Academic writing · 16 pages
Academic writing & paper structure
Clear, standards-grounded explainers for how to structure and write research papers, essays and reports — from MLA and APA page formats to thesis statements, IMRaD, introductions, conclusions and proposals. Each page leads with a concise answer and links across to the wider CASRAI standards, dictionary and citation guidance.
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All 16 academic writing & paper structure pages
MLA format
MLA format is the Modern Language Association’s page-presentation style, set out in the MLA Handbook (9th edition). To format a paper you set one-inch margins, double-space throughout in a readable 12-point font, add a top-right running header with your surname and page number, place a four-line name block on the first page, and centre the title. It governs layout, not the citing of sources.
How-toAPA title page
An APA title page is the first page of a paper in APA 7th-edition style, presenting the title, author name and affiliation. APA defines two versions: the student title page adds the course, instructor and due date, while the professional version adds an author note and a running head. Both centre the bold title in the upper half and number the page in the top-right.
How-toThesis statement
A thesis statement is a concise claim, usually one or two sentences at the end of the introduction, that states the central argument or main point a paper will support. A strong thesis is specific, arguable and focused, previewing the paper’s direction rather than merely announcing a topic. Its form shifts with purpose: argumentative theses take a contestable stance, while expository theses explain.
GuideHow to write a methodology section
The methodology section is the part of a research paper that describes how the study was conducted: the research design, participants or sample, materials and measures, procedure, and the analysis applied. Its purpose is to let readers evaluate the rigour of the work and, in principle, reproduce it. Written in the past tense, it justifies choices rather than merely listing them.
DefinitionIMRaD
IMRaD is the standard organising structure for empirical research papers, especially in the sciences: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. Each section answers one question — why the study was done, how, what was found, and what it means. The format makes papers predictable to write, review and read, and is recommended by reporting bodies such as the ICMJE for biomedical research.
How-toHow to write an introduction paragraph
An introduction paragraph opens a paper by orienting the reader and stating its purpose. A reliable pattern moves from broad to narrow: a hook to gain attention, background context to frame the topic, and a thesis statement or research question to set the direction. This funnel shape — formalised in research writing as the CARS model — ends by signalling what the paper will do.
How-toHow to write a conclusion paragraph
A conclusion paragraph brings a paper to a close by reminding the reader of the thesis, synthesising the main points into a coherent whole, and stating the broader significance or implications of the argument. It mirrors the introduction’s funnel in reverse, moving from the specific back out to the general. Crucially, it introduces no new evidence or arguments — those belong in the body.
GuideParagraph structure and topic sentences
Paragraph structure is the way a paragraph is organised around one main idea, normally introduced by a topic sentence and developed through evidence, explanation and a link onward. Two common teaching models, PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link) and MEAL (Main idea, Evidence, Analysis, Link), capture this shape. Good paragraphs have unity, coherence and clear transitions between them.
GuideEssay structure
Essay structure is the conventional organisation of an academic essay into three parts: an introduction that ends with a thesis, a body of paragraphs that each develop one supporting point with evidence, and a conclusion that draws the argument together. The thesis is the spine that holds the parts in line, and outlining before drafting keeps the whole essay coherent and on track.
GuideTypes of essay
The main types of academic essay are the argumentative, expository, narrative, descriptive and analytical essay. They differ by purpose: argumentative essays persuade, expository essays explain, narrative essays tell a story, descriptive essays evoke, and analytical essays break a subject down to interpret it. Identifying the type your task calls for shapes the thesis, the evidence and the structure you should use.
GuideResearch paper structure
A research paper is structured into a recognised sequence: a title and abstract, the body organised as IMRaD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion), and a reference list, often with keywords, acknowledgements and appendices. Each element has a defined job, from the abstract’s standalone summary to the references that document sources. The structure makes papers predictable to write, review and read.
How-toHow to write a research proposal
A research proposal is a document that plans a study before it begins: it defines the problem, states the aims and research questions, reviews relevant literature, sets out the proposed methods, gives a timeline and budget where needed, and justifies the study’s significance. Its purpose is to convince supervisors or funders that the project is worthwhile, original and feasible, and that you can carry it out.
GuideResearch question
A research question is the specific, focused question a study is designed to answer; it anchors the whole project, shaping the aims, methods and analysis. A strong research question is clear, focused, answerable within your resources, and significant enough to be worth asking. Frameworks such as FINER and PICO help refine one, and the question should be matched to well-defined aims, objectives and scope.
GuideWhite paper
A white paper is an authoritative report that examines a specific problem and argues a recommended solution or position, backed by evidence. Originating in government and now common in technology, policy and industry, it sits between a research paper and a persuasive document: rigorous and well-sourced, but written to inform a decision. A typical structure runs from problem, through evidence and analysis, to recommendation.
How-toHow to write an executive summary
An executive summary is a concise, standalone overview placed at the start of a report, proposal or white paper. It states the document’s purpose, its key findings and its recommendations so that a busy reader can grasp the essentials without reading the full text. It is usually around five to ten per cent of the document’s length, written last but read first, and it adds no new information.
How-toHow to format a title page
A title page is the cover page of an assignment, report or dissertation that identifies the work before the content starts. It typically carries the title, the author’s name, the institution or course, and the submission date, and sometimes a declaration of original authorship. Exact requirements depend on the style or institution: APA and MLA have their own rules, so always follow the brief you were given.
