The Introduction

Introductions usually have three parts:

1. Presentation of the problem or the research inquiry
2. Purpose and focus of the current paper
3. Summary or overview of the writer’s position

In the first part of the introduction, the presentation of the problem, or the research inquiry, state the problem that you are going to research clearly. Then, sketch the background on the problem and briefly review other people’s research on it to give your readers a context to show them how your research inquiry fits into the subject area. You may tell why this problem has become a problem, why previous attempts have failed to solve it, and/or why you think this particular problem is important. You can also mention what benefits are to be gained from solving this problem or exploring this topic from your perspective.

In the second part of the introduction, state your purpose and focus. Here, you often present your actual thesis, or hypothesis, although this is not always necessary.

The third part, the summary or overview of the paper, briefly introduces the main ideas that will be talked about, and gives readers an outline for the whole paper.

Please note that the introduction is seldom written first.  In fact, it is often written last, because the precise thesis and outline may not be ready until the results have been collected and analyzed and conclusions formed.  However, the first two parts of the introduction above should at least be prepared before the research is begun, so that you know clearly what you want to achieve from the research.

The Methods Section

The methods section of your research paper should describe in detail what methodology and special materials, if any, you used to think through or perform your research. You should include any materials you used or designed for yourself, such as questionnaires or interview questions, to generate data or information for your research paper. You want to include any methodologies that are specific to your particular field of study, such as lab procedures for a lab experiment or data-gathering instruments for field research. If you are writing a literary research paper, you would want to use the methodologies scholars use to examine texts and place the author and the literary piece into its literary and historical context. If you are writing a business management research paper, you would want to use the methodologies that place your discussion in the context of business and economics.

Next to your own critical review of the scholarship in your discipline, your teacher is the best source of what methodologies are used in it. Many writers of research begin with this section because it is often the easiest to write. This section is usually written in past tense.

The Results Section

How you present the results of your research depends on what kind of research you did, your subject matter, and your readers’ expectations. Quantitative information, data that can be measured, can be presented systematically and economically in tables, charts, and graphs.  You may include some commentary to explain to your reader what your findings are and how to read them, and to point out any important trends and/or contrasts.

Qualitative information, which includes brief descriptions, explanations, or instructions, can also be presented in tables, but this kind of descriptive or explanatory information is often presented in essay-like writing or even lists.

In the accompanying explanation and your discussion, always refer to the graphic by number and explain specifically what you are referring to. Give your graphic element a descriptive caption as well. The rule for presenting a graphic is first to introduce it by name, show it, and then interpret it. The results section is usually written in past tense.

The distinction between the results section and the discussion section is not always so clear-cut. Although many writers think you should simply present and report your findings on the data you have collected, others believe some evaluation and commentary on your data may be appropriate and even necessary

The Discussion Section

Your discussion section should generalize on what you have learned from your research. One way to generalize is to explain the consequences or meaning of your results. You may need to relate specific results to a more general context, such as interpreting results in terms of wider society, or comparing results with other research.  Your discussion should be organized so that it relates directly to your thesis. You want to avoid introducing new ideas here or discussing issues not directly related to your thesis. This section, along with the introduction, is usually written in present tense.

The Conclusions and Recommendations Section

Conclusions unify your research results and discussion and relate them to your thesis. Your conclusion ties your research to your thesis, joining together all the main ideas in your thinking and writing. By presenting the logical outcome of your research and thinking, your conclusion answers your research question or problem that you began with in the introduction.

You may present recommendations in your research assignment. If so, you will want to add them to your conclusion section. For example, you may recommend a course of action, make a prediction, propose a solution to a problem, offer a judgment, or speculate on the implications and consequences of your ideas. The conclusions and recommendations section is usually written in present tense.

The Reference List

Of course, your research paper is not complete without your list of references.