Writing a research paper

Preparing a research paper is an important exercise for a student who is pursuing higher education. The style and format of research papers vary from subject to subject.  Here are some guidelines for students who have just started their research work.  

First and foremost, one should know that no amount of good writing can cover up  lack of content.

The style of presentation depends on the subject and the journal you are writing for. The general aim is to reach out to both experts and common readers.

Title should instantly convey the focus of your work and should interest readers.
The significance of a paper tends to be in inverse proportion to the length of the abstract.  Hence, keep the abstract concise and convey the key results and ideas behind the paper.

Include keywords for computer database searches to pick up on.
The introduction part should be properly written. Bad writing often goes hand-in-hand with murky thinking, so understand the topic clearly before venturing into writing. Keep in mind that along with layout and continuity, simple aspects like punctuation are important. Proper usage of language and style sheet add to the quality of the paper.

 The conclusion part is the place for comments. You may also give your views on the topic.
 Do a computer search to make sure you have picked up all relevant recent works. Also, mention the source of information in the form of references.