To write a research paper, narrow your topic to a focused question, research credible sources, build an argument or analysis that answers it, and present it in a clear structure with full citations. Good planning does most of the work.
Research papers range from argument-led essays built on published sources to empirical reports of your own study. This page covers both, with a structure table, what each section does, a drafting order and a final checklist.
The Research Paper Process in Seven Steps
- Choose and narrow a topic into a research question.
- Do preliminary reading and refine the question.
- Search for sources and take organized notes.
- Write a thesis or state your aims.
- Outline the paper in the right structure for your field.
- Draft the sections, starting with the body.
- Revise, edit and check every citation.
Empirical and Argument-Led Papers
| Feature | Argument-led paper | Empirical paper |
|---|---|---|
| Based on | Published sources | Data you collect or analyze |
| Core element | A thesis defended with evidence | A research question answered with results |
| Typical structure | Introduction, themed sections, conclusion | IMRaD: introduction, methods, results, discussion |
| Common in | Humanities, history, law, many social sciences | Sciences, psychology, health, some social sciences |
Check which kind your brief expects. Many students lose marks by writing a source summary when the task asked for an argument, or the reverse.
Narrow to a Focused Question
A broad topic produces a shallow paper. Narrow by population, place, time period or angle until the question can be answered in your word count.
Too broad: Social media and mental health.
Better: How does social media use affect anxiety in teenagers?
Focused: Is time spent on image-based platforms associated with anxiety symptoms in 13 to 17 year olds, and does the association differ by gender?
The focused question tells you what to search for, what to include and what to leave out.
Research and Note-Taking
- Start with a recent review article to map the field quickly.
- Use library databases for peer-reviewed sources in your discipline.
- Record full citation details for every source as you go.
- Take notes in your own words, marking direct quotations clearly with page numbers.
- Organize notes by theme or by section of your outline, not by source.
Clear separation between your paraphrase and quoted text prevents accidental plagiarism later.
Research Paper Structure
| Section | What it does | Typical share |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Context, problem, question or thesis, roadmap | About 10 percent |
| Literature review or background | What is known and the gap | 15 to 25 percent |
| Methods (empirical) | Design, sample, data collection and analysis | 10 to 15 percent |
| Results or main analysis | Findings or the body of the argument | 25 to 35 percent |
| Discussion | Meaning of findings, links to literature, limitations | 15 to 20 percent |
| Conclusion | Answer to the question, implications, future research | About 5 to 10 percent |
Argument-led papers replace methods and results with themed body sections, each advancing part of the thesis.
What Each Section Needs
Introduction
Move from the broad context to your specific problem, then state your question or thesis and outline the paper. End with what the paper will show.
Methods
Give enough detail for someone to repeat your study: design, participants, measures, procedure and analysis. Use past tense.
Results
Report findings without interpreting them. Use tables and figures where they make data clearer, and refer to each one in the text.
Discussion and Conclusion
Explain what the findings mean, compare them with earlier studies, acknowledge limitations honestly and say what should be studied next.
The Smartest Drafting Order
You do not have to write in reading order. For empirical papers, a common sequence is methods, results, discussion, introduction, conclusion, then abstract.
For argument-led papers, draft the body sections first, then the introduction once you know exactly what the paper argues. Write the abstract last, because it summarizes the whole paper.
Example abstract opening: This paper examines whether time spent on image-based social media is associated with anxiety symptoms in adolescents. Drawing on a review of recent cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, it argues that the association is consistent but modest, and stronger in girls than boys.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| A topic, not a question | Narrow it until it can be answered in your word count |
| Summarizing sources one by one | Group them by theme and compare them |
| Interpreting data in the results section | Report in results; interpret in the discussion |
| Overclaiming | Use "suggests" or "indicates" where evidence is limited |
| Leaving citations until the end | Cite as you draft, then check formatting at the end |
| Starting too late | Plan backwards from the deadline, leaving a third of the time for revision |
Research Paper Checklist
- The question or thesis is focused and stated in the introduction.
- The structure matches your field and brief.
- Sources are credible, current and relevant.
- Every claim is supported and cited.
- Paragraphs synthesize sources rather than summarize them one by one.
- Limitations are acknowledged.
- The conclusion answers the question without adding new evidence.
- In-text citations match the reference list in your required style.
- Tone is formal, precise and objective.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It varies widely by level and course, from about 2,000 words for an undergraduate paper to much longer for postgraduate work. Follow your brief.
A research paper is built on more extensive research and usually has a more formal structure, often with a literature review and, if empirical, methods and results.
A common structure for empirical papers: introduction, methods, results and discussion.
It depends on length and level. A common guide is several sources per 1,000 words, but follow your brief.
Not necessarily. Many writers draft the body first and write the introduction once the argument or results are clear.
Some fields accept it, especially for describing methods. Others prefer an impersonal style. Check your discipline's guidance.