How to write a research paper

A research paper is written with objective of allowing people read your work selectively. Research is done to understand a specific result, the interpretation, or to get a summary of the paper to determine if it is relevant to the study being conducted. Any journal requires the following sections, submitted in the order listed; each section begins on a new page. But not all the journals are same; some require combined results and discussion too.

Basic Guidelines

• Text should be double spaced on 8 1/2" x 11" paper with 1 inch margins, single sided
• Print / type using a 12 point standard font, such as Times, Geneva, Bookman, etc.
• Adhere to the page limits
• Pages to be numbered consecutively
• New section to be started on a new page

Avoid

• Submitting a paper with pages out of order
• Placing a heading at the bottom of a page with the following text on the next page
• Dividing a table or figure - confine each figure/table to a single page

Remember to

• Focus on the research topic of the paper
• Indent the first line of each paragraph
• Normal prose each section of paper including articles
• Try using paragraphs to separate each important point
• Use past tense to describe specific results
• Avoid informal wording
• Points to be presented in a logical order
• Usage of present tense to well accepted facts recommended

Introduction

Introduction should not be more than two pages. The purpose of an introduction is to familiarize the reader with the rationale behind the work, it enables the reader to understand and appreciate your purpose/objective of writing the paper.

Title Page

The title should be informative, something that talks about your research. The title page should include the name(s) and address (es) of all authors, and date submitted.

Methods

Generally the page limit is not there, but it is required to keep this section as concise as you possibly can. People will want to read this material selectively. The reader may only be interested in one formula or part of a procedure.

Results

• The length of this page depends upon the amount and types of data to be reported. Try to be concise, using figures and tables, if appropriate, to present results most effectively.
• The purpose of a results section is to present and illustrate your findings. Make this section a completely objective report of the results, and save all interpretation for the discussion.
• Findings and observations should be summarized in text and illustrated well, if possible with the help of figures and tables.
• If possible results of control experiments and the observations that are not presented in a formal figure or table should be included.
• Point out the observations that are most relevant.
• Analyze your data, then prepare the analyzed data in the form of a figure, table, or in text form.
• Give a context, by describing the question that was addressed by making a particular observation.

What to avoid

• Do not include raw data or intermediate calculations in a research paper.
• Avoid presenting the same data more than once.
• Never discuss or interpret your results, report background information, or attempt to explain anything.
• Difference between tables and figures should be clear
• Text should not repeat the same information, but it should complement any figures or tables

Common Errors in Research Papers

1. Irrelevant information A research paper is written with the objective of summarizing research findings and results. It does not identify who did what. Reference to instructors, fellow students, teams, partners, “the lab” etc. are not appropriate. Writing everything you know about the subject is simply wastage of your time and your reader’s time too. Stick to the appropriate point, and include a reference to your source of background information if you feel that it is important.
2. Oversimplification It is good to summarize you findings in a simple manner but oversimplifications may lead to miscommunication of the research results.
3. Grammar and Spelling mistakes Please avoid obvious grammatical errors. Clear written communication requires proper sentence structure and use of words. Make sure that your sentences are complete, that they make sense when you proofread them.
4. Inaccurate word or phrase Be very sure and clear while using some phrase or a word because a slight change in the word or wrong usage of a phrase may change the entire result/observation.
5. Superficiality The purpose of a discussion is to interpret the results, not to simply state them in a different way. In most cases a superficial discussion ignores mechanisms or fails to explain them completely. It should be clear to the reader why a specific result came to pass.