Writing a research paper

It is sometimes assumed that students and faculty know how to structure a research paper. Research papers for journals vary in length, but they usually run about 5,000 words or 28 pages in length. A paper is usually composed of six parts: Introduction, Literature Review, Method, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. This Web page provides some nice advice addressing the purpose of each section. But it is important to understand that each section has a purpose.

Here are few tips. First, always state the purpose of your research and tell me what you are studying in the beginning, you are my guide. In the Literature Review section, focus on addressing literature related to your independent variable first and your dependent variable second. Another tip is to use the Discussion section to explain or speculate “the why” behind your results. This means you should cite research that contradicts or explains your findings, instead of just saying what you found in your results. The Conclusion section is meant for the bigger picture meaning behind your results, and if you don’t have a bigger picture, delete the Conclusion section.

A great handout on writing research papers can be found at Dr. Pamela Shoemaker’s Web site. When you get to the site, select “Typical Research Paper Organization.”

Leave a Reply