Begin with an introduction that outlines your research problem and why this issue is important. It should articulate the research question(s) your study will investigate and explain how your paper will contribute to the body of knowledge in your field of inquiry. Close the introduction with a simple outline of the content to follow in your paper.
Write the literature review section. A literature review examines previous studies in your field of study, summarizing what is known, and identifying gaps and unanswered questions in the research. This section will be most effective if you demonstrate how your paper will advance the larger body of knowledge. Because you are summarizing previous studies, this section requires extensive citation of reference sources. Be sure to follow the correct citation style, such as Modern Languages Association (MLA) or American Psychological Association (APA). MLA is the preferred style for scholarly reports in the liberal arts and humanities, while APA is used in the social sciences.
Complete a methodology section for your report, explaining how the research methods you employ are appropriate for answering the questions stated in your introduction. Then provide an overview of the data used for your study, explaining how you collected and coded them, as well as the techniques used for analysis. If your methodology requires an in-depth explanation, as may be the case with some complex statistical procedures, provide a brief explanation in the methodology section of your paper and flesh out the details in an appendix. Be sure to point out any weaknesses or limitations in your data or methodology.
Report the results of your analysis, making sure the findings you present relate to your research questions. Discuss the importance of your findings in clear, concise language. Use tables and graphics to illustrate your findings, where appropriate.
Write a concluding section that recaps your paper, stating the research questions and the findings provided by your analysis. Include in this section the implications for future research.
Complete a reference or bibliography section, including all sources cited in your report. Follow the appropriate style for this section (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.), as each one has different requirements for this section.
Write an abstract, using the body of your report as a guide. The abstract is a concise summary of your paper that states the research questions, methodology and conclusions. It should be no more than 250 words in length.
Revise and edit the content of your paper to ensure that you have followed correct usage and style rules. Read your paper carefully to ensure that it follows a logical structure from research problem to methodology to conclusions.
Format your paper carefully to ensure that you have used the appropriate format and style (MLA, APA, etc.) throughout the report. Consult a style manual to assist you in this process.