Generic Paper Outline-3

Generic Paper Outline
Or, What Goes Where in a Scientific Paper?

Kim Nicholas, Kimberly.nicholas.academic@gmail.com
Draft updated 23 February 2015
0. Critical note: You should not sit down and write the paper in the order listed
below from start to finish. A suggested order for writing a paper is:
1. Research questions/hypotheses
2. Methods (can usually take from protocol from the field)
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusion
6. Introduction
7. Abstract
8. References
The most important point here is, the first major step you should take in writing
is to analyze your data, make your figures, and figure out what you have found
in your research. This should guide what goes in the rest of the paper, so that
the references to larger issues in the literature and other studies relate to what
your data actually support. Do not start the process by reading and reviewing
hundreds of papers, then writing an Introduction that takes up half your
allotted word count, which may in the end have very little to do with what you
found.
1. Abstract (200-250 words; 80% should be original to your study)
a. The scope of the problem to be investigated (why research is relevant) (1-

2 sentences)
b. Purpose of the study/research question (why research was done) (1-2
sentences)
c. Methods (how research was done) (1-2 sentences)
d. Major results (2-3 sentences, give specific numerical values, e.g., we
found 53% more blue than green ants)
e. Interpretations of results (1-2 sentences)
f. Implications (1-2 sentences)
1
Figure 1: Kim’s suggested structure for an abstract.
2. Keywords
g. Do not repeat from title.
h. Use technical terms and phrases from the literature.
3. Introduction (300-500 words)

i. Broad topic: general problem and background, motivation (why we
should care), reference lit
j. Narrower topic: zero in on specific problem/issue of this paper, including

previous research in the area (both geographic and topical as relevant)
and definition of key concepts and assumptions; reference lit
k. Conclude with a paragraph that clearly states the research question,

purpose of this research.
4. Research question(s) (RQs)

a. Should be explicitly spelled out (e.g., in the form of a question)
b. Must be operationalized from general concepts (sustainability, food
security) into specific, observable, measurable variables (paper recycling
rates, biofuel usage, etc.)
2
5. Methods: Someone could replicate your study by reading this. Needs to answer
who, what, when, where, why and how. (ca. 800 words)
l. Case description and selection
i. Subjects/case used
ii. Description of field site, relevant physical and biological features,
map
iii. How were participants selected and/or recruited?
iv. Why is this an interesting case- why study this phenomenon in
this particular context?
v. Origins of samples and materials
m. RQ1 – use first research question as sub-heading

i. Methods used to answer RQ1
n. RQ2
o. RQ3
p. When
i. Dates, time periods
q. What & How
i. Protocol for data collection
ii. Data analysis- statistical tests, computer programs, significance
levels
r. Why
i. Make sure each section links to purpose of answering research
question
6. Results (1000-1500 words)

s. Organized by research question using sub-headings
t. Data only- no interpretation of what caused patterns
u. Summarized (figures, tables, means, percentages, standard deviations…)
v. Every key result should have a figure, which is then described and
supported in the text
7. Discussion (Analysis; synthesize whole paper) (1000-1500 words)

w. Re-state research question
x. Interpret findings from Results in light of this question
i. Do results answer RQ?
1. Yes- what does it mean for RQ?
2. No- what would be an alternative approach to answer it?
Describe.
3
ii. Do results agree with what others have shown? (go from narrow
back to broad by linking your specific findings with theoretical
context from Intro)
1. Yes- how do others explain why?
2. No- what’s different about this study?
iii. Reflections on this study
1. Possible sources of error
2. How could study be improved?
3. What would next steps be (in this study, in this field)?
4. What are the implications?
8. Conclusions (ca. 300 words)
y. Overall main point(s) for readers to remember, restating and
summarizing (rather than repeating) key conclusions
z. What you think the data mean, in light of your research question
(reasons why you think this are presented in Discussion)

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Generic Paper Outline

Or, What Goes Where in a Scientific Paper?

Draft updated 23 February 2015

1. Abstract (200-250 words; 80% should be original to your study)

a. The scope of the problem to be investigated (why research is relevant) (1-

3. Introduction (300-500 words)

j. Narrower topic: zero in on specific problem/issue of this paper, including

k. Conclude with a paragraph that clearly states the research question,

4. Research question(s) (RQs)

m. RQ1 – use first research question as sub-heading

6. Results (1000-1500 words)

7. Discussion (Analysis; synthesize whole paper) (1000-1500 words)

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