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Structure and Parts of an Article
Presentation · August 2019
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Structure and Parts of an Article
Presented
By
Francis C.L. Rakotsoane
At the National University of Lesotho, Roma
2019
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1. Main Types of Research Papers
Research papers are broadly divided into empirical and theoretical papers.
Empirical Research Paper
•
The author reports on his or her own study.
•
The author will have collected data to answer a research question or address
an issue/problem at hand.
•
Usually contains observed and measured examples that inform or answer the
research question.
•
Data collection methods for empirical paper include interviews, surveys,
questionnaires, observations, experiments, and various other quantitative and
qualitative research methods.
•
Usually uses what is called an IMRAD (Introduction, Methods, Results and
Discussion) structure.
Theoretical Research Papers
•
A research paper in which the author supports his/her claim without relying
on interviews, surveys, questionnaires, observations, experiments, or other
kinds of new data.
•
The author‟s arguments depend entirely on theoretical research in available
scholarly literature in the form of articles in scientific journals, official
documents, books, newspapers and so forth).
•
Generally introduces and discusses abstract ideas and principles, either new
or established that are related to a specific field of knowledge, with a
particular focus on ideas formulated to explain, predict and understand
phenomena.
•
Established theories are often introduced, described, analysed and compared
as the author uses them to develop and present his or her own new theory
about a problem, question, behaviour, situation, event or anything else
worthy of reflection and discussion.
2. Structure of a Journal Article:
A. For an Empirical Research Paper
The following is the structure of a theoretical paper:
•
•
•
•
Abstract
Keywords
Introduction
Methods
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•
•
•
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Abstract
This provides a summary of the article.
• Usually 150-250 words long
• Preferably written in one paragraph
• Covers the following about the article:
 The problem /issue/question addressed by the article
 Method(s) used
 The main results
 The main conclusions
An abstract should not contain
• lengthy background information,
• references to other literature,
• elliptical (i.e., ending with ...) or incomplete sentences,
• abbreviations or terms that may be confusing to readers,
• any sort of illustration, figure, or table, or references to them.
(http://abacus.bates.edu/~ganderso/biology/resources/writing/HTWsections.html#in
troduction)
Keywords
6-8 keywords are given immediately after the abstract in the article.
• They should be words or phrases the reader searching for the article in
question would use in their search
• They could be single words or phrases
• They do not include prepositions or articles
• They should represent key concepts
• They should reflect a collective understanding of the topic
• They should be descriptive
• They should contain words and phrases that suggest what the topic is about
Introduction
• Gives background information or the
problem/question/issue to be addressed
necessary
context
for
the
•
Describes what emerges from this context as the problem/question/issue that
needs to be addressed including what the author intends to do with it.
•
In other words, through it the author gives a scenario within which he/she
identifies what he/she sees as the problem/question/issue and what he/she
intends to do with it.
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Methods
•
Explain clearly how the author proceeded methodologically when addressing
the problem/question/issue at hand.
•
May also include how the author organized or structured the article.
Results
•
Reports the findings of the study
•
Provides statistical documentation to demonstrate whether the results are
valid and reliable.
Discussion
•
Describes what the findings mean.
•
Relates the findings back to the problem/question stated in the introduction
and to the findings of other scholars as reflected in the literature review.
•
Explains how results contribute to the existing body of scientific knowledge.
Conclusion
After the discussion section, comes the conclusion of the article.
•
Summarizes the results and discussion
•
Describes limitations of the study and suggests areas for further
research/action.
B. For a Theoretical Research Paper
The following is the structure of a theoretical paper:
•
•
•
•
•
Abstract
Keywords
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Abstract
As in the case of an empirical paper.
Keywords
As in the case of an empirical paper.
Introduction
•
States the general purpose of the paper
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•
Provides the necessary context for the research problem or the issue at hand.
•
Sets the scene by showing what is already known from prior related or similar
research and attempts to identify a gap (the problem) in this knowledge.
•
Elaborates on how the paper is going to fill the gap identified in what is
already known.
•
Provides methodological procedures to be followed as well as how the paper
is to be outlined to drive the author‟s point home.
Body
N.B.: There is no special section labeled „body‟.
•
The information gathered is presented in sub-headings immediately after the
introduction section.
•
These are presented according to the paper‟s outline as will have been spelt
out in the introduction of the paper.
•
They are arranged such that they argumentatively drive the author‟s point
(main argument) home.
Conclusion
The same as in other research papers.
C. For a Philosophical Research Paper
A philosophical paper has a distinct style that differs greatly from most other
research papers. It is meant to critically analyze concepts. Thus it works with
concepts of things, not necessarily things themselves.
•
The abstract and keywords are written the same way as in other types of
research papers.
•
The paper‟s introduction starts by stating what the problem/issue the author
is going to address is.
•
This is followed by a summary of the most influential discussions and debates
regarding the problem/issue to be addressed.
•
The author then outlines his/her own approach and how it relates to what
others have said.
•
This is followed by the author‟s proposed argument, indicating the order in
which he/she intends to address various points.
•
As he/she puts forward the argument, the author should at the same time
pre-empt any potential arguments against his/her own argument.
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•
The conclusion is written the same way as in other types of research papers.
•
N.B.: This way of writing can be used in basically all theoretical/conceptual
papers.
Conclusion
•
Although these three types of research papers have been presented as being
different from each other, in reality there is a lot of overlapping in the way
people write articles.
•
That is, one and the same article can, at times, bear features of all of them
together at the same time.
Useful Sources
•
Day, R.A.1998. How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 5th Edition. Phoenix:
Oryx Press.
•
Fischer, B.A., Zigmond, M.J.2004. Components of a Research Article.
www.survival.pitt.edu.
•
Jansen. J. 1997. “Academic Publishing: Notes for Beginning Researchers.”
Lesotho Journal of Teacher Education 1 (1): 64-67.
•
Kotzé, T. 2007. Guidelines on Writing a First Quantitative Academic Article (2nd
Edition). Pretoria: University of Pretoria.
•
Rakotsoane, F.C.L. 2018. Writing a Research Proposal: A Step-by-Step Guide for
New Researchers. Roma: Choice Publishing Company.
•
Turnbow, D. 2019. Anatomy of a Journal Article. University of California: UC
San Diego Libraries.
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