Basic Structure
The basic structure of an academic journal articleAn
academic journal article typically consists of a title, keywords, an abstract,
an introduction, a body, and conclusions.
These parts may vary to some extent
depending on the type of article or the specific requirements of a journal. A
bibliography is also an essential element of a journal article. Acknowledgments
are often added, along with other items that may be required by individual
journals.
Title
The title
is the first thing that grabs the reader's attention. It must be concise and
precise while effectively highlighting the theme and purpose of the paper. A
good title will include keywords fr|om the thesis, while abbreviations and
symbols are to be avoided. A subtitle is customarily added in social science
journals. Some journals require a running title to be submitted.
Keywords
Keywords
are a core element of a research article. They are crucial for classifying the
article. Typically, journals require the author(s) to include three to seven
keywords. These keywords help readers find the articles they are looking for.
Abstract
The
abstract is a summary of the major points of the research. Abstracts should be
carefully written because most readers read them first to get a sense of what
the research is about and what new findings it contains. An abstract should
describe the purpose, methodology and findings of the research.
Introduction
The
introduction presents the research questions, their relevance, and sets the
stage for the points and arguments that are developed in the body. It may
include the purpose and significance of the research along with a brief account
of key references.
Body
The body
explores key arguments, presents supportive evidence, and explains the
significance of the findings. It is structured as a series of paragraphs, with
each paragraph addressing a single idea. The paragraphs must be well connected
with one another. The body covers methodology, research findings, and
discussions, presented in formats that may vary across academic disciplines and
journals.
Conclusion
The
conclusion recaps research findings and their interpretations. It summarizes key
elements of the introduction and the body with added comments about the study's
academic contributions.
Others
It
summarizes key elements of the introduction and the body with added comments
about the study's academic contributions. Additionally, depending on a
journal's requirements, the section may include a competing interests
statement, an ethics approval statement, a profile of the author(s) including
their names, affiliations, and an account of each author's contribution.