What is the proper research paper format? How to structure it

[Gina L.]

Hey everyone, I’m working on my first college research paper, and I’m a little overwhelmed. Can someone break down what a typical research paper format looks like? Like, what sections should I include, and how should I structure it?

 

[serene]

Are you using APA or MLA? The format might change slightly depending on that. Typically, you should to start with a title page, then an abstract (a summary of your paper), followed by the introduction (where you outline your topic and thesis). Next, the methodology section if it's empirical research, then results and discussion sections, followed by conclusion and the references at the end.

 

[Sebastian94]

@serene summed everything up really well. I’d add that in history papers, we often use footnotes for citations rather than a “References” section like in APA. It depends on your subject. What are you studying?

 

[Ducttape]

Next, the methodology section if it's empirical research, then results and discussion sections, followed by conclusion and the references at the end.

For humanities papers, we don’t usually include a Methodology or Results section unless it’s a very analytical paper. My go-to format is more like: Introduction, Thesis, Literature Review, Analysis/Argument, and Conclusion.

 

[Sebastian94]

@Ducttape I agree, especially with literature papers. My professors always emphasize that you need a strong thesis in the Introduction, something that clearly states your argument or perspective. Each section should then build on that thesis with evidence and analysis.

@Gina L. It depend on what your professor expects. Some fields require certain sections in a specific order. Try blending formats if you’re writing something interdisciplinary.