One of the hardest things to do when setting out to write is knowing where to start, and that’s where having a plan can help.
If you’re writing a research paper, you’ll often find a ready made plan aka structure in a journal’s author guidelines.
Most journal articles, and therefore most journal article plans, will follow the same basic structure, such as the one provided by the Journal of Advanced Nursing:
- Introduction
- Background
- The Study
- Methods/Methodology
- Findings
- Discussion
- Conclusion
And those plans may also include additional information about what to include in each section, e.g.:
4. Methods/Methodology
- Design
- Theoretical Framework
- Study Setting and Recruitment
- Inclusion and/or Exclusion Criteria
- Data collection
- Data Analysis
- Ethical Considerations
The best example I’ve seen of clear guidance on what to include in each section of your writing plan, and so may be a helpful resource whichever journal you’re hoping to publish in, is provided by the journal Evidence Based Library and Information Practice:
- Introduction: Background and introduction to the paper and why the work was carried out.
- Literature Review: An overview of relevant literature, summarising previous work in the area and highlighting the gaps and where this work fits in
- Aims: Aims of the paper/research—it is useful to include the research question(s) used to frame the research study.
- Methods: How the study was conducted—this should provide enough information for someone to replicate the study, such as how the data were collected and analysed.
- Results: The main findings from the study should be presented clearly and concisely.
- Discussion: A discussion of the findings from the study set in the context of the wider literature or issues arising from the study. Note any problems or limitations with the study, how these could have affected your results, and how they could be avoided in future studies.
- Conclusion: A summary of what was undertaken and what was discovered—this should not contain any new information but rather describe how the aims of the study were achieved.
By having a plan or structure before getting started, you’ll have a clearer sense of what you need to write, what you’ve already written, and a tangible sense of progress towards achieving your writing goals.
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