographical location, time period, and style. Focussing on these aspects will give your essay the much-needed informational structure.

Ask yourself the big question, based on your interest. Then narrow it down to smaller topics by scoping out possibilities. This might require a little research. For example, if you are looking for some specific architectural structure or an architect in relation to your big question, more questions might pop up in your mind. This could pave the way for the final question you might want to find answers to and base your research paper on.

After deciding on a particular topic, you must thoroughly research it so that your essay makes for an intriguing read. You can make use of resources from the internet, books , encyclopedias from libraries, previous research papers, and several other sources to get the information that goes into your essay.

Also, make sure that you can find a good amount of information on your topic before you commit yourself to writing the essay. Many topics might look promising and easy at first, but might not actually have information worth going into a research paper. Keep switching the focus between the question and the research work to ensure that the information gained is relevant.

You must even include the aesthetics of the building in your topic, keeping in mind the historical context. Moreover, you can also critique various essays written by professionals on the said topic.

After you make notes for basic research, analyze the information collected based on visual, historical, and textual aspects. This helps you keep your essay factual, precise, and free of errors.

Essay planning

Once done with the research, the student must plan the structure of the essay. Needless to say, the style of the essay must be chosen strategically. Unless specified otherwise, many research essays and papers related to architecture follow an analytical style. Here, the students are advised to state facts based on the research work.

Also, when practicing writing essays, it is suggested to use a persuasive style as it lets you put forward a case and argue about a certain style of architecture. This helps the students effectively present their papers and master the essay writing style.

Then, the facts collected must be structured into paragraphs, which form the body of the essay. For that, you must choose the facts that you think must go into the essay and describe them in a sentence or two, ideally.

As you finish the planning phase, you are all set to start working on your architecture essay.

Writing your essay

Drafting is, of course, the most essential part of writing your essay. Prepping your information and structuring it acts like a support system for this part.

When you begin working on your essay, you must note that you should start with the introduction. This must be written in the form of a paragraph, and should not be longer than five sentences. It must be crisp, yet interesting enough to appeal to the readers.

Usually, the introductory paragraph is the one part that gives an opportunity for the writer of the essay to create an impact on the reader. So, the stronger your introductory point, the better the impression you make on your markers.

Paraphrasing is another thing that you should follow to make your essay relevant from the beginning to the end. Also, keep track of the essay’s style and the overall effect you want to create on the reader.

Once you’re sure of the introduction, start working on the paragraphs. The planning part comes in handy here as you already made notes as to what goes into the body of the essay.

To write effective body paragraphs, you must start by stating one point/fact from your research. This is the opening of your paragraph and should not be more than one sentence. Now, you must support this statement with relevant information to persuade the reader. Also, note that these supportive arguments must prove your thesis statement as a whole.

A small tip to make your essay stand out from the rest is to put your original thoughts into the essay, rather than just referring to your research materials. This creates a good impression on the writer in the minds of the readers.

The academic discipline in architecture provides you with a scope to include original thoughts, remarks, or arguments in the essay to attract evaluators and readers and enable them to read the essay with more interest. Now, this is one of the most essential skills an academic writer must possess.

The body of your architectural essay should reflect your ability as a writer to create academically relevant and coherent content and come up with a well-structured essay. An ideal academic essay ensures that those readers stay focused on the thesis statement throughout while paying attention to the detailed research executed by the writer in the form of arguments.

Students also must observe that the evaluators usually set the essay questions based on issues or topics that are mostly straightforward. He might as well delve into subjects that are more specific or of a technical nature.

Last but not least, in order to master writing an architectural essay, it’s not enough to just research well. Plan thoroughly or structure and write your essay in a well-crafted way. The concluding paragraph of your essay is as important as the rest of it, as it stresses the point you’re trying to make for one last time. And if done well, could linger in your readers’ minds for quite a while.

So, if you’re learning how to write an architectural essay, it is necessary that you give particular attention to writing the conclusion to the essay and restate your thesis strongly. An excellent conclusion summarises the best and most significant ones among the points you have argued throughout the body in one final paragraph.

It also gives you a chance to add your own thoughts, ideas remarks along with a strong emotional appeal so that your readers are deeply involved in, and impacted by your essay.

A solid conclusion is a fitting follow-up to a thought-provoking start and the main section that’s both precise and persuasive. So make sure you end your essay with an ending that’s as powerful as the start.

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115 awesome architecture research topics: useful list of ideas.

If you are reading this, it means you need to write an excellent architectural research paper and need some help choosing the topic. The good news is that our expert writers have just updated our list of 115 unique architecture research topics.

This means you can find some original ideas right here on this page. Of course, you can use any of our ideas for free – as long as you get an A+ on your next research paper.

Writing an Architecture Essay Quickly

If you are like most students, you probably don’t know how to write complex architecture research papers quickly. This can be a real problem, especially if you need to finish your essay quickly. After all, you probably have several other school projects to focus on – not to mention tests and exams. This is why we will give you more than just awesome architecture research paper topics. We will help you with a guide on how to write a great paper quickly:

• First, go through our architectural research topics and pick the one you like the most.
• Write a thesis statement. In a sentence, tell your readers what your paper aims to demonstrate.
• Write an introduction for your essay. This is where you present your thesis statement and tell your audience a bit more about the subject.
• Write three or more body paragraphs, each dealing with a single idea. Generally, you will start the paragraph with a clear statement and then use the rest of the paragraph to bring evidence in support of your statement.
• Write a conclusion for your research paper. Most often, it’s enough to restate the thesis and summarize all your findings. Tell your audience how your findings support your thesis and wrap everything up with a call to action (this is optional).
• Edit your work and delete parts that are redundant, don’t make sense or are simply unnecessary. Add more content to parts that need it.
• Proofread your work at least twice. Who wants to lose some points over silly mistakes like typos or spelling errors?

Best Architectural Topics for Research

Now that you know what you need to do to write a paper quickly, you probably want to minimize the time you spend searching for architectural topics for research. This is where we can definitely help you. Take a look at our list of 115 awesome architecture paper topics and use as many of them as you like. All of them are 100% free!

Interesting Questions About Architecture

Here are some interesting questions about architecture that should fire up your creative engine:

• What are the costs of an architect?
• Is concrete obsolete in 2023?
• How long does it take to design a unique skyscraper?
• What are the worst architectural mistakes of the 1900s?
• What does an architect really do?
• How do you pick the right architect for a major project?
• What is the worst thing about architecture in the UK?
• Is architecture an artistic profession?
• What are the expected advancements in architecture in 2023?
• How long will we continue to use steel?
• What are the best ways to design a skyscraper?
• Is architecture a creative profession?
• Why is planning a bridge so difficult?

Easy Research Topics in Architecture

If you don’t want to spend more than a few hours working on your architecture paper, we have a list of easy research topics in architecture right here:

• A short history of architecture in the United States
• Discuss urban planning in Eastern Europe
• Talk about maritime technology
• Ancient Greek architecture
• Talk about metal fatigue in skyscrapers
• Is it difficult being an architect?
• Ancient Roman architecture
• The importance of restoring heritage buildings
• Talk about innovations in bridge design
• Architecture in Asian countries
• Planning a new urban park in your neighborhood
• Discuss climate control in modern buildings
• Architecture in African countries

Topics Related to Public Structures

Designing public structures is not an easy thing to do, but writing a paper about them shouldn’t be too difficult. Here are some nice topics related to public structures:

• An in-depth look at the design of the Lincoln Memorial
• Design the plan of a new bank in your neighborhood
• Designing a new skyscraper in your city
• An in-depth look at the design of the Empire State Building
• Building the latest public service building in the city
• A space research center in Colorado Springs
• An in-depth look at the design of the White House
• Research the design of the United States Capitol building
• The Golden Gate Bridge: an innovative design

Top Ideas Related to Urban Planning

Interested in talking about urban planning? No problem, we can help. Take a look at our list of top ideas related to urban planning:

• An in-depth look at bicycle transportation in New York City
• Research the rational-comprehensive approach to urban planning
• Housing peculiarities in Scotland
• Discuss the importance of urban design in 2023
• Discuss the Concentric Model Zone by Ernest Burgess
• How can you become a successful urban planner?
• The importance of landscape in modern urbanism
• An in-depth look at housing affordability in the UK
• Planning land use in large cities in North America
• What is the role of an urban planner?
• Transport problems in London
• Discuss the Three Magnets theory by Ebenezer Howard

Architecture Thesis Topics

In case you’ve ran out of ideas for a topic, we have some of the best architecture thesis topics on the Internet. Check out these original ideas:

• Talk about the latest trends in environmental tech
• Discuss urban intensification challenges
• Design a brand new shopping mall in your area
• An efficient plan of the London transportation system
• Latest trends in theatre architecture
• Talk about lighting technology in Egyptian pyramids
• Common problems when designing a skyscraper
• Latest advancements in virtual planning

Complex Architectural Topics for Research

We know some students want to try something a bit more difficult to impress their professor. Here are some pretty complex architectural topics for research:

• Compare urban housing with rural housing in the UK
• The use of concrete in 2023
• Modern building technologies
• The latest building materials
• Talk about resource use maximization
• Discuss the impact of environmental technology on architecture
• Talk about the peculiarities of Islamic architecture
• Discuss planning a new school in a rural area

Great Architecture Thesis Ideas

If you are preparing to start working on your thesis, you will be thrilled to learn that we have a list of great architecture thesis ideas for you:

• Talk about the theories behind resilient designs
• Solving traffic congestions in New York City
• Building materials of the future
• Talk about sustainable rural development
• What are the principles of lightweight architecture?
• Materials used in ancient architecture
• The importance of using domes in your designs
• How can you make architecture an art?

Interesting Topics Related to Architecture

This is where our writers and editors selected the most interesting ideas. Check out our most interesting topics related to architecture:

• Talk about the rehabilitation of an ancient structure
• The design of Egyptian temples
• What do you think architecture will look like in 100 years?
• Indoor air quality and architecture
• Historic French architecture peculiarities
• How can you maximize usable space in your designs?
• Talk about constructing in extreme weather conditions
• How important are arches in 2023?

Interior Design Topics

If you want your research paper to be about something in interior design, our experts have compiled a list of unique interior design topics for you:

• Is interior design a dying industry?
• Talk about how people perceive colors
• The latest decorating styles in the UK
• The best color combinations in 2023
• Latest trends in interior design
• Differences in interior design in 3 different countries
• Talk about the rise of statement ceilings
• Curves instead of straight lines in 2023

Good Topics for High School Students

Our list wouldn’t be complete without a section of good topics for high school students. Check out these ideas and take your pick:

• Discuss why arches are important
• Is interior design a part of architecture?
• How do domes influence modern designs?
• Design a simple living space
• Design a new stadium in your area
• What is lightweight architecture?
• Talk about Roman concrete

Awesome Ideas for College

Are you a college student looking for top notch topics for his next architecture research paper? Check out these great awesome ideas for college:

• What is the most important building material today?
• Discuss the creation of 3D architectural designs
• Discuss about weather effects on buildings
• Common problems designing a hospital
• How did Covid-19 influence architecture?
• Talk about the use of technology in architecture
• The importance of virtual planning

Thesis Topics Related to Cultural Facilities

If you want to write your next paper on something related to culture, we have some of the best thesis topics related to cultural facilities:

• Design a new library in your city
• How important is the design of a cultural facility?
• Designing multidisciplinary spaces in 2023
• The concept of resonating with people
• The importance of integrating nature into your designs
• Making effective use of land in your designs
• Designing a worship center worthy of an award

Controversial Architecture Topics

Of course, we encourage every student to write about controversial topics. In fact, we have some very interesting controversial architecture topics right here:

• The design and building of the Sagrada Familia
• The lack of a national building code in Nigeria
• Discuss the problems involved with collaborative processes
• Trust issues in the modern world of architecture
• An in-depth look at the Scottish Parliament Building
• Is a good architect a good designer?
• Are building codes in the US flawed?

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How to Write a Research Proposal Paper

Table of Contents

What is a research proposal paper, why write a research proposal paper.

• How to Plan a Research Proposal Paper

Components of a Research Proposal Paper

Research proposal examples, help & additional resources, this resource page will help you:.

• Learn what a research proposal paper is.  
• Understand the importance of writing a research proposal paper. 
• Understand the steps in the planning stages of a research proposal paper.  
• Identify the components of a research proposal paper.  

A research proposal paper:   

• includes sufficient information about a research study that you propose to conduct for your thesis (e.g., in an MT, MA, or Ph.D. program) or that you imagine conducting (e.g., in an MEd program). It should help your readers understand the scope, validity, and significance of your proposed study.  
• may be a stand-alone paper or one part of a larger research project, depending on the nature of your assignment. 
• typically follows the citation format of your field, which at OISE is APA .    

Your instructor will provide you with assignment details that can help you determine how much information to include in your research proposal, so you should carefully check your course outline and assignment instructions.  

Writing a research proposal allows you to  

• develop skills in designing a comprehensive research study; 

learn how to identify a research problem that can contribute to advancing knowledge in your field of interest; 

further develop skills in finding foundational and relevant literature related to your topic; 

critically review, examine, and consider the use of different methods for gathering and analyzing data related to the research problem;  

see yourself as an active participant in conducting research in your field of study. 

Writing a research proposal paper can help clarify questions you may have before designing your research study. It is helpful to get feedback on your research proposal and edit your work to be able to see what you may need to change in your proposal. The more diverse opinions you receive on your proposal, the better prepared you will be to design a comprehensive research study. 

How to Plan your Research Proposal

Before starting your research proposal, you should clarify your ideas and make a plan. Ask yourself these questions and take notes:  

What do I want to study? 

Why is the topic important? Why is it important to me? 

How is the topic significant within the subject areas covered in my class? 

What problems will it help solve? 

How does it build on research already conducted on the topic? 

What exactly should I plan to do to conduct a study on the topic? 

It may be helpful to write down your answers to these questions and use them to tell a story about your chosen topic to your classmates or instructor. As you tell your story, write down comments or questions from your listeners. This will help you refine your proposal and research questions. 

This is an example of how to start planning and thinking about your research proposal assignment. You will find a student’s notes and ideas about their research proposal topic - "Perspectives on Textual Production, Student Collaboration, and Social Networking Sites”. This example is hyperlinked in the following Resource Page:&nbsp;

A research proposal paper typically includes: 

• an introduction  
• a theoretical framework 
• a literature review 
• the methodology  
• the implications of the proposed study and conclusion 
• references 

Start your introduction by giving the reader an overview of your study. Include:  

• the research context (in what educational settings do you plan to conduct this study?) 
• the research problem, purpose (What do you want to achieve by conducting this study?) 
• a brief overview of the literature on your topic and the gap your study hopes to fill 
•  research questions and sub-questions 
• a brief mention of your research method (How do you plan to collect and analyze your data?) 
• your personal interest in the topic. 

 Conclude your introduction by giving your reader a roadmap of your proposal. 

 To learn more about paper introductions, check How to write Introductions .  

A theoretical framework refers to the theories that you will use to interpret both your own data and the literature that has come before. Think about theories as lenses that help you look at your data from different perspectives, beyond just your own personal perspective. Think about the theories that you have come across in your courses or readings that could apply to your research topic. When writing the theoretical framework, include 

• A description of where the theories come from (original thinkers), their key components, and how they have developed over time. 
• How you plan to use the theories in your study / how they apply to your topic. 

The literature review section should help you identify topics or issues that will help contextualize what the research has/hasn’t found and discussed on the topic so far and convince your reader that your proposed study is important. This is where you can go into more detail on the gap that your study hopes to fill. Ultimately, a good literature review helps your reader learn more about the topic that you have chosen to study and what still needs to be researched 

To learn more about literature reviews check What is a Literature Review . 

The methods section should briefly explain how you plan to conduct your study and why you have chosen a particular method. You may also include  

• your overall study design (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods) and the proposed stages 
• your proposed research instruments (e.g. surveys, interviews)  
• your proposed participant recruitment channels / document selection criteria 
• a description of your proposed study participants (age, gender, etc.). 
• how you plan to analyze the data.  

You should cite relevant literature on research methods to support your choices. 

The conclusion section should include a short summary about the implications and significance of your proposed study by explaining how the possible findings may change the ways educators and/or stakeholders address the issues identified in your introduction. 

Depending on the assignment instructions, the conclusion can also highlight next steps and a timeline for the research process. 

To learn more about paper conclusions, check How to write Conclusions . 

List all references you used and format them according to APA style. Make sure that everything in your reference list is cited in the paper, and every citation in your paper is in your reference list.  

To learn more about writing citations and references, check Citations & APA . 

These are detailed guidelines on how to prepare a quantitative research proposal. Adapted from the course APD2293 “Interpretation of Educational Research”. These guidelines are hyperlinked in the following Resource Page:&nbsp;&nbsp;

Related Resource Pages on ASH

• What is a Literature Review?
• How to Prepare a Literature Review
• How to Understand & Plan Assignments
• Citations and APA Style
• How to Integrate Others' Research into your Writing
• How to Write Introductions
• How to Write Conclusions

Additional Resources

• Writing a research proposal– University of Southern California   
• Owl Purdue-Graduate-Specific Genres-Purdue University  
• 10 Tips for Writing a research proposal – McGill University  

On Campus Services

• Book a writing consultation (OSSC)
• Book a Research Consultation (OISE Library)

Review Paper Format: How To Write A Review Article Fast

This guide aims to demystify the review paper format, presenting practical tips to help you accelerate the writing process. 

From understanding the structure to synthesising literature effectively, we’ll explore how to create a compelling review article swiftly, ensuring your work is both impactful and timely.

Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or a budding scholar, these info on review paper format and style will streamline your writing journey.

Research Paper, Review Paper Format

What Is A Review Paper?

Diving into the realm of scholarly communication, you might have stumbled upon a research review article.

This unique genre serves to synthesise existing data, offering a panoramic view of the current state of knowledge on a particular topic. 

Unlike a standard research article that presents original experiments, a review paper delves into published literature, aiming to: 

• clarify, and
• evaluate previous findings.

Imagine you’re tasked to write a review article. The starting point is often a burning research question. Your mission? To scour various journals, piecing together a well-structured narrative that not only summarises key findings but also identifies gaps in existing literature.

This is where the magic of review writing shines – it’s about creating a roadmap for future research, highlighting areas ripe for exploration.

Review articles come in different flavours, with systematic reviews and meta-analyses being the gold standards. The methodology here is meticulous, with a clear protocol for selecting and evaluating studies.

This rigorous approach ensures that your review is more than just an overview; it’s a critical analysis that adds depth to the understanding of the subject.

Crafting a good review requires mastering the art of citation. Every claim or observation you make needs to be backed by relevant literature. This not only lends credibility to your work but also provides a treasure trove of information for readers eager to delve deeper.

Types Of Review Paper

Not all review articles are created equal. Each type has its methodology, purpose, and format, catering to different research needs and questions. Here’s a couple of types of review paper for you to look at:

Systematic Review Paper

First up is the systematic review, the crème de la crème of review types. It’s known for its rigorous methodology, involving a detailed plan for:

• identifying,
• selecting, and
• critically appraising relevant research. 

The aim? To answer a specific research question. Systematic reviews often include meta-analyses , where data from multiple studies are statistically combined to provide more robust conclusions.

This review type is a cornerstone in evidence-based fields like healthcare.

Literature Review Paper

Then there’s the literature review, a broader type you might encounter.

Here, the goal is to give an overview of the main points and debates on a topic, without the stringent methodological framework of a systematic review.

Literature reviews are great for getting a grasp of the field and identifying where future research might head. Often reading literature review papers can help you to learn about a topic rather quickly.

Narrative Reviews

Narrative reviews allow for a more flexible approach. Authors of narrative reviews draw on existing literature to provide insights or critique a certain area of research.

This is generally done with a less formal structure than systematic reviews. This type is particularly useful for areas where it’s difficult to quantify findings across studies.

Scoping Reviews

Scoping reviews are gaining traction for their ability to map out the existing literature on a broad topic, identifying:

• key concepts,
• theories, and

Unlike systematic reviews, scoping reviews have a more exploratory approach, which can be particularly useful in emerging fields or for topics that haven’t been comprehensively reviewed before.

Each type of review serves a unique purpose and requires a specific skill set. Whether you’re looking to summarise existing findings, synthesise data for evidence-based practice, or explore new research territories, there’s a review type that fits the bill. 

Knowing how to write, read, and interpret these reviews can significantly enhance your understanding of any research area.

What Are The Parts In A Review Paper

A review paper format has a pretty set structure, with minor changes here and there to suit the topic covered. The review paper format not only organises your thoughts but also guides your readers through the complexities of your topic.

Title & Abstract

Starting with the title and abstract, you set the stage. The title should be a concise indicator of the content, making it easier for others to quickly tell what your article content is about.

As for the abstract, it should act as a descriptive summary, offering a snapshot of your review’s scope and findings. 

Introduction

The introduction lays the groundwork, presenting the research question that drives your review. It’s here you:

• justify the importance of your review,
• delineating the current state of knowledge and
• highlighting gaps.

This section aims to articulate the significance of the topic and your objective in exploring it.

Methodology

The methodology section is the backbone of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, detailing the research methods employed to select, assess, and synthesise studies. 

This transparency allows readers to gauge the rigour and reproducibility of your review. It’s a testament to the integrity of your work, showing how you’ve minimised bias.

The heart of your review lies in the body, where you:

• analyse, and
• critique existing literature .

This is where you synthesise evidence, draw connections, and present both sides of any argument. Well-structured paragraphs and clear subheadings guide readers through your analysis, offering insights and fostering a deeper understanding of the subject.

Discussion & Conclusion

The discussion or conclusion section is where you weave together the main points, reflecting on what your findings mean for the field.

It’s about connecting the dots, offering a synthesis of evidence that answers your initial research question. This part often hints at future research directions, suggesting areas that need further exploration due to gaps in existing knowledge.

Review paper format usually includes the citation list – it is your nod to the scholarly community, acknowledging the contributions of others.

Each citation is a thread in the larger tapestry of academic discourse, enabling readers to delve deeper into the research that has shaped your review.

Tips To Write An Review Article Fast

Writing a review article quickly without sacrificing quality might seem like a tall order, but with the right approach, it’s entirely achievable. 

Clearly Define Your Research Question

Clearly define your research question. A focused question not only narrows down the scope of your literature search but also keeps your review concise and on track.

By honing in on a specific aspect of a broader topic, you can avoid the common pitfall of becoming overwhelmed by the vast expanse of available literature. This specificity allows you to zero in on the most relevant studies, making your review more impactful.

Efficient Literature Searching

Utilise databases specific to your field and employ advanced search techniques like Boolean operators. This can drastically reduce the time you spend sifting through irrelevant articles.

Additionally, leveraging citation chains—looking at who has cited a pivotal paper in your area and who it cites—can uncover valuable sources you might otherwise miss.

Organise Your Findings Systematically

Developing a robust organisation strategy is key. As you gather sources, categorize them based on themes or methodologies.

This not only aids in structuring your review but also in identifying areas where research is lacking or abundant. Organize your findings based on the review paper format.

Tools like citation management software can be invaluable here, helping you keep track of your sources and their key points. We list out some of the best AI tools for academic research here. 

Build An Outline Before Writing

Don’t underestimate the power of a well-structured outline. A clear blueprint of your article can guide your writing process, ensuring that each section flows logically into the next.

This roadmap not only speeds up the writing process by providing a clear direction but also helps maintain coherence, ensuring your review article delivers a compelling narrative that advances understanding in your field.

Start Writing With The Easiest Sections

When it’s time to write, start with sections you find easiest. This might be the methodology or a particular thematic section where you feel most confident.

Getting words on the page can build momentum, making it easier to tackle more challenging sections later.

Remember, your first draft doesn’t have to be perfect; the goal is to start articulating your synthesis of the literature.

Learn How To Write An Article Review

Mastering the review paper format is a crucial step towards efficient academic writing. By adhering to the structured components outlined, you can streamline the creation of a compelling review article.

Embracing these guidelines not only speeds up the writing process but also enhances the clarity and impact of your work, ensuring your contributions to scholarly discourse are both valuable and timely.

A review paper serves to synthesise existing data, offering a panoramic view of the current state of knowledge on a particular topic

A Review Paper Format Usually Contains What Sections?

You usually will see sections like introduction, literature review, methodology, analysis and findings, discussions, citation and conclusion.

How To Write A Review Paper Fast?

The key is to organize, pre-plan things out before writing it.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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