How to Write a Journal Paper

Writing for publication is a skill that develops with practice. This guide walks you through the process of preparing a strong scholarly paper, from choosing a topic to submitting a polished manuscript. It is intended especially for students and early-career researchers, but the principles apply to scholars at every stage.

Before You Write

Start with a clear research question. A strong paper answers a specific, well-defined question or defends a focused argument. Before writing, be able to state in one sentence what your paper is about and what it contributes. If you cannot, the idea needs sharpening.

Know the existing scholarship. Read widely in your area so you understand what has already been said and where your work fits. Your paper should add something, a new finding, a fresh interpretation, a tested idea, or a gap addressed. Reading recent articles in your target journal also shows you the expected style and depth.

Choose the right journal early. Each journal has its own scope. Identify the journal whose focus matches your work before you write, and shape your paper to its scope and readership. Writing with a specific journal in mind saves substantial revision later.

Structuring Your Paper

Most scholarly papers follow a recognisable structure. Empirical papers (reporting data or studies) typically use the first structure below; theoretical, legal and humanities papers may adapt it to suit the argument.

• Title: Clear, specific and informative. It should tell the reader what the paper is about at a glance; avoid vague or overly clever titles.
• Abstract: A concise summary of roughly 150–250 words covering your purpose, method, main findings or argument and conclusion. The abstract is often all a reader sees before deciding to read on, so write it carefully, and usually last, once the paper is complete.
• Keywords: Four to six terms that captures your paper’s main topics. These help your work surface in search tools and databases.
• Introduction: Set out the problem or the background of the study, explain why it matters, briefly situate it in existing scholarship, and state your research question or aim. End the introduction by telling the reader what the paper will do.
• Literature Review: Show how your work relates to what has already been written. This is not a list of summaries but a critical discussion that identifies patterns, debates and the gap your paper addresses.
• Methodology (for empirical work): Explain clearly how you conducted your research, your approach, data and methods, in enough detail that another researcher could understand or repeat it. For non-empirical work, describe your analytical or theoretical framework instead.
• Results/Findings: Present what you found, using tables or figures where they aid clarity. Report findings objectively here; save interpretation for the discussion.
• Discussion: Interpret your findings. What do they mean? How do they relate to existing scholarship? What are the implications and what are the limitations of your work? This is where you demonstrate the significance of your contribution.
• Conclusion: Summarise your main points, restate your contribution, and suggest directions for future research. Do not introduce new material here.
• References: List every source you cited, formatted consistently in the journal’s required style (APA 7th). Every in-text citation must have a matching entry, and vice versa.

Writing Well

• Be clear before you try to be clever: Scholarly writing values precision and clarity over ornament. Short, direct sentences communicate complex ideas better than long, tangled ones.
• Write for an informed but non-specialist reader: Assume your reader is intelligent and academically literate but not an expert in your narrow subfield. Explain specialised terms the first time you use them.
• Make your argument flow: Each section should lead logically to the next, and each paragraph should make one main point. Use the opening sentence of each paragraph to signal what it is about.
• Support every claim: Back assertions with evidence, data or citations. Distinguish clearly between what the evidence shows, what other scholars have argued and what you yourself are proposing.
• Use your own words: Paraphrase and synthesise rather than stringing together quotations. Quote directly only when the exact wording matters and always with a citation.

Referencing and Academic Integrity

Accurate referencing is essential, both to credit others’ work and to avoid plagiarism. Follow the citation style required by your chosen journal consistently throughout. Cite the original source of every idea, finding or quotation that is not your own, including your own previously published work.

Revising and Polishing

• Write a draft and then step away: First drafts are rarely good drafts. Leave time between writing and revising so you can return with fresh eyes.
• Revise in layers: First check the big picture, argument, structure and completeness. Then tighten paragraphs and sentences. Finally, proofread for grammar, spelling and formatting.
• Seek feedback: Share your draft with a supervisor, colleague or mentor before submitting. An outside reader will spot gaps and unclear passages you have stopped noticing.
• Check against the guidelines: Before submitting, confirm your manuscript follows the journal’s Author Guidelines: formatting, word count, referencing style, abstract length and the submission checklist. Papers that ignore these are often returned without review.

After You Submit

Once submitted, your paper undergoes peer review, and reviewers may recommend revisions. This is a normal and valuable part of publishing because even experienced scholars receive revision requests. When responding, address each comment carefully and respectfully, explain the changes you made and resubmit by the stated deadline.