1. Introduction: This section sets the stage for your research. It includes background information on the topic, a clear statement of the research problem or question, a literature review (summarizing relevant existing research), and a thesis statement outlining your argument or hypothesis.
2. Body (or Discussion): This is the core of your paper. It presents your research methods, results, and analysis. It systematically develops your argument, providing evidence and supporting details to answer your research question. This section is often broken down into multiple subsections depending on the complexity of your research.
3. Conclusion: This section summarizes your findings, restates your thesis in light of the evidence presented, and discusses the implications of your research. It may also include limitations of the study and suggestions for future research.
While these three are the major components, a complete research paper also typically includes a title page, abstract, bibliography (or works cited), and potentially appendices depending on the field and specifics of the research.